The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-06-05 00:00:00

ATHERSTONI

BY THE AU

). Allan Thornton," "Ej
Criminal," " Leono2

CHAPTE
AFTER MAN
The baby finger of
Of things to come.-
PIERCE ATHERSTONE rallied 8
Very edge of the grave, and,
-Year chimes were sounding :
ton Church, and men's heart,
for one another, and of plans
that lay before them, he was
library fire, and moving abc
accustomed fashion.
More feebly than before
'Whitened hair, and a furrow
blow had struck, but with
manner and voice. Mournin,
vants, and notices of the deal
"yvere sent to various papers,
ing at this sudden announcer
'Who had been for weeks in t
visits of sorrowing condolenc
thick and fast to the Grange
The latter were received 13:
'Who spent most of their timt
while he lay ill, and whi) vc
Whatever about Leonard's de
heard of it suddenly, and thE
Was all he told anyone ; and
Was able to see his friends hi

somewhat died away.
As soon as he thought it p
duced the subject of the lett(
Client heard of it without an 3
'discussed it with perfect call
"You think it is true, I s
that this woman and her
-abroad ?"
"It is quite true. I have '
verifed all the facts. I have
- and the tablet his wife has

_
ut pardon me, perhaps you
Speak of these things.'
"Go on, Carson. Nothing
tiae now. I should like to he
"I made every enquiry I
Atherstone, and Ihave heard
a think, in adopting the cour:
have lost not only a son, b
daughter, one who would hal
declining years, and a credit
You must forgive me if I
asked know all."
"I do. Pray go on wit
'forget this actress, this paint
tay only son, and made the e
wretched. Is that part (
Iless ?"

Standing face to face wit'
iota of the bitterness out of I'
though it had robbed him of
maybe, and he went on—
" What else did you heal
'Soo? This shining light
•calling?"
"Simply that she was a
Olother ; an honest-hearted, I
'4epin,g herself pure and stai
life, and bringing up your gr
-footsteps."
"Ay, to go upon the sta;
She is an infant prodigy, I hE
My grandchild! An Atherst
to think of it. Go on, if yo

"Anything that I can say
Vression on you; but I hear
Who know it to be true.
Wife's efforts your son would
for want of the actual nee(
stone, Tier love and devot
time when it seemed as th
deaf, and there was no succc
do well to remember the
'Squire. They are the neares
World."
"I am not likely to forgel
roan said bitterly. "I am
and forced to listen to all
you done?"
"I have nothing more to t
are really gone to Milhaven,
'their return. The engagem(
stone was a very good one, E
Belled her to take it, and he i
"Then let us drop the sub
for ever. It is only another
."
my life. The hours are g
"But your will?"
•"I will sign it when nece
Me I shall get about again
Well I shall have some triflir
shall not alter the money po
unpleasant subject die, Car
,of it."
• And as far as Pierce Athe
Me. Ho nev,er opened his
.dead son, or of the loving k
But time passed away, and
neglected in the lawyer's stz
stone, at the Antipodes, Ns
Child into a beautiful and ti
Norton Atherstone and I
lquire's heirs' and the fact
sad believed by all but th
'made up his mind, that con
3wner of the cousin's wealt
time came, and he never
that there was a nearer I
• Whom the money they he
'Come.
The engagement at Milh
her chlid had so suddenly
good one. The good 'peopl
gotten Beryl Joyce, and WE
arms. Her position was
-several years she remained
Profession, and procuring t
for her child. She never
she was a lady, and she
manners and habits of c
3f ever mixing with her fa
remembrance of their co
Grange began to grow d
from a sense of duty, at
more thoroughlyßeryl wa:
be her chance of success ir
She had not allowed hei
Work as a child, as many
thereby making their chi
the rest of their lives. She
short engagements now f
familiar with the world hi
More than one offer of r
new career, for she was y(
Still, but she turned a deaf
had never held any man fi
loved and lost. For the
,for her child, and well am
paid her love and tendern
So the two, with Mr. IN
now, lived on together, ai
after Beryl the younger le
and prospered exceedingl
fresh, fair face, her pure
talent, made a tremendot
Poured in from all qua
Japan even, 'all furnish(
•the new actress, and Bery
In New Zealand they
Mr. Whiffin succumbed t
ague, and was laid i
Dunedin.
Then Beryl and her
haVen, resolved upon eel
dreaded England, it had
'elder lady, 'and her ch
formed any lasting attac]
were in the southern h
successful beginning to
she herself had a fair op(
and elocution. So it
*would give up the stage
Beryl follow her professi
when her mother came t
it with all her heart.
"I don't remember
mamma," she said; "
vsry nice, I think. I
trafia."

Beryl (led remember
spoke of them often. G
had been so kind to h
leeted perfectly, and one
Wish to go back. She 1
girl. Her cbildish bec
%kering in character. I
Of yore and her figure 1
Perfection. Her hair
brown as when she wf
in its warm luxurianc,
deepened in tint till the
•and altogether Beryl Att.
Youths of the colony
. 'world. Cheap photogi
•date the shop windows
Portrait of the Austral
itB way to Loudon, a
women who call thei
their limbs aid their
studios.
If such a thing had 1
Beryl Atherstone bee]
future destiny of the o
rially different.
lasyryl's was a hap
1.1111.:11ae4 a bright one,
vamp, or the possibi
eller entered her moth
lad her that the old Itu r
she had misher idea was t
wit^nasever he ail

•