Middletown transcript., 1893-11-18

iilOs w neHOA LuouO byoCAA oPOSiuhJ
agreeable or not l don't know, but
when we reached Liverpool L received
an invitation from Mrs. Bradington to
visit them in Devonshire, which |
promised to do as soon as my business
in London and Paris was completed,
will pass over the two months that
INTERVIEWED before T was ready te ge
down to Dovenshire. Suffice is to say
l had not been as successful as 1 antici-
pated in eliminating all thoughts of
Adele from my mind. / someti mes
longed to see her in way that was en-
tirely inconsistant with my many re-
solves to forget her. SO l decided to
spend only week with the Bradingtons
and then hurry to America. Man pro-
poses, woman disposes. found Lillian
Bradington more delighted than ever.
She was quite different from Adele with
her spiritual beauty. Lillian was tall
and juno-like, with glorious black eyes.
My week had heightened into two, and
long daily rides with her had convinced
me could enjoy two more without
ennui. But this was not to be.
The third week was drawing to a
close when one morning, at breakfast,
cable was handed me, forwarded from
my business address in London. sup
pose looked troubled as l read it for
Mr.. Bradington said kindly:
mo trouble, hope?"
" No-that is, yes" stammered.
IA very dear friend of mine is dead.
1t calls me home at once"
Not until the condolences of the
,thers had ceased did Lillian speak.
Then, with her dark eyes fixed upon
ne, she said; "Y ou speak quite joyfully
Of the death of dear friend, Mr.. Reed.
| saw she doubted me. 1" Crying will
not waken the dead, Miss Bradington,
replied sadly. "Read for yourself and l
handed her the cable.
"Come at once-Banjo is dead. !"
she read. "What queer namel Was
ne a MANI"
mot exactly-that is-he was quite
young. Only two years old 1 think"
1.-TWO years oldl Well, he was not
exactly an intimate then," said Mr..
Bradington in his bluff way.
''No, but very dear to me; he was
my sisters child"
"Your sisters childi Why you told
me you had no sister, broke in Lillian.
My face was flushing a beautiful
deep crimson, but I managed to say
coolly;" 1 havn't, speaking correctly.
She is my brothers. wife.
"But you told me you were the only
son." Lillian continued mercilesslv.
"Miss Bradington since you have
dragged family matters to the light, L
we'll, must make clean breast of it.
had brother, but my father was
forced to disinherit him, and I have
never seen him SINCE"
.sHow sadl" murmered Mrs. Brading-
ton, but Lillian continued incredously:
"Then how did you become SO fond
of your brothers. child?"
This almost staggered me. I hesi-
tated moment, as though overcome.
II dislike to speak of it," replied
sadly; "but he-he deserted his wife
before dear little Banjo was two months
old, and she in her distress sought me
out. Ever since then l have helped
her without my fathers knowledge.
You see how important it is that l
should go back"
''What a brute your brother must
be-" Lillian said softly, "and how
generous Of you to help his poor little
wife!"
At last she was convinced.
Until I left Bradington Hall, I pre-
served sufficiently nournful counten-
ance to accord with my story. Every
one was so kind and considerate that l
felt myself a greater scroundrel than
my mythical brother was supposed
to be.
Not until I was on the steamer
homeward bound did doubts Of Adele IS
meaning begin to assail me. Surely
she could only have meant that her
infatuation for that miserable pug was
over, and - blissful thought = she
wanted me. She could not have had
the heart, willful and spoilt as she was,
{, call me all the way from England
for the sake of hoaxl The more ]
thought Of it, however, the more ]
feared it was quite within the range OF
Adele's possibilities.
So tormented myself until at last
we reached New York; and the same
evening hastened up town, and as.
cended the familiar steps. As 1 rang
the bell | listened intently. Thank
goodness, heard no yelping and
barking.
There was no one in the drawing
room as / entered. The same rose
colored liphts were burninp as when
bid her good by. In moment
heard rustic coming down the stair.
way, and the next instant-Adele was
in my arms.
''Tom dearl How could you think
meant it?
Meant what, my darling?'
That wouldn y marry you'll And
the idea Of your going of to Europe