Witch Hazel; or, The Secret of the Locket — page 392: what you’re looking at

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

art, embracing her; ‘‘but you will not wonder at my selt-condemnation when I have told you all my story and you learn how much I owe your mother.” She then related to her wondering audience what we already know. “This i8 truly marvelous!" Mrs, Earlescourt said, when Mrs. Stewart was through; ‘‘and it seems as if there can be no doubt about Marie being your child. It can be readily proven, however, for I have the clothing that she wore when I found her, and also a little ring which I took from her finger when it began to be too tivht for it. Here it is!” And she drew from her wateh-chain a tiny circlet of gold, which she passed to Mrs. Stewart. “This proves it beyond the shadow of a doubt; for here are the initials, ‘I. to M.,’ and the date, ‘18TH, { Her little cousin, Fannie Appleton, presented the ring to her on her birthday,” said Mrs, Stewart, with -tear-dimmed eyes. “Oh, Mrs. Rarlescourt,” she added, turning again to her, *‘you have keen a mother to my child, and a so much better mother than I am, or could have been to her, that, in view of what has re- Spek occurred, I am bewildered, unnerved, humili- ate She certainly appeared so, and every heart sympa- thized with her, Mrs. Earlescourt here turned to the duchess, say- ing: “If your grace will not repent of your proffered hospitality, T believe, after all, I shall be glad to aec- ceptit. There is s0 much that I would like to talk over with Mrs. Stewart, I think I will not return to London to-night.” “T am delighted, my dear IEmelie.” her grace re- sponded, heartily. ‘Tam only too glad to kee YOu, as long as you will remain.” :