Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-17
ACHANCE CHECKMATE
,cbamssrs's Journei.l

UnemanClRateu lIoin WIG se,.~Va ~.
NV father was--and is--a banker st Sis-
ton. The town lies in valley, and by 0
Great many people is thought unhealthy.
Having q kinsman whom he can tho
roughly trus. "a acting manager. papa
these MANY years since has abandoned
The red house in Siston Broadway, and
resided at the Manor, Walnsey. This is,
however. twelve miles from bis place OF
business eight by rail added to four by
road. The Manor has one other draw
back-it stands in very isolated situa-
ton. Our nearest neighbors are our
nsmesakes. the Fscotts OF Walnsey
Gross and ylentia Lodge. the country
seat of Captain Milne Escott, lies west
ward across the Wilderness we call the
Heath a good three miles.
The month when my story opens
WIS February Fill-2ike, and it was iusti-
fving its name. OF storms we seemed to
have ceaselcss succession. Heavy
rains and high winds had been for seve-
raj weeks the prevailing meteorological
conditions. Alice-my younger sister
and were prisoners within doors and
we should have found time drag more
heavily than il did but for the presence
OF Val An only brother is always a
GIRLS hero, aud Val was ours. In age
he came between us, and his proper
place at this period of the year was
Rugby. But he had met with an acci-
dent mt Christmas, and was only Just
convalescent Hence, his holidays had
already lasted in excess full fortnight
of the working term. As perhaps Val
NAV read this, I will be candid, and add
that there we're seasons when, owing to
histeasing we heartily wished him back
in the Midlands. The Tuesday on
which papa announced his urgent sum-
mons TO Ferris Court was, however, not
one OF those occasions. Boreas was
doing his best TO bring the house about
our ears. We could not possibly go out
in the tempest. We were not ultra'en-
thusiastic readers and fancy-work was
ever Alice's bette mir ; therefore, we
must have settled into tame subsection
20 onnui but for Val. TWAS his business,
ms he put If, 10 make things lively; and
he did.
/ had ventured TO demur to papa's GO
ING. Surely il was my place to care for
him as mamma would have done had
she lived. and bis health bad troubled
me Of late, thoughtless as too frequently
was.
at is dreadfully rough day, papa, "
said. "Cannot Sir Hugo Ferris wait ?
1t is such distance, too. TO Ferris Court,
and all across country. You can't reach
the place readily by rail.
mo l wish that / could" papa an
swcred. "But tho journey is quite i'm
perative. Sir Hugo Is one Of our best
patrons. lie telegraphs that his de-
parture for Algiers is fixed definitely for
fhursdav-an alteration of a week in his
arrangements; and have urgent matters
10 discuss with HIM. He insists-fool-
ishly, but l cannot help ton negotia-
ting with the principal he will have
none of Mr. Bellows | suppose my
face WAS visibly frightening, for before
could reply papa added {; Don't
look so glum about it, Maggie. You will
be quite safe here IN charge OF Mrs.
Climber our new housekeeper. | am
convinced that, after many changes and
mishaps. We have secured treasure. |
say this because it is uncertain if shall
return tonight.
"Not to return tonight !" l echoed,
helplessly.
mo he said. 81 have decided to
take the horses the whole way, and as the
roads are in a bad state Spence will put
the cattle up in the next village and then
drive me back the next morning. Ishal
be sure Of comfortable quarters at Ferris
Court"
ais it quite-saie?" [ asked.
"For me, do you mean ?"
moo; for us. This house is so lone
" and it is known that there are MAN.
mas jewels-and the pictures-and the
plate"
Papa scoffed at my fears.
1--WE are too far from the track Of the
hght-fngered prowler to receive his at
tentions," he answered.
But il was an error.
Ever since that day 7 have had a lurk-
ing belief in presentiments. / know
very well that the confession will cause
some superior persons, fortified in the
lines OF a sane common sense, 10 smile
with pity at my girlish weakness. L am
somewhat disposed to smile with them
and vet it is not more certain that plot
existed to rifle the Manor than that hour
by hour after papa had gone grew more
and more vaguely but genuinely uneasy.
] said nothing to either Val or Alice.
What was there to say? Nor TO Mrs.
Climber. Somehow l had not taken to
the fresh arrival SO warmly as the
Others. | did not dispute that her
recommendations were tirst-class
that her demeanor to each of us
was precisely what ii should be-neither
over eferential nor too familiar that she
was a skilled house mistress and para
pon Of order. Nevertheless / had con-
sciously frowned when papa praised her
and | was in no hurry to take her into
confidence when a nameless oppression
weighed upon my spirits. Alice had dis
covered my lack of enthusiasm long ago,
and insisted that l was prejudiced be-
cause Mrs. Climber was foreign-looking
and had an affected way of putting up
an eyeglass. which, in the opinion OF
Val and myself, was totally useless to-
her. / allowed Alice to think as she
pleased. The fact remained that hither-
10 was unconQuered. and that Mrs.
Climber knew IT,
Dusk thickened at last, and we had the
approval OF our consciences in closing
blinds and drawing curtains to, end shut
ting out by every recognized expedient
the driving cloudrack, the desolate
landscape. and the constant drip, drip of
the complaining trees. And then Val
accepted stray challenge-mine or
Alice's cannot now be sure the point
is immaterial-and proceeded, with
flow OF boyish eloquence which pro-
missed well for his intended future
ut the bar. TO vindicate his latest |
hobby, the science of graphiology, |
He had anotable little collection Of auto
graphs and specimens Of caligrapby.
which be rummaged out OF his hoard Of |
treasures aud upon these he descanted /
with all the dogmstism OF the professor
and oil the fervor of the disciple. AS he |
was pointing out to halfskeptical critics
and listeners an alleged resemblance be-
tween traits in the historical character OF /
the Duke OF Wellington and features in |
the great warriors handwriting he was
interrupted. To the surprise of each of
A