Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-07-10
in Dun street.-The Rallied House, as the

! and what 1t holds; fifty thousand dol.
lars, should say it was worth, at least;
some folks think it will foot up sixty"
"That'sa nice sum indeed. But what
is your difficulty? Who are the heirs?''
"That's just it, Mr.. Freke--nobody
can tell, sir. It is left to-hut I have
a copy Of the will here; I'll show you.''
The document, briefly drawn, but in
strict legal form, devised all property OF
every description of which the testato1
might die possessed Ito the child o,
children of my niece Esther LIE Baron,
eldest daughter of my sister Esther
Platt. I do not know their present
name or residence" That was all.
Nothing could be more indifnite.
"Have you done any thing about find
ing these Platts-I mean LIE Barons? F."
said Ernest, folding up the paper.
emo, I haven't. I don't know how to
begin about it. That was why 1 wanted
to see you, Mr.. Freke. Ought l to adj
vertise?"
II should think so, certainly. But
are there no letters or papers in the
house to give clew?"
~ haven't lit on any, sir. But then
l haven't searched regular. Could you
spare the time to step round there with
me, Mr.: Freke? I should be very
grateful"
81 couldn't to-day, but I might to-
morrow"
So the appointment was made.
The Rallied House had been stately
mansion in its day, with other stately
mansions about it. Now, with a Junk
shop on either side, ond row of sailors
boarding houses opposite, it looked like
the wreck of fine old frigate aground
in the mud of some ignoble harbor
Inside, it held mine of riches for the
curiosity lover. Nothing had been added
and nothing taken away for century
past. No papers were to be found, how
ever; as one receptacle after another was
vainly searched, the little taxidermist
grew disconsolate.
"You would think the old lady burned
up every thing on purpose to make trou.
ble," he said; "wouldn't you know?
What can s man do with all this con-
fusion of LIE Barons and Platts and Nor
peths? They have all married and got
different names long ago, most likely.
Why, Mr.. Freke, what is it? what have
you found, sir?" for his companion had
uttered sudden exclamation.
There, on the shelves of a buffet which
he had just opened, were ranged in
splendid row platters and dishes and
cups of magnificent India china, blue,
crimson and gold, with on each the same
little shield and monogram, in sharp,
cleaning lines of color, which he had
last seen in faded tints on the old plate
in Mrs. Sabina Marshal's cupboard
months before. 1t was certainly the
same; he recognized it instantly. But
how came it here? And what was the
link between this rich and lonely woman
and Mrs. Marsh and pretty Raby in their
quaint solitude and crave poverty?
he made no distint explanation to the
puzzled executor, but advised him to
defer advertising for little while; and
the next day but one found him at the
gate of the old house again. Nc. bright
gir!-face smiled a welcome this time;
Raby had gone back to her school-teach-
ing, and Aunt Sabina, grim as ever, re-
ceived him.
Her distant and suspicious manner
gradually thawed as she discerned the
meaning OF his questions. Mrs. Nor
peth was her aunt, her mothers sister.
her grandmother's name was Plat, and
her mother was the Barbara Holdsworthv
Hagen of the china monogram. Yes,
her mother did marry a LIE Baron. He
was Frenchman. He did not live very
long after the marriage. Did he turn
out badly? She could not say-it
wasn't for her to speak i'll of her own
father, but the family took offence and
never would have anything to do with
her mother mother afterward. No, she
never saw her aunt, and she never want
ed to. In her opinion they treated her
mother shamefully. Raby s mother was
older than she, two years older. She
was dead no, and 40 was Mr.. Glenn.
Raby was the only child. Prove it?
Why, of course she could, but why
should she? Everybody knew about the
Marshes and the Glenns- body that
had any business to, that wa. And
pray why did the gentleman ask all
these questions? What concern was it
of his, anyway?
So Raby was the heiress.
There was great deal of confusion in
Ernest Freke's mind after this. lie gave
his best services to proving Raby's title
and putting her in possession of her
great aunts bequest, and for this end it
was needtul they should meet; but these
interviews were of strictly business
character. Ernest kept them so. 81
wont make up to a girl, now she is rich,
whom | deliberately turned away from
when she was poor" he said to himself.
baby was not a little aggrieved by this
urn of affairs. Gle wont even let ma
hank him comfortably" she told her
aunt: He just bows and goes away"
After while she and Mrs. Marsh
came to the city, and then they met
,1tener. There were plenty of people to
how attention to young and beautiful
lelress. Mrs. Hunter, among the rest,
vas specially empressee in her civiities.
U! f'reke was always encountering Miss
1lenn at dinners or at parties. and after
while he ceased to fight against the new
nd sweet influence that had come into
us life: He asked Raby to marry him,
Cling her the manful truth about him
eli, and leaving her tojudge the matter.
II don't think you were to blame
1uch!" pronounced Raby, lifting her soft
yes with a look which sent thrill to all
is tense nerves. "a man can't ALWAYS
larry girl even if he likes her. And
GU hadn't seen me but three times, you
now. 1t was much more honorable in
on to stop then than to 30 on little
niger and make me like you-more."
This "more" was irresistible. Itcaused
D interruption.
"There's one thing 1 would like SO
'uch to do," resumed Raby, a little
ter. "You'll help me manage it, won't
on, Ernest? want to send Mrs,
lqnter one of those big plates, like that
ID cracked one which she wanted to
ny. Do you think 1 might, and will
on take it to herr" 1t is a sort of debt.
II it she hadn't come curiosity-huntinc
lat day, / might never have seen YOU,
heard of Aunt Morpeth, or her will,
"Bless the old plate, then!" interrupt
Ernest Freke. "Send Mrs. Hunter
w one, by all means; but that old one
will have framed, and hang up on our