Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-12-16
CHAPTER XVII.


CHAPTER XVII.
An after meal custom of the two ladies
was that Mrs. Grace should sit in her
Easy chair at one side Of the window In
summer, and Edith at the other. while
he girl read the paper aloud.
The old woman's eyes were open She
was broad awake, but not listening to
word that Edith read. The girls voice
lad a pleasing, soothing effect, and she
was sadly fancying how they two could
manage to live on the narrow means now
ldjudged to her by fate.
Suddenly there was a sharper, brisker
sound than usual in the street. The old
woman awoke to observation. The sound
approached rapidly, and suddenly stopped
close at hand with the harsh, tearing
noise Of a wheel-tire grating along the
surbstone. Mrs. Grace leaned forward
and looked out of the window. A cab
had drawn up at the door, and . man
was alighting.
There's the gentleman who was here
yesterday with Mr. Leigh" said Mrs.
Grace, drawing back from the window.
III you please, Mrs. Grace, Mr.. Han
bury has called and wishes to see you,"
said the landlady's daughter from the
door of the room.
"Mr. Hanbury wants to see me!' said
the old lady in astonishment. ''Wil you
kindly ask him to walk up? Don't stir,
darling" she said as Edith rose to go.
no doubt he brings some message from
Mr.. Leigh"
With listless sigh the young girl sank
back upon her chair in the window place.
Il feel" said the young man, as the
door was closed behind him, "that this is
q most unreasonable hour for a visit OF
one you saw for the first time yesterday.
Mrs Grace; but last night made a most
astounding discovery about you"
pray sit down." said the old lady gra-
ciously. Il am glad to see you. visit
from the distinguished Mr.. Hanbury
would be an honor to any house in Lon
DON"
The young man bowed and sat down.
In manner he was restless and excited
He glanced from one of the women to the
other quickly and with flashing eyes.
Edith leaned back on her chair and
looked at the visitor. The girl could in
no way imagine what discovery Of this
impetuous, stalwart, gifted young man
eould interest them.
You see, Mrs. Grace" he said, looking
rapidly again from one to the other, II
have just come back from the country,
where 1 had to go on an affair Of my
own. An hour or two ago 1 got back to
the city, and, after seeing my mother and
speaking to her while, l came on here
to you"
go on" said the old woman eagerly.
She was now trembling, and caught the
arms OF her easy chair to steady her
hands.
"In Wisconsin / had occasion to visit
Castleton, and there met Mr.. Coutch,
who said he had been in communication
with you respecting your family-the
traces Of Gracedieu, In the neighbor-
hood Of Castleton."
tiently. That is quite right. 1 had
letter from Mr.. Coutch this morning, say
Ing the Graces had left the place long
ago, and owned no property in the place. |
Have you any other-any better news"
Not respecting the Graces Of Grace. |
dieu, as far as your questions CO."
'Oh," said the old woman, and with a |
sigh she sank back in the chair, her in |
terest gone. '.My granddaughter has |
just lost all her little fortune, I was anx- |
ious to know If there were any traces Of |
her people"
The eyes of the man moved to the girl |
and rested on her.
II am sorry to hear Miss Grace has lost |
her fortune" he said, softly. Every sor-
~, indeed"
ut was not very much" said the old !
woman, becoming garrulous and taking
t for granted Hanbury was an intimate
friend of Leigh's and knew all the dwarf's
affairs, "and the loss of it was what made
my granddaughter accept the companion
ship to old Mrs. Leigh down at Ethan
House, near Millway. Miss Grace could
not endure Mr.. Leigh, and left, without
her luggage, a few hours after arriving
there"
"11r. Coutch, the attorney of Castleton,
told me that few weeks ago you caused
inquiries to be made in his neighborhood
the Grace family. Now, it SO
that this morning, before the
.ity was awake, started for Castleton to
make inquiries about the Grace family"
what, you, Mr.. Hanbury! Are you
Interested in the Grace family?" inquired
he old woman, vivaciously.
Intensely" he answered. "When /
lad the pleasure of seeing you yesterday
did not take more interest in Castleton
han any other out-of-the-way town of
which knew nothing, and my only inter
st in your family was confined to the two
aides in this room. Last night a docu-
nent was given me by my mother, and
lpon reading it, conceived the most in
ense interest in Castleton and Gracedieu
nd the family which gave that place a
Iame." l.
He was very elaborate, and seemed re-
olved upon telling his story in a way he
ad arranged, for his eyes were not so
,rcb concerned with Mrs Grace and