St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-04-29

had vowed that she loved him, and yet, who,
within one year ate. his departure for the
Pacific coast, had married another, because
richer, man.
The old sailors head was in whirl, and
his heart was throbbing like war drum. He
did not for an instant forget his good breed
ing, but concealed his confusion and sup
pressed his whirling thoughts, and went
through the form of eating the many courses
and sipping the many wines placed before
him.
During dinner the conversation, in which
Mrs. Morton took quiet part, was about the
wounded youth, the miracle of his escape,
and delight at the prospect of his speedy re-
covery.
After dinner, as the honored guest, the
commodore offered his arm to Mrs. Morton,
expecting they would retire to the drawing
room, but she bowed and said, without look
ing at him:
Commodore West, / am sorry that you
find Buena Vista at this time something of a
hospital. My husband, as you have seen, is
an invalid, your nephew is still confined to
his room, and am suffering from nervous
prostration. 1 am rarely able to meet my
appear this evening, to welcome you to Buena
Vista"
''And l. madam, heartily thank you for the
sacrifice you have made for me- said the
commodore, bowling, and opening the door
thatled to her own apartments, that she might
pass through.
Then, turning and addressing Dora. the
old sailor continued: -
81 am sure, my dear child, you and your
friends will pardon me for not going into
the drawing room. You know the reason for
my coming here. Ralph is alone and I feel
that it is my duty to be with him.
Certainly, Commodore West" replied
Dora, 'that is just what we expected, and I
and my friends should feel we were selfish if
we required your presence with u.s. much as
it would add to our pleasure"
The commodore hurried back to Ralph's
dinner just finished, and a Chinese servant
in attendance. 80
CHAPTER XIX
UNCLE AND NEPHEw-MoIHERiAN AND DAUGHTER
Waiting until the servant had gone out
with the things, and closed the door behind
him, the commodore threw himself into a
chair. y '.o.s-
"My God! Ralph, what kind of place is
this you have brought me to?' 5-sii
"Kind of a place" replied Ralph, in sur
prise, 'why, Uncle George, it's the most
charming estate on the coast; and as to the
people, cannot imagine that, if they were
my own flesh and blood, they could have
treated me more kindly. But you look
startled! What is up?"
Before replying, the commodore sprang
from his chair and took two or three turns
about the room, running his hands through
his wavy, gray hair, meanwhile At length
he came back, and sitting down again,
said: .st
s'Of course, Ralph, I am mistaken, and it
is delusion, but 1 would have sworn as
quickly as I would to my own identity that I
have dined tonight with the man for whom I
have been in search. @
''Who do you mean?" asked Ralph
ssI mean Leonard Martini That man
Doctor Ellerton looks so much like what
this scoundrel must be, at his present age,
that am still inclined to think I was not
mistaken, but that he must be the man Of
whom Albert Howard told me-"
"Weu," replied Ralph, 81 am very sure you
are mistaken. DR.. Ellerton, as 1 understand
it, is sort of factotum and manager for
Colonel Morton. He is, as you may have
noticed a man of. excellent address, we'll
bred, and I should unhesitatingly say
gentleman. Why, just think If he were the
man we are in search Of do you think he
would SO deliberately place himself in our
way, that he would be among the first men I
met in San Francisco, that ne should drive
me here, be my friend and companion since
coming and meet you this evening as he has
done? Why, the idea is preposterous. AS
to resemblance it is very uncertain thing
to go on. Twenty-four years must have
wrought such change in the appearance of
a man like Martin as would make him I'M
recognizable to those who knew him of old
So Danish that thought from your mind, and
depend upon it the man is just what he
claims to be, nothing more and nothing less"
''No doubt you are right" said the commo-
dore, after some hesitation, '.but the surprise
produced by this man was nothing compared
to that that came to me when was intro
duced to Mrs. Norton
''Let me say,'' said Ralph, s'that you are
much favored in seeing her at ALL. She well
coined me to Buena Vista, and have since
learned that it was distinguished honor
that she does not usually bestow upon her
guests. for the lady is an invalid, and seldom
leaves her apartments. But, pray, what did
you discover in Mrs. Morten2'
"Discoverr' exclaimed the commodore,
''why, my God! man, 1 discovered that She
is, or rather was, Alice Turney.''
''Alice Turneyi" replied Ralph.
eyes. Don't tell me you haven't heard me
speak of herl' said the commodore, some
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