Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-02-04

Harry's brain. So wild conjecture
that he hardly dared to entertain it.
Lord Arlington's family name is
Arundel, is it not?'
(Which it certainly is" assented
John Homer. Hence the name of my
hostelry, The Arundel Arms "
Harry reflected for a minute. Th;S
landlord seemed an honest fellow.
Why not take him into his confidence
and make a clean breast of the object
OF his mission?
''Wel1, Mr.. Horner, ! know in Amer
lea young man who would be likely
to correspond to- the lost little blind
boy"
Indeed, sir!''
eyes, and many surrounding circum-
stances point to his Identification. The
young man I 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 friend Of
mine.''
''Great heavens, man, do you know
almost breathless at such astounding
news; ''but, you must let me call my
wife in-she's got head on her Shout
ders and will set us right about it. Why,
if this young man be-Martha! Mar
thai" The fat landlord couldn't wait
to finish his sentence, but hurried to
the door to call in stentorian tones 70,
his better half.
Shn %o1 ~
woman, much older than her husband
her hair as white as snow, and wear
ing black shade over one of her eyes.
It was not an unkindly face, but
there was startled, panied expression
in it which attracted Harry's instant
observation. She looked like one who
is expecting some impending misfor
tune to happen, and is in daily dread o.
the blow falling.
''Ah," she said with a sigh, chow you
startled me. 1 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 Z
moment.
''Of the lady Wanda?" she asked, 60
the sweet, babe we-but. John Horner
go down and attend to the customers
it will never do to leave the house un
tended"
Honest John was 1oath to obey he1
behest, but in this case the gray mare
was evidently the better horse. for She
peremptorily ordered him to go 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
tons in the woman's expression as the
details developed.
When he had finished, he handed he,
Wanda's portrait.
"How-lile what - her - mother
was" Mrs. Horner sobbed, devOurine
the picture with her eyes.
''Then you are sure of her IDENTIFY
''As sure as that am sitting in this
chair, SIR
''And, will you help me to prove that
identity?''
Twill I? Oh, sir, l 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 cheeks
there was no doubt of her sincerity
''Eh, but 1 have been a wicked WON
an, and dearly have paid for my evil
doing" she sobbed.
Pray be calm. my good creature,
Harry interposed. ''Repentance anC
restitution
Aye" she cried, wildly. ''now TO,
repentance and restitution!'
My story is long and 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 hao
taken.
''1t seems to me but the other day,
Mrs. Horner began, that l went as
waiting-maid to the hall, yet it is near
ly forty years ago-a pretty young
woman was then, though trouble has
wrinkled my face now-and John
Archer, the under-coachman, began his
attentions to me before / was there q
week. This was just prior to the death
OF the first Lady Arlington, and soor
after this event, Archer and were mar
ried and went into housekeeping al
Wilmington. We had one boy, who wa:
the idol of my heart, and his father
WV AONCSl hAi-A CSCA tHdA TIC u1l
me; but the poor fellow never lived tc
see him man. being killed in run
away accident thirteen years after oul
marriage, when l returned again into
my lords service, which my Willie also
entered as page-boy. Then the ear
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 OWL
woman, and so got to know more abou,
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 "a friend OF
my lady's who came to live at the hall. >
Mr.. Paul Hayter?" Harry asked
Yes. What do you know of him?''
Mrs. Horner queried in much surprise.
but little-pray proceed"
''Well, from the day of the coming OF
this Hayter there was trouble
WAS the earl jealous?'
Il think so. Now. in his younger
days Lord Arlington had been a very
gay man, and it appears that he had
contracted 4 disreputable secret mar.
riage with French adventures which
he managed to conceal, the young WON
Ix-s,,