The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1886-01-28
CHATTER Ii.

CHAPTER H.
Robert Moody was at this time nearly
forty years Of age, llo was u shy, quiet,
dark person, with q pale, closely shaven face,
agreoaby animated by large black eyes set
deep In their orbits His mouth was perhaps
his host feature; he had firm, well-shaped
lips, which softenel on rare occasions into u
particularly winning smile The whole looG
OF the man, In spite OF his habitual reserve,
declared him TO bo eminently Trustworthy,
His position In Lady Lydiard's household
was in no sense Of the mental sort lle acted
aa her almoner and secretary as well ~ her
steward-lislributed her charities wrots her
letters on business, paid her bills engaged
hor servants, stocked her wine cellar, was
authorized TO borrow books from her library,
and was served with his meals In his own
room. His parentago gave him claims 10
these special favorsi he wa, by birth entitled
10 rank az a gentlen an, His father had
failed at a tIme OF commercial panic M
country banker had paid good dividend,
and had died In exile abroad, a broken-heart'
cd man. Robert had tried 10 hold his place
In the world but adverse fortune kept
him down. Undesorved disaster followed
him from one employment 10 another, until
he abandoned the struggle, bnde last rare
well 20 the prld5 OF other days and accepted
tho position considerably and delicately
offered TO him In Lady Lydards house He
had now no near relations living, and he had
never made many friends In the intervals
of occupation ho led lonely lifo in his little
room. II was matter Of secret wonder
Ia l,, l.a ~ hun
siderlng his personal advantages and the OPP
portunlties which must surely have been
thrown In bis way, that no had never tempted
fortune la the character OF married man,
Robert Moody On cred into no explanations
on that subject In his own sad and quiet
way he continued TO lead his own sad and
quiet life The women all falling from tho
handsome housekeepor downward, TO make
the smallest impression on him, consoled
themselves by prophetic visions Of the future
relations with the sex, and predicted vim
dctively that "hs time would come"
"Well,' said Lady Lydiard, "and what
have you donor
"Your ladyShip seemed 10 bo anxious
about the dog Moody answered, In the low
tone which was habitual 10 him, ~ went
first 10 the veterinary surgeon lle has been
called away into the country; and"
Lady Lydiaid waved away tho conclusion
OF the sentence with her hand
'Noycr mind the surgeon. We must find
somebody else, Where did you go noKtN
"To your ladyshipS lawyer Mr. Troy
wished me to say that he will have tho pleas
uro Of waiting on YOU"
"PaN over the lawyer, Moody, want 10
know about the painters widow, IL II true
that Mrs, Tollmidgc and her family aro loft
In helpless poycrtyr
"Not quito true, my lady, have seen the
clergyman OF tho parish who takes an In
torcst In the caso--'
Lady lydiard interrupted her steward for
the third times
"You have not mentioned my namer she
asked, sharply,
Certainly not, my lady, | followed my
instructions, aud described you ~ u bonoyo
lent person In search Of cases Of real dis
tres. II Is quito tluo that Mr. Tollnidgo has
died, leaving nothing 70 his family, But tho
widow has little income Of go In her own
right"
"ls that enough TO live on, Moodyf' her
ladyship asked,
Enough, In this caso for the widow and
her daughter Moody answered, "Ihe dif.
Gculty Is TO pay the fow debts left standing,
and 10 start the two sous In lifo They are
reported to bo steady lads; and the family Is
much respected In tho ncighhorhood The
clergyman proposes TO got few influential
names 10 begin with, and 10 start subScrip.
tom
"No subscrptionl' protested Lady Lyd-
lard. Mr. Tollmdgo was Lord Lyd.
IArda cousin, aud Mira Tollmidgo Ia no
lated TO his lordship by marriage II would
10 degrading TO my husbands memory 70
have the begging box sent round for his TO
lations, no matter how distant they may bc,
CousInsM exclaimed her ladyship, suddenly
descending from tho lofty ranges Of scnti.
mont 10 the low "l hate tho very namo Of
thoml A person who Is near enough TO mo
10 be my relation and far enough OIL from
mo 10 bc my sweetheart ia u double faced
sort Of person that | don't like Lots got
bacl, 10 the widow and her sons How much
do they wontf
"A subscriptNu OF e5OO, my lady, would
provide fer even ything-if II could only bo
collected
"lt shall bo collected, Moody win pay
tho subscription out OF my own purso.h llav.
ing asserted herself IN those noble terms, sho
spoiled the effect OF h0r own outburst OF
generosity by dropping 10 the sordid Wow OF
the subject IN hUr next sentence Give
hundred pounds IA good biz Of money,
though; isn't H. Moodyr
"lt Ia Indeed, my Indy Rich and gen.
crous os he know his mistros, 10 bc bcr pro.
posal 10 pay the whole subscription took tho
steward by surprise Lady lydiHrds quick
perception instantly dotoctod what was
passing In his mind.
"You don't quito understand my position
IN this Natter sho said "Whcn read the
newspaper notice Of MIR Tollmidgos death, |
searched among his lordshipa papers 30 500
II they really were related, ! discovered
some letters from Mr., TollmIdgo which
showed me that no and Lord l,ydiard were
cousins, One Of those lottors contains eomo
very painful statements, rollectlng most un.
truly and unjustly on my eonduct-lioa In
short her lndyship burst out, losing her
dignity, ~ usual. "Lioa, Moody, for which
MIR. Tollmdgo deserved 10 bo horsewhippod,
would have done II myself " his lordship
had told mo NJ tho time, No matter, it's
useless 10 dwell on tho thing now" sho con.
tlnucd, ascending again 10 tho forms OF OK.
preston which became laly OF rank,
"This unhappy man has done me gross In
Justice, my motives may bo seriously mis-.
judged " appear personally IN communi.
eating with his family II | relieve thcm
anonymously In their present trouble, |
spare than the oxposur, OF public mbscrip.
ton, aLd do what believe his lordahip
would have done himself II he had lived. My
desk Ia on the other table Bring II here,
Moody and lot me return good for evil,
while I'm In the humor for IT,"
Moody obeyod In silence, Lady tydiard
wrote check
"Talto that 10 tho bankers and bring
back eb00 noto," she said, an lncloec
II 10 the clergyman M coming from
an unknown friend And bequick about IL
am only fallible mortal, Moody Don't
leave mo time enough 10 take the stingy view