The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-02-16

in the numerous holIy-tsees which lined
the grounds, and in the ford near the
entrance gate. The grounds had been
greatly improved by the Colonel pred
ecessor-a misanthropical bachelor with
taste for landscape gardening-and
presented many picturesque surprises
of pathways leading through apparent
wildernesses of INTENDED shrubs and
brushwood into carefully cultured flow
er-gardens. Nature had assisted art
marvelously. and the artist had wisely
allowed nature to have the best of it: SO
that the grounds of Hollyford had OBJ
tanned a whole page of Immortality in
the local guide-book.
The Colonel had seen his friends APP
preaching, and was at the door to re-
ceive them-he had a liking for this old
fashioned act of courtesy. As he warm
ly shook hands with them, Maurice was
struck by the change in his manner and
appearance. The shadow of reserve
which had been observable formerly
was gone; the lines of his face seemed
to be softened; there was the light of
happiness in his ewes. and the spring OF
youth in his movements. Contrasted
with his former self, he was like man
who. after long walking in darkness.
finds himself once more in Gear daylight
and is inexpressibly joyous.
"Why, you have gone back quarter
of century," exclaimed MIR. Calthorpe.
with a look of complimentary envy.
Here is no staid leader of men. but the
wild, gallant, Frank, knew-how long
ago?"
Upon nv word, Calthorpe, feel as
if had gone backward" answered the
Colonel. smiling. Il feel more youth
in nv veins now than | have felt for
many year. And have good reason.
as you shall both own when YOU come
to know my daughter
"You have so reused my curiosity re-
garding her, that my only regret in the
near prospect of seeing her is that am
not a young fellow like Maurice there.
All! those DAYS are gone; but if she can
only do half as much for me as she has
done for you. shall be grateful"
"She will be pleased to see you, at
any rate; for she regards you as an old
friend-and may say almost as much
for your son. Your letters kept US so
well informed about your doings, that
she said only the other day that she
seemed to know YOU both. Come along;
she is in the library. l ought to tell you
that she is very much inclined to be a
hlue-stocking. and it is hard work try
ing to keep her away from books"
Maurice had been an interested listen
er to all this. and he had learned two
things: first, that his father had been
an unusually good correspondent: and
lady of serious turn of mind. The
latter discovery was satisfactory, as
there might be friendship without tlirt-
alton.
On entering the library, Maurice at
the first glance thought it was unoccu-
pied. but in response to the announce
ment made by the Colonel: Here is
Mr.. Caithorpe, my dear, and here is his
son." lady stepped toward the n from
behind screen She laid the book she
had been reading on the table. and ad-
vancing to Mr.. Calthorpe. told him sim
ply how pleased she was to meet her
fathers old friend, of whom she had
heard so much.
As Maurice was by inference included
in this salutation. he ought to have said
something in reply. but he only bowed.
leaving all the talking to his father.
There was, indeed. little necessity for
him to speak. as Mr.. Calthorpe, begin
ming with the usual commonplace,
continued the conversation as if sub
jects of mutual interest were inexhaust-
ible, and the lady was apparently
pleased to listen. The Colonel. o5serv.
ing this. gave his attention chiefly to
Maurice, and in his own gayety of heart
did not observe the curious abstraction
in the latter's manner.
Maurice had a shy way of looking at
women when first introduced, and as
Miss Cuthbert's back was toward the
window, he might have gone away
without being able to tell whether she
was well or i'll favored in looks. had not
something in the tone of her voice
struck his ear like stray bar of some
familiar melody which he could not at
once completely recall. As he glanced
at her occasionally, something in her
figure. too, reminded him of some one
he had known. The dreamy wonder
which these vague memories at first
inspired rapidly developed into an
eager desire to identity the voice and
figure with those of that some one he
seemed to have known long ago. His
memory would not serve him; but ev-
cry time Miss Cuthbert spoke or moved
he became more convinced of her re-
semblance to an old friend. BY and by
her face was turned to the window;
the sunlight fell upon it. Then he I'm
derstood.
If by any power of magic it had
been possible to transform the pretty
seamstress of Camberwell into the
beautiful heiress of Holly.ord. then it
was Lucy who stood before him,
For a moment. indeed. he was so i'm
pressed by the resemblance that he had
almost spoken the mare. He smiled at
his own folly as he said to the Colonel:
IF YOUR daughter has thought of US
as old friends, nave discovered in her
the most extraordinary likeness to q
young lady / knew. some time ago"
Indeed! hope that will make your
&C Iuaintance the more pleasant l
must tell her.-Are you aware. Mabel.
that You have Dopple -ganger wander
ing about the world. and young Mr..
Calthorpe has seen her?''
Miss Cuthbert smiled. as if much
amused and interested. her clear. soft
eyes looking straight into those of
Maurice
Il have heard of people having
doubles, Mr.. Calthorpe. and have been
told that enjoy the privilege of having
another self. You must tell me about
her: / am curious to know what sort of
person she is"
However ridiculous the idea of as
sociating Miss Cuthbert with Lucy
might have been before, it became