Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-10-27

| ne gave rapid orders.
"Pack up everything" he said, in q
cold, iron, "and bring them to Wright's
hotel. L am off to the Continent for
some time. Give this letter to nv
mother"
That letter Lady Merton read with
pallid cheeks and fearful eyes:
! MOTHER: You have caused me to be re-
| jected by the girl 1 love- on the absurd pr1ncple
that she was in delicate health. Actuated bv
fear OF your judgment, she has eloped and
made silly marriage. You can forgive YOUR
self never can. i leave England. IT is i'm
possible to say whether ] shall ever return or
not. oaklands Is yours as long as you live.
My interest III it has ceased foreyernore.
| RICHARD MERTON"
Nothing more, nothing less.
That evening the young baronet left
London, and to the time when we refer
to Lady Merton was alone at Oaklands
Park. Twenty years had elapsed, and
she has neither seen nor heard from her
son.
II wants now week to Christmas.
From habit and custom Lady Merton
will have Christmas festivities as in the
olden time. George Merton is there,
the heir apparent, while Ellen and Mar
garet Denham, her sisters orphan chill
dren, are also present for visit.
1t is morning, and breakfast is just
over, when railway fly rattles up the
avenue, and a loud knock is heard at the
door. The mistress of the house can see
withoutmoving from her seat. A young
lady, fashionably attired, alights with q
maid and ascends the steps.
"Who can 1t be?" asks Lady Merton,
rising from the table, in slightly agi-
tated way. ''I cannot remember any
other guest who was invited.
"Some sef-elected visitor" says
George, with frown.
He is very jealous of any one getting
into his aunt's good graces.
The butler enters with letter. He
looks very scared and puzzled.
" Miss Merton to see her grand-moth-
er," he says, in rather alarmed tone.
George Merton grew CHASTITY pale.
There IS, then, direct heir?
"Show her in" gasped the lady,
sinking into chair, around which the
three stand, her nephew and two nieces.
There enters a tall, slight girl, who
advances to where the dowageris seated.
my grandmother, [ presume?" she
said, III the sweetest of sweet voices.
L can see at once that you are a Merton. -
"Will you read this letter? ?" she con-
tinued, taking it from the hand of the
butler.
Lady Merton adjusts her spectacles
and reads, while the other takes seat:
"LADY MERTON: My husband, your son, has
gone on an expedition to Africa. have reason
to believe he has either been killed or wounded.
| am about to start in search of him. NV son
Richard is at school. think it only right to
send my daughter and namesake to your care
until my return. Yours. LUCY MERTON.
81 am very glad you have come"
said the old lady, tearfully and kindly.
These are your cousins. L will order
your room. Be seated by the fire while
L do so"
The introductions were made, the seat
accepted, and the order given at once.
Imagine the amazement of all when
they knew that the young mistress of
Oaklands Park had come home, while
there was also son III existence. Then
the old line was not to die out, but i've
Lady Merton herself attended the girl
to her room, and was delighted with her.
She asked about her father. She
knew but little of him, having been at
school, while her parent went round and
about the world bent on perilous ad-
ventures.
She had seen him occasionally, how
ever, and knew he was tall, handsome
and bearded-also very kind.
Her mother she had seen much of for
the last year. She was the kindest of
parents-a noble, handsome woman.
Two days later came startling tele-
gram.
''Sr Richard has reached home. He is very
Ill. Doctor has advised his removal to his ma
tive air. shall be at Oablands Park with him
ON Christmas eve. LUCY"
How the mothers heart bounded with
III her at this announcement.
At last she would again behold her
son. and surely he would forgive her af-
ter all these long years of absence.
True, Edith Lechmere, now Lady
Spencer Baker, was a portly dame of
forty, with g. fine, healthy frame and
plenty of children, but then as Sir Rich
ard was happy, surely he would forget
all the unfortunate past?
He came, and the forgiveness was ac-
coded.
He had recently met Sir Spencer
Baker, and his wife, hong since recon-
ciled to the family, and found that his
mother had not influenced the girl in the
least, but that she had acted on the i'm
pulse of the moment, and under the
guidance Of her simple and devoted affec-
tions.
She had come to call On Lady Merton
tearfully to .rescind her determination,
after exacting promise of secrecy, and
then she left to meet her lover. Sir
Richard, we have said, came home on
Christmas eve, and all was happy.
He was sufficiently well to dine with
the family on New Years day. At the
dinner were present Sir Arthur Lech-
mere, hrs lady, Sir Spencer and Lady
Baker.
They were the best of friends, and be-
fore many months the eldest son of the
runaway lovers was affsanced to Lucy.
And SO ended Richard Merton's very
foolish revenge.
Hell-Fire Rock.