The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1889-10-27

MS cara, ana W4laC 90 you want! q
blunt form of address uttered in a strong
Scotch accent, but with an air of "bon-
homie that robbed it of any incivifity."
~ beg Thousand pardpns for intrud-
ing ON you, but | am most anxious to as
certain the address OF my cousin, Miss
Clavering."
"Eh? Are you her cousin? She said
sine hadn't relative in the world. ~
81 am sorry she disowns me,Y said
Hastings with smile, but with thrill
of pain at his heart; ''but 1 assure you l
am her full second cousin, and as she
has inherited small fortune am anx-
ious TO put her affairs in order"
"Gudenessi she'll no want to come
over the sea with US, then, and it will be
an awful want to leave her behind. She
is nice, wiselike creature, only too easy
with the children, I'm thinking"
~ am sorry to disturb your arrange
ments, but fear Miss Clavering cannot
accompany you, and -. May l see
her?' Hastings felt sudden strength and
life vibrating in his bones. Why, in an
other minute Norma might stand before
him.
sch, to be sure. What is to prevent
| you? though I'm awful vexed to think
I'll have to look out for another young
| person."
"Young person." How the appella-
ton Jared on Walls ear.
| Here's her address," continued Mrs.
MacDougal, crossing the room to a
writing table, and examining blotting
was written, in flowing businesslike
hand, IS Gothic Villas, Holly road,
MAZDA Vale" There" she said, hand
ing it to him, ''you take a Kilburn bus
at the Circus, get out at Holly road and
you are within two minutes of the house.
You see, when our wee Dickie was taken
with the measles we sent off the other
children and Miss Clavering to lodgings,
and I've not seen them since. do hope
she'll not leave me in the lurch until /
find some one else.
1--WE will do our best to supply her
place. said Hastings stiff1y. He had
conceived sudden unreasonable dislike
to the good humored, self satisfied little
woman, as he pictured his proud, sensi-
tive, dainty cousin humble employee of
such a mistress. 81 shall not intrude on
you any longer. / daresay / shall find
Miss Clavering at home if go at once"
II don't doubt but you would. Mr..
MacDougal tells me there's good big
garden. SO they seldom go outside
THANK you. Then I shall wish you
good morning."
"Eh, but I'm thinking Miss Clavering
will find more than a fortune when you
find her," said the lady with roguish
smile. Hastings felt flush rise in his
cheek, but he refrained from any reply
beyond low how as he left the room.
SO Holly road, Mazda Vale, and drive
fast" was Hastings command to the
coachman.
Some twenty minutes later he drew up
at the gate of typical suburban villa,
semi-detached, to which he was admitted.
I'm let Miss Clavering know, SIR"
said the servant as she ushered him into
a neat, rigidly arranged drawing room,
the windows of which commanded a
large common garden looking into some
what desolate fields beyond. Some chill
dren were playing on the grass and chas-
ing each other along the winding paths
with noisy glee. Presently Hastings
saw the servant return from the
other side of the only clump of
trees in the Enclosure, followed by
lady, slight, sad looking figure, in a
long straight black dress, who moved
with slow step and downcast head
''Poor little Norma" thought Hastings
"Tracy is right. She is marvelously
graceful, and, small as she is, she looks
like captive princess. How blind I
have been"
In another moment Norma stood be-
fore him. What pale. wistful facet
What large mournful eyesl How tender
the lines of the slightly averted head and
throat
my dear Norma" cried Hastings,
deeply touched, as he clasped her hand
in both his own. He stopped abruptly.
''How did you find me, Val?' she asked
with slight smile. Il never thought
should see you again.
"How could you think that, Norma?
Could you believe that would know any
rest till had found you, and restored to
you what is your own? My sweet little
cousin, drawing her to the sofa and sit
ting down by her, you are tremblingl
Let ME act kinsman's part; let me"---
"Vall" interrupting him in a low, grave
voice, don't you know that have neither
kith nor kin? that am nameless: that
have-nothingl" A sob stopped her ut
terance. but she controlled herself
Dear child you insult me by suppos-
ing am such a rascal as to take advan-
tage Of untoward circumstances and rob
You. mol Poor Claverings unsigned will
is as potent in my estimation as though it
had been signed in presence of the lord
chancellor himself Look at me, Normal
You must put away these absurd ideas
about leaving England and flying from
society. When time has healed your nat
ural grief for your father, | trust you
will have many bright dayI He has
left enough for both of us, and Orpen is
even now preparing deed which Will
secure for your use the sum your father
intended for YOU"
But. Val--dear valr she said with
quivering lips, withdrawing her hand,
II knew you would be generous, but
do not like to be under obligations to