Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-11-23

weather AT ue1dnce, IOT iADOut three
o'clock in the afternoon q carriage
stopped at the door, and knock re-
sounded through the quiet house. st.
Lawrence gave no heed; there were
other dodgers, and few visitors came to
him. He had never sought society, and
was as yet but little known. Steps
were heard ascending the stairs, how
ever, and after a tap at his door, the
servant threw it open, and announced
"Lord Alphington."
Had a bomb-shell burst in the room
st. Lawrence could scarcely have looked
more startled. The sketch he was
about to place in the portfolio dropped
from his hand, and he stood for mo-
ment as if struck dumb. He soon, how
ever, recovered his self-possession, and
with his usual graceful courtesy ad-
vanced to meet his visitor.
''Mr. st. Lawrence. believe" said
Lord Alphington, who had been scruti-
niZing the young man keenly.
st. Lawrence bowed assent.
~ have heard of your talent as a
landscape-painter," the Earl resumed;
''and, as wished to meet with a pic
ture to suit certain niche in a room at
Alphington Park, l have taken the lib
erty of calling"
He turned toward the picture on the
easel, but a film as of starting tears
blurred the object before him.
''Have you yet disposed of this, may
ask?'' he said.
mo, my lord, . st. Lawrence replied.
ut is not yet finished; so that, as a
matter of course, have not yet put it
forward for exhibition"
Lord Alphington took a chair, and
sat down before the picture-sat long,
as if examining it carefully; but as he
gazed at the canvas other and widely
different pictures presented themselves
to his minds eye.
st. Lawrence stood, one hand resting
upon the back of chair near him.
Unconsciously he had assumed the very
attitude of the portrait in Magnus
Square. The light fell full on his hand
some, manly face, set off in some de-
gree perhaps by the careless grace of
his painters attire. Lord Alphington
looked up from the picture, a sigh came
from his breast, his pale cheeks flushed.
"What sum do you ask for thiSY" he
said, slight quiver in his voice.
II thought of asking two hundred
pounds for it, my lord" st. Lawrence
replied, something of repressed emo
tion on his face, and in his voice also.
1T is good-very good" said Lord
AlphingtOn. II should like to become
it's possessor. You will be equally at
liberty to exhibit it. l should be doing
you an injury to prevent that. But you
undervalue it, l think.
He drew his check-book from his
pocket, and, going to the table on
which the inkstand stood, he wrote a
cheque for three hundred pounds, which
he handed to St. Lawrence.
''You are too good, my lord" eX-
claimed the latter, the same indefna-
BILE expression again passing over his
countenance.
Lord Alphington waved his hand. as
much as to say, "Let it be-" and then he
seated himself in one of the arm-chairs
near the table.
''If l am not trespassing on your
time, will you sit down, and bear with
an old man for half an hour? should
like to have little conversation with
you." he said.
My time is quite at your disposal" :"
st. Lawrence replied, though with a
shade of constraint and embarrassment
as he seated himself opposite.
''Your friends, the Misses Dalton,
when at my house yesterday, were
much struck with your resemblance to
the portrait of a son of mine had the
misfortune to lose many years ago,
when he was not much older than you
are now," Lord Alphington began. II
wished to judge for myself. 1 find the
likeness stronger than had expected,
not only in face, but in voice and man
ner - so strong that the conviction
forces itself upon me that you must in
some way be connected with our fami-
ly, though from what branch you can
have sprung cannot guess. You are
not only extraordinarily like my own
son. but you have the Fancourt face, as
the portraits at Alphington can testify.
tell you this that you may not suppose
am actuated by mere gossiping Curl
osity."
II do not think should suspect that
in any case" said st. Lawrence, with a
smile that went to the old mans heart.
Miss Bertha Dalton told me last even
ing of the likeness she had discovered" /"
A softening of the eyes and the voice
did not escape Lord Alphington's OBJ
servation.
ut is as suspected there is an at
tachment in that quarter" he said to
himself.
Have you any objection to tell me
where you were bornp" the Earl began
again. :, ,,,. ), 8.
Lawrence replied.
"Born in Americal That is strange,
too." Lord Alphington said, under his
breath.
St. Lawrence hastened to add some
thing more.
II fear, after the great kindness you
have shown me, Lord Arlington, you
may think me ungracious," he said. lit
is matter of deep regret to me to have
to place myself at a disadvantage in
your eyes. need scarcely say that, If
/ answer questions, it must be truly
and frankly; and l am compelled to add
that circumstances at present necessi-
tate reserve that is the more painful
to me as it may lead to misjudgment on
the part of those with whom / would
most earnestly wish to stand well.'
''Are these circumstances ever likely
to be altered?" Lord Alphington asked
after a pause, during which, Judging by
the varying expression of his counte-
nance, Sany thoughts and feelings have
been chasing each other through his
mind.
II can only most fervently hope and
pray that they may" replied st. Law
renee, earnestly.
AS he spoke, clasping his hands, and
leaning his elbow on his knees, he bent
forward, raising his eyes with look Of
respect, interest, and affection almost,
to the face of his interlocutor.
ut is strange-yery STRANGE" Lord
Alphington missed, and then he added,
aloud, II must not press for your con-
hdsr a hsys S, no 4 right wsu snt win synS yop