The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-08

that time l enlarged the head INTO that
picture which YOU saw first, and when l
went to Bringley l took both pictures
with me. | got down there too late to
attempt anything that night, and though
/ turned the subject over in my mind all
the way down, and continued TO do so
till fell asleep, could not arrive at
any very definite conclusion as to where
to begin. Il would hardly do to go
about showing nv portrait 10 every one
| met and asking if they knew who it
was. Such a course was calculated to
give rise to unpleasant speculations as
to ones sanity, and, on the other hand,
did not feel much inclined to settle
down in the place for an indefinite
period and 90 in for staring i'll the faces
of all the young ladies for miles round
in the hope of meeting the subject OF
my dreams. The next morning | did
what l suppose any one else would
have done under the circumstances
went straight TO the churchyard. and to
the grave itself All was silent and
solitary as upon the last occasion. L
went close to the cross, and putting
aside the wild rose, / read:
SACRED to the memory of Beatrice La
sale, who died October Is, 1862, aged twenty
one years-Until the Dawn"
Now, it was impossible for me, think
of the matter how might, to get rid of
the idea that it was no mere chance
that had brought the lady of my picture
to this grave, and / felt absolutely
certain that could | discover the where
abouts of the relations of the dead
woman l should not be far off another
look into the eyes of the living one. L
went back to the inn and at once asked
the landlord if any one of the name of
Lasalle lived in the neighborhoOd. No,
he had never heard the name. How
long had he lived in the town? About
ten years. How long had the parson
OF the place held the living? Only
about four years. The last man had
been an old bachelor, and had held the
post for forty years. O, well, who was
the oldest inhabitant, where did he live,
and was he is in his dOtage or capable
of answering questions? Mine host did
not rightly know which was the oldest
inhabitant, but he knew an old one, and
that WAS not he but she, who
lived about a mile off, and could answer
questions but could not hear them, being
stone deaf. Encouraging, wasn't it?
However, [ meant to try all | knew; so
| got this lady's address, and presently
reached the cottage of the ancient dame
who was supposed to know all about
everybody, and whose name was Sug
gidge. 1t was well-built, substantial
little house, with a garden much better
than most of those | had passed. A
good looking woman of about forty
came out of the door to meet me as
unattached the garden gate. Surely this
was not the afflicted female? 1t wasn't
What might | want?
To see Mrs. Suggidge Had l the
pleasure of speaking to her?
"Yes-young Mrs. Suggidge. Old
Mrs. SuG%idge was indoors.
..Ah! it was old Mrs. Suggidgp 1
wanted to see, to ask her few ques-
tons about a family that once lived
near
30, then, it was all right; there was
nothing mother liked better than an
swering questions if she could be got to
hear them, but that was an event which
seldom happened, it seemed. | was
shown into nice. comfortable little
room. in which the object of my search
sat busily knitting. The daughter
having introduced me and my business
to her in voice strikingly like the
shrek of a railway engine, she said she
should be happy to tell me anything she
could about anybody. Grateful for this
extreme amiability. collected all nv
energies, and initiating, as nearly as l
could, but still feebly. the timbre and
pitch of the daughters voice, asked her
if she knew if a family named Lasalle
had ever lived thereabout The effort
was a failure. She knew no one named
Russell nearer than Bilston town, and
he was butcher who beat his wife.
Feeling sure that could never excel,
or even equal, my first supreme en-
deavor, | asked the younger woman if
her mother-in-law could read.
Yes, but she was always hurt if ques-
tons were written, as she did not like
to be thought hard of hearing-was
even offended if she thought folks
shouted at her.
80, for Heavens sake, then, tell her
/ have sore throat and can not speak
I y
mOuthpiecr for me. / said.
Mrs. Suggidge junior was not
fanatic in the cause of Absolute Truth.
and promptly did as | wished. A tenn
porary check was even then put upon
the investigation by the mothers COM
miseration of my misfortune, and her
recommendation of several dozen in
fallible remedies. The question was put
and heard at last, however, and the
answer came.
Yes, she knew whom | meant.
Twenty or more years ago a newly
married gentleman and lady of that
name had bought house and grounds
close by. She herself had even lived in
the house several times when upper
servants had suddenly left.
Had they many relations? None
that she knew of. At least Mr.. Lasalle
may have had some; but she had heard
Mrs. Lasalle say she had not Il soul re-
lated to her. They had only been here
about two years when the lady died in
giving birth to 4 son, and was buried in
the churchyard in a grave that stood by
itself. The gentleman left the neigh
borhood at once. taking the infant
with him. and she had never heard of
them again. Even the house itself had
practically ceased to exist, having been
altogether altered by its present occu-
pier and owner.
Il am free to admit that this was 4
.faccrr This was all. then. The whole
affair had begun ut a grave, and. it
seemed. had made this circle only to
end there. But remembered my pic
ture. At least l could SET my mind at