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Synopsis of Preceding
Chapters
Mrs. Isabel Wey land, a widow. Is
threatened with the debtors’ prison. Her
chief creditor. Mrs. Brvn er. suggests a
way out of the difficulty, marriage with
an imprisoned debtor, who for a paltry
sum will assume Mrs. Wevland's debts
also, thus relieving her under the English
law as it then was. He proves to be a
young lawyer. McNamara, and in pity
she pays h;s small debt from what little
there Is left of her fortune—not enough
tc free her—sets him free and agrees to
marry a criminal condemned to die in
three days as the means to obtain the
desired freedom.
An attempt Is made to induce her to
marry a negro murderer, her outraged
womanly Instinct tepels. and she leaves
the prison under the protection of the
parson. Spending her last money toward
discharging her debts, she flies toward
London’s suburbs, to escape her other
unsatisfied creditors. She encounters a
rich, but insane old gentleman, who im
agines her to be his dead granddaughter,
and will not permit her to depart. Here
she take up an ideal abode, safe from
the purs . 1 of revengeful creditors.
Oliver McNamara, - released from debt
ors’ prison by Isabel's generosity, begins
the practice of law. at which he is suc
cessful. His earnest efforts In behalf of
hopeless inmates of debtors' prison at
tracts the attention of General Ogle
thorpe. who is pushing In nurliament a
scheme permitting the release and emi
gration of debtors to Georgia, and
a grant of 50.000 pounds for the
founding of a colonv. Together the young
ami old men get the measure through
parliament. In consulting with a law
yer, a friend of Isabel’s father, Olivo 1-
thoughtlessly displays her ring. The
lawyer instantly recognizes It and de
clares that Isabel Is a legatee of her fa
ther In the sum of £20.000. Iss.bel Is also
left a large sum hv the denth of the old
man whose granddaughter she imperson
ates. She learns of McNamara and Gen
eral Oglethorpe and arranges to make
the journey to Georgia In place of a
young woman who has suddenly died.
Isabel proves a mlnlsterlne angel on
board ship across the Atlantic, soothing
f.nd encouraging the downcast passen
gers who were formerly Inmates of the
dreaded debtors' prison. She is shocked
to find on board Mrs. Brvmer. the sch- m-
Irg dressmaker who sought to engineer
Isabel’s disgraceful marriage that she
might ool'ect her own debt. The un
fortunate woman, shattered In fortune
and afflicted with a fatal disease, wildly
rails against the very debt laws, the
Justice of which she once so strongly
rvended. In ^_8$j?£„melancholy she
Gener ».l
flon turn-
Icmamled,
Bun-
SABEL assented in a
troubled tone. What did
his strange manner por
tend?
"Then why have you
not—? But wait *ou
say I may know your
father; how long since
you have heard from or
of him?”
"You have something
to tell me!” she cried;
Fit? I have not heard any
thing for long months.”
“Let us sit down, my dear young
friend,” he said, offering her his arm.
"There is much to tell you.”
' She grasped his arm and spoke with
sudden intuition.
“He is dead!” she whispered. Her
face grew white and her eyes were’
sad in their questioning gaze, but no
tears fell.
“I had hoped tor his forgiveness,",
she faltered as the general led her to
a seat.
"And you had it, my dear Mrs. Wey-
land.”
On, did he leave me a message?”
she cried eagerly. “Can you tell me
what it was? I have been so alone
since my husband’s death, and father
was so—’’ but she broke off.
“I know your story,” he replied gent
ly, “and I can assure you of your fath
er’s love and forgiveness. But I can
not tell you what message he left, save
that you were remembered IK his will
equally with your brother. He left you
twenty thousand pounds.”
"Oh. he did love me, after all—dear
father!” And now the tears fell fast,
but the flood was not a bitter one.
Her grief was softened by the thought
of her father’s relenting love at the
last.
The general walked to the rail and
waited for the fide oi emotion to
ebb. i.
When he approached her again she
lifted her head and dried her eyes.
"iou say you have much to tell
me.” she said with a wavering smile.
“Can 1 you tell me now?”
"Is it possible that you have been
in England, Mrs. Weyland. and have
not known of the search made for
you?”
“Not only in England. 1 have not
been out of London.”
"IncrediDle! Why, old Peter War
wick has moved heaven and earth to
And you ever since—since your for
tune came to you.”
“How long?” she whispered.
“More than a year.”
"So long! I have been more alone
than I knew! And my brother?”
“I know nothing of him personally.”
He would not tell her of the young
man's anger at what he was pleased
to term his father’s injustice.
Isabel perhaps inferred something
of the sort for she questioned him no
farther.
"You seem to think very little of the
Hail Queen—* ‘Oar ears have heard much of the beauttfut queen of oar
brothers" .
large sum of money you may now
claim,” he said, to divert her thoughts.
“Really, if we speak a vessel, we must
have a packet ready that will put an
end to the search Warwick, and young
McNamara have been so vigorous '
~ pirsut'iHliig." ‘
“Is—I did not know that Mr. War
wick had taken a partner.”
“No, no, but there’s a young lawyer
who has been assisting him, A fine
fellow, too. He has been invaluable
to me in this colony project. He is
fast making his mark.
"I don't mean to be curious, my dear
young lady, but it seems really re
markable to me that you could have
so hidden yourself as to escape his
sharpness and determination.”
“If you will not ask me why,” she
said, flushing a little, “I will tell you
how I accomplished it. I assure you it
was a very simple matter.”
“Truly,” he said, when she had re
lated the manner of her seclusion,
“truth is simpler as well as stranger
than Action. But you have no objec
tions to your whereabouts being
known now?”
"N—o,” she answered somewhat
hesitantly, “I suppose that will be
necessary.”
Then she a’dde.d brightly: “Oh, how
much I can do for our settlement! I
may spend without fear the little for
tune my dear old friend left me.” She
stopped with a sudden thought. “There
can be no doubt about it?”
"Your possession of yow
Not a little! Yon may
« ick to England to obtai
Ink proof of
cient.”.
Later in the.
pared a "docuta’
bel’s claims and
“We must have' it ready in case of
meeting a vessel,” he said as he
sealed it in readiness for delivery.
Scarcely were the words , out of his
mouth when there rang out the cry
of “Sail, ho! ” ■
All who were well enough, and
many forgetting their sickness, crowd -
ed to the rail and watched with
breathless interest as the tiny speckin
the distance grew as by magic into a
white-winged ship that courtesied
lightly over the waves like some great
aquatic bird.
General Oglethorpe delivered the
packet and as the Sea Queen sailed
away with it on board, he turned to
Isabel with a smile.
“I should like to see good old Petter
Warwick and his young enthusiast
when that letter reaches them. To
think tneir bird has flown across the
wide Atlantic! Young McNamara will
feel rather sheepish, I fancy, when he
kifows that he stood upon the pier and
watched the ship bear you away. In
twenty-four hours they will know.”
Isabel did not answer, but the sweet
salt wind gave a pretty flush to her
cheek and the sparkle of the spray
•warned tq have gotten Into her eyes,
ott: th&t. more than one oft her com-
ftabions looked at her in pleased ad-
gUflation.
.It was a winter morning, typical of
Gie south, when the settlors disem
barked. The sky was a blue dome of
itf$nite' height and exquisite clearness-
Tlie sun %hone warm and golden
through the crisp, fresh atmosphere.
Ttiere had been an early winter and
paw there was a hint of spring in the
Mr- It was a glorious welcome to
these bo long confined in dark' cells.
There were but a few weeks more
of;winter. February slipped quickly
•why. March brought a warmer sun,
A';Ibudding of much vegetation, a
sprinkling of violets and even a few
y birds.
en came April, the most charming
ith of all the year. The yellow
swung out its golden bellsi
... ihiny profusion; millions of
■reat pale blue violets and intensely
ones carpeted the ground,
it was not till early May that
woods were in their glory. Who
mfOk describe the beauty, the sweet-
note, the exquisite delicacy of that
fairest of forest flowers, the wild
•teten! That blossom dear to all
•fkothern hearts as the “wild honey-
■BCkie” of their childhood. Here it
IWorished in the greatest variety and
profusion; Acres were fairly covered
▼ith the pure white one that is like
. nothing so much as a miniature Eas
ter lily, sometimes as many as a hun
dred of the sweet little bells crowning
.one stalk. There was the pale pink
one ttyat hps an odd blotch of lemon
one petal; there were rose-colored
orange-colored, flame-colored
through the whole gamut of red to
richness of a velvet rose.
could never have enough of
Their fragrance, with Its pe-
quality of refreshing coolness,
oppressive.
of the little log
ed about
Alice came to the door and smiled
kindly upon her. The childless moth
er bore a look of settled sadness; she
would never forget her lost Lizzie.
But she was as happy as possible in
her new home. She bore the inevit
able privations with great patience
and encouraged John in all his pro
jects with real hope and interest in
them.
It had been a great pleasure to both
when Isabel had asked to be one of
their household. They assented with
a quick cordiality that assured her of
their sincerity. Mr.'Ellis had: proven
one of the foremost men among the
settlers in 1 all things looking to prog
ress and Improvement. His wife’s
health had been fully restored and
their home was the model one of the
settlement. Isabel insisted on con
tributing half the expenses, and her
woman’s taste and Ingenuity. had
made the log rooms homelike and
cheery.
As she stood in the vine-wreathed
gateway she seemed a fair embodi
ment of the springtime. She was clad
all in white as the days were sum
mery in their warmth. Glowing
cheeks, sparkling eyes, shining hair
and dainty mouth that quivered into
unconscious smiles, her personality
had that subtle but exhilarating
charm that only perfect health of
mind and heart and body can give to
a woman.
She wandered off into the forest,
finding ever ahead of her lovelier blos
soms, untu a noise that was not of
bird or beast made her start in quick
realization of her folly. How had she
dared to stray so far alone?
Ere she could turn she . was sur
rounded by a band of red men. She bad
seen some stray Indians once or twice
before, ana, thanks to Oglethorpe’s
just ana kindly treatment, they were
little to be feared. These did not look
fierce or vicious and her alarm began
to die away.
They walked about her and %azed
in evident admiration, but without
speaking a word. Suddenly at a ges
ture from one old man they all fell
back and Isabel srfw approaching a
stately figure clad in all the magnifi
cence of native splendor.
He advanced with great dignity,
and bowing low laid his hand upon
his heart in most courtly fashion. -
“Hail, queen!” he said. “Our ears
nave heard much of the beautiful
queen of our pale-face brothers. Now
our eyes are made glad by the sight of
her. Hail!”
Isabel accepted the homage as the
safest thing to do. She took one slow
step forward and graciously extended
her hand. The chief nad evidently
been initiated into court etiquet. He
advanced, and, kneeling, raised her
fingers to his lips with the grace of a
courtier..
“Red men, greet thou (he-queen of
the pale face!”
Each Indian then advanced and
paid his obeisance. It was all’ dona
with sa much simplicity and sincerity
that Isabel felt no fear and but little
embarrassment.
“I thank py red brothers for
welcome,” the said. ‘‘May we al
ire ‘liknjs. — ---
The Indians bowed and made
peculiar sign of friendly loyalty.
“The queen has the voice of. a mock
ingbird,” the chief rejoined. “There
is in it the beauty that would not de
ceive. Perhaps she would sing to us
like the bird. Her red brothers would
not forget.”
For all their stately ways these
simple forest dwellers seemed after a
fashion but children to her and Isabel
lifted up her voice and sariig to them.
It was a scene for a painter’s brush.
The background of dark green for
est, the carpet of gorgeously tinted
blossoms, the slender, white-clad fig
ure—a perfect type of the highest civ
ilization—and her court of dusky no
bles hanging on the silvery notes that
she ponred forth In joyous abandon.
As one last clear note died upon the
perfumed air, the chief raised his
head as If listening, though Isabel
could hear no sound. At a slight ges
ture, the Indians ranged themselves
about her and faced the trail in the
direction from which she had come.
In another moment a new figure ap
proached the little group, a man who
walked with the assured stride of
youth and strength.
When within speaking distance he
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Author of
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IS THE FIRST OF AN IMPORTANT SERIES OF SPLENDID FICTION STORIES
Announced by Uhe Sunny South q f
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are: Harry Stillwell Edwards, the well-known writer; Mrs. Sarah
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removed his hat and with a ceremo
nious bow, stopped short.
“What would you with the queen?”
demanded the chief.
I am vjiivcrMcNamara ” he said;
“have 1 the honor to address Mrs.
Weyland?"
The Indians had drawn close about
her, but she moved forward now wlf.h
stately grace. A brighter color was
-upon her cheek and her eyes were
downcast.
"My red’ brothers are good,” she
said. “They would shield me from
harm. But no peril lies here. This is
a friend.”
They fell away and she advanced
between the dusky lines and gave her
hand to the new-comer. With quick
wit, he took cognizance and advant
age of the unique situation, and drop
ping on his knee pressed his lips to
her hand. But the glance he flashed
into her eyes made the words he spoke
no mere form:
“My queen!”
He then greeted the Indians with
grave courtesy, and with a friendly
farewell they turned Into the forest
and melted with silent rapidity into
the shadows.
“Now begin to scold me for my im
prudence,” said Isabel as he opened
his lips; “I know it was childish folly.
I never did so before and I assure
you it shall not be repeated.”
“I never had such a fright in my
life,” said Oliver. “When I first saw
you they were walking about you as
if you were some rare specimen they
had. captured.”
Isabel’s laugh rang out.
“It must have* been amusing, but I
can assure you it was anything but a
laughing matter to me just then. I
was never more thoroughly alarmed.
It has quite cured me of all desire to
wander in these woods alone.”
“I sincerely trust so!” her compan
ion rejoined fervently. “I was afraid.
for fear
I soon
cmftiertl
jlHate
pt You hare
no idea what a strikingly - unique pic
ture it was.” His teasing tone flushed
her cheeks anew. '
“But how did you find me?’ she ask
ed, disdaining to notice bis- formef
speech. . . - .
“Mrs. Ellis was sure you were quite
near, but when we failed to make you
hear she grew terribly frightened, and
implored me to follow the path and
see if I could find you.”
“Have you been long from Eng
land?” •
“We arrived last night and you may
imagine how overjoyed 1 was to know
that you were so near.”
“I am sorry that Mr. Warwick had
such a search for me,” she said. “It
was too bad that he should trouble
you to come all this way.”
They had been strolling slosriy
down the trail. Now he halted, and
baring his head, he faced her with
suddeni passion. His face was white
and his voice trembled with suppress
ed emotion.
“At the risk of offending you, I
must speak,” he said. “I find I cannot
play the part I had laid down tor my
self. I am not a stranger—not a _
lawyer looking for an unknown client,
but a lover who has carried his sweet
heart’s face in his heart for months of
hope and longing.”
She found no word with which to
answer him.
“Isabel, my love, my queen. You
have been the the one impulse of my
life sluice last I looked into your
sweet eyes. All that I am, all that I
have done, has been one from long
thought of you. Through all this weary
time of waiting I have been upheld by
the hope—by the certainty, I might
say—that some time, some where, I
should find and claim you! Nay, do 1
not turn from me,” he cried, as she
averted her (flushing face. “I will be
content to wait years yet, if only you
do not forbid me hope. I ask noth
ing—but I could not look into your
sweet eyes ar.d not tell you of my
*ove. I will not say a word again un
til you give me leave. Tell me you are
not angry!”
She spoke no word nor turned her
face, but from out the folds of her
dress one little hand stole shyly to
ward him.
It was captured- instantly and Oli
ver. utterly ignoring his late promise,
cried softly as he laid his cheek on
the rosy palm: “Bid me hope, Isa
bel! Tell me that some day I may put
back upon this dear hand the ring
that has been my talisman.”
There was a moment of silence in
this garden of Eden. The sun wooed
the earth; the bee the blossom.
She threw one fleeting glance at
him over her shoulder.'
Not Just yet,” she murmured
softly.
And presently, hand i n hand, they
went their happy way through the gol
den sunshine.
(THE END,)