Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-28
The House of Cards


Continued from Page Fifteen
with apprehension-but, of course, he
was safe-oh, yes,-safe! He would be
dead by now!
"And he tells me curious story
the LAWYER went on. HE declares you
are not Meta Thornton at ALL but the
real daughter of Job Small, the farmer
at Walla-the girl he loves so des-
perately that he had to follow. he
says that your father and mother hit
on the plan of passing you off as Meta
Thornton when my son discovered In
YOU a likeness to my old friend. Well,
l think I can upset your plans, young
lady. Dick is madly in love with you,
and swears he will never give you up
So, yesterday he told me the whole
story-all about Mr.. Jack Thornton,
who lived at Walla, and who at last
died there, leaving his jewelry. rings,
watch and links, and his wife's jew
elry and his papers with your father
and mother. They never meant TO pc
dishonest, but when my son fancled
he saw resemblance in you to old
Jack Thornton, then the swlnole &C
CURED to them and tempted them.
And it was worth risklng, young lady.
But it has failed!"
"Failedl But it's a lie-a lie! sne
cried. Then broke off.
Dick Martin alive and well, was
there confronting her and holding out
his hands.
II didn't meet you last night" he
said. because when l got back to the
inn l found a wire from the lawyer.
Now"
He approached her smiling, but Meta
neither saw nor heard. She fell back
fainting into the lawyers arms.
A little later Kitty sat by Sir Chris
topher's side, bending and looking at
him. But" she stammered, Il thought
oh, 1 was sure that you loved Meta.
He looked up at her. Darling, why
did YOU think that?" he asked. Il think
1 have loved you ever since L can re-
member-ever since 1 had you in my
arms twelve years ago-such a niue
thing you were then, and not mucn
better now. But love you, and when
1 crawled up out of the weli-oh'
hitty!"
"But-Meta-? stammered Kitty
presently.
Sir Christopher raised himself. What
of her?" he asked. "She has been
proved an impostor. Dick Martin be-
trayed her Why, darling, you did
not suppose 1 loved her, did your
She nodded without speaking.
but why?"
you were always with her-night
after night After she came l used 10
go away and leave you together ana
you must have been fond of her. l
thought"
He sat up suddenly. Darling, you
didn't realize" he cried, stretching out
his hands to her "Oh, my DARING,
listen. Almost ever since Meta came
I have been worried. If she had really
been my cousin her share in the prop
erty would have been very large. we
could have stood it, but during the
last week or two some things that
had a great deal of money in threat
ened to go wrong, and have been
worried, because after giving her her
share I should have scarcely been able
to tide things over. That was what
took me out to the well. 1 could not
rest indoors, and 1 went there by ac-
cident, but-now-old Ford came over
especially to tell me that things nave
turned out all right, and that L need
spend no more evenings by myselt
counting my money-that I can spend
them with you instead-if you Will nave
me, Kitty oo,
She fell forward breathlessly On
Chris! Oh, Christ" she cried.
He held her to him.
And he holds her to him still.