Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-03-17

A CROWN OF FAITH
CHAPTER xxI-fcontinued.,


CHAPTER XXI.-( Continued.)
You are surprised?' asked DR.. Dun
das. We'll, you Will perhaps be annoyed
when you hear of the part | have taken
in your life. | received the silver casket
from your father at Chateau Moreauville;
/ hold it now. In that casket are the
certificates which prove your fathers mar
riage and your birth. You are the very
next heir to an earldom, my young friend,
and, in my opinion, worthy of it.
Are you mocking me, sir?'
No; your father was my earliest, near
est friend. He was a noble, the eldest
son of an earl; but he was my greatest
friend at Oxford. He fell madly in love
with a beautiful creature who sold How
ers in the London streets. She was an
innocent lass of sixteen, just come up
from the country. Her father was dead,
and her old grandfather was turned out
of h;, farm; her mother died of want.
This child was barefoot and beautiful,
and sold flowers to support the old man |;
and your father, handsome noble, lost
his heart-lost his head-married her, sir
actually married her! The flower girl
became Lady Marlowe. l was present
at the wedding"
Lionel grasped the hand of the doctor
The earl heard of it, sent for your
father, abused him, told him 10 leave his
presence. He never saw him again. Your
father took your mother abroad, support
ed her by his pen, changed his name. You
were born. and your sister; and your
mother died. Your father had taken a
hot ff &c ole ba become
All ardent Republican. He wished his
children to grow up in the same notions,
20 be guided by the same ideas. l was
sent for to consult with him; but he
would not allow me to see either of you +;
he feared that in some way the secret
would be disclosed.
II used to walk up and down the long
hall with him at Moreauville when all
the household were asleep, and then he
told me that after his death | was to tell
his children who their father had been.
He was very i'll at that time, in the last
stage of a mingled consumptive and heart
disease. Well, he died suddenly but he
had given me the casket some months be-
fore. You will ask me why l have kept
silent all these months. Because l wish
ed to test your virtues and your sisters
in the school of adversely. You have
come out well, 10th of you. and see no
reason for prolonging your probation"
V'ho are we, thenF" asked Lionel
quickly
Your father was the Earl of Beryl,
he was Lord Marlowe. The present old
Earl of Beryl, who lies dying at Cal
thorpe, is your grandfather. The old earl
is conscious. 1t is only right that you
should come with me there, that | may
present you; show him the certificates,
and also give him a letter written to him
by his son, your father, and confided to
me-"
Lionel buried his face in his hands, the
strong young man trembled with emotion ;
presently, glancing up, he said:
But. Mr.. CalthorpeY
"Ah he is only distant cousin of the
earl he is a generous lad, and, if he had
not acted like a jackanapes in regard TO
this Watson woman, there could be no
harm in his marrying your sister, for the
earl would give him a few thousands, and
you would settle anything on your sister
to make her happy"
Anything" answered Lionel, with a
sigh.
Don't despair !" said the doctor, laying
his hand on the young mans shoulder ;
ELLA will surely write to you. / have
studied that girl, and l know"
But there is a secret connected with
the Wycherlys?" said Lionel.
"Ah! very sad one" returned DR..
Dundas gloomily.