Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-10-30

If not so DrlSnt as IL mas Deen- n ellie
whisked her bunch of curls over her
shoulder and shipped off a thick brown
ringlet. Teddie twisted them together
in his pocketbook and said, with
feeble attempt at joke: They'll go
with me everywhere and bring me back
to Moyliscallan. Don't let me find
you've been, either of you, flirting with
Strangeways while I'm away or putting
him in my place"
Then he kissed the two ladies as he
had always done on great occasions, at
New Year or on birthdays, ever since
he was three years old, shook hands
with the rector twice over, and hurried
away off to Thomastown, and thence
to India. And, oh dear! it was dull at
Moyliscallan without him!
Five years later Capt. Edward Blake
was coming home on sick leave. 1t had
been a "near squeak" as he said him
self. That wound on the head, at the
Burroo Pass affair, had set all Europe
talking about him, but had nearly done
for him all the same. Then came weeks
of fever and the weary journey to Bonn
bay; the relapse on the road. which,
but for Mrs Diamonds nursing, must
have finished him; the almost miracu-
lousy accomplished move to ship
board, which the doctor allowed was an
experiment of kill or cure.
And now he was steaming home as
fast the p. & o. line could do it, and
every day some fresh sense of power
in mind or body was reborn in him;
one day he could arrange his own pill
lows, the next he could read a few
lines of the Times. A little later he
asked Mrs. Diamond if she could find
him paper and pencil, as he wanted to
write i note 'home." Life was worth
living again with Moyliscallon drawing
nearer day by day Mrs. Diamond was
little widow lady, who, since her hus-
bands death. had been keeping house
for a brother in the civil service. The
Judge" as she called him, had fallen
a victim to the charms of an 1S-year-old
school girl, fresh from England, and
Mrs. Diamonds services were required
no longer. Coming down country she
had stumbled upon Teddie Blake, fever
stricken and virtually alone. and it was
undoubtedly to her care that he owed
his recovery from the relapse, which
had been worse than the original attack.
She had deferred her own plans to the
convenience of the patient, had super
intended his transfer to the steamship
from the Bombay hotel which she had
hardly dared to hope he would leave
alive, and was a witness of his con-
valescence on board ship, as day by day
his strength and spirits returned. So
it was not wonderful that Teddie turned
TO her for paper and pencil on the very
first occasion that he felt he could
scrawl a line, and imperiously demand
ed that he be allowed to write Ito his
people"
Are you sure you can do it?'' Mrs.
Diamond asked, producing the writing
board, but not giving it to him uncon
ditionally.
Quite sure-that is, not a bit of it
but I'll try
Il thought you said you had nobody
belonging to your
mo more 1 have-no real relations
but an adopted family that is the dear
est in the world-not a mere accident
of birth, like other peoples families.
1 must write them just a few words
to say that I'm alive and coming home.
and it'll be ready when an opportunity
comes for posting it, though it can't
reach Moyliscallan more than an hour
or two before 1 do myself
'Moyliscallan," repeated Mrs. Dia-
mond; what do you know of Moylis-
callan? 1 only heard of the place for
the first time month ago, and now it
turns up again!"
Its my home" Blake said, painfully
scrawling the date at the top of his
sheet of paper. The castle belongs to
me, only I've never been able to live
in it yet. My people live at the rectory
it is to Mr.. O'Malley, the rector, that
I'm writing. And what did you hear
about Moyliscallan, the sweetest place
on all the earth?'
Why" said Mrs. Diamond, excited
ly. this is the oldest thing! My cousin,
George Strangways, rented the castle
from some one some years ago-from
you, it appears-and now he is engaged.
married probably by this time, to one
of the rector's girls, Ellen OMalley, a
daughter, 1 suppose. of this very old
gentleman you're writing to! L had
the letter just before 1 met you at
Rahmednugger, and had scarcely given
ii thought since"
One of the rector's girls!
Teddy Blake had seen death glaring
at him from n wall of black Afghan
faces: he had looked fever in the ewes