The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1909-01-01

under his breath that was not quite
audible. Clement leaned heavily
against the m~antelpiece and breathed
hard.
Marion looked from one to another
with a troubled and b]ewildered face.
you say l I'M no the daughter of
Richard West?' she questioned,
slowly.
Richard West" said Mrs. Nav
gan, from her chair, in a half-stifed
voice; the man who robbed my poor
dead h~usband?"
No one appeared to heed her, how
ever. according to these afidavits."
the lawyer went on, quietly. "Richard
West was never married, but on the
death of your mother, who, it seems,
was his sister, he took you and your
nurse to his home and brought you up
as his own"
Marion stared at Mr.. Bice for some
moments in silence, but it is doubtful
if she saw him. Her brows were. low
cred, her lips firmly set. She seemed
to be trying to pierce the darkness
that surrounded her ealy childhood.
She spoke at length with an absent
look in her eyes, as if thinking aloud.
"Rlchard West was not a good man,
but on the whole he was very kind to
me-"
He was a very bad man." inter-
Jected Mrs. MaWgan, with energy,
and l am thankful you are not his
daughter. If l had known" then
she stopped abruptly and the sentence
was never finished.
Marion raised her head almost an
grily. Then her face s%oftened. 1t
was not to be wondered at after all
that this lonely should feel
hard and bitter.
For a moment or two there was an
awkward silence. Then Mr.. Bice, who
of the papers, spoke again.
Your Identity, as far as | can Judge,
seems to be very clearly established"
he said. ut is more than probable
that most Of the signatories to these
documents are still alive. in which
StoS lAS tuoh VI SSldollSHlHS Jul
claim will be much simplifed."
But why did my-my-uncle keep
me in ignorance of my parentage?'
Marion questioned, abruptly.
"Ah, that is not for me to say the
lawyer answered, with a dry smile.
"To discover the r-otives that under
lie human actions is often an impos-
sible task"
was my father rich?'
81 think not-that is, as men count
riches in these days. If my memory
serves me right he was entitled to
certain property in this country,
which, failing heirs, would revert to
his brother. But l remember it be-
ing reported at the time of his death
that he had made money rapidly in
the states, and, indeed, these papers
show that a considerable amount Of
property is involved"
you mean if I can prove my claim
l shall not be poor?"
my dear young lady, it seems to
you cannot possibly be poor,
whatever becomes of your fathers
English property"
But what am I to do? Suppose
my fathers people are ignorant of my
e%xistence?"
Cautiously enough" Mr.. Bice re-
piled. with the same dry smile, 'it
has been understood all along that
your father had a daughter somewhere
in the states. I have heard the mat.
ter discussed many times. But-but
bless my soul And Mr.. Bice
started from his chair and stared
wildly around him Well, if that
isn't curious!" and he took off his
%pince-nez and puckered his forehead
into a hundred wrinkles. why, it
was only a few weeks ago, now l come
to think, that saw in some paper an
announcement that news had reached
England of the death of Lord Edward
Grovely's daughter. Great Scott!
some cunning brain has been at work
here
II remember seeing that
myself" Mr.. Jackson interjected
at this point.
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