The Portland daily press., 1897-12-27
AL RIGHTS nEsERvEp.l

bildll DC = SAnA aSO VIII bOl1 ilAO oiiJ
thing at all that is connected with my
past" he answered.
She was silent for little while, and
sat watching MIR. and Mrs. Hartree with
somewhat embarrassed expression. The
worthy Australian, perciving this, half
rose, exclaiming to his wife.
Perhaps the young people would like
US to leave them, my dear"
Please don't go on my account. /
will first of all ask Mr.. Rawdon few
questions, which will serve to test his
memory
The young fellow seated himself by her
side in IL posture of the most expectant
anxiety.
Tell me, Cecil,'' said she, ''do you
remember Winchcombe?''
He regarded her earnestly, whilst he
struggled with the blindness of his mind,
and then answered,
1T is a name which 1 know well
enough, but beyond the familiarity of
the mere sound" he shook his head.
"It is the name of the little town in
Gloucestershire where my father had a
living, and where We first met" said
she.
Still he shook his head.
II see that your memory is indeed a
hopeless blank she exclaimed, recover
ing her composure whilst she talked.
Now listen and will tell you all that
| know about yourself, and your people.
Nearly three years ago my father, the
Rev. John Lambert, gave up mis- living
in Yorkshire to go and take up better
appointment that had been offered him
in Gloucestershire. The name of the
town, as have told you, was Winch :
combs. We arrived at the place as total
strangers, but my father, from his posi-
tion as vicar, naturally soon made plenty
of friends in the parish. When we had
been about nine months in Winchcombe,
my mother and were one day invited to
a garden party given by some people of
the name of Tanner She paused to
observe whether Rawdon made any sign
OF recollection on hearing the name, and
seeing that he did not continued:
1T was there, Cecil that first met
you. How odd it seems to have to tell you
this, as though were talking to per
feot stranger. You were introduced to
me, remember, by an old friend of my
mothers, gentleman named Garvin.
You told me that you had but shortly
come to Winchcombe to live; your father,
who was retired Army officer, having
recently died, and left you with means
enough to purchase partnership in a
large factory. of which forget the char
acter, in that part of the country. When
we separated that afternoon you asked
whether you might come and call upon
we'll, the long and short of it was, Mrs.
Hartree,'' said she, turning toward that
lady, as though her feminine instincts
prompted her to address what she was
about to say to one of her own sex,
Cecil and became engaged to one
another.
The girl paused again. Mr.. Hartree,
the young fellow, ''What this young
lady has SO far told US is of the utmost
consequence. Already your identity is
fully established, and now you at all
events know who you are. Your name is
(eoil Rawdon; your father was an Off
Ger in the Army and you are partner
in some large business. You are not
married. which know is a consideration
that has been weighing much upon your
mind, although He smiled pleasantly
at Miss Lambert. perhaps you will be
SO kind as to continue your interesting
story" said he. tYou will easily under
stand that it is no idle curiosity on my
part which prompts me to desire that
you will tell us as much as you can about
Mr.. Rawdon.'
"Oh, am sure of that" she answered
"Well, when Cecil and had been en-
gagged about three months my father be-
gan to develop symptoms of what the
doctors unanimously agreed was con-
sumption. A terrible cough attacked
him, his appetite failed, and he grew
very weak. He then went up to London
to consult q celebrated doctor, and get the
best advice which was to be obtained.
When he returned he told us the special
ist had informed him that, unless he
quilted England without loss of time, a
Ralloping decline would carry him off
in less than six months. Upon this he
went actively to work to make his ar
rangements, resigned his living, sold
Ia Il.
North Country, and within three weeks
we were on our way to Australia.
cat the time that became engaged to
Cecil it was an understood thing that he
would not be In position to marry for
at least year to come. His partner was
a man Indifferent to the welfare of the
business, and it needed the closest atten-
tion and care to carry 1t through a most
critical period of its existence 1t was
therefore strettled that I should go
abroad with my parents, and that when
Cecil was able to do SO he should come
out to bring me home and marry me. In
May last, when we had been in this
country about eight months, he wrote
to me that he was sailing for Sydney
in a fortnight's time by ship called
the Lady Codiya, and that by the time I
received his letter he himself ought not
to be very far distant. This letter I got
in August. Time passed, and no news
of the Lady Godiva reached me. | called
several times at the office of the agents,
and at last 1t came to their admitting
their grave apprehensions for the vessel S
safety. This morning, whilst reading the
'Sydney Morning Herald" came across
an account of the discovery of boat
in mid ocean,
What is the matter with Mr.. Raw
donP' cried Mrs Hartree suddenly,
startling them by the abruptness of her
interruption. Her husband and the girl
turned simultaneously to view him. His
face seemed to be undergoing most
extraordinary change, the whole counte-
nance being a-work as with some
spasmgodic affection, at them. He rose
from his chair, clappsd his hands to
his brow, cried in a voice shrill as a wo-
mans shrek, ''It has all come to me p'
and then fell heavily forward before Mr..
Hartree could spring to save him.
(To be continued
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