The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-11-26
MIR. FARQUHAR'S NIECE.

had never set eyes ON the young lady, having been
absent In India nearly twenty years, and conse-
quenty he did not feel much personal Interest In her.
but no had generously paid for her education and
maintenance since she had lost her parents, and was
prepared to make n home for her ON his arrival In
England; therefore he had written her kind letter
| to announce his return.
hut he was very much surprised and somewhat
disconnected when two days later he was informed
reaching his hotel after an evening stroll on the
bouleyards, that young lady who had Just arrived
from England was awaiting him In the salon, and
before he had recovered from his astonlshment he
found himself In the presence OF his niece, who
greeted him aircctlonntely, and duirully held up u
remarkably pretty face to he kissed.
"'Pon my word, my dear, ~ said old Mr.. Far
quhar, after ayang himself of the privilege, your
arrival Is quite surprise TO me. should certainly
have met You at the station had | known You were
| coming
81 thought you would he surprised, uncle, - said
| tho young lady, blnshng. 90 The fact was my
friends, MIR. and Mrs. Howard, were coming over
to-day and awaited myself OF their escort other
wise should not have for day two, or at all
events not until had answered your letter.
Mr. Farquhnr on the point OF saying that he
did not recoleCt anything In his letter which could
hearted, susceptible old gentleman he refralned.
The truth was he was very much struck by his nieCo
prepossessng appearance. He possessed photo.
graph Of her taken some years back which had given
him very inadequate idea OF her attractions, though
1t must he owned that he had not examined 1t very
attentivey lie regretted now, as he gazed with un-
disguised admiration upon the young lady fair face
tall graceful figure and frank blue eyes that he had,
banked himself Of the pleasure OF anticipating such
charming revelation.
Ill hope you are not angry with me, uncle for
arriving SO unceremoniously ~ said his NIECE n-
! terrupting his revere.
Angry my dear child. on the contrary, de-
lighted Quite delighted y, said Mr.. Farlnhar
femme de chdmbre, you knOw-to conduct this lady
| tn n mine. Aud, bless my soul, YOU must
be hungry, my dear! Dinner, walter, directly"
Wine MS niece WAS making the necessary nltera-
| tluns to her toilet MIR. Farquhar superintendent
the details of dainty little repast, which the young
lady found awaiting her when she came down.
/ The old gentleman delighted than with
his niece appearance when he bohed her Invested
of her hat and travelling attire, and could hardly take
his eyes of her. In fact, admiration and astOnSh-
ment rendered him strangely silent and AS the young
lady was evidently iatlgued after her Journey their
conversation was not OF very confidential nature.
"Now, my dear, " yon are tired. don't hesitate
to go your room, said Mr.. Farquhar, noticing AT
length his niece fatigue. 'lou mustn't spoil your
ro>eS. Ada and have lot OF sight seeing before
us.h
''1hank you, uncle, - said the young lady rising
from the table; - hut my name Is Amy, You know;
not Ada
fanny, to he sure. l was thinking 1t was Ada, +"
replied MIR. Farquhar, In some confusion; and hav-
Ing submitted with good grace TO another dutn sa-
lutte he opened the door for her, and made his way
to the smoking room to discuss cheroot before
| Ing In
ii was astonishing what an exhilarating effect the
arrival of his niece had upon the old gentleman. lie
felt quite young and taunty ut the prospect of having
to escort pretty girl about 10 see the sights of Paris.
| lie was mp betimes the next morning and dressed
himself with especial care He even made pill.
! grimagc to the Madeleine market to purchase a
Hover for his butonhoe, not forgetting also u very
elegant little bouquet, which he placed by the side OF
| his Hiece's plate.
and rosy and charming after her nights rest. She
went into ecstacIes the bouquet which her uale
had provided, and insisted upon giving him an extra
Kiss for his attention. She laughed anu talked
gayly during the meal, and Mr.. Farquhar learned a
great deal OF news about members OF the family
whom lie did not rccollect having heard Of. But
the fact was that lie paid very little attention TO
what his niece was saying, being absorbed IN watch
ing her and listening to her musical voice. His niece
had fAlrly DnWltCel hlnl anu IL only ulWneu upon
the old gentleman that he had apsed into stupefed
silence when the Young lady, in her turn, suddenly
left off talking. Then he awoke to the fact that his
niece was showing symptoms of embarrassment, and
that bright flush of color was mounting to her
cheek. AT first Mr.. Farquhar was afraid he had
omitted TO reply 10 some remark which needed
answer. He soon perceived, however, that his
! niece ewes turned anXiOusly toward another
part of the room, and following the direction OF her
startled gaze, he beheld tall, military looking gem
tleman, elderly, but still handsome, with AN iron
gray inusache, who was just taking his seat near
them. Mr.. Farquhar experienced wild, unreasOn-
Ing pang of jealousy but observing that the stranger
seated himself unconcerncdly at n table, with his
| back to them, his suspicious wore allayed.
''What is the matter, my dcar?'' he inquired,
turning to his niece
nothing serious, ~ she added becoming very pale,
and casting frightened glance at her uncle. 81
feel little faint, that is all. Perhaps you VIII ex
cuse me for mOment.''
with these hurried words the young lady rose and
vanished from the room before her uncle could inter
feie. The old gentleman was quite startled by hei
abrupt departure, and after ten minutes interval HI
sent up to inquire what was the matter with her
A chambermaid brought down word that his nice,
had n headache and proposed to lie down for Al
hour. Relieved by this report, Mr.. Farquha
finished his breakfast and str0ed into the courtyard
TO smoke
After oungiug abont for nearly TWO hours Mr.
Farquhar sent again to inquire after his niece. This
time came message requesting him not to walt for
her she did not feel well enough to accompany him
Mr.. Farquhar, therefore, started oil rather dicOnsO
lately for his mornings walk alone.
When he returned 1t was past midday. and no
nnding his niece In of the salons he ventured &
90 up 10 her room Having knocked two or thra
Zines at the door without elicitng any response Ii
cautiously turned the handle, and found the apart
ment deserted.
This was rather an unpleasant surprise, and Mr.
Farlnhar began 10 feel vaguely uneasy. He then In
qured of the servants, but none OF them could Civ
him any tidings of Miss Amy. AS 1t was evder
she was not In the hotel Mr.. Farquhar sailed fort
|, with the idea that she might have gone out Tor
walk during his absence. He spent the rest of III
day In wandering aimlessly about the streets, return
Ing at short Intervals TO the hotel to Inquire II HI
niece had come back. by degrees he worked himse
Into state Of nervous excitement, and when II be
gan TO grow dark and Miss Amy did not appear !
resolved to communicate with the police. BeOI
doing so, however, 10 occurred TO him 10 ascerai
the name of tho gentleman who had sat near TO thel
at breakfast remembering that his niece had AZ
peared startled at seeing him. Upon being furnishe
with his description, the concierge identified the IN
diyiduai In question as Col. Ingram, adding, sud
denly:
,but, wait The Young LADY Monsieur Is seektn
Went away with that gentleman. r0coect that NJ
10 Colonel had young lady with him.
''What ~ exclaimed Mr.. Farquhar, aghast.
"Tfey started oil In the hotel omnibus about mid
day, with baggage, d" added the concierge.
''GOOd -!'' exclaimed good Mr.. Farquhar, wiz
Ing his brow; "what an awful thing That poo
child must have clipped with some--sOme ad yenurer
Having found clue to his niece's disappearance
he had dicuty In obtaining further information
which convinced him that his suspicious We're correct
A porter had brought down the young lady luggag
by the gentleman's orders and had placed 1t on III
omnibus. Tie English colonel appeared 10 DO n
IHeuu with the young demOiselle, and they had drive
oil together. MIR. Farquhar subsequently, ascertaine
that they had gone the railway station, where the
luggage had been labeled for Geneva.
MIR. Farquhar was an energetic old gentleman, and
In spite Of the shock 10 his feelings, he dd not hesa
to follow the fugltiyes. lie felt In duty bound to
all IN his power 10 rescue his niece, and, though i
was naturally greyed aud Mortified by her conduct i
ready To make excuses for her aud TO believe thu
she had been deeoyed away. HIS hIst Impulse was
telegraph TO the police To arrest his nieco companion
but with tho object Of avoiding scandal, aud froI
an Unborn spirit of caution, he abandoned this idea
he hoped 10 reach Geneva In the course OF the ne,
day, within few hours after Miss Amy and her at
duetor.
Iie could hardly control his Impotence during Il
long aud weary journey, ana arrived NJ his OBSTINATE
J In state OF furious Indignation. Not showing whe
Col. Ingram Was stay lug he started OF to make II
quTies at all tho principal hotels lie first drove
thh Hotel National without result; but at the Hot
. MOnOpOe his enterprise was rewarded. Iio leATnt
that Col. Ingram and Miss Amy had arrived the
= early that morning and In q few moments he fOuu
himself face 20 face with the fugitive pair.
Col. Ingram occupied private sitting room an
l. was lOunglug by the open window, which OyeTlOOke
# the lake. smoking cigar, while Miss Amy was l0aI
ing over the balcony watching the people In the sire
- below. BON turned lOullu NhOn MT. Fdfuuh
IL bounced into the ROOM and at tho sight OF her unc
the young lady turned deadly pale, while Col Ingra
y rose from his seat and said, rather denantyi
i "May / inquire what your business is sr2''
II ~ am that young lady's uncle and guardian, al
> am hoTe 10 demand an explanation Of your dlsgTac
full and tHprincpled conduct, SIR, ~" cried old NJ
: Farquhar, firmly.
l. "What do you mean l don't understand, - sa
a Col. Ingram, with great hauteur.
- AZ repeat sir, that Miss Nicholson Is my niece al
IS / am her guardian, - returned MIR. Farquha
) angrlly.
I, SMiss Nicholson | assure you, sir, you ara Gll
TAKEN - replied Cob Ingram, peIoeiying that i
visitor was neither mad nor intoxicated. This YOU
u lady name Is not Miss Nicholson, IL SHE yo
IA niece. May ask your name, srfh
y nPon my word, this Is too much, - exclaimed NJ
'r Faruuhar Indignantly, though inwardly disconcert
ID by Col. Ingram apparent straightfOrwardness.
r appeal 20 the young lady. | VIII give you my ca
with pleasure, ~ he added, laying II ON the table wi
80 trembling hand.
Of lido you know that name, my dear 2n laugh
A. Col Ingram, CHANGING at the card aud handing II
q, the young lady.
81 uMr. Champion Farquhar. No, | never heard
before In my lie, ~ was the reply uttered In Low
nervous tone, and from the manner In which she mi
pronounced the name u was evident she never had
Really. Mir, EaTQuhaT, labOrInE under