Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-06-01

evening in conversations; ara that was
how Mr.. Ford came to kAow the history
50 well.
CHAPTER TX.
1t seemed almost incredible to Mr.. Ford
that such wonderful success shonld have
attended him. True. Lord Carlswood'a
daughter was dead, but his g~randdaugh-
ter was living. The love be would not
give to Katrine might, aud in all proba-
bility would, go To lsmay; he would be
willing To do for his grandchild that which
pride and anger would not allow him TO
do for his daughter.
Mr.. Ford lamented that Ismay was mar
ried-that was the only drawback to his
content; yet much, of course, would de-
pend on the man she had married. The
lawyer sighed as he thought of the great
gulf between Squire Schofeld's steward
and the proud Lord ~CarlswoOd-a gulf
that ii seemed impossible to bridge. He
could form no proper estimate until he
had seen lsmay. II abe was hopelesSly
vulgar, If she had contracted such habits
as could not be cured, il she WA a couE-
try-brel peasant, without taste or refine
ment, then he must leave the matter en-
tirely TO Lord Carlswood's discretion-he
would not urge him 10 adopt her.
He must see her, aud then form his
judgment: it would be more prudent to
see her as a stranger. and not to give her
the least idea Of what erraud he had come
upon. He had taken a cup OF tea with
Mrs. Hope, who implicitly believed that
he was what he represented himself 10 I've
"A travelling artist: NJ the same time she
thought him a very curious gentleman, he
asked so man questions. and he seemed
SO deeply interested in what she had TO say
OF that unfortunate woman.
He ~cleverly drew from her q description
Of ,smay's home, and hen said he should
like to make a drawing OF II.
Nothing can be easier" she told him.
"Mrs. Waldron is very amiaOle and sweet
tempered; she viii be pleased TO give you
permission"
He went, and was more charmed with
Ismay than he could have anticipated; her
wondrous beauty. her grace, her charming
manner, all delighted him. And then.
too, she had a son, the lovely laughing boy
he had held in his arms, "a child OF whom
even the proud Lord Carlswood might be
proud. He was surprised rs well rs de-
lighted. She spoke with some refinement,
there was no vulgarity in her accent: and
yet, despite the presence OF the beautiful
boy, he was tempted TO wish again and
again that she had not been married.
What a sensation she would nav Gre
atedl She would have made one Of the
best matches in England; with that face
and that figure she would have created o
perfect Juror"
Still, though he was so marvellously i'm,
pressed by her, he could not tell how the
master Of Bralyn would receive the news
of her marriage. He decided that he would
trust to no letter, but would go to Braiyp
himself, and then he could tell Lord Carls-
wood al.
There was missing only one link in the
evidence: he wanted to see the locket and
the ring. There was no course open to
him save 10 tell the vicar what was his
real errand, and he did ~ under a promise
the locket. Although he was prepared for
it, still the sight OF Lord CarlsN ovd's well
known features did startle hint was
the sure confirmation Of all the other Svid-
ence.
Mr.. Ford hastrned back to Bralyn. Lord
Carlswood was greatly agitated.
"You say she is beautlful-so like her
mother' What were they thinking Of to
let her marry SO young' IL that oould
but be undonel What is her husband like,"
''He is q true son OF the people-hand-
some, strong, with IA fine face and a manly
figure industrious. aud very clever, they
say, at all kinds Of mechanism. His mania
il invention. He is a complete radical in
politics, believing in the rights Of the
workman, and is eloquent after a grand
rugged fashion of his own-for he makes
speeches, and IL looked upon as a leader in
his own small circle"
Lord Carlswood held up his hands with
q gesture of horror.
Enough he cried. "And what do YOU
say his calling is"
Mr.. Ford looked half puzzled.
II can hardly tel YOU" he replied
"Some people call him tae squire's stew
ard, others his gamekeeper-to me he
seemed TO hold both Offices"
Does his wife seem warmly attached
to him" was the next question.
The lawyer smiled.
81 am a better judge, my lord, OF the
merits OF u law case tnan OF IL lady atec-
ton. ! suppose she loves him. ALI wives
1oNt tHtfI HtfNDtiftis-ttO tfftf tpf'
"By no means," was the cynical reply.
"You say the boy ia healthy, aud likely to
live?'
IL am no Judge Of children, either; but
] never saw n more beautiful child he
l0oked strong aud we'll
Then there was silence some minutes;
the old lord seemed engrosSei in thought.
His brows were knit, his lips firmly closed.
| and his hands tightly clasped. Once a
deep sigh came from him, and then he
was silent again.
He raised bis eyes AT last. and looked IN
the lawyers face. Bv the ~strangeness OF
the glance Mr.. Ford felt sure that some
difficult proposition was coming.
Lord Carlswood rose from his seat. He
wen, over to the mantel-piece, above
which hung the portrait Of Jocelyn. Lord
| Carlswood, who had fought so bravely for
' the Stuart king, Charles the Second. lie