Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-10

How glad am that the poor creature wa. ac.
Quilted after that dreadful trial I am sure there
gooo IN him. / received letter from him
yes.eruay- lie is doing very well in America,
snu WIN the money Bernard gave him he has
OVugne "g isrn. Also, he hopes to marry"
wonder will he tell his future wife anv.
thing Of his past life"
Not if he Is wise" said Durham, looking At
Alice, who had spoken. "sBy the way, Miss Ber.
engsr1a, gsI does he mention his motherf'
NO replied the old lady, promptly. "Drak
you, Durnaml why should the boy mention his
motner at this point? She has been dead all
these months. Poor soull her end was a sad
died" - ""o' poi'o" sne
"A Romany. poison they call drows," explained
pigs" To'''"
"How lucky It was that she signed that con.
fession before she died." was the remark made
by Alice
MY dear young lady, she came especially TO
confess, so as to save her SON. She would not
have died until she did confess"
And If she had not suffered from that in
curable disease, doubt if she would have COM
mitted suicide" said Miss Pantagenct
oh, / think So" said Durham, refectively.
After all, her confession meant hanging to her
She wished to escape the gaows"
1 am glad Bernard did," said Miss Berenga-
ria emphatically; even at the risk Of all that
scandal. The man who should have suffered
was that wretch Beryl"
I'VE couldn't catch him." said Durham sevic.
toria reached him that very night, and he
cleared without loss of time. OF course, he was
afraid of being accused of the crime, although he
knew he was innocent, but, besides that, there
was the conspiracy to get the estate by means
Of the false will. By the way, did Mrs. Moon
say what had become of Victoria?
Miss Berengaria nodded. Victoria is down in
Devonshire with an aunt, and is being kept hard
at work to take the bad out of her. understand
she still believes in Jerry and will marry him
when he comes out of the reformatory He will
then be Of manageable age, the bratl But, re-
gardipg Bery what became of him."
"I never could find out" confessed Durham
"Then tell you, Durham. Michael saw
him in New York"
"Where?
"In some low slum, very ragged and poor. He
didn't see Michael, or he might have troubled
him. He has taken to drink beeve-Beryl
mean-so some day he will die, and nice fate
awaits him. where he will co." said Miss Beren
garia, grip&y.
Durham rose and removed his straw hat
''Well,'' said he looking down on the two ladies,
"the whole is over and ended. / don't sec
why we should revive such very unpleasant men,
ories. The past is past, so let it rest Bernard
has the title and the money and"
Heres Lucy" said Alice, rising Dear girl
how sweet she looksl"
1t was indeed Lucy tripping across the lawn
in the lightest of summer frocks She looked
charming and greeted Alice with kiss. II am
SO anxious" she whispered. "The train will
be in soon"
"You are anxious to see Conniston?" said Miss
Berengaria
eyes. And am also anxious to hand the Hall
over to Bernard I have had lot of trouble
looking after it. Haven't I, Mr.. Durham q
Durham bowed. "You have been an admirable
Lady of the Manor" he said. "But soon you will
be Lady Commission"
The girls laughed and tripped away. Durham
left the garden and drove to the station to fetch
back Commission and Bernard It was seven be-
fore they arrived, and then the three ladies CAME
out to meet them on the lawn.
"Dear Alice" said Bernard, who had his arm
in sling, but otherwise looked what Commission
called "it!' chow glad am to see you!
"And you, Lucy" said Commission, taking his
sweetheart in his arms.
Really" cried Miss Berengaria, while Durham
stood by laughing 'it is most perplexing to assist
at the meeting of quartet of lovers Gore,
how are you? Commission, your fever has pulled
YOU down. hope you have both sown your
wild oats and have come back to settle for good"
with the most charming Of wives" said Dick,
bowing. eve have"
Miss Berengara took Durhams arm. "I must
loolx ont n wife for you, sir" she said, leading
him TO the house. Come away and let the tuT-
tle-doves coo alone. I expect dinner Will be late
And dinner was late. Commission, with Lucy
on his arm, strolled away in the twilight, but
Bernard and Alice remained under the elm.
When it grew quite dusk red light was seen
shining from the window of the drawing room.
Gore pointed it out.
"That is the signal Lucy used to set in the
window at the Hall to show that all was we'll
he said, putting his unwounded arm round the
girl, "and now it CLEANS as sign that there is
a happy future for you and me, dearest +"
"a red light is a danger signal" said Alice,
laughing.
0This is the exception that proves the rule"
said Gore ut once led me into trouble, but
now it shines upon me with my. arms around
Won. Thank Heaven that, after all our trouble,
we are at last in smooth waters. There's the
gong for dinner"
Alice laughed "a prosaic ending to pretty
speech she said
The End.