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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Blyth Standard, 1900-03-22, Page 7tt Id MISER'S HEIRESS ....11011W110411011011111AMMafinnebine‘annnno.nnetnisAna‘Annniiiii.Aikrow.anne CHAPTER L A stretch of highways lay white end hiell In the duek of the September "Wale and On its margin litoott a kWh red tavern, whave glory departed Wilk tile kit etameooach, and wheel le ruin as slowly, but ea 71 aa did Ito grand old neighbor &bind the ivy-welghted walls thotimoor. For a whole mile thie attended before it wee broken he iron gate* through which a Was gained of the lodgee and sombre avenue ; anti under OM Waia the September twilight, a Wrestling carrieffe rolled upon the Wide, white road. WNW few yardo of the Iron gates hte horses were pulled up. The pus - Oka sitting iquare upon hie saddle, WW1 straight along the road, ass a weli-trained post -boy Nhould ; the :en Illsrvalite Mated with folded arum upon $be box, had his eyee fixed upon the roadside tavern halt a mile ahead ; and neither of the men turned hie head oae Melt when the carriage -door be- hind them waa opened trout within. No change upon their fame showeel that they even underotood why the horses had been stopped, A geetleituan descended leisurety from the chaise, turned and addressed a few low worde to someone within, and then ;dosed the carriage door again quietly. The gentleman stood in the shadow as he gave his order to the servant, stood in the shadow as he paused for a moment to watch the retreating vehicle, end wax In the ihoandkow still th he walked up to the she of Abbotemoor and tried them. ed. Four gates there were in ale a high pair In the centre and a tangle narrow gate on either side, but all leaked,. Ile stood for a few momenta looking round In the dusk and then whistled a call. The summons wits answered at oh*. An old man eame limping from the lodge and forutinised the visitor neepielousis, an iohrewd old men will do when their sight ;crowd dim. "I heard the Cali, sir. I'm sharp enough to hear, but my eight fails me, ettol can't tell who it In." "A stranger and a traveller," the gentleman answeree from without the gates as the old man fumbled with the rusty kept, "and anxiety!, on his way' peat Abbotsmoor, to mre the %Met" ' "It's Into for that," the old men Muttered, with a feeble effort to turn the key In the look ; "we get bite few visit/we at any time, but -they never Come after sunset -awl no wonder." "You've opened the gate a thou- sand tInieff, I dare say, hut I fancy I oen do It better. Let me try." As the etranger spoke he put one band through the bars and turned the key with twee; then he haughtdi a lit- tle at the old mare surprise. "My ears are sharp to hear the dif- ference la rOlentl," the loige-keeper eyelpg his vieltor with keenest interest ass he entered the part ; -but nay eye% won't recognise faces eow. Tont voloe hare honnel ke tone tu me, sir, ao 1 know it's Englielt, though there's a delirium it that reminds etc of the foreign countriee weed to v Isle': With my old Master. Anil yet - 1 ought to know the tongue of the far West', when my own father was • Attleriealt" "Surely," the visitor anti, ''you have no need to lock the gate behind is 1. Mho would enter here In the duok't" "Who, Indeed ?" questioned the (ad Dian surlily. "No, sir ; it was only a habit. Buell habit clings to a limo after ten, years of It." 'Tan years?" the etranger WWI pouting within the gates nut looking tkoughtfully on among the shadows of the heavy treee ; "only ten year.; ? Thei you were not here at the time of Mr, Myddieton's death ?" ot /dr -thank Providence for that 1 I was In Germany at that thee, with my own old master. It was only after ins' eyes and limber failed ate teat Mr. Haughton - the Madly solicitor and a family connection, alr - put. me here to keep the keys. It waltet a post many oared to ; It ten't a post Y,'"' many would care te fill. even half - blind *ripples like myself, now that - iimeh a Writ name rests Waal the "Who lived here at the time of tho ' Mulder 1'. 'rho queettem was asked 000lly, and o quothioller's eYes did not come kaok front their movc atnoug the • Wiadows. ' "The woman who kept the lodge 'OWN Str, died not long after the . al • all you know of that time le , trate Why only ?" • ' "Front *away only, air, Who would whill to know It any other vetty.r' "Who. indeed?" The dusk was deepening In the park and the shadows lay a little weirdly abolleedikalralite of the lake. The ' Old looked with curiosity after Iletitlemen as he 'taunt. avenue qutte ea with a step which was far premolar's+ or listlea. a queer hour to come and ele the place. Mottle' people choose tit when they coma to min whore old Myddeiton .„ wad 110 -Old man muttered, while the (stranger went slowly on. to - third the great desolate house, over ass • whom Weary a veil ,of gloom and 107144 hung. "It almost seems," title visitor ' to hinuell twe he pawed np el ant avenue, "an if the mist oe guilt upon the place and thW bogey 111* of intention and die. We hat '0011 themmelvett about ate eine I passed those gates. The, iitoretbie Wiritlyein that stayed all life Wed WM* in title spot has toothed me too ; or Why do I not clearly fellow out title plan, as I IOW fellow& others in my life? "What is this feeling upon me which 'AWN+ to stop me here at the vere emptier 'Not to -night,' It says. Why Slat to -alert? le k but the first lIttlt 'of ohain I have to follow link by • to itie end. Can I begin too ThIe Mexplicable feeling le itt ,te M/Worthy of a thought." argues thus with himself, the theaght aloud la the *Renee, he raised hie hat, a few minutes carried it in as he walked on up the tod Staatitrown avenue. The brass rustled the green overhead, nod with lazy $ be lifted hit fare to meet wita A dark, grave (1,e, ' determined purpose, yet , ' ' at that moment of intern Patience - Mous patience born of Ist indifference, but n as , mania patience. hora it been ln a great repent- mifbt hare been in et Wrelleg. wan a taoe which 'WSW dtber expreesiona far tile Ill.trete, 0 OW warring &plot, Weak! power ed mAtring eiti plainly written a that moment, raised 3' shadow, thie was MihotOWOOr Wits rY IsS hearty two Wel la length, for titougl as the crow Hite, It would have bee avarcely mile from the Lodge to tio greet front entrance. yet the rti - pro:tilt was eo curved and twisted titat it doubled the dletattee. itt old times itelghborlteg equine toed to ergo int old Mr. Mythiletutt the ail. theability of forming a new approach. straight as an arrow, from the lodge to the home ; but their advice was laughee at retry met the old ave. nuo kept Its winding way. AO It happened that the vleitor was within a hundred yards of the house Itself when he caught hls feet glinnee uf it, Ile made no atop in hie thoughtful, unhurried walk, but there grew a look of keen ietentnese In hie Hype, and there started etto Redden life a line of deep and haramed thought be. Wean hie browe. tette of ilia change'," he geld to himself, his full gase on the home, " I *all remember it all rnore clear- ly oe thie *pot." The Hoene which lay before him was grand even in ita utter dewea• Con a•nd Plotorelue eveli la Re heavy haunted gkmni; for on lielther the emPtY beading nor• the untrodden gram lay nay trace of that deed wheel had made this spot a shun. nal and isolated one. "In thle weird aght /tad In thin lonely hour " the stranger whisper- ed to himself, "I shall see It Juntas it should be seer" There were no lame to mount, no terracee to tread. The inanolon stood low on the wide, level park, but It was none the law a grand ned an imposing etructure, viewed front that lamt point in the irregu- lar ilVelille. The visitor trod, more @lowly now, aerom Mien, up to the wide oak doorway flocked securely against his examining hand), then slowly on ptutt the long rows of witdows be. tonging to the groand floor, the ethutters of which were so heavily barred. He oount,ed them 101 Ile sauntered past the front of the home -eight between the door anti the corner. Involuntat-IY he stepped back a few paces and reenter:I the e:ght upon the other side. ee he did so a sound, indolluite and luiruly audible, reached him front the eltretthery heymet t•ite bOund • falut that it ntight well have tects laid to Imagination only, but a toned about ,wieelt the listeuer, after a minute's patt e, felt no *doubt at all. " A rough,' be mei, with lasy ear - client, 'strangled ate' steed, but a cough tutmitakiitly; end, more than that, a mates cough, nod at II more than th it, a cough I've heart More.' Then lie ettuntarei on. The rink omr whIcit he teeppel was heavy w dew, yet often he etuppel were' it wits longest te getho it tem. eon) from the w flowerer which over. ran tlie riegketott I I wa. Iv mussed front the groat frottt entrance rounti to the south end of the house, turned awl hiterei pert the serviette prent ex, itt the ha -k, that terms,' 'mother tooter tine volt:need kis walk it little more elewly, besets the ;buttered wit•lowe ort tits north eitie. At eye tho lamt In the row, be tuwk. a pause, not 114 II In tuwertnetty tied doubt, but with n eettled purposes,. Fleet Ile exemined It Nita:illy, wax:ming with Ids eye the 'eight ale) width and Ma depth (rem tit. ground ; tient he turtle(' ids bitch upon it and took In, with a keen, full elenee, till levee before it -the stretelt of heel, the bookeing of Otrubbery beyone, anti the crowd of gran I old rim. towering above It au I &tin farther on. For at hoot tett Ong pewees; he stood so, ids eyes -fork. gri,,% eyee, holding the rare beauty ,-1 deep, clear thought,- ear- ttestly tcattniag the dusky scene, and 110 litter y:111ntes anci vigilance intim If ans epee could 'lave been watch. Ing from among the overgrowe lams els ("welts, this was a picture not to lie enelly forgotten or linderritO0d, lollela end 110 Still the miscue, so env, yet so full of purpose this NOW tory figure. But why ishottle any watdhful eye haee been hidden there anode the darkening, laurel leasei? The long, thoughtlul minutes were spent at last, and the lonely slat. or turned to laave Abbotesuoor. One Met glance before he entered the avenue, anti the scene was photo grapiest on hie mind indelibly, The wide, high treater) of the home; the rows W windows heavy with dust and cobwate 410Ir Wetter& cloaely barred, yet crac.itel In many Owes; the wide door, ;wretched and tverred, wrie a rank, utonanageable branch of ivy heel fallen across It, tie 11 to form another heavy bolt ; grasi growing in the crack; of the ramie steps duet ne it grew between the embraeuree of the windown ; flowere and gaiden flowers tangled together among the wethls and gratew ; uncut and nmeeled creeper's, perishing heplesely epee the ground, where they /seemed atruggl ag to wimp tke hose°. All the ravages of W'mri and weather, all the heavy fc,otprInt4 of t'nte and eeve tit - von, all the rank (reit of neglect. " Thero is a rookery overhead," anti the strenger, tta 63 gazed, "and it it; impohible but that eometimes the molehill@ finds Its way hero and the Merle rang. it Was an English home onee. aud years hence It may be to /tea in, a I t hough old Myddletoll'm ho.r-" A sound again, ettbdued find lieshed almost a niotnent, yet the keen ear detectad It, and the swIft, sports- manlike glance had diecovered a figure watching stealthily from among the trees. A few steps on the long tangled grass and he was beside title figure, looking down upon it with cool, tram lent curiosity. " Are you here on your own °punt or are you 'bent by your em- ployer?" ? The ninn he addrewed dtd not en- awer. Perham that istIlled cough wee stopping him; but perhaps that quick gasp of his breath was sudden fear. "This le the eactotid time I have caught you watching nes art I have a fanoy for Its beteg the last, A spy mut oniy expect one treatment, • one here it la" Hie left heal war fast on the maree collar ; with hie right its broke a branch above hie head, aed the next thing of which the &tenor Wel flirltee was a particular seneation of amarting red Aiming In his *boul- der; and a general imamate& of &tart. Ina and ;stinging Omaha& Ide whole *item, (binding lila teeth with rage and femme, ha rose from the spot to which he had igneaditheely been hurl- ed and looked after hie °heather with an ugly scowl upon hie Nemeth, sleek face, " This wart of thing," he muttered between War teeth, "a mau never for- gets." An aphorism few would deny at any time, but one which certalry cord no be den.*d 'by titose whie boas:ed the aqua:etas* of Bicker- ton Cusp, eoulideatlial clerk In the office of Lawrence iliattgivon, atter- nerateaer WI the toven of Labure. ' 1 Weil 1M WW1 *A MA yet I" Such WAs the megnattlehus 0.040:11,' Con arrival at by kr. Seemp Jerome. dragged his Injered person'dowa the avenue in the wake of Isis essaulter. This assaravr had, In the mean time, reached tee game, and the old lsoige-keeper held caw of them emelt for hen whee be took a crown from 111 8 purse, "Geareteght," he toed then gent- aly. "back the gate after me, se that yen may leek in all ceher nteraudere." The ieti man chuckled as he turned the rusty key. "'There's meg myself, s:r, to feck :n." And the words were tree, for Birk. erton Sleep's modes of ingress and egress had been nobly ludamenden. ct luck and bole and adagio they ne- cessiated A creeping progress unsuit- ed to an upright man, they had their edeantage in being karma cry to himself. The Ow red tavern, aver the door G1 which, through mob and revelry, 1 he er of the efydde:tith Arms lind hung cr (Ay years, felt Rat even - :ng just a shade of the Importsnce whIch, according to its own poprer legends, eskaged ta It in the old cetera( days. The arrival et a pri- vate treveiltng carrIage, with em- blazoned panels and whOe silk lining, was no- by any means at da:ly occur- rence, and made the :ate hoeler put dcwn his pipe Well Ruch Impetus that it broke into ba:( a dosen pewee. The eiLertainment of a :ady traveller was still lean a cirotenstance a daily occurrence, and made the fidgety hccess nervously and petulantly re- mark to herse:f as iih(1 threw her *oil- ed apron behhad the door, "Sure rot ever there's nothing in the house, somebody's sate to eon* l" "You'll be wishing for tea, meant," she angered, coming rendly fc,r- ward a toilette afterward, to forestall any idea of dinner whieh might have lurked In the traveller's mind, "a who:ecene knife -and -fork tee, as we call it il I've as nice a cold ham as ever Wall holed; and welt scate eggs--" "Mink you," the lady answered, pasong through the deor which the landlady held open; "anyzieng yeti have. I nm mire it wi:1 he ewe, as you say." "Only for one, ma'am r 'the fact was seiteviebent, and the useless piece of enumeration on the part of ties landlady only the effect of habit, but she looked surpriaed when with the answer came a vivid blush. Tea was served in the shadowy, low - mailed parlor, where a newly lighted fire streggled into existenee and meted ronsiderable to the shadows, but nothing to the Ilea or eheerinees; when their came the heaviest blow which the bindle* of this hlyddelton Arms had felt far many a day. 'the cold helve ham-tens:that 'sally the piece ele resistance of the inn lerder -was gracing that feng table in the parlor, and she had displayed there everytting etillee or crnamental which the inn (meld Welsh teeth, WI:ell a gentleman arrived', walked °wily into the inn awl ordered - "amine te any-tta for Ma. No need for the landlady to forestall him witb the suggtetion. Whether cr nJt It Wall his habit 1,1 (HOP late, the- order came promptly eneugh from his lips to -night . "He ((Jane leek hurriel cr even bungry," theught mine hestess, gas- ing nervously up int) his face. "Will it (le t) ask ben tu wait I ile looks kind. and a gentleman," was the next ner;ous thought, "Will it do tu tell Lim bow eim eituatedif" ,At that mement tbe vv.:lemon smiled--tomIled almost ne it hi, un- eersteol her. "Perhaps your room i8 engags0" !Thai made ft easy. The landlady's lips were uneeeleit and she did tell him exactly -and, rather circumstan- tially-h.,w she was situate 1 As he fidtt.ii listening, leaning against the windew af the little bar, he took a crimson leather puree Item his poc- ket and held it in his hand. Her eyes fell cot it as dee speke, and. she no- ticed that it was old. aud rather shab- by, Ma that it 1Va8 a peculiar purse and handeemer than any she had ever seen before. "lf the lade will all* me to Pin her itt tea, it will nave troullele, will it i" So he asked, openieg the while one of the packets of the purse and draws lag a card from it, "Yea, sir, if, as you' say, see will." Mine \Miens Malta this observation rather abeently, paw at the many p...ekets el' the puree. and trying to read the nitme which was stampee in gold .ueon tee leather inside the flap. "On second thought's, I will not meuti a card ; it tem make no difference. Say a manger (mire thin favor of her." As. he put back the card a sudden quiseleal Mlle enme into ids Perm "What sort of a Indy Is she ?" 'Well, sir," began the landlady medi- tatively, -I should say, if 1 even asked, Mutt eite'n an Invalid. Slut looke white enough to have keit come front a nick- bett, and she's hardly etrength and merge' to move about ; ehe doesn't look cheerful, either. I 'Mould say III in rated and hotly ; that's what I ehould say, ela If I was asked." Perfume the ;arranger thought ohe had been asked and that he hail been ;answered for without further worth; fro w t the circumscribed limit; of he kiwi away and walked to Rod tire the .until mine hostess reappeared wi an expression of Meter relief on her countenances "The lady sett& her compliments, elr, anti will be very happy if ,von will OM her. ell take freatt platen and a cup In at once. len very glad it's ar- ranged to, as you're in a hurry." Her mind being thoroughly at ease and the arrangements propitione. mine hostess could afford to bring out a little of the parlour and tic. commodatIng loftiness' of the stage - mach period. The door was hardly closed upon her guest when another customer arrived et the Myddleton Arnie, but thim time the le,ndttuly Olt no ner- vousness in the provect of the en, tertainment, for the face of Mr. Bickerton Slime wee well known In the tavern bar, end the voice of Mr. Slimp had a familiar, even confided- tlal tone when it eddreeled mine ""t"W:11, Mrs. Murray, no need to ask you how you are; you look at blooming as usual. I've 'matched a few minutee to call In, you see. Ah, if your mug hostelry was but a little nearer to Kinbury• what con. staut Omits you would have from yours truly!" . " You aren't looking well, Mr. Semi)." remarked the landlady, gas. bag critically Into hls face. "Oh, yes, yes, quite well," he an. levered. with a' movement of the shoulders which be inteadmi for a mestere of deprecation, but which hall the appearttive of all expert- ruent to teed their muscles, " but tired a little. The old man ham kept me very hard at it to -day." -The old mate indeed I" smiled the iletener, with a friendly tap upon the narrow shoulder of Mr. tellntp,- "Why, Mr. Haugitton cannot be more than fortv If he's that His Aster wadi born the same year as me, that was in '29, and Iteeserounger by ewo yearn at the very least. Well, if we were bore In '29 and this le '71, aren't we forty-two? And can you call Min an old man ?" "Lateen are never old," smiled the lawyer's clerk Insinuatingly ; 'tut in these degenerate days, Mrs. Murray, our employers get dubbed old men, without reference te the year In Which they chewed to be bare." "Wheu you set up for yourself, then for Slithery, but he never °eeriest out you/ clerk' will be at liberty to tweak the resolution. tie Me a plea to work of yoe as an old man, thnagh you Mtn out with which a muthiett 11 irture scarcely be -let me see -more than 'night helve interforeel, unil besitlee taut it might nintoot have looked like fear -strange and unnatural hypo- titiole after thot /100110 tile trel. et Abbotsmoor. It wile quite all idle hour which the stranger ',pent at the mettle& worn, but he did mit ameirentle Ject waeting lt. Wherever he stood (8 bfat ; to whomsoever he talked; with whomsoever he laughed; eld not laugh or speak at all ; Mune- Ing I loitering there with utter in etlettie, yet with a grams wheel tat I no lietletainess or mapinenese In It -he pursued the luckless clerk with this eool, amused gale of hit. It was never angry ; it WM far front Imo - lent; It wee only a gale at quiet lenneement But perluipe the C011. GOMA W111011 Air. Slime road In it wag not ail born of hie Imagination only, Weigh certainly the threat ne read there was. The handsome, *mused eye; held no threat for such a pitia- ble object es the Man who had Winged an 1 fawned under nit upraised arm. Mr. Haughton's age." Thle mine bootees saki with a sly renew for Bickerton Stine) effeceel youthful alr and youthful got:entente, ana few ventured to remind Mtn of lex age. Even she coulti not have done so without that (Minty allusion to Me "setting up for himself," the centre of the labyrinth to which he peeldeil; the bourne to which he ((tweed craft end cunning were his 'surest guide's. 11e mulled again ; he had bland, stereotyped @tulle, which Ito consid- ered a mighty weapon with the fair MEC ".1 eo; and you 'hall rebeke my clerks as sternly am you please, • eondition that you always smile mewl ate. le-cbear me, what was I VIM to saY-eit, le the parlor va• oaut tide evening?" tire, Murray wait a little eurprIsed at the (mottos), and a little nue prised that Mr. Slimp still 'stood on the chilly bricks in the little hall and did not take hie own neat In the bar and light her pipe. But she wtte not sorry for tin exeuse total' him about thaw two guesta who ware drinking tea together now from her best china, and she did mo at large. The lawyer% clerk &Mr ed smilingly, nor did he attempt to speak Memel( 11001 the narration was 1111IM over. Then he linked her coaxingly to mix hint a glass of whieky miner and enumwated the different , ingredients he required with a eultivated taste which would have tione 110 dineredit to a Yankee " duet ere it eo, Mrs. Murray, If yon please; and do it you've', to give It Ito proper flavor. You are rite sure you have Angostura bit, tem in the house?" Mrs. Murray Mopped within the bar Mad left the lawyere :leek still standing beside the parlor etens, The nexiag of the punch, eveu with all Ito requieltee, would not take more than two inlinites, R0 lie hall we time to spare. With a loud, demonstrative careleennese, he opened the parley door and entered the roam, stood moment transfixed with ase tonlehment when lte found it ecru. Med, tittered a 'neer-hind very elab- nate serology to the lady for having aesumod the roam to to empty, and meted front It with slow, very slow ,efeeenee. "I Just opeeed that door to see what time It was," he explained as tie enterel the bee mid tee* up hie gine( vvith a beeming mile epee his face. "I knew my vortelt was wrong, Mit did not know how much. I can - .n.4 depend upon your kitchen cluck ; tut that timepiece upon the parlor AtImney depend 111'011 Implicit's, and dways der "Were they at tea ?" Inquired the Meteor, ber eariohlty etronger than her pride. "Not --exactly." Mr. Salim ale. erred the giestlot with unctioa, but ehether this was the effeet of the nieskey or of whet lie hail seen wan tot evident. 'Not -exactly ; they .vev standiug tegOlwr on tile hearth. Alurrtct locking very interesting " Why, they are krone:no!" " Ahem So we are [(Ma lo under statue if we chuterv.•' " But” -Mrs. Murry, •• ter.% bree th Wao t iken k. way eoiert Oedema. oe-"lakt yoo say they were stlieling together on the rug. Were they tear nig, or 'Making hands, or anything?" "Not-exactie," Mto nII. ilveret again, al ktOliberiltely lak rore. " fate, they vrere stauding there lit utter seem which it the meth:lea( part of it ell. Do you think that If they were ter/miters to ()itch ether they would titan(' so, without imeaking? Ise, my good friend; they would have been meat, I at tattle nuil talking ametbeve' Mine hostean put int ail kink of woriely tv ellen equal to Mr. Sleep's, and !tot to Ite teititritritrl lit othtv with mote IN iie I ty than vereeity, that hal "suepeetoi so all a I nig." The next nionteat hittl left the bar, for the parlor Fell 11111 rung, awl the always I ke.1-as bill expressed It -to nnewer Iter own bells. " It'd fur the carriage, hfc, Seinp," • whieperel. leoking la at the bar on ler return. " must go nue the aervante; they are having 'supper In the kitcheie I left the girl to gee to them.' 'Walt, Airs. Murray," eileol ti subdued, eapr woke. "I will go count' ta the yard myself and Getter eie hones to ba put to." It way alinoet darlain tth Ord now, Ind although It leiplided his examine: Lion, It certainly refforded Mr. elimp cite opporteMty oft'illanductIng it Mt pereelved. The hoe 81' elf PIP Alpe dleton Arms smut sled to we* Air. Slim") and to core/lie with him ; but th postilion, when he erne briekly on and took Me seat, and the gentlemare geetlentau who stone quletie by telt '' the 11041488 moved anti then follow them to the front door of the Inn, ex• hibited a little more surprisent the effort ha made to enter Into ronver nation with them, alai discouraged thone effects' with cool civility. Thee:Wring° limps were Heisted, the bonsai fresh and retrieve. The breath ef the near hares actually Nailed the cheek of Mr. Slime when he leaned against the house looking on. The lady for whom the beitteful eurrlagn welted came slowly end timidly from the parlor, while the gentlemen, wile Wall Indebted to her for I& aceummo• dation, followed her leleurely. ft was natural, of (verse, that lie should Kee Iter to her (mileage. See bade good evening to the landlady, wrapped tor eloak terlitly about her, drew n eon wool ye) (Iowa over her fare, end took eer meat. Ono of hsr liancli Wall full ef floweret, a eneoto mixture of wild flowers awl of cultivated Moment run to Road ; the other 81IP offered to the gentlemen; met 114, etanding at the carringe door, took It atePtmletly vvethel her , good -night. After a ma mente pante he went Thick Into t1u3 'en parlor.- Mee. Murree hatt per- formed her last courtesy, end the home' had made a few steps forward, when he came out again. and ispoke tip to the servant on the box seat while the postilion drew In lii1 eager horsw. " Your Jetty left tles purse behind her in the tavertir The servant stooped with it touch of him hat and took the puree; the gentleman steppes! bark end the ear- ring° went on Ite way. But Mrs. Mar - ray had net regninee her 'breath yet. Iti her offivioutinew at 80Inethlrig Mg been left behind ehe had gone clout tip to the letups, find Ito elle saw that the purse les bandel to the lady's see vent was the pur bh' itne Met teen 'II 11 18 118104 when lis took lei enrd from it, the worn crimson puree with the tuany poticete end tip moue stempee In gold. "Don't you think that elm errellei very nervous and delicate, eir ?" • ihfine bestow+ made this Inquiry merely out M curiosity for Ide reply, bet felt very little e‘nligittetto i heti thnt was given. 'Flord°'neatnrlr'eln." hour he etarel at the Inn, and for this hour Mr. Pamper life was a burden to lens The cool, hairquIssIcal eyes of title man who lied thrashed him seemed following him everywhere, for the sole pur• pow of making him uncomfortable end at ewe. Owe or tart* the eni- bryo attorney becalms so gloriously dehreeed that he revolved to start CHAPTER II. The Myddeltoe Arme 111.00 1 oa the kighway abeut tt mile anti a hull iron' Ketbury, and at llipOUt tha genic ItigtOOOO on the other side of the town lay the small estate of Deer. grove, 'sheltered at the back by the grove which originally gave Ito name, and against which the wale' of tin house Mood out with dazzling whlte• netts, but utteheltored In the front, where its %villa -awe glistened in the noonday 111111, unbmkeit and unrellevee by any waving lest or blossom, and where the flower beds, 'to wriest hi their outline, etared thiretlly up hi odummutieser. days and watched for the coal, coy shadows of the messing "But it does not Molly much,' ite one of Mrs. Trent's vieltors sale to hereon', melte* slowly up the etnooth and well.kept lawn; "they grow no flowers here but theme Hint love the The Rummer bad passed Its middle age, yet the round beds were gay 111 their scarlet and yellow robes. It wait HUI Witte Warla 1111(1 pletteant in the duelt of the September evetting, et(1)10t hitivriy‘'.,en:ttfhgliir;lingsaullitotewr titluog't tiA would be In tile glove Melted the houee, where the twilight wan sto den and ellent. Within the house a man -servant had whet the daylight fram 011e room and wan lighting it, as he hed beeu fully trainee to d ), to elloW off at their best the snow•white damask. the glittering plate, and, itbeve all the faces awl figures of tite !tidies al the Mew. In the drawing -room oil the opposite side of the email payee hall the daylight watt still allowed to linger. A moderate -lewd and inelernly nleleht drawing -room, teiggeethe of ample moans and luxurioue taste, but with tete vagne, ineeplivabie wane MIN deficleitcy alight not hay, bee, iite‘ltvtibd.v:kaln,yllifin %I tb11:111111,1'11:it,,. hOt th;11' %SW rpt•,,g1114,•41 tt; la al, tioino room koltalii.81. or rather It 80 ever•pretentt there that It *the man of the tath 1 net one we - Man 014 of twenty could have Inv. tetiod 'Mt ENO Tenet pita tithe of the gibe °Werke aild tartlets} which r Weris won front them -Imerietlinei even method. their will -by Hoyden Keith. We shave 0500 hire before in the eveniref dusk at Abbotsmoor. Theo- dora ,Trent thad linen him before, but his faCe was still a riddle to her, as it had been from the, first and as it, was still to be. It was a grave facie when at rest, with Re strange mix - ono of power and patience -a face full of deep and concentrated bhou,ght, but with never a shade, of g.00rn open it or triVial fretfulnees; a face Gat could -be only brave and fearleas, whether shadowed by that depth of thought or brightened by the rare smile which Theodora tried to pro.. • Ite 'kin was so browned by the aun, the moustache and the short hair were ao think and dark, the Weber' so long, awl the teeth no white, that many took Royeen Keith tor a native of Sofithern Spain or Italy. But the idea vanished after (he first kw minutes, and mont especially when be *eke. 'Neagh puzzled a lit - tie now and then by the team+ of ((Iroise travel, nu One cella help be- ing struck by whet wax ementlally English in hien; the straightforward glance of his eyes, eleereliteging end far -geeing, and the voice, whieh, whe- despite an accent or an idiom picked itthoPlIre r, nogri 11 agefttaenis ri of II nt Me c n0, gwanest, up uneonsciously in foreign lands, twat thorchaghly English. lie was sitting opposite Mies Trent, hie elbow 041 a table near the (vonch oe which she wit. She looked from him lip to Captain Trent and dowu to hint again. Even her unobtervant eyes were puttied by the difference in the ettltudes of the two young men ; and • turnee for the hest time from her eimein'e leaning form and tlte slow motion of hie linntla to the tall, well - knit figure white!, though full a etrength nett naivety, was yet cap- able of an came and Wellness almost renutrkable. "And enh you really mean, Mr. Keith," she suite dropping her fin- gers on a cabinet portrait of herself which lay upon the table beside her, "that you have never been photo- graphed before '1" "Why 'before'?" asked Itoyden, ex- tending his Mtn I for the picture. -After nII, I ant rather glad," she mused smilingly ; "becalm now your fest photograph will be taken with ' How WIll t' at happrn, MI @Trent." "I will tell you," ehe answered, watching hie farm as he examined the portrait. "On the day of our picnic et Abbotsmom ft !Min French e hotogrepher, who IlVes In SO te ton, la tO be there with les cem- ent and take us all, with the ,0.1 mtinstion for a Imekosasu 1. 4..w .v1111 '40'1 wily I alli glad that. o be yoUr flrat Ivortroit.- r 1.11th 40.11 tide quietly as he 114oertiair° Thm"." "Intervening Irene," remarked Cap, thin Harvey, railing Ills blue eyes; slowly from the rug. eLady retire reiptiree the picture, 1 believe; 11t floY rate elte lute propowed It met, leelf felt IA spite of all those termite) her iawyer. The dramatis ittributee of env! aud luxury ur of personae are to be oll Myddeltanem ;tat and literature which this dirweaw,!,p, relatione atel the Hoene him ruinous Ing-roein at Deergrove held. It eti from the eillecning blue curtallts eefoleelltPeeop\olVolpelie_eal, thitmeet. PKIeinitipipeer- tittil Inv on. the deep white rug. . It "I do not know old Mr. Alytitiriton'm re'q't?ksn'ow the elder of them, Mr. , . Keltlt," Theodora answered, 110000. bei0U8 of the vanity of her words and of the hullo which necotnpaniet theta; "and smi One mee them on Thursday at Abbotemoor. You will not he too Lyon 1 to be photographed among them, will you ?" "Without being ones of the familer, ought I to be Included In the picture:" Thert. was an intonittion time baf- fle' Timeline, and she looked up ttn. ; I kliktii insist." Mho Kaki this with her sweetest mine and a certain manner which many young imam of the pre/tont age affeet -a graelotte comiescension and self- ameertion which, ha the lamt century, it would have taken * middle-aged element of the highest &piety to make bearable, but whielt now citiosen and assumed by ninny wlw, while they brat< with open thatainpt of et fast or unformed efstererfall to where thee themeelves have overAeOpeil the Illy bordered patrol freal*nd eimple 41•1:ithre Other mMather oinid Myddel- ton's family yoa will me here to-nIght, Mr. Keith," retnarked Mrs. Trent, in a tone which ;teemed to edtreat leniency for the person ot whom she spoke. "She le a IlleCe of mine and 00W1111 Of. my daughter's, thotigh e.-belonge to quite the Ether side of the nestled among the "(liken emollient and linger:1i about the laden tilers. It *tared back from the vivid, well. framed pictures oa the wa Ile n nii etshoel even from the gleaming keys of the grand plates It Wag only °lie Of the four occu pante of the remit who that evening wam coeselotei of this rrig110 Neliklk 0 something wanting. If It had been possible for the othere to feet it, the vold could not have nx heed A group of four. nittlag at wee, witlt very little of the air of P30 pectancy Wed to the Welkttowitlif4lnrIne: utes before dinner. The hoe (elitist le a wide ensy chair heal& one of the tiny windows. She was a large, Mewed woman, Olegalitly tireetel, but possessing in her uhlahla 110:1Ie floak that great want all her house held, elle had three elaltus to individuality, and three only -a fine figure, a great ambi. Mon, and an overweening pride in her only tiled. Awl Mrs. Trent wao performing her own peculiar mite eloa tus she eat mulling upon her daughter and her guests, iind bringing In, at every opportunity, ,dainty -et limione to her titled tie. imalettutees. ' le, the corner of a email couch trees her reclined her daughter Thee/dorm leaning Oliva d gracefully front the cushions. her long Warts ot green meth) edainerirtilhagellitirtt.iGlie. di'llr"iirubmheedtlivi.en'nflow:witliitaa:ssIMIS laid a deliberate etuphasia "We like .4 bottle -on that "quite" Aire Trent fashion of that Yeact an" 4 -11'"'"..._,,r,,* to al* her here oecasienally to 'how fly of gold mid enteral& Rho* won her a ilttle society. She Is a grown-up almost dazzling Meter among 1 11''-- girl now end not unpresentante; ee 1 Waite above her temple. Her few do all I can for her end allow MN. :to tures were elenrly cut and regular, close an Intorcourse with my datigdi- like her illother'e, and usf ter as my daughter chooses to lel- eyes wore of the twee light ' mike blue, but her life were rale ',Poor little Honor," added "nty more haughty in their curves itnd daughter," with a hetet' of 'tartlet - even a little colder in their restw. rit ,ear,,,,,,x,piz,:aa_nee. ,,,sbe, handsome woman undeniably Theodora Trant, yet in her fealties% features that guest, to whom her face ed, when otho so abrupt)! Paused. "A thorough coward ?" Itoyden ask- -in a thorough is turned so often, sees that one ech, vague deficiency which Is about hen pleasantly, "you know what I mean. Mr. Keith," laughed Theodora duwpeoe: tinbetrhogin,hweieeetb -bie elbow op tbe ‘wiehylermtshou, ei'donyoutio nbpot,,,kiiii,xcete,, dolt joktinets,:. rilitnney pew., and the.fingers Of 00R, hand toying with his silky, pale any thlug about ol I alyildelton St f a no 'meet webs anti whiekere, loungeld elan. ily ? But this ts beer it le. Old Sir. nephew 01 bit Myddelton, you mile, tinderetand, had a . • . , tnin Hervey Trent, hoittese and the huthand. selected for come he was mo sure to Inherit old good deal younger then himself. The het only daughter -not eimply be- Myddelton's money, but ,because he brother marrie 1 a Mee Craven-qalte was in every way suitable for a son- a portionlees girl -nit I the nester mar - in -law. ,Handeome and elegant, rled very well. ehe del not agree daughter's poplearity ; easy and ins with her brother net it young girl and graced "society tied ,would add to litilt; &lent, he would not be likely to re- went out with ti Mena to Mille, bel aping the will of a mother -in- rem, a very rich ol I baronet of an where ehe titarrie I eir Hervey Law - Decidedly Captain Trent was a excellent family. This marriage eandsome mon. There never was kkT1K. Daly chili of old Mr. Mytidee :1:nidec:een 1117 brother Immensely." law. heard a dissentient voice when that "Had neither brother nor deter any , than Captain Hervey Trent himself. ton'e brother," put In Mrs. Trent, fact Was asserted, while no one was Theodora's age exactly -and boasted conhelering, perhaps, that lier (laugh - more thoroughiy aware of the truth wee ei twalogical pewees Mel been tee regular features and blue eye. you hawk heard aild rend; Ivo w.11 Pot Ik' W" tWelar-tiVe.-451 eewee the initerabb anti abandon- cm.taixeilrtioci, t,(1,ife wiututtniu.oldo, f cu.:I:seam, which eloracterind the Treats; he lent out of conversation at (nice, if mateeoosdhefeivde feettheten einppheolovedboetamieta/id. you please. There w.im no other child, shoulders, a' n-d--be-yondtmar0illiithls 1 III ee 1:'1.,'T:iiiiitititili;.tUri(eYnIllfillf''1:1:11.1Ce;1471'rel.41VI:liltnitilillkikT8':t"1:lidarrtielltli;11:'iir; drest1111 stiOltoe, poesemed equally the power, and s r Hervey Lawretweet brother and her of t Ince.' was a snan with a magical, peeelor slycidel .,flial MINS Critvelee bruther itini tallned vetrtyle pettlertfiencattlit ti:r) 7411*Iett7r what he termed "good form" He " The 1:rother II lid sister of Airs. Iwo voice and white, 1114)&41 handle and slater of Mr. Aly (Welton:it wifei totter lui iloa nil anti the Mettle:, able to bear with no unhandsoille I linderirtnad that aright ?' inkpi red grace the burden of himself and her guest quietly. the boredom whet surrounme . and to go through Ilfe tie a gele Mies Trent, ltast f in. ,, ow Boman ahOUld NV110 rIghter iorm" and met utterly ignore le) to St,,,, COO. tbhple 1M abstract hien as eli10- kerne-my a te I 1 lihn " Yes, that lo It exactly," put hi tinder wreathe] opoitil li jeristi,lii iii:gidiii,, iNii iii ening te t tk‘ th, eon - '4'1'44 til° l'‘Igel.'1' - "I" ..g"'1 ''' " tilri lle'rvey's i ister lin ti two way the one emelt whom • .4 great contrast to her nephew Mrs. .1 e.mtv. dleti sears I' ti r it ad IterNey's father entertained this eveill -and hie brother had one ,Inagliter, Haughton, of the Larches, near ng -so great n ago, Aire Trent here. ftivO and her 1 it 1 I but the eon, Mr. Haughton, le a not for yenta were they to 'sown, l'°ntrivgt to them a ii, Indeed, that Holeltor In n n , .,,, •Ien. on Ki it ry and Mlis Haugh - hand the unreached height,/ and tin. the tat ket•ps ills hous,o. e ell, ti mounded depthe of a nature much* her i Ms, Nineteen women ont of twenty 3Pwee' - II l r-" Ar84 Craven's entarretIve by tlo netlial of her her hihie"-N1118 Trent illustrated Would unitemitatingly have prom I fingers, end 'Me. Keith seemed ed Captain Harvey Trent tlie hand hrot tine. ready to fo ete le her and Meter Wel each ell only — eiee daughter. The brother's flaughter4la to be hero tomight. eel the sidor Who tree oue's staves' ateiggitter im 1 lender Owen, rt 11?4•TD1riedit,°.46ex.ileitt youreelf, Mee Trent, all the eel:item; of Mr. Mythielton are tliwristi.utTneri-4(ite dIrda.t.01111:.e, „leivevoiolatni,441,1)r.,,44.7 to 0114. t411141, 1,M of real re• 14!:1°Iirlf:1,1111P1 Icorignino; lett how funny It et," langitel Theodora, "to npeak of Mr. anti Mrs. litilightoll Ito orphana Why, he le aimed, a middle-aged Male and mho Is older. Ile lt4 gattralall of Hallar and Phoebe. Who him' eyed at the L 1 11.11 4 etin Ahem they left whoa.' " Mr. Ilitughton le a very clever lawyer,' interpotsed Mrs. Trent, Mu- guelly, "but we do not %hit, ear% just oreardonally, to keep up appearances. They move in a different circle front ours," '' I iemet teepee they move at all, mamma/. 8111' led Theodore; "thee stags intte, I think, and Jane Ilanghtrei looker eke a curio ity when the gore ent nnywheree "After all teat rigmsrole, Mr. Keith," remerked Captain Hervey from lie position on the rag, "do yeti feel ambitious of being one of the group to be pleetographed in front of Aibbotsmoor for Lady Lawretwe's tomtit For the picture 15 le be sent to her ladrlhlp a8 a delicate reten- tion from e'er beine." " A rather incongruotte aelition to the family group," melee Mr. Keith. " liut I am bete upon having you anions us," instate/1 Miss Trent. And when ohs appealel to her mother Mrs. Trent smiled assentingly, enough even ehe could see how silly sue inconsid- erate nab OA request. "Theo," remarked Captain, Trent, breaking in upon tee silence which followed ear speech, "it is jot five Mtimlig:t„1111 'even. You dila speak lc Honor Craven ahout being in geed "I did, Hervey, anti toye you told her that it wa8 not comme it faut ill 0A t00 early anywhere." " 1 titink the child' le anxious to learn, Hervey," remarked his aunt plaeidly, "and you are helping her to low' her gaucherie." t,..,Rue,aseilmniugsC. &plain Treat's henchman, lazy mile, a stemicion mooed Roy- " But I will Pete for replete" he thought ; and Just at that momeat the &awing -room door was opened to admit the girl who had Mem so long sauntering from the Larches' to Lieergrove "hi ins C raven." Theodera ro.K. kr tneett her cousin, bu t with stwh a Very slow itrtlos t t Or htt..1 rola, tifitrig thein all tlitaabatitis a Loin Captain MirVey Wet graciously islet ructing, and Tolle, prepared for his introdection. From thee moment un- til he took his place opposite her at the dinner table he did not Hie* of sitting again. For the few minute* before the Dub- ber announced dinner, she chatted with no appearance of even *teeing how ber two cousins heldi theniseivem aloof from her, and with no mauvalme lionte in the frank occarrional glance mem gave te Hoyden Keith. In vain he looked for the galloherie; in valn he looked for It gin:epee of the sox- iety for Captain leervey'e inatrue- eon ; lee only saw a yomeg and beau- tiful girl, whew manners had a free and nataral graee reich was es to removed from Theodora's languid els- trance Mt in tile flight of a "'wallow 111 dna air frotn the geeing of a b11,111 upon dle Writ8T. With curious interstneas he env+ oil her through those waiting ode utew, anti the mtudy seemed a fredi me to this men who teaseled over half the world and etudied the beauty of HO many rnees, and tvlio, though a Itttle more time :id years (tehangea ,i.uoshatti ()Irmo% gwri,(11;:ri.ulitirtrpar nIllottfe he met. toentelirt attUrnOtialeer illnynheern, tfrirr which Captain Treat had beett nnx- lousily waiting, eel for the few moments; that idle ettoil there In the utittwaylight coo r eorfe apfpieneiri ently 18 or in ,tiere of ttge, slight tend tall, with figure 'entwine to the perfecti,ii) a womanhood, yet piefflettaing maple grace and free. dont of ...het. Her dimpled arms mud nevli slone with a smooth end milky eilmffists through her trains. permit .iites. Her hair -rich, koOft hale ..: bright chestnut -brown -Wall tW180,1 into a roll high upon her head . mut though no one could see hoe the etultt fell naturally Into , eel) curie -as they do when ,,or lets It down at night ; still Wiry one eould eee the wife natural (tate a here 10 lily Vakr0,01 her fore - teed nett wag brushed from iwr smooth whIM Omelet lier eyes were gray, long, and beautifully shaped, ready In an inetant to brighten to a sunny mile, ant ready lit an Instant, too, to Ittekett to a grave end tendersyni- pothy. Her nose was email and etrnight, and her white and even teeth would have given beauty to any smile, even wifftillt‘ouy,t yetthehfelacoush nthoet evert have attempted a deecreition Honor Craven's face, beitauxe rare and matchlees beauty was a beauty not of form and tint alone. "Hervey, i must tartlet both the young Millen to you." efre. Trent sail this with a wave' of the hand in Honor's direction, ln• tended am a gracious encouragemeak for the girl to come forward and share, with Theoeora the Ineffable advan- tage of Captain Hervey's( support neves the hall. Then the Witten laid her plump lute' on Royden's eleeve en], under 1114 silent esteort, followed the ming people as near aft the length of Theotiora's train would allow. The few remarks filla made were bland and comfortable nee yet was /die all the time keenly aware of a little scenes* acted before her ; and the eight brought a smile of entialaction to her 11 pi nne a thought which was cone passiona tely pleasant. "Poor Mild, she always feel,' de troll with Hervey and Theodora." Mr. Keith. too, bad leen watching the three fIgurem in front ; and thoegli no smile stirred hie Illestitere,, was e glance of keen alinin011101111 III Thire,4 telyt7,afronr, lalondnowr ahmatiwraelfkuteeusd loan re; own way to the diningwoom, With a pretty, quiet nOnellalance which er"luoil'ettill.idTinte°ret awtteeretatoWaseratmle4allefit. of mace between Captain Hervey* attempted tent mid the small glov• ed hand a the girl, and the watch. or behind would fill II have Been wile ttlitiwr InVTletlitekt put"mpil ilvvrelholenwd*ade No eager to be Initiated by him Mtn • mysterlem of "good ferns," and who knew nothing of "society" saw what be kindly exhibited he- lots her ; but the beet of Vtlptibill Trent'll fair head alone was visible alai that tit nil events was unruf- fled. " My nephew offered you arm. Honor," remarked Mrs. Trent, Ila she motioned the girl to the tary cent on her 'eft hand " you shoot(' liave taken It my dear." " Should I ?" queettIoned Honor. " Yon will be tired presently of tell- ing me what I Mimed do or Mare endow won't you, Mrs. Trent?" • (To be euntiatipL) • e •