Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-01-23

vivaciously-1' 1t il a feeling cant
understand or sympathize with in the
least-I would not speak OF 1t 30 plain
ly to any one but you-but pride OF
birth is Lady Elizabeth's principal
foible. Why, she never would have
taken me TO live with her as she did,
If, instead of being a very humble
scion OF the Heaths of Heath
Cliffe, l had been no one in parlicu-
lar AS though that could have made
any difference in me How ridiculous
the who'd thing is ~
$50 think" said George cheerful
ly, conscious OF being no one in par
ticular himself.
40 be sure it is Itrisrreally odd
in so sensible a woman f; but she has
let the feeling fairly govern her Ii o.
Why, she never would have married
Mr.. Ormiston, wea thy as he was, had
not his family been nearly, if not quite
as good as hers-the Latimers, you
know, Even now she does not like to
hear 1t mentioned that he was in
trade"
Ibid she call that trade ?"
dear me, yes, Milly laughed-''a
superior sort OF thing, you know. but
still bearing the deadful stigma She
would never allow her son to have
anything to do with it before her hus-
bands death: and afterwards -"
She broke off, as though hesLtating
whe her to say any more.
This was sub ,ect upon which
Alleyn wished to hear more if he could
for he was curious about it, and SO he
said questioningly-
"He gave her some trouble, l think
/ have heard ."
"Oh, yes !" Milly hesitated again,
and then glanced up at him with her
former frankness. AFTER all, l do
not SEQ why l may not tell you, Mr..
Alleyn. Lady Eli abeth doesn't like 1t
gossipped about, that is why | stopped;
and the story OF her son is more or
less sad, IL only becauses he worship
ped him so. l do not know many
details OF course; but fancy that her
blind indulgence OF him was one reason
why he turned out as he did. He,
Owen-that was his name you know
was tolerably steady while his father
lived-or should l rather say he con-
tinued TO be thought SO. In reality,
he was dreadfully in debt, and was
deeply embarrassed-so deeply that at
obliged to appeal TO his father. Mr..
Ormiston was very angry; but al
though he paid all the money, what
ever it was, he declared that he would
not do the like second time. 1t
ought 10 have been n warning to Owen
but it was not, for he was soon as bad
ly involved as ever He did not dare
LADY Elizabeth could not Then he
married. do not know quite who
she was, for Lady Elizabeth will never
speak about it," Milly resumed pres
emily, and more hurried y; "but at
any rate, the marriage euraged her
dreadfully, and, much as she dotted on
her son, they quarrelled over it and
did not see each other for long time
/ believe Lady Elizabeth declared that
she would never forgive him for al
though Mrs. Ormiston was beautiful
and very rich, yet her family had
been quite poor few years before
working people in fact and l fancy
that she herself was hardly lady. 1t
could have been only for her money,
and TO relieve himself OF the worst OF
his embarrassments,t that Owen Ormis-
ton married her; for l have heard
enough to feel sure that he always
neglected her, and soon used her
shamefuily-brutally They had not
been married quite two years when
she-left him."
And serve him right" said George
CURLY.
that's nearly all there is to tell"
continued Milly. "Mr. Grmiston died
soon after; and then Owen and his
mother were reconciled. You have
heard OF course how he died in two or
three years. l believe his irregular
way of life broke down his health"
"And his wife ?"
II don't know what became OF her
Il don't think even Lady Elizabeth
| knows"
"She may be living still"
'She may bel don't know"
They were silent for little while.
George toyed with his cigar. Milly
sat with her chin on her hand, look
ing thoughtfully before Der. She
raised her head presently.
"You see why / felt so anxious,
don't you, Mr.. AlleynP When Lady
Elizabeth adopted Owen-which she
did about three years after her SON
dea h-she did it meaning that he
should in all ways take her sons
place. believe she chose him from
the rest of her husbands younger
relatives because he bore the same
name. She is as fond of him in her
own way as she could be il he were
her son, and quite as proud of him.
But Owen thinks much as do in such
matters; that is why am so anxious
for him. He is so impulsive in some
things-so apt to let himself be car.
ried away. You know he is DOM
you ? / should not speak about him
so frankly to any one else" added
Milly, with n pretty smile and a glance
from her dark eyes; 'but you have
known him so long and am sure you