The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1895-09-05
THE COLONEL'S WIFE.

L a. L
it to fill out a dent III his ring fence,
and Sir George Warburton stepped in
and bought it over his head
And you can consider your engage
ment at an end, sir, the colonel wrath
fully informed his nephew and heir.
mo daughter of that sneak's shall be
mistress OF Broadwater. "
Then Evelyn and Dick held council
of war on neutral stile.
I've had similar instructions, said
the girl. They re very much incensed
at present, but it won't last. Within six
weeks somebody will be giving a recon-
ciliation dinner party. | know the dear
old things SO well. "
But before the month was out Colonel
Fairholme was on his way to Australia
During the first few weeks after his
arrival i'll Melbourne he communicated
regularly either with his maiden sister
or with Dick. Then there was gap for
a couple of mails, and Dick was getting
uneasy and meditating a cable of in
quiry when the anxiously expected let
ter arrived.
My DEAR BoY-I have piece of news for
you which. / dare say, will surprise you very
much. After being confirmed bachelor for
nearly 60 years have found my better half at
last. / made her acquaintance at the table
'hote here and NC Here married last Monday.
The lady Is :. great deal younger than my
self, and l may say, without boasting, as
charming In disposition as she is in appear
anee You cannot fail to like her and am
sure you will both be the best of friends
We are leaving in fortnight by the Ormuz,
80 you will know when to expect US.
HORACE FAIRHoLME.
P S.-Please break the news gently as you
can to your aunt. II. F.
A few days after the letter came a
brief note for Dick:
Just few lines to catch the mail
There is tiresome delay in the final
arrangements, and find that l cannot
leave AS soon as | hoped, as the berths
are already booked for Ormuz Adele
will come on alone with her maid.
Meet her at Southampton shall fol
low by next orient boat. "
Dick wondered little at the arrange
ment, but did not fail to meet his I'M
cle's wife when the time arrived. She
was a tall woman of 20 or 80, undeni-
ably handsome and DESTROYS of winning
the good graces of her husband Is nephew.
Nevertheless Dick did not take q
fancy to her. In fact, she rather repealed
him. However, she quite won Miss
Fairholme 8 simple soul by compliment
ing her upon her housekeeping and re-
fusing to interfere with such admirable
management, also she professed great
interest in the estate.
II am SO fond of the country" she
told them, land your English scenery
is SO picturesque and homelike. prom
Use myself a ramble every morning be-
fore breakfast. "
But one day Dick saw something
which gave him the curious notion that,
after all, it was not the beauties of ma
ture that attracted her. He saw Mrs.
Fairholme walking briskly down the
road outside to meet the postman--
there was only one delivery i'll that part
the Broadwater letters at the lodge.
She stopped the man, and he gave her
an envelope, which she opened and read
on the spot
Hum = he reflected. $50 Mrs. Fair
holme is SO anxious about her CORE
spondence that she takes the trouble to
go out and meet it at half past "a III. -
That afternoon he was at the village
postoffioe, and the postmaster, who was
also the grocer. happened to be serving
himself
Il saw letter for you with the Mel
bourne postmark on it this morning,
sir, he said, with the license of all old
tenant. II hope the colonel's well?"
William confirmed the statement en-
phatically, and furthermore volunteered
the information that the new mistress
of Broadwater had met him on the
highway, near the lodge gates, and re
quested him to hand the letter over t.
her.
Thanks, said Dick lightly. GOT
course Mrs. Fairholme has forgotten to
give it to me. III ask her about it. "
Conscious Of her duplicity, Dick could
scarcely force himself to be civil to her.
But she appeared not to notice his mo.
roseness, and III the evening after din
ner she rose from the piano suddenly,
as though on impulse
"By the way" she said, "haye you
the key of the strongroom, Dick?
meant to ask you before and forgot.
should SO much like to see the family
jewels. Your uncle told me that he has
some wonderful rubies which he
brought from India Bring them down,
there's dear boy -
The dear boy" obeyed without the
oest grace III world, and Mrs Fair
1olme admire the jewels and played
with them all like child with new
toy But the rubies seemed especially
to captivate her fancy.
"They are magnificent T. she said.
and her eyes were almost as bright with
excitement as the gems themselves. Il
never saw anything like them. And
the diamonds are fine too But those
old fashioned settings are horrible.
shall have them all reset at onc& Do
you know the address Of good jew
eler?"
"Linklater of Bond street is one Of
the best, believe. But, if you will
excuse me saying so, don't you think
the matter will keep till the colonels
return? I'm not sure that he would