Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-11-04
doubt that he will do something for you. ~

doubt that he will do something for you"
i felt more puzzled than ever that day as to
who could possibly be. must be OF good
birth, thought, for everything about me be-
tokened race. But TO what family did be-
longi All, that was mysteryi
There was great excitement in the house
hold when II was known that the master
was returning. Mr.. Graham remained only
few hours The housekeeper had told him
about my singing, and he sent for me to ask
me to slug to him. / did So When had
finished my song he looked at me thoughtfully.
"You need have no fear for the future,
Gracla," he said; ''you have a fortune In your
voice have heard none more beautiful"
"A fortune" repeated drcamily; aud then
II occurred to me that / had never in my life
had q shilling that could call my own.
He spoke very kindly, telling me that sooner
or later something must transplre with regard
To my parentage, that was to take courage,
and that he would always be my friend.
Nothing was spoken of now but the coming
Of the Squire. Quite an army Of servants sud
denly appeared; trim housemaids, cooks, foot
men, coachInen, grooms, all seemed to spring
into existence at once. The state rooms In the
great mansion were thrown open, the picture
gallery was set I'm order There l saw por-
trait OF the Squire when he was quite young
man; and my wonder was that the Lady MILL
cent Branscombc could have resisted him, he
looked SO gallant and handsoml. loved the
face, aud when looked at 1t said tn myself
that the owner Of IL could never be cruel to me.
There was a smile In the bonnie blue eyes that
promised well; but then the picture had been
| int hafn ho tha al
Within three days after the announcement
Of the Squirrels return, Heron's Nest was quite
another place. 1t seemed to me fitting abode
for a prince Now there was less room than
ever for me. could not mix with the crowd
Of servants in the hall; my feeling and in
stinct were against 1t. Into the renovated
rooms dared not enter. Ny favorite place,
the library, was closed against me. My own
little sleepng-room at the top Of the house,
whence l caught glimpse Of the sea, was my
only refuge, and during the next week lived
almost entirely there.
At last heard that the Squire had come. I
had pictured him always as he was In his por-
trait-smilng and handsome, but had failed
TO allow for the havoc that years Of sorrow and
pain make.
Itseeins that for some days M one mentioned
Inc to the master Of the house, nor did he make
any inquiries about me.
One night, when believed the whole house.
hold to be asleep, went quietly down to the
library TO get a book, one Of Richard Proctor's
called Other Words III %, Ours-a book Ia which
I reveled There was no one there found
my volume, and went back TO my room with It;
but bow of pink ribbon fell unperce we'd from
my hair. As the Squire passed through the
room carly In the morning he saw IL lying on
the carpet aud he picked 1t up Just ut that
moment one OF the housemads entered the
| roam.
ITO whom does this belongi" the Squire
asked her.
ITO Gracia, SIR" answered the maid.
She told me Of the meeting afterwards and
said that when the Squire heard the name ne
recoiled rs though he had received blow.
"Whoml" he cried, In loud voice.
And the maid repeated
'Gracia"
''Scnd the housekeeper TO me-" said the
Squire, after pacing modify for some minutes
up and down the room.
Mrs. Paterson FASTENED to him, uncertain
whether she was to hear praise or blame. The
Squire, when she entered the library, was
standing before the great bay-window. He
turned to her abruptly.
Il understand you have O young person
named Gracia here. Who is shei"
"No one knows, sir" was the reply. ~
found her here when came, and she Is here
still"
"IIow did she come heref' was the mex,
question.
II cannot tell, sir. Ihave heard the servants
say that the late bousekocper was called away
suddenly, that she was absent some time and
returned with the child. 10 not think any
one In the house knows who she Is"
A look Of relief passed over the Squlre's
face.
''But that Is mprobable-impossitae, may
sayl Some one must know" he exclaimed
ITO begin with. sir, do not" returned the
housekeeper, with digni6ed air. AS Gracia
had been In charge Of The former housekecpcr,
l took her under nv protection. Mr.. Graham
said he was sure that YOU would not like her Il
be taken to an orphanage or q workhouse.
No one owned her though we all believed hei
to be Mrs. Blencowe's daughter"
She paused for q moment, while the Squire
paced up and down the room angrily. Al
| length he came to q standstil, aud said ab
ruptly-
"send to me all the old servants In III,
house"
So the butler, the hcad-garaeDer, all the Ole
servants who were In Herous Nest before
came, were called before the Squire; but no
one amongst them knew anything more thar
this-that Mrs. Blencowe, after being absent
for some time, had returned with me; but
| whence she had brought me no one could tell
Was IL anger or relief on the squire's fact
when they were dismissed and he stood think
ing SO decplyi At last he rang the bell again
and, when one OF the footmen answered 1t, b,
said
"Tell Mrs Paterson TO send the-the young
person Gracia TO me-"
Mrs Paterson brought me the message her
self.
go, Gracia," she said, land do not b,
afraid. Let the Squire hear you sing, and'hs
will put you In the way of making T. fortune
am sure"
But went In fear and trembling to the II
brary, where the Squire awaited me- found
myself In the presence OF tall stately gentle
man, whose hair was white as snow, and whose
face, though marked by lines OF terrible pain
was still handsome, with the fire OF his blu,
eyes undlmmed. But they were no longe
laughing eyes They were stern, ami cold, no
at all like the eyes Of the portrait. What wa
1t that flashed into them when they fell upor
met I could not tell Was 1t surprise, fear
love, or WHAT knew not but II. was loOl
such rs have never seen on any human fac
since
We stood motIonlcss for q whila each look
i a. l. FL