Griggs courier., 1886-01-22
The Widows Lodger.

barker. 4AlU you nevu iuU eApccC
Linn Just yat." DIR. Hyde added. ''He
knows Il great many people IN London,
business and otherwise, and | daresay
l:> will remain :, few days With his Sis
tas-in-!;;w-. the other Mrs. Allenby, in
Orthorp- Square. lie knows am writ
ing to YOU. so does Mr.. Barker. Uncle
Michael sends YOU his love. Mr.. Bark
er tells you to take care of the boy; he
is immensely fond Of the boy, though [
do not think il means Il corner in his
will--he is not Il man of that sort"
Not'linghad been further from Mary's
thoughts, and she felt indignant at the
suggestion.
II think" said Georges letter, in
conclusion, ''the other Mrs. Allenby
will b. rather sorry for ller conduct to
you. Uncle NJ icllael knows everything
from Mr.. Barker, and has asked me q
number OF questions. could only am
sw:'r as | know, apart from it as mat
ter of right orwrong.'
Mary was not inclined to care what
Uncle Michael might think of it as q
matter Of right or wrong. She had talk
Ell hey own independent Way from the
beginning. and was prepared to accept
the consequence now. She did not want
anything from Uncle Michael, Mary
told herself, and the lady in Orthorpe
Square was sure to set hiE against her
in spite OF Mr.. Barker.
But the lady in OrthoTpe Square was
in sore tribulatioM. Writing from
Southampton, Michael [Alienby had, in
Il second letter. made close ald partic!l-
lar inquiries rs to -lrthur's wife. He
had met a friend, he said. who knew
the young doctor very We'll indeed, and
heard from him that Arthur had left,
not only q widow. but (; child.
Iou nave never mentioned this in
your letters 10 me,o Mi. Allenby wrote.
''and doubtless you had your reasons
for it. But knowing how fond [ was OF
the lad, you might have informed me
Oh q point which WAS sure to be of vital
interest to M. L ;.um glad, however,
that he left them in such good hands as
yours, otherwise the poor girl might
have had TO work for her own living,
and work in amy shape would be dis
creditable to a proud ant! wealthy name
like ollrs.'
''-And what will he Think the state
ly lady asked OF her daughters, ''wl,en
he hears she is keepinga lodging house?
Who can have told him anything about
her?:''
''It is too late to think of that llow,''
her eldest daughter replied. There is
nothing to be done, unless you like to
go and beg her pardon: ask her to close
her house, and bring herself and the
baby here, as ii this had been her home
from the first.
Mary would tlot do it, said her
younger sister Margaret: ''slle Was too
deeply offended. and no wonder. Mary
could never be a hypucriJe-she would
not do anything formoney, and we have
not been kind enough to make her do it
for love-"
Mrs. Allenhy saw the force of this.
She was Il determined woman and in
her way a proud one. She, herself, had
thought of some such thing as her
daughter Victoria suggested, though
the suggestion was made in irony, but
she had tried Muy's patient, unyield-
ing disposition before and always failed
in the contest; there was nothing for it
but to stand her ground.
II wish the girl was Dead" she said,
bitterly. Il wish she had died before
Arthur ever saw her, she had a beggar-
ly old father, too. They were nothing
but paupers and pensioners on Arthur's
generosity. She tricked him into mar
riage with her pretty face and pensiye
manners and now, il your uncle saw
her and heard her story. he would think
we had ill-used her. What right had
she to keep my sons boy from me?"
'';She is his MOTHER" Margaret said,
quietly.
II was Arthur's MOTHER" was the re-
ply. ''And would have let any selfish
love of mine stand in his way? 1 would
have resigned him, even for ever, and
to the breaking of my heart; and that
girl took him from me. hate her! I
hate her'
Just now, my dear mamma" Vic
toria said, sweetly, ''you look as if you
could put poison i'll her tea; but it does
seem a pity she should be so thorough
ly in our way. You may depend upon
it, Uncle Michael will take fancy TO
her, she has very winning ways, and he
is sure to admire what he will consider
her independent spirit, just as surely as
his money will go to Arthur's boy and
. she will have the interest of it during
her lifetime.'
''Do you wish to drive me nad?" Mrs.
Allenby said, turning upon her liercely.
IL have thought of these very things
myself, and could strangle her.''
$50 could L." said her eldest daugh.
ter, with sweet and savage slowness.
'sShe took Arthur from you and she has
taken George Hyde from me. lie has
not said so hut it is thn trnth NV don,