The morning call., 1890-08-14

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to see that their late attendant, Jane, was
replaced by another--a middle-aged woman,
dressed with serupul0uS care.
"The tea is ready, if you please. miss:
Will you please to tell me II you have all
you want, as l am new to my work, SAID
the woman, respectfully.
Milly concealed a start of unpleasant
surprise, for the voice was that of the dis
guised old gentleman whom she had en-
countered in her railway journey to Conyers
Lodge
Hardly could she command an appear
ance of ease as she thanked the new inaiu,
replying that she had brought all that was
necessary; and then the latter retired, ana
Milly proceeded to pour out the tea, win
very uncomfortable feelings, however.
Could it be that this woman she mad en-
countered had gained entrance TO MT. Con-
yers' large establishment? If SO, it was
probably for some sinister purpose. But
it was quite possible, too, that she herself
had made mistake. Surely Mrs. Conyers
would hardly engage servant without as
surfing herself that she bore good char
acter.
Again and again, nevertheless, the i'm
preston required to Milly that this woman
was the self-same person who had assumed
the disguise of an old man, and at length
she decided to speak to Mrs. Conyers.
" May trouble you to come to my Sit
ting-rOonl, Miss Foster, then Marian will
Milly's somewhat timd request to say a
few words in private. And in this lady's
beautiful boudor the girl briefly recounted
the incident which had so much disquieted
her on her journey thither.
can ely assure you. Miss Foster, that
had the highest possible Recommendation
with this woman. Indeed, | can show you
the letter which | received before she en-
tered my service. 1t is from a Mrs. Ora
ham, who at the time she answered my in
quiries about my new maid character, was
staying at the hotel, st. Laurence-on-Sea.
How could such person deceive me? But
l will show you the letter"
Then Milly bethought her of that slip of
paper which she had picked up in the rail-
way-carriage ana which had lain I'M
thought of ever since in a corner of her
desk, into which it had been thrown and
forgotten. -, ~ :. 80 &c
the handwriting coincides!" exclaimed she,
Pray do so; for it is necessary to slit
this matter" rejoined Mrs Conyers.
Milly quickly left the boudoir, and was
flying along the corridor, hoping she might
not meet the master of the house, when, oh,
misfortunel she came full tilt against that
gentleman himself as she was running
round an angle of the wide passage.
Poor Milly! she stammered out an apol-
ogy, almost in tears at her misadyenture,
while Mr.. Brooke Conyers, in the kindest
voice and in the kindest manner entreated
her pardon, and hoped she was not hurt.
DO shake hands to show that you Tor
give my awkwardness," said he thus as
assuming all the blame to himself
And somehow his frank kindness, his
pleasant voice, made Milly look up with
smile.
They shook hands, and then she sped on
to find that slip of paper which indirectly
had been the cause Of this renc0ntre.
" II seems to be only list OF articles,
said Mllly as she Te-entered Mrs. ConyerS'
sitting-TO0m, aud then she was startled at
finding Mr. Brooke Conyers leaning against
the mantelpiece.
Miss Foster, you had better tell my
nephew what you have been telling me; it
is right that he should be aware of II, IN
terrupted Mrs. COnvers, while the gentle
man came forward to place seat for Milly,
who, in tremulous voice, again recounted
her adventure in the railway carriage.
"How singular! Let us compare the
handwriting" remarked Mr.. COnyers.
when he had listened attentively to Milly'S
story. "Well, in my judgment they agree.
and the wording OF the character is eX-
tremely high flown and has probably been
written by the woman herself. Vouching
tor ones own merit is not an uncommon
trick with the class 10 which this person
possibly belongs; she must be made to give
an account of herself, Miss Foster, we are
very much obliged to you for speaking out
your suspicious"
The same evening as Alilly was sitting
alone, her pupil having left her to dress for
appearing in the drawing-r0om, there was
tap at the door of the schO0i-room and
Brooke Conyers presented himself
Miss Foster, may come in and tell you
the sequel to your story ?" he asked, "On
Oeing Intercepted my aunts new servant
quietly begged us to examine all she had,
adding, in an injured tone, that she would
at once write to Mrs. Graham, who would
corrOborate her former assurances, and she
placed her keys then and there in my aunt's
hands, alter which In tears she retired from
the room. My aunt, almost disarmed of
suspicion, mounted the stairs toward the
woman's room reluctantly to open the boxes
belonging to her, but as the Keys would not
open them my aunt came down again in
order to acquaint her with the fact that she
had made mistake in giving her the wrong
keys. However, their owner had vanished.
and on the carpenter breaking open the
locks Of her trunks all kinds OF suspicious
articles were found, among others the telt
hat, wig and UvercOat you mentioned. We
must have been living this last month with
a female member of the swell mob"
Mily was almost glad all this had hap
pened. Mr.. Conyer's manner was so very
pleasant, and the hard crust of ice between
TIT MM.eS now broken, when at this mo-
mem " CouyeIo-oa7Gaa- hurrying in.
y,
she said. Lady Fame the dowager) can
not dine with US tonight, and we shall be
thirteen at the table. l cannot dine thir
teenl So l really think little Marian must
sit up ard take Lady Fane's place.
marian, she is babyl we cannot haye
her; but if Miss Foster would do US the
pleasure of Joining us we should all be
grateful to her." said Brooke, eagerly, and
his aunt saw herself constrained to add her
entreaties that Miss Foster would make one
Of the party that evening.
Fate was against mew said she detected
ly, when recOunting the incident to her
friend the DOwager Lady Fame, six weeks
later. "How could have ordered things SO
that Miss Foster should not discover that
wretched servants real character, or that
Brooke should not come into my room just
as she was recounting the story which led
to her dining with us OH the evening you
were taken i'll and could not join our party
at dinner? Brooke was subjugated in a
| moment He worships the ground she
walks upon, and she is ridiculOusly fond of
him. They are TO be married in another
six weeks, and l and Martin are to with
draw and go and live at Brooke's other
house at Chiston. l am so disappointed.
/ did hope Brooke would do better for him-
self"
"Well. he is very happy" replied the
Dowager, sOOthingly.
Happy, he is like school boy again"
said the aunt wiplng her eyes from which
flowed regretfql tears. Brooke might have
married Lady Harriet Chatelaine.":
And so the aunt wept because her nephew
decided to be happy in his own way; but in
Milly's home and in Milly's heart there was
great rejoicing.
oh! Brooke" she whispered on her
wedding day. after all we owe a good deal
of our JOY to that old gentleman.
Only let me meet him again my darling"
said Brooke, land [ will offer him substan-
tial thanks and the road to honesty, if he
Tor rather she) will accept it, To think how
lonely was before you camel and how en-
trely happy l ain nowW
"And | and Ip' murmured Milly. with
shy rapture. "In coming to Conyer's Lodge
l took journey To paradiseW
''In finding you found my paradisep' re-
spopded the bridegroom, fondly caressing
the lovely girl VINO now made all his joy!
EX PAkTE WALPOLE.