The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-07
THE DESBOaOUGH CONNECTIONS
BY BRET r
Copyright 1898. by Brss Hartsj
PART I.

-Iordl nor said the lady vivaciously. why,
~oodness mel / reckon old Desborough could
A. any time before he died have bought up and
houeht out the whole lot OF his relatives on this
Slde of the big pond-no matter what they we're
worth. No. it's only q matter OF curiosity and
iust sociableness."
The American Consul at st. KentiRern felt
much relieved. He had feared 1t was only the old
0tory OF delusive quests for imaginary estates
and impossible inheritances which he had con-
Sronted so often In nervous wan-eyed enthu-
ainsts and obstreperous claimants from his own
land. Certainly there was no suggestion OF
This in the richly dressed and bediamonded
matron before him. nor in her pretty daughter.
charming in o Paris frock. alive with the COM
ociousness Of beauty and admiration. and yeti
little ennuy6 from gratined indulgence. He
Knew the mother to be the wealthy widow of
New York millionaire. that she was travelling
for pleasure in Europe. and a chance meeting
with her at dinner few nights before had led
20 this half-capricious. half confidential APP
pointment at the consulate.
NO" continued Mrs. DesborouRh. Mr..
Desborough came to America when q small
boy. with an uncle who died some years ago.
Mr.. Deshorough never seemed to banker much
after his English relatives as long as l knew
him, but now that l and Sadie are over here
why we guessed we might look 'em up and sort
Of sample EN-. Desborough's rather a good
name" added the lady. with a complacency
chat. however. had a suggestion Of query in it.
Yes" said the Consul, from the French. 1
fancy"
Mr.. Desborough was English-very Eng
hsh.' corrected the lady.
II mean it may be an old Norman NAME"
said the Consul.
"Norman's good enough for me-" said the
daughter. rejecting. Wen Just settle it as
Norman. 1 never thought about that Des."
"Only you may find it called DebborouGh'
here. and spelled So" said the Consul. smiling.
Miss DesborouGh lifted her pretty shoulders
and made a charming grimace. Then we
wont acknowledge EN-, No 'Debborough' for
me-"
You might put an advertisement in the
papers, like the next Of kin notice. intimat-
ing. In the regular way, that they would hear
OF something to their advantage as they GER
tainly would" continued the Consul with a
bow. TT would be such a refreshing change
10 the kind OF thing I am accustomed to. don't
you know!-this idea OF one OF my country
women coming over Just to benefit English
r~elatiyesi BY Jove. 1 wouldn't mind under
taking the whole thing for you-it's such a
novelty" He was quite carried ava with the
idea.
But the two ladies were far from participating
IN this Joyous outlook. NO" said Mrs. Des-
borough promptly. that wouldn't do. You
pee." she went on with superb frankness. that
would be Just giving ourselves away and say
ing who we were before we found out what
they were like. Mr.. Desborough was all right
IN his way. but we don't know anything about
his folks! We amt here on a mission to i'm
prove the Desboroughs. nor to gather in any
'losttribes."
1t was evident that IN spite Of the humor Of the
I-
characteristic national practicalness about
them. and the Consul. with a sigh. at last gave the
address OF one or two responsible experts in
genealogical, inquiry. as he had often done be-
to ladies as thoroughly capable Of managing
their own affairs as his fair countrywomen yet
be fssT was M not t Tifhon nts some curiOsity to bnoM, Tho
That he should ever hear ~ '::,r!n again he
doubted; BE knew that, alter the first loneli-
At asss L @a y @0f ho tel u th saei we're srss aot Iifefi s'th to con
sort with their own country, people. who indeed
dulge In inyidious criticism OF one another
when admitted to that society in which they
them on their way back to London with the be-
Tier that their acquaintance Terminated with
'n IN f }Fe y 1eelas folIow 9ne he he was was m snsa6ins hi.
autumn vacation at a country house. It was a
historic house 2. and had always struck him as
singular example OF the vitcissitudfess o.. English
Wanorial estates and the mutations OF its lords.
foreign, service unexpectedly. to succeed to
an u%ncle,,s title and estate. That estate, how
s sTcTs had oSIv come 3Pron into b the y possession , 9t tie
Daughter Of an older family. whose portraits
stiII Looked Look d. do oTin, from the walls upon the
hesses. eflgies. memorials. and "reminiscences
q still older families who had. occupied It
chapel, was still felt the dead hand Of its
sEieted religious founders, which could not be
It was this strange individuality that affected
Shos who saw Il, For however changed were
heritors, or inhabitors, scrooby Priory never
changed or altered its own character, However
looked, from its walls. So iii met that thew he
plight have flown at each others throats in the
I Trest fhI IN , Enen I'll the family we're away. the
The beTigEed, belaced and beiurbeiowed Of
i Hqs aa{s sG gdSt4 p9Im E the the ds"1 d.headed;, steel;
sn0tner day. and even the black coated bare
SSr1RRe h. and l 66are;shouldered assemblage Of TO-
Iriory. Modern houses might show the
tastes and prepossessions Of their jewellers,
q %'f the hd @nye or fhn aVs rccs s1%s tEB ssS sasme tTtcd
HEcoTr1nnnbperS or lnXurlouspess Of the, owner. but
70 oGdgi st,Tr bbri1ry never! 10 one had dared even
o. time and siege were left untouched. It held
US calm. 1diferentsway overa all who passed its
nEGlleVe mat he-foTeiGn visitor-was no more
A'!ST 70 me house than its present owner.
u NtTy fIuTHlnR rOmDaIT1Ot
q yours Tomorrow" said Lord Beverdaie as
tney drove from the station together. You
mmft teli ne what to show her"
should think any cOuntrywoman NJ mine
MWouin ne quite satisfied with the Priory.' said
the IonSul. %glancing ~thoughtfully toward the
pile dimly seen through the park.
Tin i shopldnt IKE her TO be bored here" con
unued Beverdale, 'Algy met her at Rome,
wneEe she was occupying "a palace with her
Uotner-they re very rich, YOU know. He found
hlle was staying, with Lady Minever Mt He'd
nam Inwers. and went over and invited her
VIII a lttle party. She's a Miss Dcsborough i"
me consul gave a slight start and was aware
taat Bevrrdale, WINS, looking at him. Per
hahS you know hcrH" said Beverdale.
JuSt enough to agree with YOU that she Is
CHARMING said the Consul. "I dined with
'nsmmf ana saw hem at the consulate"
NJ oh' yes: always forget YOU are n Consul
Inrn. OF course. You know all about them. ]
ttnnpose they're very rich, and in society over
quite animated ~ Wv"
II was, on the Consul's lips 10 say that the late
mr. Desborough was an Englishman, and even
20 sneak playfully of their proposed quest. bnt
sudden instinct withheld him. After all. per.
IHIS II WAS only n pnnrina ar fInn thnu nod