Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-04-28

Arundel, is it not?'
(Which it certainly is" assented
John Horner. Hence the name o. my
hostelry, The Arundel Arms -
Harry reflected for 4 minute. T!,:3
landlord seemed an honest fellow.
Why not take him into his confidence
and make clean breast of the object
of his mission?
well, Mr. Horner, I know in Amer
lea a young man who would be likely
to correspond to the lost little blind
boy"
Indeed. SIR
Yes, and many surrounding circum
stances point to his Identification. The
young man | speak of is just the
age Earl Arlington's son would be: his
name is George Arundel; his attend
ants name is William Bladon; for years
he has been wandering over America
with his father, who died year
ago; and at the present moment he is
in Brooklyn at the house of a friend of
mine"
Great heavens, man, do you know
what You are saying?" IIorner gasped,
almost breathless at such astounding
news: but. YOU must let me call my
w llt lil-Slit tIol IiSsii oiI iiCI
ders and will set US right about it. Why,
if this young man be-Martha, Mar
tha." The fat landlord couldn't wait
to finish his sentence, but hurried to
the door to call in stentorian tones for
his better half.
She came. A tall. handsome old
woman, much older than her husband,
her hair as white as snow, and wear
ing black shade over one of her eyes.
1t was not an unkindly face, but
there was Il startled, panied expression
in it which Eattracted Harry's instant
observation. She looked like one who
is expecting some impending misfol>
tune to happen, and is in daily dread of
the blow falling.
All" she said with sigh, chow you
startled me. I thought it was of the lit
tie girl you might have heard"
And. perhaps, bring you news of
her too, Mrs. Horner," Harry said.
The color left the woman's face in
moment.
''Of the lady Wanda?" she asked, ''of
the sweet, babe we-but, John Horner
go down and attend to the customers;
it will never do to leave the house I'M
tended
Honest John was loath to obey her
| behest, but in this case the gray mare
was evidently the better horse, for she
peremptorily ordered him to 90 and he
dutifully went.
Now, sir, we are alone she said.
land for heavens sake, keep me no long
err in suspense"
Harry Evesham told his story, watch
ing with interest the strange fuctua-
tiOns in the wOman's expression as the
details developed.
When he had finished, lie handed her
Wanda's portrait.
''How-like what - her - mother
was" Mrs. Horner sobbed, devouring
the picture with her eyes.
Then you are sure of her identity?"
''As sure as that | am sitting in this
chair, SIR
And, will You help me to prove that
identitv?n
will l? Oh, sir, thank the good
Lord that He has sent you here to give
me the chance to do So
Mrs. Horner was trembling violently,
and tears were running down her checks
there was no doubt of her sincerity.
Eth. but have been a wicked wom-
an, and dearly have | paid for my evil
doing" she sobbed.
Pray be calm, my good creature
Harry interposed. Repentance and
restitution"
Aye" she cried, wildly, "now for
repentance and restitution.''
My story is long and a sorrowful
one; will you hear it?" the worthy land
lady asked, controlling her emotion
with difficulty
Most gladly" Harry declared, over
whelmed with the turn affairs had
taken.
1T seems to me but the other day"
Mrs. Horner began, that | went as
waiting-maid to the hall, yet it is near
ly forty years ago-a pretty young
woman | was then, though trouble has
wrinilled my face now-and John
Archer, the under-coachman, began his
attentions to me before / was there a
week. This was just prior to the death
of the first Lady Arlington, and soon
after this event, Archer and were mar
ried and went into housekeeping at
Wilmington. We had one boy. who was
the idol of my heart, and his father,
too, loved him even more than he did
me; but the poor fellow never lived to
away accident thirteen years after our
marriage, when | returned again into
my lords service, which my Willie also
entered as page-bOy. Then the earl
married again-this time far below him,
the match being violently opposed by
his son, Lord Arundel, then just come
of age. | was taken as my lady's own
woman, and SO got to know more about
the affairs of the family than the other
servants. All went well until after the
birth of the newly-married couples
first child. little boy whom they chris
tened George Archibald, when they be-
gan to quarrel, chiefly over friend of
my lady's who came to live at the hail.
Mr.. Paul Hayter?" Harry asked
Yes. What do You know of him.
Mrs. Horner quericd in much surprise.
But little-pray proceed
well, from the day of the coming ID
this Hayter there was trouble"
WAS the earl jealous?"
Il think So Now, in his younger
days Lord Arlington had been very
gay man, and it appears that he had
contracted a disreputable secret mar
riage with Il French adventures which
he managed to conceal, the young worn-
an dying most opportunely at an OBJ
scure village in Itay- When he in
sisted on his wife disInissing Hayter,
they turned upon him with the revela-
ton that his first marriage was known
to them, that his first vile had not died |
~ 1,ea in ba1 l;reI |