Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13

aney descended to the terrace together.
Where would You like to go?s he asked. :.
TO the village. may want 10 tele-
graph, you know
They turned into the avenue but Miss
Desboroagh stopped Z
rs there not a shorter cut across the
fields. she asked, foyer there?'
There is" said the consul
They both turned into the footpath which
she said: did you ever ak with that
poor old MANI"
Then you don't know if he really was
crazy as they Think"
mo. But they NAV have thought an
olo mans forgotfulness OF present things
and his habit of coInmuning with the
past was insanity. For all that he was
grim purpose that was certainly rational"
suppose in his independence he
"ouiuh [ nave taken favors from these
pecple-or anybody?'
Il should think not"
Don't you think 1t was lust horrid-
theif leaving him alone i'll the rain, when
ne might nave been only in ftp"
me doctor says he died suddenly of
heart disease" said the consul. TT might
warning
"Ah. that was the ceroner's verdict,
then, said Miss Desborough, quickly.
Ihe coroner did not think 1t necessary
to have any inquest after Lord Beverdale's
statement 1t wouldn't have. been very joy
GUS for the priory party And 1 daresay
ne thought 1t might not be very cheerful
for you.
How very kind" said the young girl
with quick laugh But do you know
that it $ about the only thing human, origi-
nal ana striking that has happened in this
place since I've been herei And SO unex-
pected considering how comfortably every
thing Is ordered here beforehand"
Yet you seemed to like that kind of
thing very well, last evening"" said the con-
SUI mischievously.
THAT was last night" retorted Miss Des-
borough, and you know the line, 'Colors
seen by candle-ight do not look the same
by day; But I'm going to be very consist
ent today for intend to go over to that
poor mans cottage again, and see if l can
De or any service. VIII you go with me-"
Certainly" said the consul, mystifed by
his companions extraordinary conduct yet
apparent GOODNESS of purpose, and hoping
for some further explanation. Was she
only an Inexperienced flirt, who had found
herself on the point of a serious entangle-
ment she had not contemplated? Yet even
then he knew she was clever enough to ex-
tr.cate herself in some other way than this
abrupt and brutal tearing through the
meshes. Or was it possible that she really
had any Intelligence affecting her property?
He reflected that he knew very little of the
Desboroughs, but on the other hand he
knew that Beverdale knew them much bet
ter, and was a prudent man. He had no
right to demand her confidence a re-
pleasure. Perhaps she would still ex-
plain; women seldom could resist the tri-
unlph of telling the secret that puzzled
others.
When they reached the village she halted
before the low roof of Debs' cottage. Il
had better go in first" she said; you can
ccme in later. and in the meantime you
might go to the station for me and find out
the exact time that the express train leaves
for the north"
But" said the astonished consul, 81
thought you were going to London?"
NO" said Miss Desborough. quietly, Il
am going to join some friends at Harro-
gate"
But that train goes much earlier than
the train south, and-and I'm afraid Lord
Beverdale will not have returned so soon"
. How sad!' said Miss Desborough, with
faint smile, but we must bear up under
it, and-IIl write him. I will be here until
you return
She turned away and entered the cot
tages. The granddaughter she had already
seen and her sister, the servant at the
priory,. were both chatting comfortably,
but ceased as she entered, and both rose
with awkward respect There was little to
suggest that the body of their grandfather,
already in rough oak she'll was lying
upon trestles beside them
You have carried out my orders l see,'
said Miss Desborough, laying down her par
esol
Aye miss; but 1t was main hard gettin'
ct dooan soon, and ct eooast-''
Never mind the cost I've given you
money enough, 1 think-and if L haven't l
guess l can give you MORE ~
Aye, miss. Abbut the pa son cad g'f I'm
a funeral for nowt."
But / understood you to say" said Miss
Desborough with an impatient flash of eye,
that your grandfather wished to be buried
with his kindred in the north?'
Aye MISS said the girl, apologeticaIly,
AN nav 'ees savit tn mummy, Abbut ed
bean tickled 'ad zee knowed it Dear dear!
e nver thowt ct nd be gien by stranger
an not 'eS ownt fammaly."
For all that, you needn't tell anybody it
was given by me-" said Miss Desborough.
And you'll be sure to be ready TO take the
train this afternoon-withou dslay." There
was certain perenptoriness in her voice
very unlike Miss Amelyn's, yet apparently
much more effective with the granddaugh-
ter
Aye miss. Then, If tha'H excoose mea,
I'll go straight to cory oop sexton
She hustled away. Now" said Miss Des-
borough, turning to the other girl, II shall
take the same train and will probably see
you on the platform at York to give my
final directions. That's all. Go and see If
the gentleman who came with me has re-
turned from the station
The girl obeyed. Left entirely alone Miss
Desborough glanced around the room and
then went quietly up to the unlidded coffin
The repose OF death had softened the hard
lines of the old mans mouth and brow into
a resemblance she now more than ever I'M
ueiStOOu one ndQ $1,000 tnuS, only few
years before, looking at the same face in a
gorgeously inlaid mahogany casket, smooth
cred amid costly flowers, and surrounded by
friends attired in all the luxurious trap
pings of woe-yet now the same face that
was r1gidly upturned to the bare thatch
and rafters of that crumbling cottage-her-
self it's only companion. She lifted her DELI
cate veil with both hands, and STOPPING
down, kissed the hard, cold forehead with
out a tremor- Then she dropped her veil
again over her dry eyes, readjusted 1t in
the little, cheap, black-framed mirror that
hung against the wall, and opened the door
as the granddaughter returned. The gen.
tleman was just coming from the station
Remember to look out for me at York"
said Miss Desborough, extending her gloved
hand. Goodbye till them The young girl
respectfully touched the ends of Miss Des- |
borough's fingers, dropped a curtsey, and
Miss Desborough rejoined the consul
you have barely time to return to the |
priory and see to your luggage said the
consul, 'tf you must go. But let me hope
that you have changed your mind"
Il have not changed my mind" said Miss |
Desborough, quietly, land my luggage is |
packed" After a pause shs said |
thoughtfully, I've been wondering"
WHAT" said the consul eagerly
I've been wondering. If people brought
up to speak in a certain dialect, where GER