The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-10-22
lor instead of this grand Richmond drawing


lor instead of this grand Richmond drawing
room.
II don't know what you may think, I'm
that we are making ourselves tolerably well
at home in other peoples house. By the
way what are ladies like for whom all these
beautiful rooms have been prepared? Are
they deserving of their good fortune do you
think?"
eyes, quite deserving of it; butsou will
shortly have an opportunity of Judging for
yourself, Ada. You must forgive me for
springing such mine of surprise upon you,
Mabel" Uncle Phil replies, with glance
towards mamma: "but Mr.. Low and his
family will be here this evening, and not on
ly them but a gentleman from abroad whose
acquaintance 1 am anxious to make. No
obiectionsr' he exclaims, as / am about to
speak, 81 have provided for all emergen-
cies. Up stairs in your-in the dressing
room, Ada--you will find box from fash
ionable West End costumer. What it con-
tains am not precisely able to say, but it
ought to be something that will enable you
and your mamma to put in a presentable ap-
pearance at Mr.. Lows little reception this
evening""
A presentable appearance, indeed, l think
as | shake out the handsome black satin,
with rich old lace collar and cuffs for man.
ma; and the pretty costume of heliotrope
yelling, vita silk and satin brocading fer
me.
have always been considered rather a
pretty girl. but never before did my fair skin
aad sspiquant little FACET am quoting
Robert now-show to such advantage as in
the pretty new dress in which l follow
mamma to the drawing room to receive my
uncle's friends.
A footman throws open the door on our
appearapce, and as we enter two gentlemen
stand talking together on the hearth rug.
One is my uncle, but the other
There is cry of surprise from me, and
half whispered "Ada, my darlingr' from the
new arrival, and the next moment | am
close-clasped in Robert Dalesford's arms.
With what delight do 1 listen to his voice,
and look up into the dear familiar face, SO
bronzed and burnt by foreign suns-yet half
inclined to believe that must be asleep and
dreaming, and that shall wake up present.
ly to find it all very much too good to be
true.
Explanations are cut short at this mo-
ment by the servants announcement that
dinner is ready; and Uncle Phil steps for
ward to offer his arm to poor bewildered
little mamma, who is evidently in as much
doubt as to whether she is really awake as
am.
'sBut your friends, my dear Philip
you will wait for them, surely?' she be-
gins
'sThey are all here, Mabel" is the reply.
"This roof covers all the friends I care to
acknowledge"
eBut Mr.. Low, Philip"
sLud-low Mabel" he laughs, with mer-
nv little twinkle in his eyes.
"But don't understand thought was
to meet Mr.. Lows niece and -
s'She is here" he replies, taking my as
tonished self on his arm and presenting me
with sweeping bow to mamma.
ssOh. Uncle Philip I exclaim, beginning
to see through the fog in which we are all
enveloped. 81 believe this house is yonrs
How could you put such a fraud upon us?
You said you were poor manP'
ssNo, my DEAR" he replies. "I think, if
you remember, you will find it was you who
said that
ssBut in that letter to Aunt Frances Il
begin.
Eyes, my dear; told her that was COM
ing home poor, lonely old man, who had
experienced great losses. I did not mean
pecuniary losses; and if she chose to think
so, whose fault was that? The fact of my
having buried my wife and children In a
foreign land, never appeared to strike her as
any cause for compassion; and on returning
to England, after 80 years. absence, I
faund but one door open to receive me-
that of the widowed sister whom I had only
too long neglected. But enough of retro
spects; let us 60 to dinner.
/ am afraid that first dinner at my uncle's
board was more a dream than reality to
me; but later this evening, rs Robert and !
sal talking together among the shrubs in the
conservatory, begin to get clearer idea of
~ 1l.o &1,o%
fortunes
ssYour uncle is one of the most noble and
gen erous men, Adap' Robert enthusiastical-
" exclaims. when he has finished telling
me of the arrangements by which, backed
by Uncle Phils money, he is to be taken in
to the firm as partner, and placed in fair
way of becoming rich man. COZ course it
is all for your sake, dear, that he has
brought me back to England, and done SO
much for my benefit; but 1 am none the less
grateful to him on that score"
A few weeks later we received an invita-
ton from Aunt Frances to the grand ball to
be given at Haughton House, in honor OF
Maude and her husband, on their return
from their bridal tour.
ssWe want no such fair weathered friends
as those" my uncle remarks, as he tears the
cards into fragments and losses them into
the fire. fYoH have done without her il
adversely, Mabel; surely you can do without
her in prosperity%
Mamma and have never returned tc
the little house at Remington; and as the
acknowledged heiress of the rich Mr.. Lud-
low, and the wife of that very prosperous
young merchant, Robert Dalesford, receive
SO much attentionin the gay world of wealth
and fashion that sometimes doubt whether
it is possible that can be the same insignifi
can't being who pinned in vain for new
dress or visit to the theatre in the old days
before the disclosure of Uncle Phil.
secret.