Los Angeles herald., 1908-05-31

with a reiteration that had never Iessened come
again and again to her heart since she had
adopted her. Had she not always thought to hail
with delight the day in which should be made
known to her the fact of her childs respected
cestry. And now it here-the day for which
she had longed and not only was she not glad but
distressed. She tried to collect her thoughts and
make some suitable reply, acknowledgement of her
friends confidence to express sympathy or hope,
but nothing she could frame seemed the proper
thing to say How could she sincerely cry "re-
joice, rejoice" when her hearts sadness made
bitter protest. And how could she in honesty
grieve with her when but moments speech
would dissipate her grief. The kindly twilight came
at length and covered from view her face that was
battle field of emotions, as she sat fighting
back the impulse to tighten her friends by
assuming one for herself
How would it end-how could it end and. Mrs
Morton still be the woman she was-honest and
sincere? She would tell her. of course she would
tell her. This much she concluded, sense of
relief accompanying her resolution, but not
She would not tell her now. This too she
surely concluded.
She retired to her room that evening earlier
much earlier than her won't serious and
sad, chill on her heart sensible as the early
frost that catches the lusty life of summer.
1T is Nellie-it is Nellie" she kept repeating
to herself, looking sadly from her window to the
far off peaks above which Grandfather Noun
tain lifted his head in solemn grandeur. "There
be no mstake-the indications too plain
1t is Nellie e-my child is her child and not
give her up
While Mrs. Morton sat thus in the gloaming
watching the stars come out, and the darkness
make of Grandfather dusky giant, hand was
laid gently on her shoulder. She had not heard
Nellie enter.
Mother"
There distress in her voice.
Are you back from the excursion, dear?" Mrs
Morton asked. Are all of you back well and
safe?"
Nellie stopped and kissed with more than usual
tenderness the upturned face. Whom do
suppose I met to-day, mother, met and talked
with?"
Whom? Your aunt?"
my aunt? What do you mean?" Mrs Nor
ton blushed to her very brows. Why did she ask
Nellie if she had seen her aunt when she knew
Mrs. Lockland did not go with the eXcursionists
and that she had left her scarcely an hour ago
the gallery How useless, how irrelevant the
query-a query born of fears and uneasiness
Nellie did not notice it, she far too much
absorbed in what she had herself to tell
NO." she replied, 81 have aunt, but
have Conrad"
"And-of course you spoke to him." asked Mrs.
Morton looking keenly into Nee's face for the
first time in her life wonder in her mind how
Nellie regarded the benefactors of her childhood.
mot at first, did not know him and can never
forget the disappointment and pain on his face
when refused his hand" and then, as accurately
as she could recall it, gave every particular of
their meeting and repeated every word of their
interview
"And Mr. Lockland, Nellie? Did he hear-does
he know anything of this?"
HE not with me when talked with Con-
rad but l told him afterward- l know of your
little waf, told him ALL
why did you, Nellie? How could you?"
Because it is time he knew it, mother. 1t
would be wrong to longer keep it from him.
we are too much to each other now. He has
asked me to wear his name, to be his wife,
rs that true darling? Then there is something
l have just learned myself He will not object l
dare say-w likely be pleased. l should have
been glad to learn it myself, but it is SO hard to