The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-04
ton, and caused me now, Tor snort time at
least ~, Isar.f.-x. A., yo.s

4 W.
least, to deploTe his loss
/ Then came other and more complicated
| thoughts If had no longer father 10 pay
for my maintenance. what was TO become of
me; Tor, as far as 1 knew. l had no other
relation in the worid2 Puzzled by these
thoughts and seeing no solution TO them,
could do nothing but wait in eagerness and
/ dread for what was to follow.
| The next morning. when was dressing,
Mrs Munster came into my bedroom and
| handed me jacket with a Grape band on
the left arm; she also pointed to a cap which
Sfle nad brought in with her, and said:
on must wear this one now Hugh"
linen she turned, bent her kindly eyeS up
on me, and kissed my forehead and murmur-
ed. my poor boy.
Fentured 10 inquire whether was to see
my poor father in his coffin or to follow him
to the grave. The tears came into the wo-
mans eyes. and she took my hand.
on viii never see him again" she said; /;
never. He died in America. and was buried
before We received the news. But YOU are a
brave boy" she added, "and must not grieve.
Ii is sad for you, my dear; but trouble is sure
to come sooner or later. II it comes when
oneis young, so much the better, for one is
better able 10 bear it. =
Mrs Munster" l said. piteously, ''what
is to become of me?''
The good lady shook her head.
L don't know, my dear she replied /;
your poor father has not left you a Sixpence.
hugh she added suddenly, have YOU any
relations?''
No." | replied, mot one"
Are you sure2" she continued Think
my DEAR
did think, but it was of no use. Ny brain
would not cOnJure up one being to whom
could possibly lay any claim
NO uncleS, or aunts. or couSins?'' persisted
Mrs. Munster; when suddenly exclaimed:
Yes, Mrs. Munster; now remember, I've
got an aunt At least had an aunt; but
she may be dead, like father
Let Us hope not" said Mrs. Munster.
We'll, my dear, tell me what she is like,
and where she is to be found
Il don't know what she is like > | replied.
u never saw her
Never saw her?''
"No; she never came near us: but I've
heard father speak about her. She was my
mothers sister, and her name is Martha Pen
dragon, and she lives at Cornwall"
Martha Pendragon," repeated Mrs Nun
ster. rs she married?1
reflected for a moment, then l remember
ed having seen letters addressed to Mrs.
Pendragon," and | said as much.
And where does she liver
''St Gurlott's, Cornwall" !"
Mrs. Munster wrote il down
Mrs Pendragon, St Gurlott's. Corn
wall 1t looks promising, as dare say St
Gurlott's is very small place. Make your
self as contented as you can for a few days,
my dear. [ will write to the lady and ask
her what she means To do
do .f. l,,4, i I
cordngly did so; though | found 1t utterly
impossible to take Mrs. MINISTER'S advice,
and preserve a contented frame of mind
My exceedingly hazy reeollections of my
aunt's communications We're by no means
such as to inspire confidence. l began 10
ask myself for the first time, why it was she
had never been permitted TO visit my mother
in her home; why my mother who was evil
IDENTITY fond of her sister, had never made
journey into Cornwall to see her; above all,
why my aunt had never come to visit my
own mother when she was dying? Thus
speculated for four DAYS, at the end of that
time | saw Mrs. Munster receive a letter,
open it, read it, ana glance strangely at me-
1T is from your aunt, my dear" she said
then, looking at the letter again, she added
''She is your aunt, | suppose
From Mrs. PendTagOn?'' | asked.
It's SIt Itpttttl. NlJt a Strange smile /
''from your Aunt Martha"
L wanted to hear more, but no more came
Mrs. Munster again turned her attention to
the letter and began studying it as intently
as if she were carefully working out some
abstruse mathematical problem. Presently. |
her husband came into the room, and she
handed him the letter. My curiosity received
a fresh stimulus when l saw him start at
sight of it, read it twice, and then glance, as
l thought, half pityingly at me.
Il suppose it's all right he said, turning
to his wife; the boy must GO
She nodded her head thOughtfully.
''It seems pity. doesn't it. after the edu-
cation he has had?' she said TO her husband;
then, turning to me, she added, Let me see,
Hugh, how old are you nOwY
replied that l was fourteen.
'.And are you sure you have no other rela,
tions except this-this Aunt Martha, as she
calls herself?"
replied that during the last few days l
had been raeking my brain incessantly on
that subject, but without avail.
We'll" she said, Il suppose your Aunt
Martha is better than nobody, my dear-she
seems goOd-natured sort of person, and is
quite willing to give you a home; but 1t
seems pity TO take you from school before
your education is complete, and if we could
hnd another relation who would let you stay
here it would be so much better for you. |
will write again to your aunt; she may know
of some one, though you do not-yOur faith
er's relations, for instance; but if she does
not-why, the only thing you can do is TO go
to Cornwall"
l accordingly had to wait few more days,
at the end of which time letter was receiv-
ed from my mysterious relative. This time
it failed to bring with it disgust or amaze
ment, and conveyed only disappointment.
Your aunt tells me she is your only rela-
tive on your mothers side" said Mrs. Mum
ster, land your fathers family she knows
nothing about. She has fixed Thursday as
the day on which you are to go to her; there
fore, my dear child, see no help for it; you
must leave usr'
Thus it was settled. On the Thursday
morning l, accompanied by my small stock
of luggage, started on my travels, and saw
the last of MINISTER'S
fsr6 I