HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Blyth Standard, 1900-03-22, Page 7tt
Id MISER'S HEIRESS
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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 •