The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1875-03-19

And Miss Dubarle shook the dust Of
the Secor Brooks mansion off her feet.
" A pretty hypocrite's nest I should
havegot into thereI" she said half aloud,
as she entered the vehicle she had been
wise enough to bid wait. "Janet
Heath, with all her faults, was at least
frank and truthful enough. Dive to
81 Bachelor Square, coachman."
No. 81 Bachelor Square was a tall,
brown stone building, full of studios,
offices and sets of chambers, and Miss
Dubarle was well nigh out of breath
before she reached a door at the very
top, on which a card, neatly tackled,
bore the inscription, Herbert Smylhe,
Artist"
She beat brisk tattoo on the panels
with the handle of her sun umbrella,
and voice answered,
"Come ill.,"
But, to her amezement, the occupant
of the apartment, instead of young
artist in a black velvet painting robe,
was a grim female, sitting very upright
on Gothic chair, with tatLered gloves
and bonnet bent on the side.
Is Mr.. Smythe imp" asked Miss
Dabarle
"No," answered the stony female,
"he amt. But if you're wise you'll
sit down, like me, and wait until he
does come in. [ s'pose you've come
arter your bill ?"
"Have your" asked Miss Dubarle,
taking the first part of the hint by de-
posting herself on the sofa.
Yes, for the seventh time. He owes
everybody, Smythe does. I'm his land
lady but you can ask the wine mer-
chant, and the tailor, and the halter,
and the"
"Then," CURLY observed Miss Du-
barle, 81 think you were all great fools
for trusting him"
so we be-" said the woman, grimly,
:" and l amt denying of that but you
see he's kept us en- the string all along
with stories of his rich cousin, Miss Du-
barle, as has made her will in his favor,
and is going to leave him no end of
money"
"Oh r' said Miss Dubarle, rubbing
her nose vehemently with the end of
the sun umbrella handle.
He says" added the unconscious
traitress, ''that she's as old as Methuse-
lab, and can't live but a short time any
how but L for one don't believe a word
of it. But You amt going, be you?"
Yes" said Miss Dubarle, rising.
"Please to give him this card when he
comes ID, and tell him, if you like, the
conversation we have had"
And she was nearly down stairs be-
fore the landlady, fitting on a pair of
silver-bowed spectacles, had read the
two words inscribed upon the card,
Miss Dubarle."
The heiress was very silent during
her drive back to the hotel. Perhaps
she was engaged in rendering the
funeral rites TO her dear departed delu-
sion. All that she said to herself was
contained in one sentence.
Il don't like being made a fool of -
she mentally enunciated, "and l actual
ly believe I've come very near it !"
Janet Heath sat by the fire in the
next evenings twilight, musing, per-
chance, half in sadness, half in shy
pleasure, when the door clicked on its
latch, and in walked Miss Dubarle.
Janet started to her feet with slight
cry.
Don't be alarmed" said Miss Du-
barle, stroking the soft brown hair
with kindly, reassuring touch. give
come back to you, Janet Heath, for l
believe, IN spite of everything, you are
tA1O u tltob AAlO4LtA Il hC EoOby anu bA4lO JOu
love me, after all.
Indeed, indeed, Miss Dubarlc, I
do r. sobbed Janet, with her old foolish
trick.
"And sc, said Miss Dubarle, "you
can marry that Harry Dart of yours,
and he can come here to live, and We'll
all be happy family together. Unite
my bonnet string, Janet, Tor they've got
in knot somehow, and make me a cup
of tea. Those railroads are enough 20
shake one into a Jelly %
So Miss Dubarle settled back into
the old groove again, and when the let
tiers from New York came she sent
them back unopened. And when Mr..
Herb Smythe and the Secor Brooks
family arrived az l1rOl)TiG persona she
Obstinately refused to see them.
81 won't be bothered, said Miss Du-
barle. Janet Heath is my heiress,
aud there's an end of the matter"
And the relatives discovered that they
might as we'll attempt to move the rock
of Gibraltar as to alter Miss Dubarle's
resolve.