Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-11

the sake Of showing Claudinc that my
lineage was equal TO her own, wished Il
was otherwise. and, as walked between
those lines OF dead and buried EStmereg,
! resolved that when next saw my father
| would tell him that the time had come
when had a right TO know something OF
my family history; but, all She same,
knew that unless Il suited him toenllghten
me ! should stlll be left In ignorance
When I, at last, grew tired OF the com-
pany Of Valentines ancestors, went ont
OF doors, and, accompanied MIR Payne, or
as should rather call him Mrs. Payne's
husband, walked round the neglected gar
dens, and heard q great deal about the
past elorles Of the Estmeres and their
present possessions, My informant reck-
oned that the estates were worth at least
twenty thousand year, and had heard
that an immense sum OF money had been
saved during all the years which Sir
Laurence had spent In wandering abroad.
The agent and the London lawyer man
aged everything. They might know
wherethe master was, hut no one else
aver heard a word from him, ltwould be
good day for the whole country side
when he threw Estmere Court open once
RGNNluA lAAu HNRHiN AUN W0uAtA
to rent IL, but so far as John Payne under.
stood, Sir Lawrence was too proud to let
his house although he did not care to live
In II himself. He had never even let the
Dover House--since Lady Estmere left
IT, II had been occupied only by care
taker.
The next morning Mrs. Payne aud |
started on our journey. John borrowed
a light cart and drove us TO tue nearest
railway station. The parting between the
husband and wife was quite affecting; she
might have been going to Australia instead
OF to S0mersetshire. Indeed, in spite Of
my promise TO see that she lacked moth
Ing, he insisted upon his wife hcuinber-
ing herself with edibles enough TO have
lasted, with proper management, TO the
equator No doubt he thought | was
rather young to be trusted with such a
precious possession as his buxom wife
for be gave his Glass; as he called her,
many cautions to take care OF herself, and
be on the lookout for pickpockets
4 Although she received his warnings with
certain air OF condescens ion, No was easy
to see she was somewhat appalled, by the
immensely of the journey before her. This
Is not to be wondered at, as | believe
until now she had never crossed the Dor
der OF her native county.
The train cut short adiens aud warn.
ings and sped us away TO the south We
reached Surhury late at night. could
not have timed 1t better ] was able &c
take Mrs Payne to my house without OBJ
servation by the neighbors. I had or
dered room TO be kept 10 readiness foi
an expected visitor, and other creatur,
comforts prepared: so that Mrs. Payn,
was able to retire to rest, not feeling s,
bad as she expected TO feel after such i
Journey
We breabiasted together the mex
morning, and then adjourned to my study
My guest had not yet asked me what re
quired of her. She was a good soul
lquite content 70 do what she WAS asked I,
DO without seeking Tor an object
placed her In my chair I'M front OF tn
: window
sHave you cyesight, Mrs payneS"
asked
"sharpas needles, SIR; meier nembe
, of my family ever wore glasses unit
/ after sixty"
"Well,y you're long way of sixty. ! wan
you to look at the opposite honse an
! when you see lady come out or look on
OF window, try II you can recall her face.
"lIave seen her before siryh
, 81 can't tell, | want to know that 70
: haven't seen her for many years-mor
, than twenty, certainly"
"Twenty years plays tricks with face
and with memories, sir," said Mrs. Payn
witha sigh
, az shouldn't think you had change
/ much. Country air preserves good looks
you know"
| Mrs. Payne laughed; no woman Is to,
' old to like a compliment. She fixed he
g eyes on the house opposite, and waite
: Mrs. Merton's appearance. By-and-b
she seemed to grow tired of watching
Q and glanced round my roomand frowned
4 "What's the matterPn | asked.
| "The dust sir; | can't abide dust
' That servant Of yours is an idle hussy III
/ be bound"
: "You shall talk to her presently Obou
: Il. Now look at the other house. Al
+ there she isl'
Y Mrs Merron, according TO her custom
! was standing ut her window, waterin
her geraniums.
3 Mrs. Payne looked long and earnestl
0 at her. She rose from her seat and al
I preached the window, evidently wist
Ing to look over the blind. ] pulled he
: back.
'DOn't snow yourself. 10 as ctosc
the window as you like, but keep bclo'
/ the blind.n
0 | wheeled the table out OF the way. Sh
+ knelt down and peered through the II
terstices of the blind.
t. 'Do you know herYn | asked, eagerly
4 eyes, know her. | remember he
: face; but can't think where | saw he
or what her name is.n
(. ''Look again, and try"
/ | was kneeling by her side. Present.
u Mrs. Merton turned to speak TO some on
| inside the room, and in so doing presente
her profile to us.
0 "Ahn said Mrs. Payne, with sigh {
d relief. "Now ! know. Dearic me
dearie me how twenty years can chang
o body. No wonder didn't know her
= oWho is she? Don't make any mil
2 take. Don't tell me unless you are quit
/ certain. great, a very great deal do
ponds ON it.n
J. "0h, Pm quite certain now, said sh'
Il moving from the window as II fully satli
q fed. ~ can't think how could hay
been so stupid
y "Wel, who is sheY''
e "That's Mary Williams, Lady Es
mere's maid as was.'
!. ITO be Continued Nerf ,SuaR0Y.)
l., ----------------Ssp------------
John Holman,