Mrs. Bob: A Novel — page 236: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

228 BOB FINDS—A FATHER-IN-LAW. to believe this gentle-mannered man could ever have doubted and been cynical. ‘‘Had not a new light dawned upon me I should have kept my secret always, and carried it to the erave with me. Ina strange way I wasbrought toa point where I looked’ upon a face that thrilled me through and through; it was so like that of my lost Ruth, whom I had been led to believe was dead. The name attracted my attention first—then that face. Bob, there came a sudden suspicion—an inspiration, that I had been deceived, basely hoodwinked by that vengeful old man—that I was gazing on the counte- nance of one who belonged to me—my daughter!”’ He stops a short minute, not for effect, but because emotion overpowers him. ‘“‘T said nothing, my boy, but did a powerful amount of thinking. Time passed. My quiet investi- gation began to bear fruit. Here I picked up a crumb, and it fitted a niche—there I made a little discovery and it was just what I wanted. Bob, there is no longer a doubt that I have found my own,”’’ joyfully. ‘‘Good Heaven, Senator!’ ‘What is it, my dear boy ?”? ‘“You can only refer to one being.”’ ‘‘Kstelle—my lost darling—my child.’ ‘‘Tisten—you were my friend—lI have confided in you as such, but that is ended.”’ ‘‘Why, Bob, surely I can see no reason 2 ‘*Reason—man alive, who ever heard of a young husband confiding—ha, ha!—his secrets to—his GComichooksscom