The Ocala evening star., 1915-08-04

impostor who has squandered herit-
age that was not hisr'
Arthur regarded her as though she
We're. what she seemed to him. an in
sane harridan. who ragged at him I'm
half incnherent frenzy. Then Hagar
drew n brass bound box from its hid
ing place. and. Opening it with n key
from her bosom. handed him a sealed
document, yellow and musty with age.
on the outside of which were the
words:
'To be opened only after my death
i'm case my son. Arthur Stanley I'd,
shOuld prove unworthy Of the name Of
Stanley"
With trembling hands he broke the
seal and realized the woman before
him had spoken the dreadful truth
For there. affixed. was the signature of
Colonel Stanley, which he knew well.
and also DIR. Lees. also known to him.
as witness.
Nothing belongs to you, not even
your name, and much less this for
which you stained your hands with
blood" cried Hagar Historically. And
she threw down into the open brass
box with n gesture of disdain the dia-
mond from the sky.
"But / am not guilty of the death
of DIR. Lee; he was my friend" re-
piled Arthur hoarsely. "I did Kill my
supposed cousin Blair. and he now
lies in a grave dug for another. but not
for this" and he pointed to the baleful
jewel. 81 killed Blair Stanley because
he spoke I'll OF Esther. Why have you
driven her out to reproach me with
what 1 am not guilty? Tell me, If /
am not Arthur Stanley, who is she?
Is she my sister? / ask this, for by
every wild deed of my reckless life I'm
the past and for every good deed /
hope To achieve love herr
mo matter who she is. you are not
good enough to breathe the same air
with herI" replied Hagar fiercely.
"AIake the better man of yourself that
you boast you WIFI Make a name for
yourself I'm place of the one you have
lost and then return to me for moth
er's blessing and to learn who Es-
Their isI''
So saying Hagar, for she felt her
fortitude giving way, walked with dry
eyes and head erect from the van
Arthur picked up the diamond from
the sky. In her agitation Hagar had
forgotten it. and Arthur was OF the
belief that his Spartan mother had left
It there that he might take IT and
make some temporary use OF IL to
build his fortunes with. For Arthur
believed that Blair still lay dead by
his hand I'm the grave dug for another,
and with him the last male Stanley
save the old earl in England had per
ished.
As Arthur passed from the van he
saw Esther come toward him from
Hagar's side and was glad TO note his
fierce, stern mother made no attempt
To stay her. And Esther had evident
ly been told as much as Hagar cared
to tell her
She called him brother and walk
cd with him to the woods at the edge
of the camp. and there they paused
AMI made their farewells.
BE Il good man. Arthur. my broth
or. and let me be proud Of your Es-
ther whispered tenderly. And Arthur
folded her 10 his heart and kissed her
and strobe away.
lie looked back once and saw her
leaning against great tree and weep
Ing Rut neither he nor the weeping
Esther bcheld the dark face OF Luke
Lowell pccring at them through the
shrubbcry-
Ii was not until next morning that
Hagar sought for the diamond and
found II missing. Again her rage at
Arthur burned high. Hagar hated the
Stanley name and despised every Stan
ley possession. but she was resolved
since all the Stanley line was near at
end that Esther. defrauded Of every
other birthri2ht. should have the dia-
mOud from the sky
Hacar had not wholly believed Ar
thur guilty 90 Br. Lees murder, even
when She had first learned Of his being
suspected from Isther's lips when she
had come for Esther to Fairfax the
day before. Ea-ar resolved 10 20 to
Richmond. the nearest big city, feel
ing sure Arthur would be there In hid
iug. in the hope - finding him ana Sc
curing thr Ii l1nd from the sky for
Esther. even u it were necessary To
give Arthur. Irr own son. up TO the
law.