The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1904-04-14
The Planters Daughter
Or FATE'S REVENGE
By MRS. ALICE 3 CARRISTON
AuthoD6f "a Wait from the Sea-" "Her Brightest Hope"
"Way~ard Winnefred," etc.
CHApTER xI.--fContInued.l

= OnAI 4 In 0l.-iOOulinueusI
The door had opened while he was
speaking, and Mrs. Burgess had entered
with a radiant face, bearing several
sheets Of manuscript in her hands. Sc
great was her excitement that she did
not heed the presence Of the doctor, and
Fastening to her husband she held the
manuscript before his eyes with trem-
bling hands.
'LookP' she cried; "at last know the
secret which Is Killing our poor Claire
have discovered the name of the man
she lovesl Read these pages; they were
written by her last night
Philip Burgess seized the proffered
sheets and ran his eye over their tear
blurred surface. Suddenly a name ar
rested his attention; be uttered an mar
ticulate cry, flung the manuscript upon
the table and grasped the doctor by both
hands.
Gresham he cried, joyfully, u ac'
cept! 1t Is no longer A question OF ac-
Quiring a foUune at the price Of my hon
or, at the cost of my name, but of saw
Ing my daughters lIfeW
Claire herself was silent auditor Of
the triumphant EXPLANATIONS. sShe bad
reached the open door and paused upon
the threshold, hearing her fathers words
In the next moment she deserted her pre-
clous manuscript, the secret Of her life,
lying exposed upon the table, and with a
wailing cry Of dismay she staggered for.
ward and flung herself upon her mothers
breast.
"0h, mother, motherl she sobbed, a
burning flush mounting her pallid bRow,
what have you doneP
"Pardon me, my child" replied Mrs.
Burgess soothingly, as she caressed the
dropping golden head; "but ] could not
see you suffer and remain in ignorance
Of the cause another day"
"Well done, .wifew exclaimed Philip
Burgess; ''had you not acted thus
promptly, | should have rejected the hap
plness Of Claire's llfe---for now she will
llvep
my llfe--my happiness" gasped the
young girl, raising her head and glancing
In dismay at her father; "oh, father, you
have not read the secret Of my foolish
pansionW And when he nodded to her
with an assuring smile, she added, In de-
spalr; ut is a relic Of our past happy
life which have not had the strength
10 combat against. Instead Of forgetting
this man whom met by chance In that
} brilliant world now closed to us forever,
| have been so foolish az to. cherish his
image in my heart"
"And justly, Claire" replied the old
gentleman; "are You not worthy to bear
the proudest name in the landT
"Ah, but II you knew his nameW sob
bed the girl.
II know II, and he will be here short
ly."
'He-herel'' gasped Claire, recoiling a
few stepA and standing alone.
"Yes-Lucian Courtlandtl He comes
to demand your hand In marriage"
q Completely overcome, Claire tottered
10 the nearest chair and sank into It, and
II Ia doubtful II she heard Martha open
the door and announce:
"A lady and gentleman to see you'll"
A moment later Lucian Courtlandt sp-
peared upon the threshold with his
naughty mother leaning upon his arm.
The young man was pallid but COM
posed, while Mrs Courtlandt's stern fea-
lures were wreathed In smiles. A few
words of welcome were exchanged be-
tween Philip Burgess and nis wife and
Mrs. Courtlandt, Claire meanwhile sit
ting thsee with dropping head apparent
ly unconscious of her surroundings.
Presently, however, the words of Mrs
Courtlandt penetrated her dulled hearing.
"old friends" remarked that lady,
with affable condeseenslon, II have the
honor Of demanding the hand Of your
daughter Claire for my son Luoianl'
At these words, Claire struggled to
sher feet and threw herself into her moth.
nr's arms.
Poor .chlldP' thought Luclan Court
landt, 'hoy beautiful she isl'
Miss Burgess" said Mrs. Courtlandt,
gently, "are you willing t6 be my daugh-
teri"
Poor Claire murmured some inartlcu-
late words, and her head sank lower upon
her mothers breast.
Then Luclan advanced and took one
Of the pendent, snowy hands.
"Claire," he murmured, "will you be
my wifef"
But there was no reply; Joy had d.
prived the happy victim Of all sense, and
she lay unconscious In her mothers arms.