The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-05-07

face through his glasses. "Ah, yes; you
are indeed one of us, he went on; "the
true Heavyhand coloring. Saxon that,
from Eadwi of Lincolnshire, the original
Heavyhand You know the story, of
course how he slew his enemy with one
blow of his fst-features show the Nor
man blood, that came later of course; Ed
wig Ostrogson married Emma, daughter Of
Hugh the Carver, ennobled by the Con-
queror. You will trace the same mixture
in my own features, ell? The Heayyhands
are all alike
certainly did not find much resemblance
between myself and this very ''pudgy
little gentleman, but as he seemed amiable
though, of course, quite mad thought
best to humor him by mildly agreeing, all
the while wondering who the deuce he
was, and how on earth he had got here; his
people must be near and would soon come
for him, no doubt
He seated himself with a businesslike
air. 'sNow, my dear Sir, have little
time to spare, and there is much have to
ask you He was hunting distractedy
in his various pockets. "Dear me, hope
| haven't lost it-ah, here it is !" produe-
ing letter. "When got your wonder
full letter this morning started off at once
to see you; felt must have an inter
view y
Poor old gentleman-quite mad whom
could he take me for? | certainly had
never written him any wonderful letter; he
was getting to be rather a bore, and L
thought of going out to find his people,
who must certainly be looking for him.
He settled his glasses and began look
ing over the letter ''There are points |
should wish you to explain" he went on
fussily; interesting as your own exper-
fences have been, | should like to go
further back; you might help me about the
great division of the family. You must,
of course, belong to the Northumbrian
branch Sir Geoffrey de Maindur
original Saxon name has been NOrmanized
you see-held the manor of Crusham on
returning from the first Crusade. OF
course it is impossible that you come from
that low branch known as the 'Closefsts,
who took the wrong side in the civil wars
| really consider them as hardly belong
ing to the Heavyhand family; you must be
descended from Sir Geoffrey."
thought best to humor the poor old
gentleman, and murmured that my grand
father had held estates in the North,
though they had passed away from the
| family now-which was true-and devOnt-
ly wished the old lunatic would depart;
but not bit of it.
Il must look it all up" he went on,
''and you must help me; but now about
your letter, where is it? All, yes! The
London slums, you must tell me all about
that, and the emigrant ship-wonderful
that you should have gone through all that,
but that is not the point. The Spanish
branch of the family that you found on
the Pacific island, that is what | want to
know about. They must have descended
from Sir Guilbert, who was made prisoner
by the Moors while on pilgrimage of
grace, after the murder of his two elder
brothers, was rescued by the Spanish
Amirafle, and married Dona Dolores, his
daughter The name has Spanish form
now, as you mention it here as Don Pc
dros di Manos Pesantos. Most interest
ing And then the kidnapping, the opium
den, your arrival in China wonderful
And the branch of the family you found
there also, those must have come from a
certain Charles, younger son in the time
of Queen Anne, who took to trade-of
course trade was quite respectable then
gentleman adventurer, you know-he went
to the Chinese seas and never came back,
supposed to be lost, must have founded
that branch in China
| thought the old gentleman would never
stop; my brain was rceling with such a
string of nonsense. How could he i'm
agine had anything to do with it?
was just going to assure him that |
had ne, er written any such letter, when
the sheet he had been reading futtered to
the ground, and in STOPPING to pick it up
to my horror [ saw that it was written on
my paper. There was the crest in gilt
the doubled fist of the Heayyhands-and
the address, "l Velasquiz Studios, South
Kensington", there was no mistaking it.
| was bewildered; what could it mean?
She writing was not mine certainly. BY
Jove it was Akers's could it be that he
had actually had the cheek to write an
answer to that note, as he said he would?
Could this be my ''long-lost relative this
old lunatic who had been boring me so?
Confound that fellow Akers with his silly
Jokes He shall pay for this nice mess he
has got me into, for the old gentleman
seems very decent, though quite mad about
ancestors and family, and has swallowed
all Akers's iubbishing letter like Gospel.
And fine yarn" it must be. "London
slums" "-shipwreck on Pacific island
Spanish and Chinese Heavyhands, what
more, wonder, am responsible for? |
must explain at once.
"May ask if am speaking to Mr.. G.
Heavyhand?" | ask most respectfully.
"To be sure, to be sure, said the old
gentleman beamingly 81 was so pleased
with your answer to the letter | wrote You
about"
"But, my dear Sir" cry in despera-
tion, for he is rising to go. a must ex-
plain. Imust tell you"
'Yes, of course, that is just what
want, you must explain 1t all to me. But
| have no time now; you must come to me-
come down to my place in Kent, make a
long stay, and we can work together. |
am at the last volume of the great work
you shall help me, and we shall get it all
cleared up. Now, 1 must be off, Rita is
waiting for me in the carriage.
Rita Could it be (? No; impossible
"My niece, you know continued Mr.
Heavyhand making for the door; "bettel
come down with me and be introduced
Stop here is the address; come down to Us
on Saturday-we shall be delighted" and
away he lrotted down stairs, without Civ
ing me chance to accept or refuse his in
vitation.
OF course I could not accept 1t wai
monstrous; l must explain, and rushed
I