The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-09-24

Most true; and now, dear sir, you
must also be aware that, since both
brothers are dead. you have become pos
SCISSOR of title and estate. Allow me to
be the first to congratulate Sir Fitzroy
Glendenning."
The old man received the kind pres
sure of his hand and tender words with
deep emotion, then suddenly exclaimed:
And to you | owe this speedy discov-
cry and this great joy"
Bowling his head upon his clasped
hands, he remained thus silent and
he broke the spell with these strange
words:
Since God in his great goodness has
thus established my innocence, l am no
longer afraid to own, and claim my son,
and he need never be ashamed to call me
father!'
Have you, indeed son, my dear
friend? This, then, will be to him also
joy. l did not understand that you
had been married"
Il had been secretly married, and my
wife, Clara Mowbrey, who was the or
phan daughter of the late Presbyterian
minister in a small village, came with me
to America, unknown to any one, for she
had no near relatives. She embarked,
| say, with me, bringing our little boy,
aged two years. A fever broke out on
the ship, during our long passage, and
my darling wife died, just two days be-
fore we arrived in port 1t was after
she had been lain away to rest in Green
wood. that my sickness came upon me.
l. III a,,I
Mr.. Elfenstein came to my relief. 1t
was to him l soemnly gave my only
child, my little Earle. l then assumed
the name of Rappelye, not even his wife
knowing of the change"
''Sir, what can you mean? Did l hear
Alright" exclaimed Elfenstein, starting
forward, pale with SURPRISE as this sim
gular assertion fell upon his ears.
you did! My dear son, you did! You
are my own child and heir, Earle Ellen
stein Glendenning, and to you will fall
at my death my title and my estates.
Come to my arms, my dear boy, for it is
twenty-five years since l have held you
there"
Clasped then in a close, fond embrace,
father and son shed tears together-tears
of thankfulness and joy.
Thus, while Earle Glendenning still
mourned for the only mother he had ever
known, his mother by adoption, the
wound, so suddenly inflicted, was par
tally healed by the gift of a fond faith
err, over whose feeble health and de-
Ginning days he now had a perfect and
tender right to watch and guard.
BY the time they reached Glenden-
ming Hall Sir Fitzroy was able to walk
around with a cane, and really seemed
to have taken a new lease upon health
and life.
With joy Earle marked this change,
and when he saw how intensely happy
he was thus to be restored to his own
home and rightful place, and how proud
to boast an honorable name and right
eous life, he thanked heaven and prayed
that he might be spared long to its en-
joyment, for his heightened days he
knew would add to his own pleasure, as
fathers blessing
But in his heart he felt that no hope
of permanent change for the better could
be possible, as his maladies were in
Vulnerable; therefore. he redoubled his
watchfulnss over his beloved form
standing ready to aid by skill and ad-
vice, as far as Providence would per-
nit, to check the great weakness he
felt sure would ensue as soon as a reac
ton, after all this excitement, should
take place.
l need not describe the intense delight
of the lovers when they were again unit
ed. or the surprise Ethel felt on being
told that Earle had found father since
he left her, and a new, but rightful,
name and inheritance. This news he had
not written, preferring to tell it in per-
son.
Sir Fitzroy was delighted with his flu
ture daughter-in-law, for Earle could not
rest until he had taken Ethel to the hall,
in order TO make them acquainted.
His feeble health made this visit per-
fectly proper, and certainly gave great
pleasure to the old gentleman. From that
time he, as we'll as Earle, looked for
ward to the wedding day, which was
finally decided to take place by the TWEEN
tieth of October, with profound pleas
ure.
A few days after their arrival at the
hall, Sir Fitzroy told his son that he felt
sufficiently recruited from his fatigue,
to visit the ruins, and see the room so
long the prison of his unfortunate broth
er, and, leaning on Earle's arm, he pro
ceeded to the mournful place.
1t was well a skilled physician attend
ed him on this sad visit, as he was great
ly overcome by all he saw, that so vivid
ly told of the cruel sufferings one he had
layaI had m
years
The tears he shed over each symbol of
that long captivity were almost unnerv-
ing, and Earle led him away from the
spot. resolving that all these narrowing