Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-10-21

make friends with Hagar's
supposed daughter. If Arthur
Stanley, so called, was not
the rightful heir, Blair Stanley was.
But this left the girl heir to Stanley
hall, and all could be conserved and
all be we'll il Blair might return and
marry Esther.
Even though Hagar recovered her
faculties, she must remain silent is to
Blair's guilt We're he Esther's husband,
thought Mrs. Stanley. AS for Arthur
Stanley, so called, there was slight fear
Of his returning. /
The shrewd mother Of Blair Stanley
guessed now the true cause Of Arthur's
flight and continued absence. It was
because he also had learned the Stan.
ley secret.
At Stanley hall Esther, made a WON
an and res0lute by all the tragic occur
rences that Of late had befallen her,
resolved it was her duty to examine
further into the documents in Hagar's
brass bound box. Esther had en-
deavored vainly to lift the cloud from
Hagar's mind by earnest inquiries and
kindly ~beseechings. But Hagar would
only moan, my son, give. me back my
son, my little babe"
Then Esther read the documents.
The proof was plain. She was in her
rightful place at Stanley hall, for she
was Esther Stanley. But shesresolyed,
through the love she bore for him she
had known as Arthur Stanley, that she
would take the secret to 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 a proud people
who, SO far as their women folk were
concerned had ignored her?F' '"EF1
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, and
his love. Then all would be well. So
it 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
profered friendship Of her, aps1ere
kinswoman, though neither spoke Of
the tie. - .4JU g. nrliesE rjr
Mrs. Stanley suggested that,Ha garobe
taken to Richmond for treatment for
her mental affection. She also insisted
that Esther should 60 to Richmond
and be introduced into the best circles
there by Mrs Burton Randolph:
It may have been that Mrs. Burton
Randolph stood in fear Of her austere
kinswoman, Mrs. Judge Stanley-fear
that was augmented BY. the fact that
Blair's mother knew the true. character
Of Vivian Marstonr,ttl% s&&
1t also may have been that the sweet
nature and beauty Of Esther and her
gentle breeding appealed to Mrs. Ran.
dolph more than her fears Of Blair's
mother, at; always,hadbeen Mrs. Ran
dolph'stpet diversion to havea'protegee.
At any rate, Mrs Randolph made
Esther a welcome guest and protegee
and assisted Blair's mother in securing
the lending aiienIistf 81 Richmond to
treat ,Hagar' for her mental infirmityy.%
Quabba had been left behind at
Stanley hall, but Quabba suspicioned
that Blair's mother was an old foe
with a new face Of friendship. AS al
ways, he resolved to guard Esther
and he followed her to Richmond.
Mrs. Randolph. had suggested to
Blair's mother, when she found Mrs.
Stanley desired her sons return, to
consult with that "astute private de-.
t~ective, Tom Blake, in settling the
claims that were against the reckless
Blair in Richmond.
Blake effected a conference between
Blair's mother and Abe Bloom the
.n.-#H.s.r ..-. "a .rfEhEE 1i2,ts "a p. ana