The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-05-29

CHAP. III.-NII;S. BOB AARKHANI'S BROTHER
Before long the news that the Manor
Lodge had been bought by rich Aus
tralian and was already in the hands of
wOrkmen who would put it into thorough
repair, spread over Blankhampton and
everybody was agog with curiosity and
excitement.
| don't think that SO much interest
would have been taken in Mr.. and Mrs.
Markham if they had taken any other
house than the Manor Lodge But the
Manor Lodge was interesting enough in
itself to shed a halo of romance over any
one connected with it, and the fact that
these Australians had bought it and were
actually going to live in it, was enough to
make all the neighborhood eager to make
their acquaintance.
The Manor Lodge stood about Il mile
from the city on the left bank of the river
which runs through its midst. 1t was
large house standing two stories high,
built of white brick and having very wide
caves The lower windows were all
French easements and were shaded by
wide verandas, over which there climbed
in wild and untended profusion roses and
honey-suckle, ivy and wisteria
The gardens had once been beautiful,
with wide pathways, terrace overlooking
the small park, fountain and several
marble statues standing here and there.
There were two Conservatives built
against the house and two large wineries,
which had been kept in fair order by an
old gardener who had been put into the
place as a caretaker by way of giving him
-, oocvy bortb This old man had after
his first week or so given up trying to do
the work of three active men and SO keep
the garden in order, and had quietly
slipped into troubling himself about moth
ing but the grapes and peaches OF which
Mr.. Bellairs expected an occasional basket
to be sent for his table.
But very soon under the Markham rule,
the whole place began to assume a differ
ent appearance-the roofs and chimneys
were thoroughly overhauled, the old win
dows were mended with new ones, the
white walls were cleaned down, the veran-
das repaired, and the various creepers
were in the hands of skilled gardener
soon reduced to order and neatness. The
fountain was cleaned out and set playing
again, and one morning Mrs. Markham
brought Il big bowl in which were eight
CT ten gold fish which she turned into the
.oullJ;tln IN the large conservatory, watch
.ng their movements with the curiosity OF
child.
The very statues were cleaned of the
green moss and growth which is the out
come of ages of neglect and now they
shOne forth once more in all their beauty,
once more Venus and Apollo enjoyed the
beauty Of comparatively smooth lawns
and well-clipped hedges and quantity
shaped yew-trees, though not so smooth or
trim as they would be after Il year or two
of the new order.
More than once Mrs. Trafford and Julia
happened to pass by the Manor Lodge and
saw all the signs of life and wealth about
the place. Il think we will go and call on
Mrs. Markham next week, julia" Mrs.
Trafford remarked.
They could not from the road see a sign
of the house for the avenue made wide
curve from the gate and was lined on
either side by dense hedge Of Portuguese
laurel; but they had good and substantial
evidence of the way in which the place
was being fit ed up for u large covered
cart with open entS passed through the
gates just as they reached them and this
cart was filed to overfowing with vari-
ETY. of tall palms, aloes, cacti and tree
ferns 81 think we will call next week,
Julia" said Mrs. Trafford as they walked
on towards the town.
So the following week Mrs. Trafford
and Julia took an open fly and went to
Brentwood the pretty house, half villa,
half mansion, which the Markham's had
taken until the Manor Lodge should be
ready for them. Yes, Mrs. Markham
was ut home, and they were shown in
to the pretty draWing-roOm where, IN
spite of it's being as yet but early autumn,
a bright fire was burning in the polished
CRATE.
AS the door closed behind the powdered
footman, Mrs. TraffOrd looked at her
daughter and raised her eyebrows; they
both knew Brentwood for the Marcus Or
fOrds had lived there from the time they
were married until the Black Horse had
left Blankhampton, and they there
fore knew to nicely what the natural
condition of the house was. Between our
selves it was very different to that in which
they now found it.
In two minutes Mrs. Markham came in,
pretty. elegant woman, wearing simple
tea-gown of dark-blue silk, a thing that
had cost deal of money and yet was not
too fine for ordinary use. 81 am so glad
to see you." she cried. holding out both
her hands to Mrs. Trafford, 1.-THE more so
because we brought letter of introduce
ton to you and were waiting till we got
little more settled to send it to you.
1t is so kind of you to have come so soon"
Mrs Trafford was enchanted with her
new friend-''That is very nice to have
mutual friends-may I ask who?"
ooh, yes-it was Colonel Clarke-yOu
know Colonel Clarke, at least he knows
yon. He said he was an old friend of
yours"
Yes" said Mrs. Trafford doubtfully.
She did not happen to remember Colonel
Clarke and she did not like to say so.
Stay, though" Mrs. Markham went on
in her soft sweet voice, 81 believe I an
wrong, it was Coles-Colonel Coles. How
stupid of me to mistake. get so mixed
among names Idon't often forget voice
or a face, but the names do bother me ter
ribly sometimes"
''Oh Colonel Coles. Yes, he was great
friend of ours. So you know him? Is he
not charming old mans"