Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-12-24


could BY any possibility compromise your
Ladyship. In this thing, pray have faith
in me-
4 have every faith in good intentions
said her Ladyship. You have been tho
truest fliend. Msrtha, that ever woman
had but you have never been tried as
You will be tried if you marry this man.
trsmbls when think that there 10 even the
faintest possibility of the secret becoming
known to mo. But leave me now;T ain
unequal to further conversation. Come
up to Belair this day week, and we will
discuss the matter again. All how wish
that man had never made his appearance
in NOrmauf0rd = Lady Spencelangh sigh
I'd wearily. and her arms fell dejectedly by
her side: she looked for tho moment ten
years older than she had done half an hour
before.
Mrs. Winch drew ON her gloves. Has
your Lady ship heard lately from Mr.. Gas.
ton = she asked. She knew that Lady
Spsneelaugh would brighten up at the men.
ton Of that name.
All. yes. Martha had nearly forgot.
ton to tell you that I had long letter from
the dear fellow yesterday. He seems to be
enjoying himself thoroughly in Paris. But
l feel it hard that do not see him oftener.
We shall scarcely have him at Belair be-
fore Christmas but when he does come l
hope he won't leave as again till after his
birthday. Such day as mean that to
be at Bslair, Martha There was glad
smile ON tho mothers face as she said these
words. aud while the brightness still linger-
ed, Mrs. Winch kissed Lady Spencelaughs
hand respectfully. and took her leave. .
CHAPTER Iv.-LADY sPENCELAyGH's
HIDING-PLACE.
No thanks. my dear boy said Sir Phil
ip Spencelaugh. as he shook Mr.. Duplessis
warmly by the hand. 4 confess that
know no one to whom would intrust my
darling sooner than would to yourself.
Aud now 90 and inform Lady Spencslaugh
Of your good-iortune. She will be pleased
to hear Of it, TOR you are great fsvourite
with my wife, Don't forget that ysu dine
with us tomorrow and after another
hearty shake of the hand, the baronet turn
ed and left Mr.. Duplessis standing alone
on the terrace. where he had been walking
and talking for the last half hour.
Mr.. Duplessis paused for msment
after he was left alone. bright, confident
smile lighting up his handsome face. AT
last = he murmured to himself. The prize
for which l have 80 patiently labOured is
coming slswly within my grasp. shall
win it and wear as my own before the
world. Beautiful Frederick! you do not
love me yet, but you shall learn to do so
before long. unless my tongue has lost its
cunning! He turned of the terrace. and
walked musingly through the shrubbery
towards the side entrance on his way to
Lady Spencelaugh's apartments. Mrs.
| Winch was Just climbing into her chaise
| a. he turned the corner Of the house.
| Hating behind screen of laurels, he saw
the widow take her seat beside Jerry, re-
sumo the reins and tho whip, and then
drive of At . rapid pace down the park.
why does that woman come here 80 often
to see my Lady ? he said to himself as he
emerged from his hidingplace. What can
he the nature of the bond that exists be-
tween the exclusive Lady Speucelaugh
and this commonplace landlady Of coun-
try tavern This is one of those cases
where my little Clotilde may provo a
useful ally. There may be nothing in it.
or there may be much.
A tall. thin. handsome man of eight
aud-thirty, this Monsieur Henri Duplessis;
with low broad forehead, aquiline nose.
and long dropping tswny mustache; with
an ever-ready smile, which displayed to
advantage his large white regular teeth
with accurately arched eyebrows, educated
to express much either for or against a
proposition-an advantage to an economist
Of words ;and having an undaunted air of
fashion and distinction. BY birth Cana
dian, but descending from an old French
family, he could boast pedigree that
would bear the most critical investigation.
Yes, my Lady would see Mr.. Duplessis
-(he was rarely called Monsieur at Nor
manford or Belair) so said Mr.. Plush !;
and preceded bv that functiOnary, the
Canadian was sshered into the sittingroom
Of Lady Spencelaugh. Mademosielle Clo-
tide was in the snteroom. busily engaged
with her embroidery, as Mr.. Duplsssis
passed through, and . meaning look shot
from the eyes Of the latter, which the
French girl was not slow to understand.
You must lay the blame of my intrusion
on Sir Philip, my dear Lady Spencelaugh.
said Mr.. Duplessis as he bent respectfully
over her Ladyship's hand. He insisted
on my coming to communicate certain
piece Of intelligence. which he was kind
enough to say he was certain you would be
pleased to hear!'
pray make no apology said Lady
Spencelaugh in her most cordial manner.
You are among the few friends, Mr.. Du-
,lessis. to whom am always at homie
You are admiring those roses Yes. they
are certainly very fine. But Jennings
always succeeds better with his flowers
than his fruit.--And now for this news of
yours. suppose ought not to say that
am dying tc hear it; but in "a dull place
like Belair, where news Of any kind is IL
rarity. the expression would be almest ex-
cusabIe.
Her Ladyship was sitting on causesse,
cutting the page Of magazine as she spoke.
Mr. Duplessis had not sat down, hut was
still bending over the stand of roses on the
table. When he spoke, it was in a low
clear voice in which. however. there was
q ring Of triumph, which Lady Spencelaugh
did not fail to detect.
My news is this. that. thanks to the kind
offices of Sir Philip. MISS Spencelaugh
has agreed to look more favOurably on my
suit than she has hitherto done; that she
has, in fact, consented to give me time aud
opportunity to plead my cause in person.
So that all there is now left for you
tO do is to 60 in aud win the race, said
my Lady. Well. heartily wish You
every success but warn You that
you have still some awkward run
ming before you. However, my best wish
cs, and any little assistance | can render,
are sincerely yours. Frederick and have
hardly been such good friends as we ought
perhaps to have been, though where the