The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-04
BY SPECIAL WIRE 3 1
By Nm. ALEXANDER.
copyright, 1897, by the Author.J

1 A44A~&AAN
Copyright, 1897. by the AuthorI
The sharp tingle Of the telegraph bell
warned the station master at Braclnel
| Park that the $50 trail had loft its last
halt.ug place, snd no hastened across
tho liue, followed by his staff of tw,
porters, TO the arrival platform, which
was opposite the little ivy grown sta.
ton.
Bracknell Park is one of those "resi
dential'' properties which have dcvel,
oped of late years in the neighborhood
of London, where what was once state
ly, well tilubered domain, owned in its
entirety by some merchant prince OF
well born squire, is now chopped up in
to plots, large and small, and strewn
with mansions, villas and cottages. suit
ed to various incomes Bracknell is "a
vorod both by the undulations of its
well timLered gronhd and station, all
to itself, some 45 minutes from Water.
loo. Adjoining 1t is village Of the
same name, which, since the building
of tho aforesaid villas and mansions,
has considerably enlarged its borders
and increased it's Importance by the de-
velopment of its trade and the establish
nent of post aud telegraph Office.
A few minutes later and the train
came in, with u scream from the whis-
tlo and loud grinding Of the braL cs.
several passengers alighted, ali men.
probably city mel, most of whom car.
ried offerings for the domestic shrine
i. e, tho kitchen-small flat baskets
cunningly secured with awooden skew
e., and humpy brown paper bags, sug.
gestive of the flshmonger and the fruit
erer. Among them were two of diiler-
ent stamp-one, tall, spare soldierly
looking man Of perhaps 80 or more,
either swarthy by nature or mucI, sun
burned, with nearly black hair and
mustache. He had distinguished air,
but his face was plain, and at the mo-
ment heappoarod far from attractive. 1t
wore a harsh, te,co expression, while
his large, dark eyes looked eager and
strained
As he paused to let the train clear
away he was joined by the other. mid
die aged man who had alighted from q
third class carriage, an exceedingly tall,
loosely built individual, vino walk d III
a weak, shambling fashion.
His face was rugged and gaunt, Liant
ed by pair Of dreamy eyes and SUI
mounted by shocls of wild red hair. In
spite of these p2culiarities he looked
emineNtly respectable. Tie touched his
hat as be joined The gentleman first do
scribcd and WIS greeted by quick
cha! How goes it, MacDougal?'
"Well, 1 thank you Captain Carew.
You've been a stranger in these parts
Lately"
AYE. haven hon1 down for some
time" returned Caio,g rs they crossed
to the other side, giving brief good
morrow to the stlt,on master as they
passed him.
II hope Mr.. Hastngs is getting bet
ter, SIR" began MacDougal as they
walked up the road which led through
tho park.
"I'm afraid not. hear he is in a bad
way"
$50 I believe, sir Her ladyship won't
up to see him one day last week, hut
she wasn't let to have speech of hiuu,
and he seemed SO bright and well when
he was down here last spring" !
"Well, he is deuoed queer now," re-
turned Carew. "t.nd how is it, Mao
Dougal, That you have rope enough to
wander 50 lar from the postoffice2'
"Ch, had business with the post
master at Nutfeld He is over mo, you
know. My son is quite abba to work the
telegraph now when l AM away. am
training him, you SEQ. IT. the best
thing can do for my poor, moGherless
boy"
"And your daughter? You have
daughter?'
"Ah, thanks to Lady Hastings and
Miss Ruth, I still have daughter,
replied MacDougal with solemnity.
"Their care aud kindness kept her in
life Lady Hastings has paid the debt
she thinks was due to my father for
saving the general at Mooltaw in full. -
"Glad to hear it, !" said Carew absent
ly. They walked on few PAGES, and
then MacDougal said: "1'll wish you
good evening, Captain Carew. There's
short cut to my place across tho fields
here"
"Ah, good day to you returned
Carew, with friendly nod, and they
parted.
Carew swung on at sharp pace along
the road, which led up gentle incline,
between detached houses moro or less
ornamental with gardens and spread
ing trees, till he reached an open space
at the top, where, facing fine avenue
Of huge old Gins, arching over like
cathedral aisle, stood pretty, old
house, to which ADDITIONS had been ju-
diciously made. II was set in delightful
surroundings, vclvcjliko lawns, big for. t
est trees, abundant evergreens and fra.
grant flower beds and looked out from L
the eminence on which 1t stood over t
wide stretch of wooded Landscape, now n
bathed in the rich Light Of delicious
September day. i
care the ladies at homer" asked Ca
rev when the door was opened by I
grave, gr, y haired man ont Of li"ery. j
my lady has not come in yet, but b
Miss Hastings is at home, sir
"Awfu.lS ullucky i'll one way!' NUT h
tered Clew as he followed the butler L
to the room genera y rscd ii. tho morn.
ing by Lady HASTINGS and her daughter, d
,Eol