The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-01-02

seal the notes-she did not think l wa
sharp enough to read them. | was in {
rage with Sir Herbert that day, because
had heard him say something scofing Of
the Jews, my people. To punish him
put my lady's refusal in the envelope ad
dressed to him and destroyed the fond low
ing message intended for him. Imeant tc
say the next day that had made mis-
take and so right everything. In the
meantime he would have had his punish
ment Sir Herbert read the letter-tEe
one refusing him forever for another man
and his face grew white and set He started
towards the lake swiftly and blindly. /
watching him, frightened. Suddenly he
disappeared; there was no tree or rock to
hide him, and the moon shone clearly on
the lawn. l knew what had happened;
but my tongue was dead. The railing had
been taken away from the old well-that
dreadful well, so black and deep that they
said the Evil One used it as a passage-way
from below A stone cover had been made
for the well; but it was set in place too late
to save Sir Herbert. The next morning,
before the news of his disappearance was
spread abroad, the workmen covered the
well with the heavy block of stone; and no
one ever thought to lift it since The last
master of Fendall has only a sundial to
mark his grave-odd, isn't it ?"
Here the woman burst into wild dis
cordant peal of laughter, and then sank
swooning upon the floor.
For the three witnesses of this scene there
was very little sleep that night, so intent
were they upon what the next few days
would bring forth If old Rachels story
was true-and during her narration she
seemed quite sane-a brilliant future lay
before them-for Rex a recognition of his
rights and the realization for himself and
Gladys of all their fondest hopes and for
Miss Fendall a tranquil old age, happy in
the joy of her beloved ones.
As quickly as possible Rex had the
broken sun-dial removed which concealed
the forgotten we'll A man lashed to a long
rope, with lantern and pickaxe, was slowly
lowered through the aperture. 1t seemed
to Rex an interminable time till he sig
nailed that he had gone deep enough, and
it was as if years elapsed before he pulled
the rope to be drawn up.
At last the workman's rough shock of
hair was seen again at the mouth Of the
well, and he scrambled out as if glad to feel
the grass beneath his feet once more
"There are bones down there, your honor
human bones, for l had the skull in my
hand. There was no water, and picked
up these bits of things lying in the clay"
Rex took from the mans work-stained
hands what seemed the furnished clasp of
a purse, and some shreds of leather that
might have been pocketbook, to which
discolored silver shield still hung. Rex
examined the bit of silver, and then invol-
UNFAIRLY barred his head. The crest of the
Fendalls, with the initials "H. F." beneath,
was still plainly discernible; almost beyond
a doubt he stood over the grave of his long
lost kinsman, strange resting-place though
it was
Other relics going to prove the fate of
Sir Herbert were found in the well, and the
various courts of law admitted that at last
the mystery was solved The dust of the
missing Baronet was laid with his ancestors
in the old village church, the funeral pro-
cession being followed by the older peas
antry, who had waited thirty years to show
this last honor to their masters memory
During the following January the church
was opened for very different ceremony
the marriage of Sir Rex Fendall and Miss
Gladys Luttrell.
''Only think, Rex" Gladys would often
exclaim, ''we have to thank the brass-bound
chest for all our happiness l always be-
lieved there was magic in it, and | was not
mistaken p