Daily globe., 1879-11-02

orable young fellow at heart, however,
and he would not go again to see Raby. |
'sWhat's the use?" he told himself. |
"Better not" But Mrs. Hunter and her
guests became wearisome to him after |
that, and presentlvhe went back to town
and to his business, in which he immersed |
himself. For while Raby'S face tloated
before his eyes, but the image dimmed as
months went by and in time would prob
ably have faded out altogether, had it |
not been recalled oddly and unexpected
ly by the following circumstances.
He was passing one day the shop of a
taxidermst, an elderly man, with whom
he haa some slight acquaintance when he
heard his name called. 49,.
"Did you want ME, Mr.. Balch?" put
ting his head in at the door. 81 thought
heard your voice."
"Oh, yes, Mr.. Freke, I did want you
very much, and I ventured to call and
stop you," replied Mr.. Balch, hurrying
out from an inner room, ''Excuse me;
just waited to put on my coat. It's about
Mrs. Morpeth's will, Mr.. Freke."
"And who was Mrs. Morpeth9" asked
Ernest, seating himself on a wooden
bench.
Mrs: Morpeth, sir! Why, you must
know, think, or at least you will know
her house, the one with the queer steps,
in Dun street.-The Rallied House as the
neighbors callit.
ooh, that queer, handsome old house
next to the junk-shop? I do remember.
I have often wondered who lived there
And what did Mrs. Morpeth do ABOUT
will?"
.'Well, that's just it, sir. I'm in a
great difficulty. Mrs. Morpeth left me
her executor, sir, and don't know what
to do about it. You see, sir, there's
good bit of property-a very good bit.
She was clever for a woman, very clever
And she bought up real estate all over
the city. And there's Ralled House and
what it holds; fifty thousand dollars, I
should say it was worth, at least; some
folks think it will foot up to sixty"
:'Thats nice sum indeed. But what
is your difficulty? Who are the heirs?"
"That's just it, Mr.. Freke-nobody can
tell, sir. 1t is left to-but have Il 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 tcstator
might die possessed "to the child or child
ren OF nv niece Esther LIE Raron, eldest
daughter of my sister Esther Plat. I
do not know their present name or resi-
| dence." That was all. Nothing could
be more indefinite.
"Have you done anything about finding
these Platts-I mean LIE Barons?" said
Ernest, folding up the paper.
'No, I haven't. I don't know how to
begin about it. That was why I wanted
to see you, Mr.. Freke. Ought I to ad-
| vertise?'
II should think so, certainly. But
| are there no letters or papers in the house
to give clew.
II haven't lit on any, sir. But then I
| haven't searched regular. Could you
spare the time to step around there with
me, Mr.. Freke? Ishould be very CRATE
| full.
II couldn't to-day, but might to-mor-
| row.
So tho appointment was made.
The Rallied House had been a state
mansion in its day, with other state man
sions about 1t. Now, with a junk shop
on either side, and row cf sailors board
ing-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 fo1 the curiosity
lover. Nothing had been added and
nothing taken away for century past.
No papers. were to be found, however;
as one receptacle after another was vain
11y c,,ay,ohoG tbn 19tt1o %oxy 81
| disconsolate.
"You would think the old lady burned
up everything on purpose to make troub-
le," he said; ''wouldnt you now? What
can man do with all this confusion of
LIE Barons and Platts and NIorpeths9
They have all married and got all differ
ent names long ago, most likely. Why,
Mr.. Freke, what is it? what have you
found, sir?" for his companion had utter
ed sudden exclamation.
There, on the shelves Of buffet which
he had just opened, were ranged III bright
rows platters and dishes and cups of mag
nifcent 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
Marshs cupboard months before It was
certainly the same; he recognized instant
ly. But how came it there? And what
was the link between this rich and lonely
woman and Mrs. Marsh and pretty Rabv
in their quaint solitude and bare power.
ty.
He made no distinct explanation to the
puzzled executor, but advised him to de-
fer advertising for a little while; and the
next day but one found him at the gate
of the old house again. No bright girl
face smiled welcome this time Raby
had gone back to her school teaching,
and Aunt Sabina, grim as ever, received
him.
Her distant and suspicious manner
gradually thawed as she discerned the
meaning of his questions. Mrs. Morpeth
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 LIE Baron. He
was Frenchman. He did not live very
long after the marriage. Did he turn
out badly? She could notsay--it wasn't
for her to speak i'll of her own father,
but the family took ofense and never
would have anything to do with her
mother afterward. No, she never saw
her aunt and she never wanted to. In
her opinion they treated her mother
s'5amefully. Raby's mother was older
than she, two years older. She was
dead now, and SO 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