“Yes; and for years I have longed to come to the United States to visit his native land, hoping that by some chance I might glean some news of him and my child. My brother and I visited the place that used to be his home, but he had been gone from there for many years. After the death of his parents he had removed to some city, but no one could tell us where, and no one knew anything of his having a child, and were even surprised to learn that he had ever been married. We could trace him no farther, and I gave up all hope, believing that my child must have died before it reached this country, and so he had never owned the fact of his marriage.
“We thought we might as well visit some of the points of interest here before returning home, and it was while at Newport that I found Editha.”
“Surely you could not have recognized her after so many years?” Earle said, thinking she meant to imply that.
“Oh, no, although we were both strongly attracted to each other at once. She was ill; she had seen sorrow something akin to mine—that I knew as soon as I looked into her sad eyes—and just as I had discovered its nature, and was seeking a better acquaintance with her, she and her father suddenly disappeared from Newport. I learned through Mr. Tressalia that they had gone to Saratoga, and, being determined to know something more of her, and wishing also to visit Saratoga, we followed them thither. Immediately upon our appearance Mr. Dalton became strangely excited, and behaved in the most unaccountable manner.
“We arrived at night, while they were at a garden-party. We went to seek them, and, after a short interview, Editha and Mr. Dalton withdrew. Early the next morning, before any of us had arisen, they had departed, leaving no trace behind them as to their destination.”
“Aha! Mr. Dalton must have had some suspicion of who you were, and, for reasons of his own, desired to keep the knowledge from Editha,” exclaimed Earle, getting really excited over this strange history.
CHAPTER XLVI
“WHAT A STRANGE STORY!”
“Did you ever meet Mr. Dalton before?” Earle asked, excusing himself for his involuntary interruption.
“No, never; but I will soon explain how he recognized me, though I should never have known anything of him—should never have found my child even then, had it not been for your cousin, Paul Tressalia,” replied madam.
“Poor Paul!” Earle sighed, thinking how his hopes were doomed to be blighted at every turn.