The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-07-25

SuptT1OT iOIbtnCu III tiO NUS u -
sane common sense, to smile with pity at
my girlish weakness. l am somewhat
disposed to smile with them; and yet it is
not more certain that plot existed TO rifle
the Manor than that hour by hour after
papa had gone 1 grew more and more
vaguely but genuinely uneasy. l said
nothing to either Val or Alice. What
was there to say? Nor to Mrs. Climber.
Somehow had not taken to the fresh ar
rival so warmly as the others. [ did not
dispute that her recommendations were
first class; that her demeanor to each Of us
was precisely what it should be-neither
over deferential nor too familiar; that she
was skilled house mistress and paragon
of order. Nevertheless | had consciously
frowned when papa praised her, and | was
in no hurry to take her into confidence
when a nameless oppression weighed upon
my spirits. Alice had discovered my lack
of enthusiasm long ago, and insisted that l
was prejudiced because Mrs. Climber was
foreign looking and had an affected way
of putting up an eyeglass, which, in the
opinion of Val and myself, was totally
useless to her. I allowed Alice to think
as she pleased. The fact remained that
hitherto was unconquered, and that Mrs.
Climber knew it.
Dusk thickened at last, and we had the
approval of our consciences in closing
blinds and drawing curtains to, and shut
ting out by every recognized expedient the
driving cloud rack, the desolate landscape,
and the constant drip, drip of the COM
planning trees. And then Val accepted
stray challenge-mine or Alices | cannot
now be sure; the point is immaterial-and
proceeded, with flow of boyish eloquence
which promised well for his intended
future at the bar, to vindicate his latest
hobby, the science of graphiology. He
had a notable little collection of autographs
and specimens of caligraphy, which he
rummased out of his hoard of treasures;
and upon these he descanted with all the
dogmatism of the professor and all the
fervor of the disciple. As he was pointing
out to half skeptical critics and listeners an
alleged resemblance between traits in the
historical character of the Duke of Wei
ington and features in the great warrior
handwriting he was interrupted To the
surprise of each of US, we heard the rum
bic of approaching wheels on the soaked
avenue without.
"Can papa be back after all, and as early
as this ?" Alice cried.
"Not he That isn't our carriage It's
a brougham certainly, but Spence isn't
driving 1.-THE rattle's different" Val
answered at the end of short pause.
"Then, who can it be2" | said, with
wonder and a recrudescence of anxiety.
Val crossed to the window and caught
question and reply of visitor and coach
man.
'Is this the place ?" inquired the former
ayes, this be Mr. Escott's, o t Manor,
Wainsey," returned the former
Clang went the hall bell, and in another
half minute Josephus, our butler, looking
anything but pleased at the interference
with his session of enjoyment in the
kitchen, opened our door, and ponderously
announced: "Mr. Lidlaw"
The name was entirely unknown to me,
as also the purport and occasion of the
call | debated for moment whether
should send Alice in search of Mrs
Climber-who was, | believed, writing in
her own room-or whether l should my
self assume the responsibility of confront
ing the stranger. This question was
decided for me. On the heels of the
domestic advanced Mr.. Lidlaw; he at least
appeared to have no doubt as to the course
to follow Understood, middle-aged, clean
shaven, gray-this is the best and fullest
description which | could have given at
the moment of the easy-going intruder,
and it will suffice for my narrative.
"Ah, three of you l' he said "My old
friends daughters and son, presume ?
1 wasn't aware he was so favored"
The human voice is wonderful instru-
ment In one case it shall of itself convey
suspicion; in another reinsurance. 1t was
the latter here A tyrannical imagination
had painted before my mental vision with
swift brush the portrait of dangerous
conspirator. The living enigma spoke,
and however puzzling and mysterious his
presence continued to be, my courage
revived The circumstance is as | state;
the explanation / leave to others.
"My name is Escott; this is my brother
and my sister, )" stammeringly answered
"But who-to what do we owe ?'-I
was a pitifully poor inquisitor. Before |
had framed my query was stopped.
"Who am II" the CHEEKY stranger said
"Well, 1 suppose one can't claim univer-
sal fame; but it certainly strikes me as
curious that you should have to ask. AS
to my errand, that is just pleasure and
the resuscitation of old memories. Your
father and l used to be staunch friends.
You're not very like him, young gentle
man. - The latter sentence was, of course
addressed to my brother Valentine.
"Indeed," the boy said laconically.
The strangers glance had fallen upon
the strange medley that decorated our
centre-table. "Some one here is col
lector Of autographs, see, he went gaily
on. "May | inspect them? Thank you.
1t is pursuit of great interest to me;
sometimes have to study-ahem lin a
professional capacity contrast and like
ness in penmanship." He bent over
! VaPs specimens, among which were in-
cluded examples of the hand of nearly all
the boys acquaintance, for Val played
havoc very impartially with characters
ancient and modern, great and small, famous
or obscure. And by and by 1 noticed a
queer little start, seemingly OF recognition,
Mr.. Lidlaw looked up. "Who wrote this ~
he said. 1t was couple of lines-a quo
tation from Tennyson-and, beneath, the
signature of Mrs. Climber.
1t was Alice who replied. eThat's the
writing of our housekeeper," said she,
wonderingly. "Do you know Mrs. Climber2
She came to us from Leeds. l like her
hand-it is SO neat and pretty.
"And it bespeaks strong will, decision,
and perhaps .tfaessee," said Val, senten-
tiously, quite in the style of the lecturer.
But | felt that it was time to know
| more of the visitor who seemed to ha toL-