Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-11-27

the past-lncldents which he nosV
likely needed no stimulus to re-
member, and which would now be
crowding back upon him, MS the
past does when we have nearly
done with the present.
So she went mp the creaking lit
tie stairs with the baby in her arms,
leaving Lord Archie standing in
the midst of the group of awe
stricken and bewildered youngsters.
lie spoke to one or two of them,
the eldest boy amongst them, and
found that Marcus OrfOrd's little
anecdote had been literally doc.
tored in the matter of prOnuncia-
ton and accent, and that he, in
common with all the others, spoke
very well, indeed, and if not quite
up to his own standard, still very
much above the average of a better
class of children than those living
in that part of Warnecliffe.'
And then Mrs. Arnitt appeared
again, and said the sick man was
very anxious to see his lordship if
he would 90 up. SO Lord Archie
went up alone.
1t was poor little room in'which
he found himself when he reached
the top of the creaking stairway,
I but it was clean and orderly. The
Quilt upon the bed was white, If
coarse, and there was a pleasant
faced. middle.aged nurse in white
cap sitting beside the patient, who
rose and made her obedience when
he entered under the low doorway.
/ Arnitt made a sign to her to leave
/ them, and Lord Archie advanced
to the side OF the bed.
'Why, Arnitt,' he said, Pm very
sorry to find you so III what ever
have you been doing to get like
/ thisT
srvc about come to the end of
the Journey said the sick man in a
painful undertonc, scarcely more
than a whisper.
'Oh! | hope not, | hope not,
put in the officer, kindly. 'You
must keep up your heart. You
/ know while there's life there's hope,
and a man just in hisprime, as you
are, musn't think Of giving in yet
awhile. Besides, there are others
to think of, you know, Arnitt-
there's your wife, and there are
your children-you must make an
effort and do your best to live for
their sakcs.'
Poor souls, God help them I!
murmured Arnitt feebly. 'Pvc
never been much good to her, and
she's been the best and dearest Ol
wives TO me but there'll be a pro.
vision for her and for them, never
fear; and. Lord Archie, it was
about that was anxious to see you
when Nelly told me You were down
below
Ought yo1 to be talking sc
much y Lord Archie asked, gently
intenupting. He had noticed the
change in ArnittS manner of adj
dressing him--a change from 'mN
lord 10 Lord Archie and il
made the man more familiar than
ever.
'Oh, yes, yes-what will it mat
ter IN the end = impatiently. JUS
few minutes more or less. lmus
tell You some things, and get you
to help my boy into the rights and
the position which had to fOTeg'
and give up. ! know you will
when | have told you my story, be
ginning from the time when yol
were Archie Falconer of PauPS, ant
! [ was Studham of Brazcnose.'
Lord Archie uttered a sharp CT!
of recognition and surprise. Stud
ham Of BrazenOse and in TIN
ranks of the Twenty-nfth Dragons
Good heavens, what could hav,
possessed you9 You must hav,
been mad--mad "
no, | wasn't mad, not in tn
least. was only the victim of cir
cumstances,' answered the sick man
with a sad smile. But tell me
didn't you know all alongF
T eycrguessed it. ] never sus
pected it for a moment. ! onl,
knew had known you long ago il
the old Varsity days. Yes; @
course you are Studmau; but
heavens how you are altered ,
Fourteen years Of the ranks d
, make a change in a man, and tn
Studham you knew was very younI
and very FOOLISH the other answer
ed.
'Thcn what can | do for you
, Why don't you claim your own, ant
take your own place in the world
! It's absurd to think Of you, Stud
, ham nay, but you are not Stud
) ham, but Mannersleigh, now, sine
your father died. dragging out sue
, a life as yours must of necessity b'
, It's absurd, and we must get yo
ont of this at once
mo, no; it's poor little hol'
: but I've been happy in it. I'll sta
here to the end OF the chapte
e We've got to the last page, | fancy
, Still, my children have rights, an
| have kept silence long enough?
| For Mannersleigh.--that is, ft
! yOur brother Taft