The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-12-04
CHAPTER XIV.

where Sir Laurence would go, anu III
what place we should seek him with the
greatest likelihood of finding him. hoth
wells sanguine view of things alone KEEP,
me from feeling most mlserapie anu
frightened. On our arrival IN Town We
went at once to Mr.. Grace. w nile we
were there telegraphic message was
brought to the solicitor. 1t was from 'he
agent or steward at Estmere: SIR Il.
has returned. He is at the Dover house.
very i'll and queer" -
The next train carried us north. we
had miles to drive from the nearest s'a-
ton to the Dover House. 1t was uas
break before we reached our destlnatoh'
People were astir in the house ana we
were soon received by the agent. lie
knew Lord Rothwell of old, ana rpoh
hearing who l was, expressed ms peas
ure that | had at last come to the ZONE
Of my race.
Mrs Payne made her appearance. III
a few words she told us what had nap
pened Sir Laurence had made MS ap-
pearance at Estmere Court. Although
so many years had elapsed since she hau
seen him, Mrs. Payne recognized MN a'
once He said nothing to explain LIS SUI
den and unexpected visit. lie Walfeu' III
a dreamy kind of way, she SAID, INTO me
house, went straight to his w!fes peo-
room, and finding it with the furniture
all covered up, turned to the mouse
keeper, who had ventured to follow hiin'
and asked if Lady Estmere was at the
Court. Mrs. Payne was almost 100 ifisnt-
ened to reply, but managed to staihiher
out that her ladyship was from home
"Ah, at the Dover House" SAID Sir
Laurence. Il will 90 and join her. zen
them to saddle my horse.
The good woman was at her wits END.
She stood staring at her master :,nu De
gan to wonder if he was an app'iratloh.
She hurried out and consulted her nus
band Both were much frightened ana
anxious to do their best to obey ther
master. 1t happened that farmer VINO
lived at n distance had that day ridden
in to see some friends in the village, ana
being a careful man, who liked to save
n shilling when he could do so, hai by
Payne's permission, stabbed his morse III
one Of the outhouscs about the Courr. ,"
John Payne decided to make free with
his friends horse. He saddied 1t, ana
brought it to the door. Sir Laurence
sprang to the saddle and dashed away at
a headlong pace.
The Payncs started off at once, and
made the agent aware Of what strange
things had happened. He lived IN house
close by, and his first fear was that some
letter or telegram had miscarrled. In
! few minutes his horse was harnesSed, and
in company with Mrs. Payne and one Of
| his own maid servants, he was away To
! the Dover House to do the best he could.
Sir Laurence was there, and frightened
| the old caretakerS out of their lives. lie
| had Looked around and simply ordered he
! house to be got ready, as II Il STAN OF
| servants were at beck and cal. 1t was
! evident that Sir Laurence meant to stay
| the night; a bedroom must be got ready,
! and to get bedroom ready after a house
| had been shut up for more than twenty
! years is no easy task. Several times they
! heard Sir Laurence leave the room, ana
| watched him 90 T. the front door and
| look up the drive; he even went to the
| gates and gazed as if expecting some one
| who was to come BY road. The night
wore on. Sir Laurence made no further
| sign, and ,Irs. Payne crept to the floor
| Of the room, and listening, she fancled
| she heard him talking to himself. She
! opened the door, and saw at glance that
| the poor dinner had not been touched and
| moreover, she saw Sir Laurence, looking
| wild and frenzied, stretching out his arms
| with passionate gestures and begging and
! calling on his wife to return TO HIM.
| This is an extended version of Mrs
! Payne's account of Sir Laurence Est
mere's return to his home. 1t made both
her hearers feel very anxious, and as
! coupled his present condition with his
strange behavior at Monaco, | feared that
| -. bo 10, h, L
hinged my fathers mind. ! wished to
| go to him at once. but Rothwell decided
it would be better to see the doctor first
| He was in the house, having by AIR.
| Blacks request undertaken to stay the
night.
Sir Laurence was very i'll, he said-he
! was feveriSh, but the fever was not Sc
! we're enough to account for his deirious
| and strange state. The doctor was
| grieved to be a prophet of evil, but he
/ feared there was some mental injury
whether its effects would be temporary or
permanent he could not at present say
One thing he was certain of-as yet his
patient was in no danger; we could see
/ him. it might perhaps ease his mind to
find his friends were about him.
The doctor led us to my fathers room
! He lay with his eyes wide open; they
looked dark, ius'fous ana eager. He
turned them on US as we entered the door,
but 1 fancled thelr gaze passed over me
ana rested on LORD hoIiWen' as his old
friend approached MN lie raised himself
in the bed ana s'T@'Ghe" our MS hands.
rank. rank. ne c!.eu' is she mere
las she come Win you
Not vet; she VIII soon come answer
gu h"tn"e!.
A'heT' s"in' 10 you MO" me
les KNOW you YOU are my eldest
son, but you nave oeeh with me all
through the blt'er piach time. Now |
want no son. l want my WIFE, my love.
orae!: why nave 'heE kept her from
me beat's'' tne uasS nave oeeh long
so long Zone.
lie was beginning to show signs of