The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-11-06


l could not set up housekeeping without
a servant, so l inquired if Surbury pos
sessed a registry office, and, having found
one and made my wants known, in the
afternoon became the proprietor of q
stout, middeaged female, who would con-
descend to act for the time as general
servant. She was old and ugly enough
to set any breadth of SANDER at defiance.
The next morning after my arrival |
was seated at table in the window and
commenced my inspection Of the opposite
house. My breakfast things were cleared
away, and by the aid of a good cigar |
settled down patiently to my self-imposed
task. OF course, at present, this was sim
ply to ascertain who the inmates of the
house were, and what they were like.
The first person l saw emerge was a
boy of about fifteen. He came out with
n cricket bat on his shoulder, and went
down the road whistling gayly. Half an
hour afterward a tall, slim girl, quietly
dressed, came out. She carried roll of
music, and, as she was scarcely old
enough to be a teacher, l presumed she
was on her way to receive lesson. After
her departure, the door opened many
times, but only responsive to the sum-
mons Of peripatetic vendors of fruit and
vegetables, or of butchers, bakers and
other tradesmens boys. At last, when l
grew almost tired of watching, woman
came to the window just opposite me, and
stood there for some minutes. | felt GER
tain that | was looking at the mysterious
Mrs. Merton herself.
She was between forty and fifty years
of age, dark-eyed. dark-haired, and of
medium height. Her face was pale and
wan, but l felt sure that at one time she
had possessed Il considerable share of
good looks, although her face now was
not Il pleasant one to look at. She was
quietly and respectfully dressed in plain
black, and from her exterior there was
nothing to determine what station in life
she filed. Any way, l felt sure she was
Mrs Merton, and therefore watched her
attentively.
My domestic knew all about the people
opposite Mrs. Merton lived there, with
her son and daughter. She was one of
those who came to Surbury to reap the
benefits Of those handsome requests to
the grammar school. She was Il widow,
or, said my informant with meaning in
her voice supposed to be one. Any way.
she didn't wear n cap as Il proper widow
should. She was not rich, but pretty we'll
off; ut least the servant there, respecta-
bic young woman and friend of her own,
didn't grumble. Still, there was some
thing about Mrs. Merton. The fact was
no one knew anything about her; that was
the worst that could be said.
After extracting this information. Il
day or two passed without my making any
progress in my researches. | felt | was
doing no good sitting at my window and
watching for the rare occasions when
Mrs Merton went out of doors. | must
find whether any link in her early life
fitted into Lady Estmere's. and 20 asccr
tain this | must know something about
her anteccdeuts. Who she was before
she appeared in Surbury, whether her
present respectability was the growth of
later wears, in word, her early history.
Casting about which way to proceed. |
thought of the houSckeeper at EStmere
Court Mrs. Payne. | felt sure that she
would do all she could to aid me- so re-
solved to go to Derbyshire and persuade
her to return with me to Surbury. If
Mrs. Merton were in any way connected
with the Estmere family. Mrs Payne
would surely recognize her. so. having
no one to consult, l started the next day
for the north.
Mrs. Payne remembered me and made
me welcome Her husband was with her
now, and in spite of the fear she had OK
pressed Of mourning his displeasure, by
allowing us to 20 over the house | found
him ore of those honest. dull, thick-head
ed men, who. to their own great advan-
tage, are completely ruled by their wives
Mrs. Payne asked affectionatcly after
Lady Estmere and that bonny young gen
tleman, Mr. Valentine.
He sent the gown he promised me-"
she said. 1T was beauty. Far too
good to wear l haven't even had it
made up yet, sir
keep it until Sir Laurence and his
wife come back to Estmerc Court said
Lay it by in lavender until I find out all
the vile plot and show Sir Laurence his
frightful mistake"
you are joking. sir said Mrs Payne
Il was never further from joking.
have come two hundred miles TO see you
solely for this reason, and tomorrow
want you to so back with me-
Il would go two hundred or two thou
sand miles, if it would do her ladyshp
any good Oh. what sweet young wom-
an she was. My heart aches as think
of her
Very we'll You he ready to start to-
morrow rs soon as possible. / can't tell
YOU ALL but believe | shall trace out the
whole Of Captain Chesham's yillainy.
Your husband won't mind your leaving
him." | added. remembering there was
such person as Mr.. Payne.
Not he, sir. John, my man. I'm going
journey tomorrow with this gentleman.
| shall be back-when shall ! be back,
sir!'
in two days, at the outside three.
"All right, my lass said John. IF
you says you be right in going, why, right
you be-
The next morning Mrs. Payne and |
started on our journey. John borrow ed
n light cart. and drove lis to the nearest
railway station We reached Surbury late
ut night | could not have timed it bet
ter | was able To take Mrs. Payne to
my house without observation by the
neighhors We brcakfaSted together the
next morning. and then adjourned To my
study. My guest had not yet asked me
what | required of her. She was n good
soul. quite content to do what she was
asked to DO without seeking for an object.
placed her in my char in front of the
/ window.
Have you cyesight, Mrs. PayneE l
asked.
sharp as needles. sir: ne'er member
1 of my family ever wore glasses until after
/ sixty"
/ We'll, you're long way off sixty.
/ want you to look at the opposite house,
/ and when Won see lady come out OF
! look out of the window. try if you can re-
/ call her face. Now look at the other
| house. All, there she is.
/ Mrs. Merton. according to her custom
! was standing at her window. watering hel
geraniums. Mrs. Payne looked long and
earnestly at her. She rose from her seat
/ and approached the window. evidently
/ wishing to look over the blind. | pulled
/ her back.
Don't show yourself. 60 as close T.
the window as you like. but keep below
/ the blind.
i