Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1915-12-23
CHAPTER TX.
Wealth From the Desert.

| ~ KS AM LEI ItSpNtu u
| /" make friends with llagars
supposed daughter II Arthur
Stanley. 50 called. was not
the rightful heir. Blair Stanley was
But this left the girl heir to Stanley
hall. and all could be conserved ana
all be well II Blair might return aud
marry Esther.
Even though Hagar recovered het
| faculties. she must remain silent as TO
Blalr's guilt were he Esther's husband.
thought Mrs. Stanley AS for Arthur
| Stanley. so called. there was slight fear
OF his returning
The shrewd mother or Blair Stanley
guessed now the true cause of Arthur )
flight and continued absence II was
because he also had learned the Stan
ley secret.
At Stanley hall Esther. made II WON
an and resolute by all the tragic occur
rences that OF late had befallen her
resolved II was her duty to examine
further into the documents in Hagars
brass bound box. Esther had ell
deavored vainly TO lift the cloud from
Hagar's mind by earnest Inquiries and
kindly beseechings. But Hagar would
only moan. My son. give NE back my
son. my little babe"
Then Esther read the documents
The proof was plain She was in hel
rightful place al Stanley hail Tor she
was Esther Stanley. Bur she resolved
through the love she bore for him she
had known as Arthur Stanley, that she
would take the secret 10 the grave
She would spare Arthur the shame she
knew his proud spirit would feel
What to her were place and position
here in Fairfax among II proud people
who. SO far as their women folk were
concerned had ignored her!
Yet when we are young we have our
hopes and dreams. Esther's hope and
dream was the return Of Arthur. the
sharing OF the secret with him. aud
his love Then all would be we'll So
II was that Esther was not wholly sur
prised when Blair Stanley's mother
called at Stanley hall and proffered her
friendship and assistance.
There were no condolences exchanged
between them. Esther suspected that
Blair's mother vaguely knew. but In
her loneliness. and having no friend
save the humble though devoted Quab-
ba. Esther was glad to accept the
proffered friendship OF her austere
kinswoman. though neither spoke OF
the tie.
Mrs Stanley suggested that Hagar be
taken to Richmond for treatment for
her mental atlliciion She also insisted
that Esther should 20 to Richmond
and be introduced into the best circles
there by Mrs. Burton Randolph
1t may have been that Mrs Burton
Randolph stood IN fear OF her austere
kinswoman. Mrs Judge Stunley-fear
that was augmented by the fact that
Blairs mother knew the true character
OF Vivian Marston
1t also may have been that the sweet
nature and beauty OF Esther and her
gentle breeding appealed 10 Mrs Ran.
dolph more than her fears Of Blair's
mother IL always had been Mrs. Ran
dolph's pet diversion 10 have protegee
AT any rate. Mrs Randolph made
Esther welcome guest and protegee
aud assisted Blair's mother In securing
the leading alienist OF Richmond to
treat Hagar for her mental lnfrmity.
Quabba had been left behind at
Stanley hall. but Quabba suspicloned
that Blairs mother was an old foe
with new face OF friendship AS al
ways. he resolved to guard Esther
and he followed her to Richmond.
Mrs. Randolph had suggested TO
Blairs mother. when she found Mrs
Stanley desired her sons return. to
consult with that astute private de
tective, Tom Blake, in settling the
claims that were against the reckless
Blair In Richmond
Blake effected a conference between
Blairs mother and Abe Bloom the