Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-17

l OLD friends dauVnterB ana son, pre-
sumo? wasn't aware he was go favor
ed"
The human voice is wonderful in
strument. In one case il shall OF itself
convey suspicion in another reas-
surauce. 1t was tho latter here. A ty-
rannical imagination had painted before
my mental vision with swift brush the
portrait OF dangerous conspirator The
living enigma spoke, and however puz-
cling and mysterious his presence con-
tinued to be, my courage revived. The
circumstance is as l state the explana-
ton leave to others.
Ny name is Escott this is my bro
Their and my sister," / sthmmeringly
answered. "But who--to what do we
owe?"--I was pitifully peer inquisi-
tor. Before had framed my query
was stopped.
"Who am ~" the CHEEKY stranger
said. "WeD. suppose one can't claim
universal fame but it certainly strikes
me as curious that you should have to
ask. As to my errand, that is just plea
sure and the rcsuscitation Of old memo
RES Your father and used to be
stsunch friends You're not very like
him, young gentleman. The latter sem
tence was, OF course, addressed to my
/ brother Valentine,
Indeed" the boy said laconically.
The strangers glance had fallen upon
the strange medley that decorated our
centre-table. "Some one here is col
lector Of autographs, see" he went
gaily on. "May inspect them? Thank
you. 1t is pursuit OF great interest to
me l sometimes have to study
ahem lin q professional capacity con-
trast and likeness in penmanship." He
bent,over Val's specimens, among which
were included examples OF the hand of
nearly all the boys acquaintances, for
Val played havoc very impartially with
characters ancient and modern, great
and small, famous or obscure. And by
and by noticed o queer little start,
seemingly Of recognition. Mr.. Lidlaw
looked up. "Who wrote this ?" he
said. 1t was couple OF lines-a quota
ton from Tennyson-and, beneath, the
signature of Mrs. Climber.
1t was Alice who replied. "That's
the writing of our bousekeeper, said
she, wonderinglY. "Do you know Mrs.
Climber? She came to us from
Leeds. l like her hand-it is 30 neat
and pretty"
"And it bespeaks strong will, de-
cision, and perhaps .fnesse," said Val,
sententiously, quite in the style Of the
lecturer.
But felt that it was time to know
49, h. ~hn 70 ha
taking his footing in our midst SO much
for granted. l broke in with direct
demand. 81 have never heard papa
speak Of you, so far as | can recollect,
Mr.. Lidaw, and he is not at home. Did
he expect you tonight? ?"
Mr.. Lidlaw awoke as from reverie.
Captain Escott not at home !" he re-
peated Expect me / am here in re-
spouse to his pressing invitation"
Val and l had the clew to the riddle
simultaneously.
"You are wanting Valentis Lodge,
Walnsey Cross" said.
1T is Mr.. John Escott who lives here
there has been a mistake" cried Val.
Mr.. Lidlaw stood as though paralyzed
by the revelation of his Dlunder; then
shadow OF intense vexation passed over
his features; and this in turn yielded to
a smile at his own expense. "Whew
This comes of not beng sufficiently pre-
else in investigation lesson ] hardly
ought to need to learn, after all these
years." he grimly soliloquized. Then
he bowed deprecatingly to us, and pro-
ceeded: 1.-The storm was raging so
fiercely that was content in the station
yard with little delay and few words
asked the coachmen who was handiest
If he could drive me to Captain EscOtt's,
Walnsey, and he said Yes | suppose
he did not catch more than the sur
name and was ignorant that Walnsey
and Walnsey Cross are not identical
places"
"They are three miles apart" said
VAL
81 was uncertain of my train or Cap
tain Escott would have sent to meet me.
| begged him not to do that. The ques-
ton now is how to get away, for the dri-
ver--he WAS none too sober-is gone and
my luggage is in your hall. 1t is most
unfortunate and absurd and wholly my
fault, for L remember remarking that the
fellow called your home the Manor -
which was not familiar name for it
both at Daleford station and here on ar
rival. l tender thousand apologies.
Forthwith our group of four resolved |
itself into committee for dealing with |
this singular emergency. Our debate |
had but lame issue. If papa had been
here and had become convinced of the |
bona fdeS of his unlimited guest he would |
have sent Spence with MIR. Lidlaw to |
Captain Escott's. But both papa and |
the men were absent. Josephs was old,
and often ailing; hesitated to suggest |
any scheme that should involve his going
ont into the tempest. And certainly Val |
must not venture any such exposure.
Mr.. Lidlaw carefully inquired his way,
and announced that he should walk. He |
asked, too--very oddly, as / thought,
with new twinkle of doubt-the near
est route back to Daleford village. Walls
directions were clear and full, and if the |
stranger obeyed them, he could not pos
sibly 20 astray in either direction. Ii |
seemed inhospitable to permit him to
turn out unattended into the night; but
l could perceive no alternative, and /
nave TedsOu 10 lulIh tuhU no WOulu nave
overruled any and every objection.
Mrs. Climber had not appeared. This
struck us afterwards as strange. How
ever busy she might be with her CORE
spondence, it was curious that she should
have heard nothing of the arrival, or
that hearing, she should have kept away.
Some twenty minutes after Mr.. Lidlaw
had left she entered the drawing room
and listened to our joint narrative OF
what had happened. fancied that she
was preoccupied, until Alice casually re-
ferred to the visitors inspection of her
handwriting, and that then her manner
changed, and she listened with more in
terest-even anxiety-than she cared for
us to observe. From this fact-if such
it were-I was, however, at loss TO draw
any particular deduction.
pass over the hours that elapsed be-
tween this episode and midnight We
had retired early, and the house ought
to have been as dark and still as if I'M
Inhabited. Older friends tell me that it
is the privilege OF healthy girlhood to
sleep soundly and with ease. do not