The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-03-01

didn't mean to mention it for fear OF
hurting anyone's feelings. me being
only common, rough sort of a chap;
but as for injuring anybody-why. blest
II l know what you mean"
"It MEANS" said Lord Airedale quiet
ly, though his face was white to the
lips, that if my marriage was Illegal,
my two daughters have no claim to
their present name or position. for thew
would be-illegitimate"
There was a little silence. Then Mr..
Brambleby, with rather uncertain fin
gers, gathered up his papers and put
them in his pocket. felt for his hat, and
looked longingly at the door. 'Is that
so?" he said. IT didn't understand the
law in this here old country of yours.
I think I'll wish you good morning,
gentlemen. I haven't anything more to
say"
This sudden collapse took both Lord
Airedale and the young Marquis by
surprise. The latter seized Brambleby
by the arm. Come back" he said, in
great excitement; you mustn't go like
that. You must tell us what you mean
to do What steps are you going to
take?"
Brambleby looked at him in silence
for a moment, in a sadness not without
dignity. 'Ill thank you to let go OF
my arm, young man." he said "I
don know what you mean by steps.
I'm Just going straight back TO Amer
lea. I had no intention of causing trou-
BILE in the family, least of all to the
pretty girl l saw in the garden just
now, though she might have treated
me bit more civil. But she's just Ike
Aminty, as my lord can tell you if he
likes. l didn't rightly know that my
being alive would make such differ
ence to Aminty's gals. I meant just 10
say to her. Wal, Aminty, I'm glad
you've done 50 we'll for yourself, and I
| hope the British aristocrats behave po-
lite to you. If there's anything YOU
want doing. just let me know and I'll
do it And then l should have taken
myself off, without word to his lord
ship, unless I'd been asked to stay,
/ reg'lar, as a friend of the family"
But would you have allowed a wo-
man to commit bigamy?" cried Lord
Airedale with sudden vehemence.
Bra mbleby shook his big head.
II had a wife and family for seven
years out in Chicago" he said, meekly.
I thought Aminty was dead, you see.
My folks all died of yellow fever one
summer, and that made me think more
about Aminty. I've made my pile, and
if you'll allow me, sir I'd like to leave
it all to those two gals. AS a family
friend-a cousin of Aminty's first hus-
band, let us say-I shall hold my
tongue, never you fear; and the gals
will be all right. P'raps it's just as
we'll that poor Aminty is gone, for she
might have felt troubled in her mind II
she'd known that | was alive"
MIR. Brambleby," said Lord Aire-
dale, rising, 'if you would like to SEQ
her-now-"
well, thank ye my lord. I think ia
rather not. 1t was just your opposi-
ton. that made me 20 set on II, you see.
And dare say she looks different now
from what l remember her You see,
when saw her last she looked like the
young girl in the garden-and that's a
long time ago. | think | prefer to re-
member her like that. But I'd like to
thank you for taking good care of my
poor Aminty"
He had got out his red handkerchief
as he spoke, and was openly wiping
his eyes. Lord Airedale took the hard,
toil-worn hand that was held out to
him, and pressed it warmly, and Sill
vertovAl, after a moments hesitation,
did the same.
'Is it possible that the mans story
can be true" the Marquis ventured to
whisper. when the front door had
closed and Mr. Bramblebys broad
back was seen retreatng down the
avenue.
"True?" said Lord Airedale, dream
lily. "Oh, yes; it was all true. re-
membered his face when he began to
talk My wife had a portrait of him,
and the features came back to me.
She always said that he was an honest
man. Don't tell Lillian, Geoffrey"
mo. no; not a word to her. But II
all the world knew, 1t should make no
| difference to me-"
"I know. You are man of honor,
Silvertown. But Brambleby has prom
ised to be silent, and he will keep his
word. Brambleby is a man of honor,
! too"
He was right. Mr. Brambleby went
back TO Chicago three days later, and
| the world never knew the real reason
why Lord Airedaie's daughters We're
enriched before very long by legacy
of fifty thousand pounds by a man
who named himself, in dying, as "one
of their mothers oldest friends"
But that is the true story of Lady
Airedales last visitor.-By Adeline
! Sargent