The record-union., 1894-06-30
A GUINEA FOR A GHOST.
iCopyright, 1894, by Edgar /. Wakeman. All
rights reserved.l

tCopyright, 1894, by Edgar L. Wakeman. All
rights reserved.l
was standing beside the Italian porch
of the beautiful Church of ST. Mary the
Virgin, at oxford, when the full mean
ing of young Lord Nevilles words OF the
morning was first realized.
At that moment / saw him dash past
in his brougham, and at his side was the
scared, white face of the woman we both
loved.
[ called to him and to her. She looked
pitifully back toward me, and seemed to
plead with the man beside her, while
Lord Neville gave me taunting and trl-
umphant glance as his coachman lashed
the horses into furious pace. L clutched
at the iron gateway for support, but
when I could look again they were gone.
Then 1 staggered back to our apart
ments in Beaumont street. lis gay as
pect seemed wholly changed. The sun
shone brightly. The rich facades were
as dazzling as ever Even the handsome
house where we all had lived stood there
as stately and grand as during all the
years Lord Neville's munlticence had
made il our home. But as l rang the bell
It's sound startled me. 1t seemed as
though death had entered Beaumontstreet
and had furled its sable pinlons around
this one abode.
Indeed something like death ever
broods where noble friendships are
broken.
Even Richard, our joint valet. who an
swered my summons. had the woebegone
look in his face OF funeral mute as he
ushered he into our once dear old library. /.
The very statues and staluetteS gaAeu
phostily at me and the bindings OF the
hooks had dead, repellant air. The
room was sitting, and L asked Richard
to throw open the sash and let III The
street sounds and The sunlight
"Wery sorry, Mr.. Newton, fur his
ludship's doin's; very sorry! 'Ialnt
like hin. 1t come on me like blow,
sir, so it did"
let him ramble on, for l could not
take heart to question him then.
"Afler your quarrel with his ludship
this mornln', MIR. Newton, when you cor
nered him as to his intentions towards
Miss kobena, he come'd back directly
An, saws he: Richard, cut it short. Have
Sarah pack Robena's wardrobe at once
Have the brougham ready at the door at
. o'clock. / wish to take bit o. drive
wiz Miss Robena. g lhayhb i Collie DAcA'
UnderstandY
course l amt been with th' gentry
an nobility, goln' on twenty year, 'thout
KNOWN at that means, sir. 80 says:
sOrders is orders, SIR An he says.
Rather, An saws 1, DO l stay?' AM
he ups am says, ON double board wages
till YOU hears from me- Which Will
be?' says l. Whenever IL IS says ne.
At which he turns to go out.
"Wery sorry, Mr.. Newton,t t tell you
tb, rest.~ said Richard, with genuine
feeling. for l am sure he had grown to
like ME. l told him gently enough L
wished to hear it all.
'.Weu. Sir, he checked up bit scowl-
inc like. Then he walked around here,
'mong th' books, where you've all been
so happy together. sir. He then says,
sCrnsbin' tough, all the time lo6kin'
over your varsity papers an things, an
then, after mumbiin' ALPS fair in love-
he saws: My regards an good-bys to
Newton. Just say t lin, easy like, as
pd like t. have him leave th' place for
Lunnon soon as convenient, an that
there'n be no use o. chasln' me an Robe
ma, fur she goes wlllln..
Richard, do you believe that is true?"
/ faltered.
''See ere, Mr.. Newton, Lord Neville's
nv master. Pm on double board wages.
No offense, but 'ope you won't press
that sort o. questions"
mo. no, Richard. That's right" I
answered dazedly. but may l ask, is
Robena's mother, Mrs. Hardie, still in
'Oxford?"
..She left for Scotland on the mornin'
train, sir"
Just this one more question, Richard.
Answer il or not, as you like: Did Mrs.
Hardie know of Lord Neville's intention
to make this sudden and secret departure
with Robena?"
'sAs to that sir, can't say rightly. His
ludship am she was together in th' gar
den, eonsultin' like. after your quarrel
with his ludsnip."
"Thank you, Richard" 1 returned
sick at heart and desperate in my loneli-
ness. "Can you get my luggage ready
for the evening tram to London?"
It's ready now, sir. His ludship's or
ders, sir"