Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-29

uetceHutO stffcs s3kcs Hc cficti, chuptfefJ
rubbing bis hands as he prepared to go
before them TO their sitting-room. She
WIS too late for the table d'hote, aud the
crowd al, my eyes twas tremendous
She takes chop and tomato-sauce IN
your Excellcncy's room"
A chop and tomato sauce Ana IN
their room The passage was duslsy.
The Deans face perhaps It was better
so---could not be seen. And he said no
thing. But probably he thought great
deal. Probably he was not altogether
unprepared for the sight which met his
eyes when Angelo threw open the door.
A tall. middle.aged lady dressed in black
was sitting at the table facing them. Her
long, black cotton gloves lay by her
plate. Her fan and sunshade were also
on the white cloth. She looked up ner-
yously. saw them. and rose. There was
| o smell of gravy in the room.
| For all this, we have said, the Dean
was prepared. But not for what follow
| ed-for the intruder's immediate advance
7 with hands outstretched. "Fergus
/ she exclaimed and then, as he still
stood motionless, she repeated piteously,
1 - IcTTuSi cuSciy sce wa '~g N>@''N ' -
are glad 10 see me "
The Deans gaze rowing over her took
in her full ford checks, her beady black
ewes. her soaring bonnet ; and it must be
confessed that no blanched. He fell
back a step. "I think" he said with
stiff politeness, "that there is some mis-
take here, madame. My name is Fergus,
Il ia trua. nut do not think that I
have had the pleasure of seeing you be-
FORE"
"Of seeing me before ?" she cried.
"Why +" and she lifted her hands in as
constituent, "you do not mean that
after all these years you will not forgive
and forget2 that you will not let by
cones be bygones, even now ?"
"Years ! Bygones " tho Dean re-
poated incredulously, puzzled and con-
founded. if his manner might be trusted.
d" / assure you most seriously that L do
not understand you, nv dear lady. To
the best Of my knowledge we have never
met. Pray tell me for whom you take
mop"
"For my brother, Fergus Young-for
the Dean of Dromore, of course, she
replied. SO positively that Mary was
startled. "And so that is my niece?
Mary, dear girl. you will speak to me ?
But there, you never knew your Aunt
Alice"
The Dean s face grew suddenly purple.
"The woman is mad !" he gasped
"stark. staring mad She says she is
nv sister. | have no sister"
"You had one, and / am that one"
al had one and she died years ago !"
he answered. not as speaking to her, but
to the room.
"Died To you, you mean. the
woman replied with grating laugh.
"Come. get on your high horse. Fer
gus. That is all over twenty years ago.
Do not disown me now?"
"Disown You, woman !" the Dean
cried passionatcly-he was by nature a
choleric man, and he could stand it no
longer-it was too ridiculous. al never
owned you
She eyed him moment with queer
smile. while Mary watched them both.
Then with kind of dignity the woman
gathered up her gloves and fan. Every
well, " she said placidly, making as if she
would pass them without more words,
and 90 out, "be it so, brother
You still say that L am your
BROTHER"
al do. You know you are she re-
piled calmly.
The Dean choked, recovered himself,
choked again, and finally sputtered out,
"Then you are an imposter, madam L
say you are an imposter And shall
expose you without mercy 1t Is my be-
lief that you are trying to obtain credit
in this hotel by the use of my name"
"Nonsense, Fergus !" she rejoined in
the tone Of maiden aunt reproving an
unreasonable school-boy. "You know
that that is not so. / have money. and
can pay for everything. The waiter will
bear me witness that ] directed him to
put my luncheon down to No. 9. That
is nv number. You will know where to
find me should you change your mind,
brother"
She disappeared And there could be
no doubt with whom lay the honors of
the field. If ever cleric longed for a
layman who might give his feelings I'M
canonical expression, it was the Dean at
that moment. "Well he exclaimed,
dropping into chair. "Well !" get
ting up again as If he had sat on pin,
al never heard of such impudence
Never could scarcely have believed
it if an angel had told me a woman
could be SO braZen
"But, papa" said Mary, standing by
him perplexed and frightened, "do you
think that she is mad 7"
The Dean shrugged his shoulders and
spread out his hands
Or, Or. There can't be two
deans of Dromore ?"
He shook his head vaguely. walking
to and fro as he would be responsible
for no statement or fact after this. There
might be two Popes of Rome. He would
not say.
"Aunt Alice" Mary said musingly.
"Of course, Aunt Alice died twenty
years ago."
The Dean stopped in his walk and
glared at her.
"You-you had difference with her,
papa, had you not?"
The Dean seemed like to choke again.
"Let us understand one another" he
said grimly. "Do you suspect me of
denying my own flesh and blood, my
girl ?"
"Oh, no. no, papa" she declared.
"Then why ask that question But l
will answer it. My sister made foolish
marriage. did have quarrel with her.
was reconciled to her later. was,
thank Heaven on good terms with her
when she died. Now are you satisfied ?
Perhaps ] should add that | was at her
funeral"
"Forgive me. papa, Mary said.
"But now we know one thing. We
know her to be some one acquainted with
Aunt Alice at that time"
"Thsn what is her object ?" cried the
Dean desperately. ''After what has
passed the people at the hotel will not
give her credit-on my account, at all
events WHAT is her object ?"
Mary shook her head sagely. "Per-
haps We shall learn presently" she said.
Al che ra,r, tba hall and syo va bar fatbar |