The morning news., 1891-02-01


him lying dead among the hills"
There were queer stories about that,
wasn't therer said the other.
"Ay," answered the first; ''some said he
was shot there for his sin; others that his
gun caught in some twig. However, there
he lav-a great wound in his throat, my
poor man said-and his mother never lifted
her head from that day. / mind her well;
she was a nobleNooking woman, but not
sweet-spoken like Lady Ennismore."
"Well, these great folks have troubles
as we'll as us, it seems,n said the other
woman, and the idea was no doubt consol-
ing.
The idlers before the taverns were also
making their comments on Lord Eunis-
more's family, but principally about his
dun ponies.
81 have it from Cox himself that his
lordship gave three hundred guineas for the
pair, said one man.
They're not worth it,n said another.
"That may be your opinion. but it wasn't
his" replied the first man, suappishly, for
he had had just enough whisky to make
him disagreeable. However, 1t doesn't
matter any ones opinions-he gave the
money-that's what I know"
Every we'll, he got young Maldeu's to
give them," said the other man. "He was
poor enough himself, Pm told, Lord Ennis
more, with hardly a slxpence to bless him
self with. But the poor young fellow who
was shot on the hills left great fortune.
I'm told Lady Ennismore came in to be-
tween thirty and forty thousand year. 1t
was a lucky shot for Lord Eunismore.
Whoever fired itF'
"Yes," said the man who had had enough
whisky. whoever fired it, Can you tell
me that, sir? Can you explain better than
the jury who sat on the young mans body
explained2 They said twig fired it.
Perhaps you have some private informa-
tionP
II only know what folks said," answered
the man who was sober.
"What folks saidF' retorted the other.
"Yes, folks say great many things. but
go by facts-the jury went by facts-the
jury said it was a twig-I say it was
twig."
sober man. and he strolled away, and went
to have word with Cox, who was holding
the heads of the dun ponies from Bracken>
ford, efore the draper's door.
Cox was the head groom, and Cox was
well known in Mortonbury. He was sour
man this, a widower, but whether soured by
his late wife, or by having lost her, was not
generally known. But Cox was known to
be sour man, and a close one also, but he
was respected in Mortonbury, for he had
saved money, and bought two houses there,
and was therefore regarded with respect in
the place.
"Well, Cox" said the sober man from the
tavern, 80 you've come in with the young
ladies this mornings And how is my lord9
Looking after his prize beasts as usual, ehG'
LAS usual, answered Cox.
"He's great farmer said the man with
| q sort of laugh.
she thinks So" replied Cox; but before
any furthur conversation could be carried
on about "my lord" the two young ladies
came out of the draper's shop.
"Cox," said Helen Drummond, isn't
there a train comes in at 10 o'clock?n
Eyes, miss, think So" answered Cox,
touching his hat.
"I told you so, Judy" said Helen, now
turning to Julia Bingham. "Do let us ride
up to the station. There can be no harm In
that surely" she added, in lower tone.
"Perhaps my mother" hesitated
Julia.
Nonsense" said Helen, "what harm can
there be2 No one will get out. day say"
she continued, with a little shrug, and il
anyone does-wrll, 50 much the BETTER"
Julia laughed, and showed her small,
white teeth.
"What matter could it make to us9" she
| said.
"Give us something to talk about" an
wered Helen, also with a little laugh.
"Come along, my dear, there is no saying,
we may chance to see some adventurous
person who has a fancy to come and be
buried here"
The two girls rode on, with Cox behind
them. Cox looked at his sober friend, aud
shrugged his shoulders slightly as be did so,
to denote that he considered the idea of rid
ing up to the station to see the train come
In, very absurd.
Cox, indeed was one Of those people who
| are very apt to consider their own ideas
wise and other peoples foolish.
But he, of course. followed his young
ladies to the station. The station was lit
tie way out Of the town, and like the town,
of an extremely primitive description.
The girls got off their ponies and went on
the platform with the air Of business.
LET US look as If we expected some one,"
said Helen.
They accordingly stood quite boldly, and
watched the train come putting into the
station.
The train came In, and half a dozon pas
sengers gout out of it. Four Of the half
dozen looked as if they belonged to Morton
bury. They had the moss-grown and un-
disturbed air peculiar to the place. The
other two were tall, good-looking young
men-they were, In fact, Francis Roche and
Walter Curzon, of the 107th Regiment, and
they had arrived at Mortonbury on their
road to Brackenford.
The two young men looked at the two
pretty girls, but the two pretty girls appar-
emily did not notice the young men.
Francis Roche, glancing from Helen
Drummonds blooming, healthful face to
Julia Bingham's lovely one, was wondering
if many such hedge roses were to be found
in the neighborhood; while Walter Curzon,
looking at the girls also, was thinking
vaguely where he had seen Julia's face be-
fore.
The next minute Roche addressed tho por-
ter at the station, and Helen heard what he
said.
SIS there trap of any sort to be had in
the villagep he asked. "'We want to go to
Brackenford, Lord Ennismores place."
The porter touched his cap.
"There is kind of trap, sir, he said,
'at the Red Lion, but Lord Ennismore's
servant is outside the station, and perhaps
my lord has sent a carriage for you. Cox
will be able to tell you-hes head groom at
Brackenford."
THANK you," said Roche, IN reply, and
he put some money in the mans hand, and
followed by Curzon left the platform and
went through the station to speak to the
head groom from Lord Ennismore's.
Then the girls glanced at each other.
.Helen," whispered Julia, 81 remember
one of thee gentlemen, Walter Curzon, he
stayed with US two years ago In Essex. /
remember him-of course was not grown
up then. but we thought him very nice"
"They both look very NICE" decided
Helen. "We may as well mount again now,