The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-06-05

| III tone which signified that he was to
| 60 on.
"Then | came over here and went to Ok.
] ford" he continued. 1T had always been
dream of my mother's-she was an En-
| glishwoman, you know"
''Oh, yes!-and your father"
"Was an Australian" said Stephen
Howard, shortly.
"Ah, | seer she murmured. "And you
came to OXford?"
'But / had only just entered when
something went wrong with my property
and | had to go back. l was just one and
| twenty then. And there had to stay for
more than year. After that | made a
| tour through the States-then put in six
more months in Queensland and after
wards came to Europe. Then I went
back and stayed five years-fve years,
hating it all the time, and at last with my
brother-in-law's help got rid of all my
| property and put all my money into the
Bank of England-then felt safe, and
before week / had turned my back Oh
Australia and, please God, shall never
see it again"
II am sure" said Mrs Trafford, ''that
| hope you never will What a dreadful
story-a dreadful story. But tell me,
have you never sought out your mothers
people?"
"My mother, SO far as / know" Stephen
Howard answered, chad not a relation in
the world. She was a poor clergyman's
daughter and after his death went out to
Australia as a gOverneSs ut a time when
women were scarce out there. She met
my father and they Were married; I be-
| lieve it was considered - great marriage
at the time for her; poor soul, she paid dear
for it afterwards"
"And your father?" asked Mrs, Traf-
ford, who was breathless with the intensi-
ty of her interest in his story.
my father?" he repeated.
"Yes-had he no relations? Forgive me
for asking you such question" she said
gently "but you have told me so much
and you have interested me deeply"
ooh, yes; why should you not ask it!
Well, can tell you nothing more about
my father-not even if his real name was
as he said not where he was born or who
his father was! He may have been IL con-
vict for aught I know"
| Mrs. Trafford looked at him for mo-
ment as he sat in an easy and careless at
titude, his blue eyes fixed on the fire.
''You do not look like Il convict's son.,
she said, with Il smile-"and 1 think you
would have known if he had been that"
Eyes. dare say should. No, l don't
think he had been convict, though he
was bad enough to have been a convict
| fifty times over. AS for my loOks-well,
| it is lucky circumstance for me that |
don't look like anything of that kind
| but the handsomest man | ever saw in my
| life was working among II gang of con-
| victs at he gateway OF the Infantry Bar
racks at Portland-thc Verne, they called
| it''
eyes, yes-and probably he was II gen
| tleman who had-well, done something
dreadful in the passion of the moment.
| Then your sister-dOeS she feel like you
about all ths?"
"My sister, for Il moment he looked
puzzled 'Well no, I don't think she
does You see she escaped those last four
dreadful years. She is four years older
than am and she married Markham
few weeks before my poor mother died.
And then Markham is very rich, Gear
old chap all round, devoted to her and one
of the best fellows in the world. So,
don't you see, I think Mamie has forgot
ten good teal-as perhaps when [ marry
| l shall be able to forget, too. All the
same, Mrs Trafford, / must apologize
| for boring you with such a long story
about myself. Believe me, l have never
spoken of my father even to my sister
since he died-Dut somehow had to tell
you"
s-Mr. Howard" said Mrs. Trafford, lay
ing her hand upon his arm and speaking
in her kindest voice. II feel very grateful
to you for giving me your confidence in
this way. Believe me, it is not misplaced
and [ do not think that you will ever re.
gret it. ! am so sorry for your unhappy
past / cannot tell you how sorry. But
| it is all over and done with now-your sis
ter is very wise to have put it all out OF
| her mind, for it can never do any good to
! recall sorrows which can never come into
| your life again. Yes, yes know what is
in your mind, you are thinking of that
poor mother who suffered SO much and
had so little joy in her life Well, all
that has been made up to her long, long
ago, and most likely she knows just what
you feel about her and is proud and glad
that you should think of her as you do.
But she would be the last to wish you to
spoil your young life-for you are young
| yet-because hers was an unhappy one,
the last to wish you to tinge your heart
with the sadness which Swallowed hers"
Stephen Howard shook himself together
as Mrs. Tr;t ford ceased speaking and pass
ed his hand across his eyes as ii to shut
out all those memories Of the past which
their conversation had recalled. Yes,
you are quite right" he said very quietly,
''you are quite right"
10 be continued.)