Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-05-01

1flBlA
"Why. bless as. it's you, Miss Beatrice,
lcith strange mdn!'
"0h, very well, she said, II will come"
The boat was pushed Off and very soon they
reached the stone quay that bordered the
harbor of the Castle, about which a little
village of retainers had grown up Seeing
4 the boat arrive, some of these people sumter
ed out of the cottages, and then, fancying
that visitor had come under the guidance
of Miss Granger, to look at the antiquities
of the Castle, which was the show place of
the neighborhood. sauntered back again.
/ Then the pair began the zigzag ascent of the
rock mountain, till q. last they stood beneath
! the mighty mass Of building, which, although
/ it was hoary with antiquity, was by no means
1 lacking in the comforts Of modern civilian
ton, the water. for instance, being brought
in pipes laid beneath the sea from mountain
top two miles away on the mainland.
Isn't there view here" said Beatrice,
pointing to the vast stretch of land and sea-
81 think, Mr. Davies, that you have the most
beautiful home in the whole world. Your
great-uncle, who died year ago, spent more
than fifty thousand pounds on repairing and
refurnishing it, they say. He built the big
drawing room there, where the stone is a
little lighter; it is fifty-dve feet long just
think, fifty thousand poundsln
sit is large sum" said Owen. in an un-
imaginative sort OF way, while in his heart
he wondered what on earth he should do
with this white elephant of medieval
castle and his drawing room lifty-five feet
long.
He doesn't seem much impressed, = thought
Beatrice to herself, as she tugged away at
the postern bell: II think he must be stupid.
He looks stupid.
Presently the door was opened by an ac-
tive looking little old woman with a high
voice
Airs Thomas thought Owen to himself;
''she is even worse than | expected.
Now. you must please go away" began
the formidable housekeeper in her shrillest
key. its too late 70 show visitors over.
Why, bless us, it's you. Miss Beatrice, with a
strange man. What do you want"
Beatrice looked at her companion as hint
that he should explain himself, but he said
nothing.
This is your new squire" she said, not
without certain pride. 81 found him wan
dering about the beach. He didn't know
how to get here, so brought him over"
Lord, Miss Beatrice, and how do You
know it's himT said Mrs. Thomas. How do
YOU know it amt housebreakerfa
ooh I'm sure he can't be, answered Bea-
trice aside. because he isn't clever enough
Then followed a long discussion. Mrs
Thomas stoutly refused 10 admit the stranger
without evidence Of identity, and Beatrice,
embracing his cause, as stoutly pressed his
claims. As for the lawful owner, he made
occasional feeble attempts TO prove that he
was himself, but Mrs Thomas was not to be
imposed upon in this way. At last they
came to a deadlock
"Yd better so back to tie inn, sir said
Mrs Thomas with scatling sarcasm, land
come up tomorrow with proofs and your lug
gage
Haven't You got any letters with your
suggested Beatrice us n last resource
As it happened he had letter, one from
the lawyer to himself about the property, |
and mentioning Mrs. Thomas name as being |
in charge of the Castle. lie had forgotten |
all about it, but at this interesting iuncture |
1t was produced and read abound by Beatrice. |
Mrs Thomas took it, and having examined |
it carefully through her horn trimmed specta-
cles. was constrained 70 admit its anthem !
ITCHY
"I'm sure | apologize, sir" she said, with a /
half doubtful courtesy and much tact, ''but /
one can't be too careful with all these tramps
about; | never should have thought from
the look of you, sir, how as you was the new
squire.
This might be candid, bnt it was not Hat
tering, and it caused Beatrice to Singer be-
hind her handkerchief in true school girl
fashion However, they entered and were
led by Mrs Thomas with solemn pomp
through the great and little halls, the stone
parior and the oak parlor, the library and
the huge drawing room. in which the white
heads Of marble statues protruded from the
bags Of brown holland wherewith they were
wrapped about in manner CHASTITY to be-
hold. At length they reached small octa-
gon shaped room that, facing south, COM
manded a most glorious view of sea and
land. 1t was called the Lady's Boudoir, and
Joined another of about the same size, which
in its former owners time had been used as a
smoking room.
If you don't mind, madam, said the lord
Of all this magniicence, Il should like to
stop here. am getting tired Of walking.
And there he stopped for many years The
rest of the Castle was shut up; he scarcely
ever visited it, except occasionally TO see that
tho rooms were properly aired, for he was
man.
As for Beatrice, she went home, still chuck
ling, to receive a severe reproof from Eliza
beth for her 'forwardness.r But Owen Davies
never forgot the debt of gratitude he owed
her. Ia his heart he felt convinced that had
it not been for her he shcnld have fled before
Mrs. Thomas and her horn trimmed eve
glasses, To return no more The truth OF the
matter was, however, that young as Beatrice
was, lie fell in love with her then and there.
only 10 fall deeper and deeper into that drear
abyss rs years went on. He never said any