The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-01-11

diucC anu dppiOdCuihs5 " uCCb thC HosteSS
said, as he extended his hand in a most
cordial manner, "My dear madam, it
affords me untold pleasure to meet you
once again, and under circumstances, l
hope, vastly different from those to which
my mind now reverts as to a hideous night
mare.
30, Admiral Stacey replied the mad
am, 81 am glad to welcome you, under
the circumstances you stated upon your
rather abrupt departure about sixteen
months ago, but if it were not for the
mystery which I believe is to be solved
on this occasion, l am free to say you
would not be permitted to enter the por-
tails of this dear old home, which you tried
so hard to destroy.
Pardon me, kind madam, said Stacey,
''If you can find it in your heart to forgive
one who has SO cruelty wronged the unof-
Tending people of this neighborhood, but |
hope that one great good resultant from
this interview will be my ability to help
undo terrible wrong which has been done
to those good people around you.
''Then,'' said the Madam, eff there is
any prospect of reimbursing my poor,
afflicted friends and neighbors in the loss
they have sustained, you are thrice wei
come, and let us begin the interview at
once.
With these words, two great easy chairs
were rolled into the deep-recessed window
near where the admiral stood, and through
which dreamy light from the rising moon
stole in. as if to stand in evidence of the
truth of the dual recitals which were about
to be made. Pointing to one of the chairs
she babe the admiral be seated, whilst she
assumed very comfortable attitude in the
other, and when all was in readiness for a
lengthy hearing she said: ''Now, admi-
raj, am prepared to remain a patient lis
tener to the mysterious tale of the "Miss-
ing Link, T" which is, I believe, the title l
might give it, Judging from the hasty
words you spoke when last | saw you. y
'Well, Madam, said Stacey, ''call it
what you will, but | am prepared to fur
nish only the English edition, so to say,
and to you alone is reserved all rights to
the American production. y
''Then 90 ahead said the Madam,
''and if after you have spoken l can throw
any additional light upon the obscure mat
ters considered, shall deem it my duty to
do So Without further words between
them, Stacey commenced
"Whilst | am today, comparatively
speaking, poor man, l have the honol
to be the lineal descendant of a wealthy
and highly respected family, who in the
early part of the seventeenth century re-
sided in Islington, fashionable suburb OF
London The family to which l refer wal
small one, numbering in all only three
persons, but that trinity of persons seen
to have been blest with trinity of virtues,
and love, and happiness, and wealth com.
bined to render their home a veritablt
earthly paradise
s'Heaven had blest a Cody union witt
but one child, son, and all that parenta
devotion and lavish expenditure could sug
gest was done for the betterment of tina
boy.
''He had, at the period to which refer
just arrived at manhood's estate, and will
a future laden with ali that life holds to b,
conducive to earthly peace and happiness
he started out from one of the great uni
versities of Europe graduate, and maj
of more than the average quality of mind
Scarcely had he time to sip the foam from
off his blissful cup, before there came upor
his most devoted home an affliction of the
direst kind The noble, loving father anC
husband had met with sudden death in
religious riot in the streets of London, an(
that house so long the very citadel of cheer
fulness and mirth, was quickly changed
into a scene of grief and lamentation.
'sSullenly did the clouds of sorrow hans
about that afflicted home Tenderly wal
every act and attribute of the sanity deaC
rehearsed through sobs and tears. Lift
seemed to the bereft as only an unproduct
i've, wintry waste, and one had almost comt
to believe that hope and consolation haC
forever from that habitation fed
Gradually the mists Of woe wer,
brushed away by the assuaging hand o
time, and those deep-seared hearts wer'
comforted.
About two years after the devoted
father death, a new sorrow was born tt
that loving, doating mothers heart by
the sons hasty resolve to join the bant
of pilgrims then being formed by the Cal
verts, and who were soon to set sail fo
America to establish the priceless boon o
liberty and religious freedom. The youns
man became an enthusiast upon the sub
iect, and his mother, humoring his will
made ample provisions for his far-off anC
uncertain journey The hour of departure
was at hand The Ark and the Dove
were ready to sail from the old fortress
like quay on the Isle of Wight Just al
Arthur Adair, the youngest member o.
the expedition, was about to board the
Dove, his mother pressed upon his broad
forehead, loving, parting kiss and threw
about his neck rich Mosaic charm at
tached to golden charm. On the one
side was picture of the Madonna and OIL
the reverse newly painted miniature Of
the late lamented Sydney Adair. As she
took the locket from her neck she rever.
emily kissed it, saying: MY dear son,
take along with you as an amulet, this,
my baptismal gift from the sanity Abbess
of Lucerne, and may the martyred saint,
whose property tradition says it was, be
your guardian spirit in the wilds of Amer.
lea, and bringing you safely back to youl
sorrowful mothers arms Promise me
one thing and I ask no more. Say that
you will never part with that locket as
long as you shall live The son faithfully
promised as his mother desired, and kiss
ing her affectionately, rushed aboard tbs
Dove, and the vessels, weighing anchor
passed out through the anchorage Of St
Helen's roads, to the English channel
and as the shades of twilight commenced
to creep over the waters, the Ark and the
Dove,
"Sailed into the fiery sunset,
Sailed into the purple vapors.
Sailed into the dusk of evening.
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