Middletown transcript., 1904-05-14
GEOFFRY's INHERITANCE

u
r3l3e rough brother, dear ?
oxeI nj shining tlroael, lie
tears, nEeed fondiy 10 II
cheek, we're &l asssI lIsaI
Molly turned her CLOWN; lsc4 ID Si
Jasper.
Go 70 sosx aotlaef Iilles
friend. she sail, trembling with tie ii
tensity of her joy, and we will come t
her door with yon, and wait and pra,
outside
Amen said the Baronet heartily.
But he would rather have walked up t
the mouth of . loaded cannon than hav
crossed the threshold of Lady Erndale'
room with the tremendous tidings he ia,
consented to. break to one so frail am,
tender.
Sir Jasper found Lady Erndale greatl
altered and pitifully fragile. The han,
she gave him lay like feather in Iii
strong clasp, and for the moment hi
heart quailed at the task before him.
But Lady Erndale herself began th
subject nearest her heart.
You find me changed n she said sorrow
fully. Yes-1 am changed. Ishall neye
live to see my child-my Geofry-again
Something here-she,went on with feebl
passion, laying her hand close 10 her fiut
tering heart-something here tells me h,
is not dead but he is dead to mel shal
never look on his face again!
Sir Jasper essayed to speak cheerfully
but his voice was painfully husky.
l shall never give up hope about any
thing, he said at last by happy inspira
ton, particularly after hearing what :
man told me the other day.
And, as Lady Erndale looked up, family
interested, the Baronet went on without
pause.
1t was case SO like your own, he said
hurriedly, that it made my ears tingle to
hear it. But all came right at the end,
and the lost child was found long after he
had grown up to manhood.
Into Lady Erndale's pale cheeks an
ominous spot of crimson had stolen, and,
grasping the arms Of her chair with shak-
highlands, she raised herself and fixed
her shining eyes on Sir Jasper's face.
And the name Of the child who was
found--grown up? she said in low
strained voice ; whilst the Baronet gazed
heIplessly at her, his honest eyes dim and
troubled, and a dusky red creeping into
his bronzed and weather-beaten face.
/ The look of agonized entreaty in Lady
Erndale's eyes unnamed Sir Jasper COM
pletely. and in desperation he gave the
signal for Molly to come in. She glided
quickly to her mothers side.
Mother, she said fondly, Heaven has
been good to ua--our prayers have been
granted! You have not hoped in yainl
Blindly the poor mother stretched forth
hands, and the next moment
Geoffry's arms we're round her. But in
the ecstasy of the moment Lady Erndale
had tainted, and lay like one dead on the
breast of her son-once lost, but now
found, once dead and now alive again!
AtHilary Manor Betty's time was pretty
well filed up by going to and from the
Dover House in tender efforts to soothe
the heart-broken foster-mother of Geoffry
The terrible shock Of Callagan's
Of Geoffry's real parentage,
and the agony of yielding him up to an
other had almost broken her heart, and
left her in state 30 exhausted that Doctor
Giles plainly told Betty lie feared the
worst and, although no immediate dan
ger was to be apprehended, he believed
she would quietly slip out Of life like a
vessel which had lost its anchor and must
needs drift out to sea.
What Lord Erndale will do between the
'wo women whose lives are bound up in
him, said the worthy doctor, with puz-
lied frown. don't know. Death alone
an cut the Gordian knot, and I think in
Mrs. Seaton's case, it is not far off.
She does not know that Lord Erndale
has gone to his mother, said Betty anx-
ously; but she suspects it, l am certain.
Doctor, the girl added, laying her little
land on bis arm impulsively, you will not
ct her die without seeing him again?
My dear, am not the Master OF life
md death, was the solemn answer. But,
Q far as human science goes, if immediate
langer were threatened, / would telegraph
{ once. And you must remember Lady
1rnnale is in no less critical state, and
le is her own son.
l do remember, said Betty, tears falling
rom her lovely eyes but that very fact |
will sustain her life. This poor creature
las lost allsand the wish to live is taken
way.
know, know Doctor Giles replied |
lastily. I'll come in again tonight, Miss
Betty, and you II be sure to have another
etter or wire before then.
So Betty betook herself to the sick
chamber, and strove with every
,entle article to cheer and comfort the
patient.
The nurse had gone down to tea when
Mrs. Seaton turned wistfully to the girl
beside her and asked with pitiful earnest
less if she knew Lady Erndale well.
Yes, dear-yery well, was Betty's quiet |
'nswer, holding the poor trembling hand |
loosely in her own She is like you, very
rail and delicate, and her life has been
sad one
did not know-I could not know |
vailed Mrs Seaton. Oh, she has suffered
more than have suffered, and he is siler |
'wn SON Il
He has two very etmotllers, Itlink,
aid Betty softly. Some have never known |
mothers love and care.
Dear, said the poor broken-hearted
am nothing, and you are as far |
Iboye me as queen But, if I had only |
'een blessed with daughter, could not |
lave loved her more than I love you.