New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-17

solitary stay I'm Bath he had given vent to his
ilI-bumor I'm a series Of caustc articles to the
delight Of the reading world. who daily searched
the columns OF THE Decorator" to see II there
was anything by Lars Pors,na'
Thus it happened that Mr. Grngle prepared
To beguile "A solitary evening i'm his private room
nj the Grand Hotel by continuing the sketch
he had begun In the Pump Room that after
noon and 10 revive the current OF ideas he pro-
ceedcd To- read what he had already written
Taking up the envelope ,ha. had so opportuneiy
been given to him. In order to decipher MS
pcncilled notes. he for the first time saw the
superscription Written In ink 1t was noticeable
enough and this IL what it was: MISS Farth-
ing Lane Poste Restarte, Bath.
Mr.. Gringle stared as If he beheld ghost.
.Farthing Lane" he calculated what a
coincidence, There must be some connection
There may be other 'Farthing Lanes sun IL
odd Lane is common enough-out farthihs
Lane, I suppose 1t has nothing to do with IL.
I should like TO be sure Poste Restante:
wonder where she lives.
A. crirole sent for a local directory and the
local papers with VISITORS nsts put i'"''u -"
one named "Farthng Lane IL,
lie assured himself it could oniy Do coin-
cidence Of no importance, Dut ms "oIh We
effectually disturbed for the eveh.ns, ru ~
II
hoine smothered with showers OF envelopes
and that every part OF their SURFACE was COY ",
cred with the fated words far'"'is LAM -
NJ GringIe's interest in "Farthing Lane
arose from i,s relation to the great CHil.on
coee for if il had not been Tor FARMING Ian
the case would probably never nave oee" "''''
,hout tvo wears previously the Triangular
Railway Company had entered INTO hegotiar'on ~.
rith Mr.. Thornton Chiffon, OF Chiiton Han. III
shire Cor plIrchasin narrow tnoroushlare'
t,.rthinq Lane which lay In the course or a
,,r,iocteJ new line Of railway. Farthing Lane
- ii,,otod In the heart of the City (of London),
and The land was worth a large sum l's Naiu'
too would be trebIed after the railway was co,'l-
y.d Mr. Thornton Clifton therefore de-
handed n high price for it, The railway com
,au,. hacgIed the matter was re1erreh 10 aipl-
trators and slowly dragged on Till a discovery
10 h.. the solicitors to the company l. c.,
,rt Nr Thornton ChiltJn's title to the lana
WIS omen To doubt. unless ne couiu prove NV
deafh and non-existence OF heirs Oh d couSin'
I,br chiffon 10 whom the property rlghtly De,
Innged Johr Chilton's father had disnherited
his son and bequeathed all his estates 10 d
n"nbew Robert Thornton. Chiffon Hall and
other property was free 10 De Wieu, uu. IT,
ing Lane had come into the family some tiihs
bacl and was strictly left to the Chiltons lineal
descendants; Squire Chiltons VIII could not
touch IT. .., 49,. - ,,,, ,
ranr abated their original offer by half. On the
other hand, Mr. Thornton chiffon would near
~ mo reduction. His cousin had not been heard
Of for over nifty years, ana iali'h h MIN MI
Thornton Chiffon was the rightful heir
Irrigation ensued and inquiries were started
in all the colonies 10 discover proofs Oh Jonh
Chilton's death. lie was known To- have gone 10
America but no further trace could De rouno.
The conrany's urgent need OF Farthing Lane
might have led to a compromise. when suddenly
a claimant appeared.
4 voung man calling himself John Chiffon.
a gold digger from California, arrived In Eng
land and affirmed that he was the son or the
missing John Chilton. HIS story was mat ms
father dying Of fever out IN the Dush' mao
left him 10 the care OF a settler with inJunc-
lions t. see that Justice was done To his boy,
and had also placed round his neck small
bag which he had worn ever since. This bag
was found to contain an old signet-rng ana
scrap OF paper with the words. Squire Chiffon.
Chiffon Hall" written In faded characters on
IL on examination the ring was discovered 70
have the armorial bearings OF the Chiitons cor
rectly engraven on IT, The young man had wit
nesses 10 prove the truth Of his story and his
case seemed complete that Mr.. Thornton
Chiffon. to avoid the expense OF another trial.
would hardly have disputed the ownership OF
Farthing Lane. Before. however. his new
cousin had been many weeks in England. he
boldly claimed the whole OF the Chiffon estates.
He had ferreted out what had been partially
known in the family, but had not before been
made public.
Squire Chiffon on his death bed had relented
toward his son. and had sent for his lawyer to
make a will Rapidly growing worse. be-
fore the solicitor could arrive. he became much
excited, and his doctor mad written down his
testamentary wishes at his dIctation.
The Squire had tried TO sign this paper but
his strength failed. and Jagged stroke OF the
pen was the only result. lie became uncon-
scious and 80 died.
Would this hold good in point Of law?
Robert Thornton. who by his uncle's viii after
ward assumed the name OF Chiffon, had ac-
knowledged al the time that II his cousin re-
turned he should consider himself bound to re-
sign the estates to him. John Chiffon had how
ever. never been heard OF, and as years went
on his possible claim TO the property was for
gotten. especially when It oil passed at Mr..
Thornton ChtCns death 10 his elder son, the
present owner
This gentleman, who was brother to Mr..
Grnge's friend, James Thornton Chiffon, Of the
Decorator, did not share his fathers scrupes
and was now ready to contest the point with
the newcomer.
In this view he was confirmed by Mr. Grngle's
advice and the latter had double stake in the
issue Of the trial His professional credit and his
personal ~egard for his old friends were both In
voived
The case was coming on after Easter and
both sides Were eagerly procuring every possible
scrap Of evidence. In an ordinary way Mr.
Gringe would have had nothing to do with this,
hut from the unusual circumstances OF this
trial. he had been much agltated by the two
words "Farthirg Lane" as II he had been the
paid agent Of private inquiry" office
The following day Mr.. Gringle prepared to look
out for the lady with gray curls He took a
bath-chair and went up and down Milsom-st. In
the morning He remained In the pumproom
all through the concert in the afternoon. but
with no result Mr. Gringle was all the more
determined TO succeed I'm his quest. He pro-
cecded during the week that ensued 10 haunt
every likely place in Bath; and whether it
was owing TO change in the weather. the wind
had veeIed TO the ;. W. and the shone
cheerily. to being more out I'm the open air
Nj. Gringles health improved so rapidly that
he had no longer any reason for deferring his
return to London
He had lost all hope Of finding the lady who
had given him the envelope. when on the last
he fllf "A Il
into the market he stopped TO look at very
fine show Of fish. and began TO talk with the
fshmonger.
You've got some rcd gurnet." he said: best
fish going If il is properly coOked-it ought to
be baked: and then absently looking up he
caught sight Of the lady he wanted to see
She was choosing penny bunch ~ prmroses
at an opDo site stall.
Mr. Gringe FASTENED up to her.