Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-06-19
WITHOUT A HEAD.


before it.
In one sat pretty golden haired girl of
about five and twenty, who was staying
in the house; in the other was dark,
rather stout middle aged woman. She
was talking while she stirred her tea
slowly.
''Yes, Edith, you really must meet Mr..
Everleigh. My husband says he is staying
with the Norths at the Sycamores, and
that Is only three miles off, SO he can
easily come to dinner. We will have him
on Thursday"
sit is very kind of you, Lady Elder, to
wish me to meet this Mr.. Everleigh, said
Edith. with faint smile, "and should
like to, as 1t would be interesting to see
any one who has travelled SO much. Be-
sides the name seems familiar to me. I
had some friends once who knew some
body of that name, am sure. +"
The door opened, and the butler an
nounced:
MRS Morton"
She was the wears wife and had plenty
to say to Lady Elder about paroohial mat
ters go Edith Vernon, having finished
her tea, quietly withdrew to her room.
Who was this Mr.. Everleigh, and what
did his name recall to her mind? Then
1t all came back to her. A happy time
long ago, when she and her mother lived
down in Somersetshire, at Rose Court.
She was just II, and her mother was
not the invalid she became two years be-
fore her death.
Near Rose Court there was farmhouse,
and an old Miss Milton took 1t one sum-
mer and came, accompanied by her
nephew, to enjoy the air.
Jack Milton was leaving for coffee plant
ing in Ceylon shortly, hut not before he
and his pretty neighbor had become very
great friends. Edith remembered how one
afternoon q travelling photographer had
come round and photographed them as
they made group outside Rose Court.
She went to her desk and unlocked 1t
and took out the photograph.
The popularity Of her own figure in tho
picture was that the head had been cut
out; there was little round hole left in
the card. Jack had done it before he went
away.
He had asked for the picture, and when
Edith made excuse by saying she wanted
q remembrance of Miss Milton he then
begged to be allowed to have part Of 1t, to
which request she gave permission.
Where was the head now, she wondered,
and where was Jack? He used to send
her messages throu III Miss Milton, and
then that old lady died, and the Vernons
left Rose Court, SO now she did not know
where he was.
Nevertheless she was sure she had heard
either Jack or his aunt some time or an
other mention Mr.. Everleigh, and, If SO,
why, there was now chance of hearing
some news.
That evening Sir John Elder announced
he had met Mr.. Everleigh that day and
had asked him to come up to the Towers
to shoot on Thursday and stay to dinner.
He had accepted, and when the day came
arrived with his gun and Gladstone bag.
There were two officers stationed in the
neighborhood; also young Morton and his
tutor of the party.
She proposed to walk to Lanton, three
miles of, in the afternoon, to do some
shopping. Lady Elder offered her the car
riage, but she declined, saying she would
enjoy the walk, as it was a cold, fresh
day. She accordingly set out did her shop
ping and was returning, wondering much
If Mr.. Everleigh could give her news Of
Jack.
1t was growing dark when she returned.
The butler told her, ON her entrance, that
tea was in the library, and tho gentlemen
had all returned. She had just reached the
door when she saw speck Of white at her
feet.
Knowing Lady Elder was scrupulously
cl,o 30 Alr \ nvnIv
piece of white card. She turned 1t over in
her hand. A face, and that face her own
at II years old. Her heart almost stopped
beating. Then the door opened, and Sir
John came out.
"What, Edith, my dear, you here' Had
no tear Come in. Go and entertain the
young men. Do your duty, my DEAR"
and with laugh he passed her, leaving
the door still open.
Come in, Edith" called Lady Elder
from the midst of group gathered round
the fire.
As she entered the young men rose.
She knew three of them, and only needed
Mr.. Everleigh and the tutor to be intro
duced to her.
miss Vernon, who is staying with me,
said Lady Elder.
The tutor bowed. Mr.. Everleigh was
putting down his teacup, but turned his
head as Lady Elder spoke.
Somehow Edith felt he was connected
with what she had discovered-the ques-
ton was In what wayp He bowed slight
ly; the room was rather dark; she did not
see bis face distinctly. Lady Elder rang
for lights In the meantime Edith took
seat offered to her by one Of her military
friends, who was trying to get up con-
versation with her.
"Have some mullins, dearP" said Lady
Elder as she stopped to get them from be-
fore the fire and gave them to Mr.. Ever
leigh to hand to her.
He approached with the dish and stood
before her. As he was 60 standing the
lamps were brought in. She raised her
eyes and saw face looking down at her
"a face she knew, only older than when
they last met A long gaze and then
"Why, you're Jackp' she faltered.
"And you're Edith" he said.
''And how are you Mr.. Everleighi"
she asked.
Ho sat down beside her, still holding
the muffin dish, looking at her all the
WHILE
"Ahl" and he laughed, because my
godfather, Mr.. Everloigh, left mo his pos
sessions on condition should take his
name He was cousin Of my old aunt's,,
you know, and had no near relatives But
/ haven't forgotten you and Rose Court,
though It's 60 long ago, and IN show you
something.
He opened his pocketbook, Lady Elder
and the others looking on at what was
happening in astonishment
"Why, It's gonel' he said; "your headl'
Edith opened her hand and disclosed
what 1t held.
II found 1t in the passage, " che said,
land could not think how II had got
there, but thought somehow II had to
do with Mr.. Everleish, because Thought
Mr.. EYarlaigh had to do with Jackr,