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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1909-5-27, Page 2THE PYSTERIOII8 BEY OR, PLANNING FOR 'ME FUTURE. CHAPTER, II.—(Continued). "Ah ! then there was a wedding - ting t" interposed Gerald, glanc- ing up from his reading. He arose and went to the table where he eagerly looked within th envelope from which he had take the papers. Yes, in ono corner there was small, but heavy, band of gold, an upon the inside he found engraver the initials "A.. B. to M. H.," to gether with a date which corms ponded with that upon the eerti ficate—April 10, 18—. "Surely, everything indicates e bona -fide marriage, and I cannot understand why my mother was de- serted in such an apparently heart- less manner," ho muttered, his face gloomy and over:east; "everything, up to the moment when her hus- band left her, seemed straight- forward and sincere, end it was not like him to basely desert any one like that—least of all a wife whom it cannot be doubted he loved. It is the greatest mystery in the -world!" "It certainly seems so," said Lady Bromley, wiping her eyes, for she had been quietly weeping over the sad story of the poor, wronged young wife. "And now," continued Gerald, again returning to the manuscript, "I havo nearly come to the end of my sorrowful tale. I laid Marian away beside her father and mother, in the old family plot in Ashton, Rhode Island; but I put no stone at her grave—I could ill afford it, for one reason, and I would not record her name there as Miriam Harris. Yet I shall conceal this revelation among other relics in the old ma- hogany cricket which I have charged you always to keep. I have recorded here that I pledged myself that I would never reveal the secret of your birth ; but I made a mental reservation that when you were twenty-one I would confide it to you, with the proofs of your par- entage, and you could then act as you thought best about revealing your identity to Adam Brewster, or his family, should any of them be living and known to you at that time. Once, when you were about a year old, I went to New York, and made inquiries about the Brewster family. They were not in the city, and I have never heard anything about them sinee. Two months ago I brought you here to New York with me, so that you might have the advantage of good schools. I am going to do the very best I can for you, my boy, so that if the time ever comes for you to appear as a Brewster, you will be a credit to your name. Some time am going to make further inquir- ies regarding the family." The letter stopped abruptly here, but was resumed open another 'sheet, under a later date: have just conte from a. visit to Ashton, Rhode Island, where I went to look after the family lot Sometimes I in the cemetery. think I have a trouble. which may take me off suddenly, and I wanted to be sure the place was in good order, and to tell the sexton where to lay me when 1 am carried there. I am rather sorry that I did not put some kind of stone at Miriam's grave; but if you ever find. this, you can act your own pleasure about the matter, and perhaps you will also look after the place occa- sionally, so that it will not look neglected. You have always been e. good boy, Gerald—my pride and my blessing, even if I have seemed sharp and reserved with you at times when you have asked ques- tions that were difficult to answer. I hope and pray that you may be prospered in life, and have a hap- pier lot than fell to your mother, I may add something more to this, bet think it doubtful." That was all, but the pathos of the last few pages had been very touching, and Gerald's voice was husky, •his lips tremulous, as he concluded. "Aunt Honor was a noble wo- man," he said ; "I have never real- ized how much she must have sac- rificed for me until now. I shall go to New Haven to -morrow, and after I have examined those rec- ords I will hasten to Ashton, to visit her grave and my mother's, both of which shall no longer re- main unmarked. Oh, Lady Brom- ley". Can. all this be true?" he ex- claimed, as ho refolded those close- ly written sheets, "or lave I only been dreaming?" "I believe rt Is true—of course, it must be true, and henceforth you are Gerald Wiirchester Brew- ster, she smilingly replied, and feeling that he would be'a noble representative of the family name, "Not at present," be gravely returned ; "not until I have faced John .Hubbard in court, and proved my position. Then the'world may knew the secret of my birth. But," with a deep sigh, "I cannot under - steed my father's unaccountable desert:lob of my mother, If I thought it was premeditated, I he- lieve I should be tempted to repud- iate him, and refuse to bear his naive." "It .certainly is a tantalizing mystery, but 1 sincerely hope that it will some time be solved to your n satisfaction,' said his friend earn- estly. a I fear not, but I would give the ald remarked, and little thinking . bow soon his wish was to be - granted. world, if it was mine, for even a sign that he was true to her," Ger- CHAPTER III. The next morning Gerald had a long talk with Mr. Lyttleton, Lady Bromley's brother, by whom he was employed, regarding the astonish- ing discovery which he had made, and the man at once threw himself, heart and soul, into the work of sifting the matter to the bottom, and, if possible, overthrowing John Hubbard, who, from the first, he had believed to be a scheming scoundrel It promised to he a very interest- ing ease, and, like an old war-horse scenting the battle from afar, he became all alert and eager for the fray. "We will make that rascal squirm in the most lively manner, before we get through with him," he grim- ly remarked, with an anticipative chuckle, while talking over the modus operandi which he intended to rpursue. "You appear to be very hopeful of the issue," Gerald smilingly ob- served, "I only wish I could feel half as sure of winning my sister's case for her," Mr. Lyttleton replied, a frown of annoyance sweeping his brow. Have you any news—are there more complications to be mel 1" the young man questioned. "No; nothing that really am - outs to anything; but the English are so conservative, and, of course, the sympathies of an English jury are likely to be enlisted in the in- terests of their own countryman. Lady Bromley is an American, and that fact is against her, while the relatives of her husband have the characteristic `bulldog' grip, and will never let go while there is a foot of ground or an English shil- ling left to fight for. If there had only been children, everything would easily have been settled at the outset, It's a great pity that Mabel couldn't have given Sir Charles an heir to the estate," Mr. Lyttleton concluded, with a sigh. Tile case had been held in litiga- tion so long, and was continually being deferred for what seemed to him no reason whatever, he was becoming somewhat discouraged and growing to fear that his client was being subjected to the "freez- ing -out process." However," he added, brighten- ing after a moment, "we will dive intotheof e case Brewster vs. s Brew- ster with a right good -will, and we must proceed, forthwith, to gather our facts and evidence. You had better go at once to New Haven, as you have planned, and Iook up the record of your mother's mar- riage, which, if found to corres- pond with the certificate, will greatly strengthen your case. Study carefully the record of marriage intentions, also, for, of course, one will corroborate the other." So Gerald started immediately for New Haven, where his fair young mother had spent most of her life, and become the heroine of the sad romance which he had learned only the day before, Upon his arrival, he went directly to the office of the city clerk, where he called for the marriage records of the year whinh appeared ellen the certificate in his possession. 'When the ponderous book was placed before him, his heart began to quake, with the fear that dis- appointsnent might be in store for him, and his search amount to noth- rnFinally he found the data ho was looking for, and then slowly scan- fr ned the page and the names record- ed under it. Suddenly he started, and an expression of mingled as - the other, too plainly to be cis- aken. t The latter hada very German look and sound, and it was au in- explicable mystery to hint. He then examined the record of marriage intentions, with the same result—that queer -looking name stared him boldly in the face wher- ever it had been necessary to enter i11. "It certainly seems as 11 I am to be handicapped <atthe very outset," he said to himself gloomily; "no court would ever admit the authee- Y licit of anycertificate which 1 might produce in the face of such counter -evidence as this, But," with a start, "where did John Hub- bard find that record of Adam Brewster•'s marriage to Louisa Simpson? He claimed that they were married on the same day, and in the city of NewNewHaven; if that is so, I ought to and the entry hero," And with this thought in mind he began to run his fingers down the page, Ah ! a tow lines below he found it —Adam Brewster to Louisa Simp- son, and under the same date. • Nis heart sank like a lump of lead in his bosom, He could not under- stand it, and he was bitterly dis- appointed at this unexpected frus- tration of all his hopes. But he made a copy of both en- tries, and then, with a feeling of. deep despondency, left the, office, fearing that his journey had been all in vain, and that the puzzle would never be solved. As we know, it had been his in- tention to keep on to that little town in Rhode Island where his aunt and mother were buried. He had never visited the place since Miss Winchester's body was taken there for interment, eight years. previous, and, after reading her letter, he felt that he owed it to her to heed her wishes regarding the lot in the cemetery. But now, in view of his disap- pointment, be had no heart for any other enterprise—he was eager to return directly to New York, to confide the result of his trip to Mr. Lyttleton, and consult with him re- garding what step, if any, to take next, lie had even turned his steps to- ward the station, with this purpose in view, when some inward monitor prompted ,him to stop and recon- sider his determination. "Since I have come so far on the way, it seems a pity not to keep on," ho muttered reflectively; "it will only delay me one day, and I may be tempted to continued pro- crastination and so neglect my duty altogether. It is selfish of me to think of only my own personal in- terests—no, I will go on, make ar- rangements to have the lot well cared for in the future, without dallying over it any longe:, and so have my conscience at rest about the matter." Having arived at this decision, he resolutely faced about and proceed- ed to put it into execution, It was late in the evening when he arrived in the little town of Ash- ton, which, however, had grown considerably since his last sad visit to the place. and he thought it would be useless to go to the vil- lage .cemetery before .morning. He made his way to the one small hotel which the town boasted, pro- cured his supper, and then retired, but feeling far more weary than if he had labored all day long in the office—so susceptible is the body to the action of the mind. l He slept heavily, but awakened early, and immediately arose, for he was anxious to get through with his business and return to New York as soon as possible. It was the month of October. The morning was bright, the air clear and keen, from the slight frost of the night previous, while the foliage everywhere was brilliant with a thousand exquisite tints which made the thrifty little hamlet, nest- ling so cozily in the shadows of the many fine old trees that graced its treets, seem like a beautifully il- uminated picture. A brisk walk of ten minutes brought Gerald to the entrance to the cemetery, when, entering, he threaded his way through the var- ious paths, until he finally came in sight of the old Winchester lot. The moment his glance fell upon it, he stopped short, an exclama- tion of astonishment bursting in- voluntarily from him, for it was in the nicest possible order, and showed evidences of thoughtful, even loving, care, and the expendi- ture of no small arnount of money. It had been nicely graded, and a ne granite border set around it, while, on one side, a small but very aseful monument of the same stone ad been erected. His first thought, on coming in fight of it, was that he had mis- aken the spot; then he knew by ho two beautiful willows, which he ad so admired eight years ago, and which were the only one in the grounds, that he was right. (To he Continued.)F ATIHERRBBLUND BLUNDERS, When father said to mother "This coffee's cold, my clear," She didn't heave a little sigh, She didn't shecl a tear She simply gave him such a, look, I'm sure had he been able, Poor father would have left his place And envied beneath the table! !Chose who dwell in other people's memoriesought to:live cheaply, s 1 tonishment and dismay swept over 1r his features as he read those of s Aldren Bronstern and Miriam t Harris! This was like a blow in the face h of our hero, and he sat staring blankly at the entry, both color and courage forsaking him for the nue monk, "Wed, this beats ane !" ho mut- ltered, a strange sense of defeat stealing over him. "What can it mean f The name on the certificate in my possession is certainly Adam Brewster." He drew it forth, and proceeded to compare it with the entry before hint, The handwriting was unmistak- ably tiro same, both upon the book and the certificate, and yet "Adam Brewster" was inscribed upon the one, and !'Aldren llronstern" upon On the Farm to o 1%n SEEDING' FOR OATS. The 'quantity of; oats to sow per aore must be regulated by condi- tions. In discussing the question Wellaae's Farmer states that early oats having a short grain and hence more grains to the bushel require lighter seeding than thelate varie- ties. If the bushels are determined by weight rather than measure, more bushels are required of Well cleaned oats than of oats as they come from the machine. Again, the earlier the seeding, the more seed required, because the less time and opportunity for shooting. Still further, the richer the land the less seed is required because of the greater stooling on account of the more vigorous growth. The poorer the land, the Iess stooling there will be; hence the larger the amount of seed necessary. Much also depends on whether the oats are sown with the main object of securing a grain crop, or whether the farmer wantsto make sure of a stand of grass and is us- ing the oats for a nurse crop. In the latter ease he should sow just enough oats to keepdown the weeds. This, again, dpends on the cleanness or foulness of the land, and also on its fertility. Thera, are lands in which a bushel to a bushel and a half of oats will keep down weeds. There are other lands in which it will take from two and a half to three bushels. Once more much depends on whether the oats are drilled! or sown broadcast. If the seed bed has been thoroughly and properly prepared, drilling will save half a bushel of seed to the acre, because it puts them in at an even depth and gives all an equal chance to grow. Whereas if they are sown broad- cast, here may be weather con- ditions which will start some of the oats a week ahead ,of the rest, and these last will hava feeble growth and be overshadowed by the stronger growing. These are the things which the farmer must consider. No one can advise him. In a general way we would say that from two to three bushels of the earliest oats drilled on well prepared ground will give a satisfactory yield. If we were seeding for grass we would use the smaller amount, If seeding late oats w..a no question of grass, if they were well cleaned, eve would put in from three to three and a half bushels. Sometimes a higher yield is secured by four bushels; but in our judgment the difference is not sufficient to justify such heavy seeding. ALFALFA POINTERS. Among things to be avoided, if one expects to succeed with alfalfa says Bulletin No. 30e, of the Geneva. N. Y. rnxperimental Station, are wet soil, sour soil, shallow soil, adulter- ated seed, dodder -infested seed, seed of poor vitality, seed from warmer, irrigated lands, and weed seeds in the soil. Factors that aid in securing good yields are thorough preparation of the soil, usually best begun the year before by planting a cultivated crop to which a liberal a.pplication of stable manure is made, and good dodder free seed, usually sown without a nurse crop, and put in after weed seeds have been worked out of soil. In most cases, the use of half a ton to a ton of line to the acre, and of 200 to 300 pounds to the acre of soil from a successful alfalfa field, will prove profitable, and one or the other often changes a failure to a success. PERSONAL PAIL&Gl3APIIS- Interesting Gossip About Some Notable People. Mrs, Elizabeth Dickson, the Scot- tish post -woman who has retired after thirty years and eight months' service, has not once been late on duty, and has only been absent on sick leave for fourteen days. During her period of :service the old lady has walked thirteen and a half miles a day -129,392 miles in all, or distance equal to more than five times round the world! IMIr. Thomas A. Edison modestly claims that he owes much of his success to luck. '"On'e day?" says Mr. Edison, "when tramping the streets of New York, without a cent in my pocket, I happened an it telegraph -office, which had about five hundred subscribers. 1 was standing beside the telegraph ap- paratus, when ft gave aterrific rip -roar, and stopped. In a few moments hundreds of messenger - boys were yelling for someone to fix the tickers."I stepped in, end moved a loose spring that had fal- len between the wheels. Next day 1 was appointed to take charge of the service at three hundred chil- lers a month," But this was due to something more than luck. Prince Lowenstein - Wertheim- Rochfort, the German noble who, at seventy-three, renounced the world to become a novice in the Dominican Order end has Mat been ordained priest, is one of many roan of princely and noble rank who have become. monks. Among the monks of the famous Abbey of Benzo>i, at' Seeker, in Germany, are (or were not long ago) Prince lydwerd of Sehenberg-B.artenstein and Prince Philip of Hohonlohe who but a few ytars ago were among the brightest ornaments of the Codrt of Berlin, Father Sc bastion was known to the world as Baron von Oer, a dashing army of- ficer ; and Father Nicholas is Baron von Salis-Soglio, The abbey porter is one of the greatest nobles of the Grand Duchy of Baden, Baron von Drabs. That America has no monopoly of the romances of commerce is proved by the career of the late Mr, George Singer, who hos just died at Coventry, Rngland, and who, starting we a . mechanic, amassed one of the greatest fortunes ever made in the cycle industry. Sir William Arrol, whose career has .been still snore romantic, began his working life, as a child of nine, le a eottgn-mill; Sir Christopher 1 urness's fortune was cradled be- hind a grocer's counter, Tho late Sir John Leng's start was as an ill - paid reporter; and at nine years of age Sir Thomas Lipton is proud to recall that he was able to add a weekly half -Drawn to the poor fam- ily purse by errand -boy's work in Glasgow. Lady Oolebrooke, who is famous alike for her beauty, ecnomplish- ments and skill as a political host- ess, possesses a wonderfully eons- pieta ompieta carpenter's and wood eery, ing shop at Abington, Lanarkshire, Scotland. ,, cotl rid. Here she bas not only turned oust some clever pieces of work, but she lras taught come of the village girls on her husband's estate how to fashion wood by ham- mer and chisel. Lady Colebr•ooke is a clever sculptor too, and has ex- hibited at the Paris Salon. She shares with her husband a love of all that is artistic and beautiful, and to add to all these varied ac- complishments she tan drive a. four- in-hand and a Russian droschky- and-three. Dr. George Gore, who has .just died in Birmingham, England, at the age of eighty-two, was en en- tirely self-educated man. For four years he werked as an errand boy and for four years as a cooper. Working from six in the morning till eight at night, he had little leisure far study, but in the hours stolen from sleep he pondered deep- ly aver scientiflo subjects, and laid the foundation of his future suc- cessful career. From Bristol he went to Birmingham when twenty- five years of age, obtaining a situ- ation as time -keeper in the Soho Works. Before long the originality of his researches began to be noised abroad, and he set up as a teacher on his owe account. Before be was Food' P, o.dua LIBBY'S EVAPORATED WIIK Contains double the Nutriment and None of the Injurious Bacteria so often found in So- called Fresh or . Raw Milk. The . use of Libby's Insures Pure; Ii' i c h, Wholesome, Healthful Milk that is Superior in Flavor and Economical in Cost. Libby's Evaporated Milk is. the Purest, Freshest, High grade Milk Obtained from Se- lected Carefully F e d Cows. It is pasteurized and then Evaporated, (the water taken out) filled into Bright New Tins, Sterilized and Seal- ed Air Tight until You . Need It. Try LIBBY's and tell your blends k a good it it. Libby, htoNeiil & Libby CHICAGO thirty he lied discovered the sub- stanee known as "explosive anti- mony," and about the same time also discovered a liquid by means of which white nickel could be de- posited as a bright white metal. This liquid, known as "Gore's So- lution, was afterwards extensively used. Tiic Ncw Al Extracts from a few of the letters recelvsd by the Daimler Co. bearing mrd$ the dal= blade for the 11909 engine, CHAS E. MARTIN, ESQ. 12, 12, '08 ''1 have never experienced such a delightful feeling as when gliding 'along silently and smoothly on the New Daimler.'' - THE RT. HON. LORD BURTON. 20, 12, '08 'She runs very quietly and smoothly, even on very bad roads, and she pulls beautifully up hill. It is a real pleasure to ride in her." MONSIEUR C!RARDOT. 8, L. '09 '' 1 have noted. that Its chief qualities are its extraordinary flex- ibility, its absolute silence, and its marvellous efficiency, in compar,. ison with tappet valve engines. CHAS. NAY WALKER, 'ESQ. 28, 12, 'Qui ..The way she crept along on her top speed at about 3 miles an hour was marvellous. The Daimler Motor Co., (1904) Ltd COVENTRY, ENGLAND. 6 YOUNG FOLKS NPoc�aoeGoolvoes, THE PROCESSION. They did not know they wero lrav- ing a procession. Tbty thought they were simply on their way to ochool, eaeh'a nice -looking, well.• dressed boy, with a pile of books str''apped together and hanging over ,ries shoulder, They were about a square apart --Peter in !the lead, making no noise of any kind, even wearing rubber soles on his shoes:; Paul bringing up the rear; making noise enough.for both, for he wore pegged shoes, and sept thein dawn as if ho meant them to stay where he put them. And whistle! Why, he could ositwhistle any blackbrroaThey were not acquainted with each other, for Peter was a new- comer at tie school, end Paul usu- ally went round the other way, It was a bright spring morning when the procession took place, and ,ovorybody Iiked the side of the street where the sun ehane warm- est, coaxing the baby leaves over- head farther and faster crit of their winter cradles. Quiet Maple Street was turned into a regular play- ground, for groups of little people were having lovely times all along its wide pavement. It was just as the boys turned beintoginMaple Street that this story s. Two little girls, strolling side by side, had ' their doll go-carts out, giving their large and varied famil- res an outing. In Dat's there were probably half a dozen dolls, and in Daisy's four or five. Then Peter passed and although the pavement was very wide, and Dot and Daisy were not using half of it, somehow both go-carts turned quite over, scattering their con- tents far and wide. By the time Paul arrived on the scene,' both lit- tle mothers were tearfully sorting out their own children from. the general mix-up, hunting for broken limbs and cracked noses with piti- ful anxiety, while Dot wailed over and over, "1t is just like boys!" Paul did` not stop but a moment, hut when he passed an, the go- carts were riglrked, -their, pillows as smooth as if they had never been disturbed, and the emiling faces of the two doll families, peeping above the neatly sproad covers, only re - fleeted the, joy of their small ma- mes. They watched him whistling OD his way; then Dot, ignoring her last remark, said heartily, "I like some boys -,nice ones:" A little. farther on some wee ur- chins were playing marbles in a ring chalked on the pavement. They had not knewn much about mar- bles till lately, but they were learn- ing beautifully, earm-ingbeautifully, and the game was aee:bing a most exieating climax when Peter passed. How Osie pair of rubber soles` could havo touched ze many marbles at once not boy understood—especially as they rub- bed out a big piece of the chalk -line at the same time, and there . was not a bit of chalk left in a single trousers pocket, Everything was spoiled. No- body could ever know whether Harold really would havo beaten, or Lawrence have made good en that next play. Paul stopped a bit lounger here, because some of the nicest marbles had rolled them- selves quite out of sight. But in about one jiffy their ring was mended, bigger and plainer than ever,—Paul had c big long stick of chalk with him, and gave thein what was left for next time, —and every marble was in its own• er's hands.. It was a game of jacks next, and then a epirited horse -race that needed Paul's consolations; and a little farther dawn an upset tea- party, attended by a chubby baby girl and a fat poodle. There is not time to tell any more only this: When Paul met Peter an the school grounds a little later, he faced the insolent stare of the new boy, saying steadily, "When you want to vent your meanness on something that can't hit back, I'd advise you to take the punch- ing -bag in the gym instead of a ,street full of babies." And he said much more that Pette never (ergot. Wo all start on a procession every _ morning, Now tell line which aro .r'' paartwo, fonPe,ter or Paul ?—Youth's Com - SAID UNCLE SILAS: "Ain't much diff'runce, after all, between the nasus who's seckin' 'em- ployment an' the feller who's lookin' far a ,job;" Mr. Andrew Carnegie is a avec- tical man and a man of emicic de- cision. He once asked an Eclin- burgh friend whether he would ad- sisc the establishment of a golf course at Skibo. "Yes, by all means have one," was the reply, "and go in for the game yourself.. It will add ten years to your life." "Imho81" answered Mr. Carnegie. "Well, look hero, if you'll guarwn- ten that- it swill really add ten years to my life, I'll make you 1, present of two millions." His fiend thought for a. while; he was a truthful elan., "I canna do this( lie said at last; '`T canna tlo that, .but I'll toll ye wheit i'll do, I'll play ea for tae trim' ,pillions." 4