The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1883-04-07
The MYSTERY OF CuTHBERT RAYMOND.

afternoon, when he met his fathers old
friend, Sir Lambert Raymond.
my dear boy" cried the CHEEKY old
baronet, grasping his hand. "'Pon my
word, / shouldn't have known you. How
Is the guv'nor? By the by, have you
heard my nephew Cuthbert has come
back 2"
"No," said Carlyon; 81 had quite
lost sight of him. 1t mus be ten years
or more since he went to Australia.
He returned few weeks ago unex-
pectedly," replied Sir Lambert rather
shortly. " Will you run down to Brock
ham with me tonight, Frank, and re-
new acquaintance with your old school
fellow? Bring your gun, of course"
Well, l was going north tomorrow
to my cousins place." said Carlyon,
hesitatingly.
"That will keep for a dav or two.
The fact isl will walk little way in
your direction-the fact is, Frank, | am
anxious that Cuthbert should look up
to his old friends" said the baronet
confdentially. "He has changed a
good deal since he has been away-for
the better, l hope. But he is inclined
to efface himself, to shut himself up,
and to avoid all society. Or course,
that is natural, considering the painful
circumstances which led to his leaving
England. But it won't do, you know.
The best way of making people forget
the past is for Cuthbert to show himself
in the world as though nothing had hap
pened. don't think his old friends viii
be hard upon him after all these years,
especially when it is known | have for
given him. However, the difficulty is to
persuade him to make a start, and I'm
devilish glad I've met you, for I'm sure
I can rely on your kind assistance"
{" l will do what l can to bring him
out of his hell, Sir Lambert" said
CaIlyon heartily, for he was really a
good-natured, hnd-hearted young fell
low. "Ihanks, therefore, for your in
vitation; and | will write to my cousin,
and come down with you for day or
two"
Accordingly Frank Carlyon and Sir
Lambert, after dining in town, travelled
down to Norfolk together by the evening
express. To tell the truth Carlyon was
not much elated at the prospect of re-
newing acquaintance with Cuthbert Ray
mond. AT Elton their friendship had been
VI budb lDCEDCldl udIuIt WHICH I6SuIb5
from knowing fellow at home" Sir
Lambert and Carlyon's father had served
IN the same regiment, and young Ray
mond and Frank Carlyon had been en-
joined to emula' the intimacy OF their
elders. Needless to say the lads failed
to observe this sentimental Injunction
at least in spirit. They did not become
deadly enemies, as boys often do under
similar circumstances, but they never
really cared for one another, and each
selected a particular friend alter his own
cart. Carlyon was a year older than
Raymond, and rose more quickly In the
school; so that when the latt r left Elton
to cram for the army, the lads were
scarcely more to one another than mere
acquaintance. And then unhappiIy
young Raymond's career was blighted
by serious accusation of fraud, which
led to his being disowned by his uncle
and sent to the colonies in disgrace.
To do Clrlyon justice, he sincerely
sympathized with Cuthbert's inVidious
position, now that he had returned to
England, and was quite prepared to
make matters as smooth as possible for
him among mutual friends. But his
journey to Breckham was undertaken
chiefly from a good-natured desire to
oblige Sir Lambert, for whom be had a
great regard and affection, which dated
from the early days when the kind
hearted old baro1et used to tip him at
school; and, perhaps, being a keen
sportsman, he was also influenced by the
fact that Breckham Hall could boast the
best shooting in Norfolk.
"Cuthbert will be surprised to see
you," observed Sir Lambert, as they
drove up the avenue lea ing TO the
house. II wonder if you viii recognize
him? Did mention that he had been
distigured by an accident? He came
cropper year or two back while break
ing in a wild colt in the bush, and sus
tanned rather severe injuries IN the face.
He he's a scar on his cheek and across
his nose, which alters his expression,
and at first glance L dare say you won't
know him."
After this warning Carlyon was hardly
surprised when, on reaching the dining
room, he failed Immediately to pick out
Cuthbert Raymond from among half a
dozen men who were seated round the
table, but his doubts were soon set at
rest by voice exclaiming:
by Jovel it is Frank Carlyon. How
the deuce did you come here %
The speaker, whose tone did not de-
note unmixed pleasure, rose from his
CHAIR and advanced to meet him. Carl
yon shook hands with his old school
fellow, wondering at the alteration in his
appearance. His recollection was of a
slim, boyish figure, with a pale face,
rather refined features and beardIess
chin. Cuthbert's frame was now filed
out and inclined to corpulency; ne wore
thick beard, moustache and whiskers,
not too well trimmed. while the symme-
try of his features was disfgured by an
ugly scar, which extended diagonally
across his face, imparting rather a
saturnlne expression. 1t took Carylon
q few seconds to realize that 1t was in
deed Cuthbert who stood before bin,
and he could not refrain from saying:
why, Cuthbert, as your uncle said
to me Just now, declare | shouldn't
have known you"
"You haven't altered much, Carylon.
said Cuthbert, rather sulkily. "I knew
you directly. I dare say I do look
strange at first. l guess l shouldn't
have recognized you if you had gone
through as much as 1 have the last ten
years or so. Come and have a glass of
wine."
Sir Lambert was a bachelor, and his
sister, who usually presided over his
household, was away on visit, so that
the party presently adjourned to the
bilhard-room, where they embarked
upon a series of "pools which lasted
till late hour. Before retiring to rest,
Carlyon had good deal of conversation
with Cuthbert, chiefly relating to their
Elton experiences. 1t is astonishing
how soon men become intimate and con-
tidential in talking over school renlinis-
cences. Their hearts warm to one an
other as if they had been lifelong
friends, even though they may hardly