The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-10-29
NEsoTA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2e, 1908

: In the meaatime Harold had re-
turned to Bolton, and transmitted the
envelope, BY mail. to his mother. In
the privacy of her room, unsuspecting
that Harold knew anything of the past
or of the letter, she broke the seal and
read:
"Dear Annie: The ways of Fate are
strange. What prompted me to desert
you, you have never learned. Listen,
you deceived me. Your FIRST husband
was killed ia railroad wreck. The
baby. Harold, was born ere your FIRST
husband died and was in charge of
your sister when we were welded.
Learning that left you. l did wrong
II have paid the price that conscience
exacts. Enclosed is deed to West
ern ranch. Good-by. &. r."
Carefully she folded the deed and
letter aid laid them in nearby trunk.
"Yes," she mentally thought, Fate
DEGREES strange things. My past is safe
no one knows, no one ever shall"
Alas! she reckoned not with Fate; for
that very evening she sent Grace to
her room to fetch evening wraps
which lay within the trunk. Raising
the lid Grace hastily grabbed the shawl
| and took 1t to Annie. Retracing her
| way thru the hotel corridor Grace saw
an envelope lying in the corridor.
Picking 1t up she proceeded to her
room and noting the address laid it in
her own trunk thinking to hand it to
Annie the following day
Two years had passed since Grace
Ramsay's experience ut the little cot
tage; ofttimes memory carried her
back to that experience with the mid
night visitor. -Bnt never q maiden
breathed who guarded secret closer
than did Grace the coming and going
of the man. 1.-THE mau" was the term
she mentally applied to her strange
visitor. But now, she was spending
the summer at q noted seaside summer
resort as companion to Mrs.. Annie
Grey. Seated on the veranda of the
hotel one lovely evening Grace sur.
J prised her friend by suddenly asking
"Mrs. Grey, would you object to my
marrying your son Harold2" 'Marry
Harold! you?-" then her womanly
: tact asserted itself. She had Other
hopes for her son; for few seconds
) she remained silent while Grace mod
estly waited. "Years ago." spoke Mrs
} Allen, "ah! many a year it seems, me-
a handsome young man. He won n.y.
love and We were married. A few
months later he deserted me-tha
man WAS your fatherl" IIaughtily sA'
! arose; dramatically exclaimed: "Yo,
. cannot wish, TO marry your father
sonr' With q pretence of indignation
: she left the veranda. As she entere,
;, the hotel Harold stepped from behin'
: q scrt en-; Grace met HIM with smiIinl
Q face: Harold, your mother has he
} heart set upon your marriage t
!. another girl. She lied to me, as she be
! lieves, for your sake" "She lied ? Wha
!, do you mean Grace" For q repl
Q Grace handed him the envelope sh,
had found months before. He scaune
the contents; with pale face, yet wit
! determination, he took Grace's arr
Z and together they proceeded to hi
mothers room.
The scene that took place within tn
room was memorable one to the loy
ers. Franticaily Annie declared the
= could not be welded. However, Hal
old handed her the ominous envelop,
: expecting her to quickly alter her moot
= but she smiling said: "HaroId. you
mother, Mabel Grey, and l were twin
We resembled each other so much tina
= we were often mis- ken for each othe
: Gerald Ramsay " ed nae years ag'
n Your mother. at lat time widow
m also secretly low him. One nigf
4 she overheard Gt sd and plannin
I to elope. On the ght set for el0p'
- mentI was taken sddenly i'll. l SCI
my sister to tnfor Harold. H0weve
n she eioped with and they wei
10 welded. For sew / months we kne
y not where they w :. One dark storm
r. night the deor OF 4r home was opene
o. and your mother tered. She hastent
ie to your cradle I ERE y0u--lay "a
asleep, bent dos and kissed you