Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-26

turned 10 me Oh Ihtc sOlcuV"' loul
husband, Mrs. Ridgeley, WAS then alive,
believer"
On the lady's face had come Wilderness
that made Frankland for moment fancy
that she was about to swoon. Eyes
no." she stammered. giving him look
that seemed to have in il the sweeping
challenge of mixed defiance and tear.
81 forget" she went on, in plain
dismay ana embarrassment. "It-it
is long time ago, as you say, Mr.. cray
ton"
Here Mrs. Everard gave genial, rip
ping little laugh. Her sight was poor,
and she had not on her glasses Just then.
Dear mew she said affably, "you APP
pear to be quite taken aback, Cordelia,
declare? Well, we're all getting old, | sup
pose, and the past will escape PERSONS
memory now and then. know my men,
DRY grows more and more shocking every
year."
"You wrong yourself. madam-indeed
you dow struck in DR.. Tredgett at this
point.
ooh, no, DON'T" continued Mrs. Ever
ard, as she poured the tea from big
silver heirloom of teapot, laughing an
other blithe little laugh. But upon my
word, Cordelia, l don't see why you've
never spoken to FARMLAND about his
mother before. He's been here two weeks,
and Pve never heard you mention the
subject yet. He'd be glad to hear any
little "reminiscences you may have kept;
wouldn't you, FranklandW
DECIDEDLY l should" returned Frank
land, IN his calmest and yet most signit-
can't tones.
BY this time Mrs. Ridgeley had regained
her composure-or at least partially.
"We must have talk then, at some
future time," she said to FARMLAND,
smiling in a less forced way than she had
done before. "Bur not now, you please
Il should prefer our talk to bo-a-more
private one"
"Ah, natural" exclaimed DR.. Tired
gett, with sententious air. He seemed
to rise little in his chair as he now re-
garded FARMLAND. "Mr. Clayton will Of
course understand your feelings and
sympathize with them, Mrs. Rldgeley,
am sure"
FARMLAND made kind of neutral mo-
ton of the head. He was glad when Mrs.
Everard presently broke in with one OF
her suave platitudes. More than once,
during the rest of the meal, his eyes
dwelt upon Rosalind. But she did not
return his look. 1t occurred to him that
her color had vIsibly lessened, and that
she was choking down what food passed
her lips.
1t ohanced that Mrs. Everard went up
fstairs to her room as the company had
risen from table. She had 10 write brief
note to one of her lawyers-a note which
must be written at once and in her own
name and hand, and which she
had delayed until now, with her usual
procrastination regarding all such al
fairs.
FARMLAND soon atterward left the room
also. He had endeavored to speak few
words with Rosalind, but found that she
was for some reason almost powerless TO
| answer him. She watched her mQtner,
who occasionally glanced at her some
what severely while engaged in very low
talk with DR.. Tredgett. 1t was on the
verge Of Frankland's lips to tell Rosalind
| that her manner more than amazed him.
But thrOe of compassion prevented him
from doing this; the young girl looked so
| utterly woe begone and wretched.
Mrs. Ridgeley during her l0w-toned
converse with Or. Tredgett, show
| ed signs of desire to in
terrupt Franklapds chat with her
daughter; and at last FARMLAND arose,
He had remem bered something. He
went straight up stairs to his own apart
ment, and spent there few minutes In
certain Investigations. Then, very
abruptly, something occurred which made
| him DESTROYS of seeing Mrs. Everard. He
| went at once TO that lady's room and
| found her still at work upon her letter,
short though 1t was.
| She received him with tokens of relief.
| 'You know, Frankland," she said, "hOw
| hard it is for me to write the least little
note. Oh l dare say you think neglect
ed you shamefully all that time you were
away. But L truly couldn't help 1t, for
| never was and never will be scribe.
| And now Pve got to write just short
note to my lawyer, Mr.. Prescott, and
| though some people would consider 1t the
merest trifie, Pm actually treating it as
If it were an immense matter"
ITO your lawyer, Mrs. Everardp'
| FARMLAND could not help questioning.
Eyes. The truth is. Frankland, pve de-
! termined TO alter my will. Don't look so
surprised. Your share of the property
shall remain just what is"
II neither want nor expect any share
whatever, Mrs. EverardW the young man
| here exclaimed.
"But you shall have IL, my boy; l have
| always said that you should have it, and
| you shall. That portion of the will is not
| the one that wish to alter. The change
concerns charitable bequest. want TO
| cancel that. Yes. think it only fair to
my husbands sister that l should. It's
| about three-quarters OF my property.
| Farmland; but then, who is nearer to me
| than she is? And she has shown herself
so sincerely my friend, 30 valuable as my
| counsellor"
FARMLAND now laid one hand ON the
lady's arm.
"My dear Mrs. Everard," he said, ~
have, since last saw you, made what
strikes me as at least most peculiar dis.
covery."
ga discovery, FARMLAND? What is
n?"
"You told me that my mother was a
friend Of Mrs. Ridgeley, at L., in the
past"
"Certainly did"
at am not mistaken, you said, also,
that you had never seen your late hus-
bands sister until she presented herself
here after that husbands DEATH"
"True, Ibid say So"
FARMLAND now searched the lady's face
very intently, and with gaze of the most
serious kind.
"That packet of old letters from my
mother, Mrs. Everard, which you gave
me about two weeks ago, contains a like.
ness. came upon it this very evening.
| There were some few of the letters which
| had not yet examined. This one, like
most of the others, was addressed 10 you.
Inside 1t was the pen and INK sketch which
| now offer you. You sect is my moth.
er's work. She sent it to you, long since,
from u
"Yes," faltered Mrs. Everard, ell
think | rpmambprD