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

at Cheveley. Lady Airedale Is seriously
ILL.,"
lie had produced an impression at
last. Mr.. Brambleby's Jaw suddenly
fell. his color grew more purple than
norid, and his hand shook as he mt
down the whisky.
Seriously?" he asked.
It's an illness of long standing
She's 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
th1nk. And I'm afraid this is the last
or 1t. They say she's dying fast"
Good Lord" gasped Mr.. BrambIeby.
But 1t can't be true. When I've come
all the way over from America, just to
speak to her-Ill 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 go al
that hour unless you've got an invita-
ton, or they're expecting you"
"Weal, no. they amt exactly expect
At
little laugh. IT should startle them
considerable, that's a fact. l surmise
I'll take your advice, Mr.. Landlord. and
sleep here tonight. Then can walk
up to the earl's palatial halls to-mor-
row morning"
He made the allusion to Cheveley in
what Parker took to be sneering
tone, and the landlord withdrew, feel
ing somewhat offended with his guest.
He isn't gentleman, not bit of 1t,
though he does wear diamond rings"
he said to Mary when he reached the
safe seclusion of the bar; "he's a COM
mercial gent I fancy, or one Of those
plg-dealers from Chicago that one
reads about in the papers. But he did
look cast down all of a sudden when h.
heard that my lady was so bad; he
turned purple about the gills and
chalky-whlte, I 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 Of
her relations-whos made fortune in
America"
Lets hope So" said the landlord,
gloomily; but he thrust out his lips and
shook his head as If he did not antici-
pate so satisfactory an explanation of
Mr.. Brambleby's 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
he ha 1a1a
before six But the landlord refused to
let the guest be told. "He said he'd
have his 'ot water at eight" said
Parker obstinately. And at eight
o'clock he'll hear the bell toll, and jim
can tell him who It 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 repudiation 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. ThA
door stood wide open, but the bar and
the entrance hail were deserted, for the
landlord and his satellites were dis
cussng the recent news In the back
yard, and consequently Mr.. BramblebN
passed out OF the house unnoticed. The
clock struck seven as he left the inn,
and he took. as If 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 ascended wide
gravelled road, he came to spot from
which he obtained a good view OF the
stately stone building, with its null
lioned windows. its fine terrace its SOL
emn-looking cedar trees. The windows
were all curtained, but Mr.. Bramhleby
attributed this fact to the earliness 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
rockets and his hat tilted very little
to the back Of his head, land l must
say that Amintys done well for her
self. I don't mean to interfere with
her. not /.
He wandered about the park little
while longer and came at last to a
light wire fence, which divided the
grassy slopes from the flower garden.
,N,II n1n
the celebrated lily beds OF the Aire-
dale ladies' and moving from one plot
IN another. with slow and noiseless
footstep, he saw the figure of girl IN
white. It was slender, graceful ng-
ure. 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 ana
looked at him. Then he saw that she
was not the woman of whom he was Ill
search. She was younger and she was
YES. perhaps she was-more peauu-
ful She had dark eyes. pale but
clear complexion. a stateliness OF mem
such as almost alarmed him. But IN
moment or two he recovered his self
possession, and said to himself, Am
inty's daughter, l suppose?"
Then he took off his hat with
flourish. made a low bow, and ad-
yanced 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 blunted her perceptions,
hut indeed Mr. Brambleby's highly