Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-12-09
CHAPTER XVI.

slttluk III 1EluSDy
ing after her flight from Ethan House
she found her grandmother had not yet
appeared. She went to Mrs. Grace's door
and asked if she might bring the old WON.
an her breakfast. To her question she re.
ceived a blithe answer that Mrs. Grace
would be ready in a minute. The girl
came back to the room where the break
fast was laid and sat down to wait. She
was standing at the window absorbed in
thought, when Mrs. Grace came into the
room and took the girl in her arms before
Edith was aware OF her presence.
Thank heaven, you are here once
more, my darling. To see you makes even
this place look like home. Oh, what a
miserable time it was to me while my
child was away. 1t seemed an age. Short
as it was, 1t seemed an age, darling. OF
one thing, Edy, I am quite certain, that
no matter what is to become Of us, we
shall never be separated again, never,
darling, never. That is, h you are not
too proud or too nice to be satisfied with
what will satisfy your old grandmother"
The girl sobbed her long-pent torrent Of
chaotic feeling away, the old woman
stroking softly the dark glossy hair with
one hand and pressing the head to her
bosom with the other.
composure, and stealing out Of her grand.
mothers arms. turned towards the win
dow to conceal her red and tear-stained
face. The old woman went and busiej
herself at the table.
"Edy," she said, "here Is a letter. I
have not my glasses with me. VIII you
read 1t to me, deaf!"
The girl turned round, took the letter
and went back to the window-for a bet
Ter light.
1T is signed Bernard Coutch," said the
girl in low voice.
"Well, go on, child. Let us hear what
this Mr.. Coutch has to say. Breakfast
must wait. Nothing grows cold in such
lovely weather. / hope this Mr.. Coutch
has good news"
Dear Madam-Mr. James Burrows,
solicitor, of Lincoln's Inn, wrote me a few
days ago, with a view to ascertaining
some facts regarding the Graces Of Grace
dieu-"
"Wait a minute, Edith" The old wOm-
an rose excitedly and came to the win
dow. II must tell you, dear, that when
first Mr. Burrows wrote me to say the
bank had failed, and that your money
and mine were gone, / went to him, as
you know, and got no hope of ever saving
anything out Of the bank But did not
tell you then, for was ashamed Of being
SO weak as to mention the matter to Mr..
Burrows, that l told him all ! knew Of
the history of the Graces Of Gracedieu,
and OF the old story Of mysterious money
going to the runaway Kate Grace fifty
years ago. l asked him to make what
inquiry he could, and let me know any
news he might pick up. 1 was foolish
enough to imagine, dear, that something
might come to you out OF the property of
the rich Graces il We only knew where
they are, if there are any. Now go on,
dear"
Edith recommended the letter:
Dear Madam-Mr. James Burrows,
solicitor, of Lincoln's Inn, wrote me a few
weeks ago, with view to ascertaining
some facts regarding the Graces of
Gracadieu, near this place.
Il regret to say that l have not been
able to find out much. Gracedieu is n
email residence about a couple of miles
from this. Early in the century the
Graces lived in this town. The family
we're IN comfortable circumstances, and
Jne cf the daughters, a lady Of great
beauty, disappeared and was, SO the story
goes. never afterwards heard Of here. 1t
was rumored she married a very hand
some and rich young foreign nObleman
who had been on a visit in the neighbor-
hood.
"Some years after the disappearance
of the young lady, Mr.. Grace seemed to
come suddenly into a large amount OF
money; bought a few acres of land, built
house and called his place Gracedieu
tFrom the name of the house it was as,
sumed the gentleman the young Miss
Grace had married was a French noble.
man. Later the Graces left. Absolutely
nothing else is known of them in thi.
] neighborhood, and even this much would
not be remembered only for the romantic
disappearance Of Miss Kate Grace, the
rumor she was married, and the sudden
influx Of wealth upon the family.
"Yours faithfully,
"BERNARD COUTCH."
The girl tuE14d sN1S Geo ths window