The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-03-01
=. De nord Airedale's CUES, for a re,


H."
He had produced an impression at
last. Mr.. Brambleby's Jaw suddenly
fell. his color grew more purple than
horid. and his hand shook as he put
down the whisky.
Seriously?" he asked.
TITS an illness of long standing,
Shes had all the best London doctors
and gone about from one place to an
other in search of health. but all to no
purpose. Better keep at home, always
think. And I'm afraid this is the last
Of it. They say she's dying fast"
Good Lord"' gasped Mr.. Brambleby
But it can't be true. When I've come
all the way over from America. just 10
speak to her-Pll go up to the Castle
this very night and see."
"Oh, no, sir; no, sir. That would
never do, I'm afraid" said Parker.
with shake OF the head and a little
smile. "Why. it's close on their dinner
time; and besides. my lady will have
gone to sleep maybe; you can't g. a:
that hour unless you've got an invita-
ton, or they're expecting you"
''Weql, no. they amt exactly expect
ing me-" said Brambleby with a queer
little laugh. II should startle them
considerable, that's a fact. l surmise
I'll take your advice Mr.. Landlord, and
sleep here tonight. Then 1 can walk
up to the earls palatial halls to-mor-
row morning"
He made the allusion to Cheveley in
what Parker took to be a sneering
tone and the landlord withdrew, feel
Ing somewhat offended with his guest.
He isn't gentleman, not a bit Of 1t,
though he does wear diamond rings"
he said to Mary when he reached the
safe seclusion of the bar; "hes COM
mercial gent I fancy, or one of those
pig-dealers from Chicago that one
reads about in the papers. But he did
look cast down all of sudden when h.
heard that my lady was so bad; he
turned purple about the gills and
chalky-white, can tell you"
Nobody knows much about my
lady" said Mary, who was sitting at
her work behind the bar, no customers
being present perhaps he is one If
her relations-who's made a fortune in
America"
gloomi1y; but he thrust out his lips and
pate so satisfactory an explanation of
Mr.. Bramblebys visit to Cheveley.
But death was already at the Earl OF
Airedale's door. an earlier visitor than
even Mr.. Brambleby, who had pur-
posed to call betimes. The countess
died as the early dawn came stealing
in, at three o'clock in the morning. and
the news reached the Airedale Arms
before six But the landlord refused to
let the guest be told. HE said he'd
have his ot water at eight" said
Parker, obstina tely And at eight
O'Clock he'll hear the bell toll, and Jim
can tell him who il is. and nobody
need disturb him till then. I believe
It's all CANNON that he's a relation OF
her ladyship He looks like a countess
brother or cousin. or something. don't
he?" Mr.. Parker was waxing quite
sarcastic in his reputation of the idea
Mr.. Brambleby, however, not know
ing what had happened. awoke at five
O'Clock, and felt too restless and over
heated to sleep any longer. He rose
about six, dressed himself leisurely.
and descended the stairs. There was
only one entrance TO the Airedale Arms.
and that was through the bar. Tbs
door stood wide open, but the bar and
the entrance hall were deserted, for the
landlord and his satellites We're dis
cussng the recent news in the back
yard. and consequently Mr.. BrambebN
passed out OF the house unnoticed. The
clock struck seven as he left the inn,
and he took. as II by instinct, the road
that led him straight to Cheveley park
gates.
The woman at the lodge only curte-
sled as he passed by. She took him
for somebody from the neighboring
town of Fairoaks. The undertaken, or
perhaps the registrar Mr.. Brambleby
could not see the house at first, for the
ground rose between it and the gate;
but gradually. as he assembled a wide
gravelled road, he came to a spot from
which he obtained a good view Of the
stately stone building, with its null
Toned windows, its fine terrace, its sol
emn-looking cedar trees. The windows
were all curtained, but Mr.. Brambleby
attributed this fact to the eariness Of
his visit to the park and the laziness of
the countess paupered menials. "It's
a fine spot" he murmured to himself,
with his fingers stuck in his waistcoat
to the back Of his head, land / must
say that Aminty's done well for her
self. 1 don't mean to interfere with
her, not l."
He wandered about the park little
while longer, and came at last to
light wire fence. which divided the
grassy slopes from the flower garden.
Here he stood still. He was close to
the celebrated lily beds OF the Aire-
dale ladies'; and moving from one plot
to another with slow and noiseless
footstep, he saw the figure of girl In
white. It was slender, graceful flg-
IRE. in a plain cambria frock, with
black ribbon at the waist. and as Mr..
Brambleby gazed he gasped out the
words:
"Aminty. by Jove"
Hearing a sound. the girl turned and
looked at him. Then he saw that she
was not the woman of whom he was In
search. She was younger and she was
yes, perhaps she was-more oeautl-
full She had dark eyes. pale out
clear complexion. stateliness OF mem
such as almost alarmed him. But in
moment or two he recovered his SELF
pos.ession. and said to himself, Am
inty's daughter, suppose"
Then he took off his hat with
flourish, made low bow, and ad-
vanced a step nearer to the fence. The
girl. who had been gathering lilies
and laying them one by one in long
shallow basket. drew back. Her eyes
expressed surprise, but no alarm; and
1t was plain. as Mr. Brambleby now
remarked, that she had been weeping
bitterly. Perhaps the consciousness or
a real sorrow hlunted her perceptions
hut indeed. MIR. Brambleby's highly
-.....nAn III nnnnnranca his red face.