The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-12-19
(Continued.)

The footman's manner was per-
fectly respectful. He discreetly
said nothing of the sovereign
which had accompanied the letter.
Vera turned away and broke the
seal. She was in a somewhat Sc
cluded part of the garden now, but
she had no difficulty in reading the
letter with the aid of the sparkling
points of flame which glimmered
from the branches of the over
hanging trees. She read:
"My Dear Child: | want you to
read this alone. I want you to
promise me that it shall be shown
to nobody. ] daresay you will won
der why write like this, after all
these years, but | can only plead
that circumstances, not myself, are
lieve that up till quite recently
was hardly aware of your exist
ence But all these things | can ex-
plain when we meet. Naturally
you will ask yourself who l am, and
why I should venture to address
you in this fashion. You will see
presently.
For the last IS years you have
dwelt under the roof of Lord Ra-
venspur. You have passed as his
ward and | understand that he has
taken the greatest care of you. This
much goes to his credit. But that
he behaved like scoundrel at the
outset am prepared to prove. Had
it not been for him we should not
have been parted all these years,
and you would have had better
chance of making the acquaintance
of your most unhappy mother
There, | have told the truth at
length and now you are aware who
it is that thus addresses you. |
know that you are going away to-
night. | know that you may be out
Of London for some months.
81 have had this letter sent you
by a trusty friend, who will not
fail me. If you will go through the
shrubbery at the back, to Lady
Ringmar's house, you will find a
pathway bordered with nut trees,
which ends in green gate, leading
to the lane at the back of the
house. There you will find another
friend, who will bring you to me
without delay. l give you my word
l will not detain you more than
half an hour. Then you can return
to your friends as if nothing had
happened. They will be none the
wiser. Indeed, | will ask you not
to mention this letter to them at
all.
81 am not going to anticipate
your refusal, for | know that you
will come, especially when | sign
myself
your unhappy mother,
''Carlotta Flavio."
In state of mind bordering on
absolute bewilderment, Vera read
the letter again and again 1t filled
her with a pain which was closely
akin to shame. So far as she could
see, there was no installing the re-
lationship which at one time had
existed between the writer of the
letter and Lord Ravenspur. A nat
III q. VI dNillS anu ueollS W ste HSl
mother came over Vera. She knew
there was time before the hour
fixed for their departure.
Vera slipped the letter inside her
dress, and with firm step walked
to the spot indicated in the letter.
She looked eagerly around to see if
anybody awaited her. There was a
faint suggestion of cigaret smoke
lingering in the air, and then, from
turn in the path, the figure of a
man emerged. Vera could see that
he was exceedingly well turned
out in evening dress. The dust
coat he was wearing only partially
concealed slim built, athletic fig
ure.
81 am Vera Rayne," she said
quite simply.
Il am already aware of that" the
stranger replied. Il suppose you
received the countess letter? But