The record-union., 1891-03-01

Mr.. Rossiter as a true gentleman, and
also for the reason of him being a friend
OF the family 10 which this story pertains,
could not refuse his request. The hap
penings are as fresh in my mind as if it
were but yesterday.
was employed in the capacity OF gov
erness TO the only child and son of Sir
Lional and Lady Glandour.
Giandour Court, the magnificent coun-
try seat OF Sir Lional Glandour, is but a
few hours ride from London.
When / first became an inmate of the
court, it was the happiest and most
united family in all England The hus-
bands aiicctionatc tenderness for his
wife was self-evident, and /, whose heart
was well nigh broke from the recent be-
reavement of 4 dear mother, was treated
with all the respect and consideration
which a sister would be entitled to by the
fair, gentle mistress of Glandour Court
Dora, Lady Glssndour, without being
strictly speaking, beautiful, was infinitely
sweet III her fair, pale prettiness. am It
PLAIN woman, aiiG am trying to write in \
plain, matter-of-fact manner, without
using any grandiloquence to assist me-.
Lady Dora was an angel, If ever there
was one. But / viii not stop to eulogiZe
her, for the tears fill my eyes and drop
upon these pages as | write. So with
present trembling lips / say: "God bless
you, Dora Glandour."
Sir Lional / will not attempt to de-
scribe, at least not nlinutely. Tall, dark,
handsome, proud. hasty, passionate
there he is in six words.
One morning at the breakfast table, q
footman handed Sir Lional a yellow
tinted enyeiope-why is il. that q yellow
envelope always sends shudder through
me? and this morning ! noticed it more
marked than usual.
His Lordship lazily glanced at the in
laiS n1xry LODI.
open it. BE could scarcely have read
more than u couple of lines, when, rising
hastily from the table, with glance at
his wife-who quickly followed him-hc
left the room.
/, sitting alone, wondered vaguely what
the news might be, occupying myself in
the meantime looking out of the long,
low windows to the smoothly-kept lawn
and the white marble walk, whereon n
peacock strutted proudly back and forth
From him my glance wandered to the
rose bushes, whilst each puff of wind
sent q shower OF pink, yellow and white
petals fluttering in the breeze, ftecFing
the short green Sward with pretty, deli
cate tints.
Through the thickly-shaded distance
could see the timid deer and fawn in
which Glandour Park abounds. Still
musing on the letter, I started percept-
IDLY when Lady Dora addressed me.
Miss Longnus, my husband has just
received sad news from India, informing
him of his uneles DEATH"
The yellow letter was in her hand.
regarded it with 4 strange fascination. 1t
seemed to hold me spellbound. She held
it towards me. Almost mechanically
reached my hand for it.
1t was q brief letter, written in clear
smooth, running French hand, with long
thicl<ly crossed It's and the is heavily
dotted. Without the slightest trace of
grief for the writer's father, it ended with
a fine. bold, black flourish, and the name
signed was "Infern Tarrant," which,
after reading, l felt an indescribable i'm
pulse TO fold Lady Dora III my arms and
shield her from some lurking, unseen
danger.
''Infarn Tarrantw 1 said. ''What a
queer name ~
Yes" replied her ladyship, sit is.
You perceive by this letter she is coming
10 make her home with us. Poor girl,
she is entirely alone now. Her mother
died at her BIRTH
l am not given to imaginary fancies,
nor am at all superstitious, but n thrill
of something, | cannot explain what,
passed through me, chilling me to the
heart, and | asked with difficulty:
when does the. young lady arrive?"
quite forgetting that had but just read
the letter.
almost any day" replied her lady
ship. '"Those foreign mails are always
more or less late, and this letter is no ex-
ception to the general rule. 1t has been
delayed three days, so / presume we may
expect her at any time from now.'