Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-06-30
Chapter xxx1v.-(Contiuued.)


contemplation before the old. familiar
house. With HON many strange mem
cries of pain and pleasure was it asso-
ciated? Here he had been forcibly
dragged from state of utter poverty
and restitution to one of wealth and
luxury. Here he had found mother.
Here he had first met Lois Howard!
But now! how now? Should he cross
that threshold, make his intended rev.
citation. and leave the house? would he
ever be permitted to return to it again?
These We're questions he scarcely
dared to ask himself! He hurried up
to the door and Knocked and he Won
dered. While he waited for ADMISSION.
if any of tn cold servants. who had
known him in his boyhood as Fulke
Grcville. would appear to add to his
embarrassment He need not be I'M
easy. Long years of absence on the
part of the family had effected an en-
tire change in the domestic service Of
Mrs. Grevilles establishment. Not
one of the cid servants remained. a
stranger came to the door.
Welby Dunbar handed his card.
The footman showed hinl into that
weil-remembered little reception par
lor into which. as boy. he had once
been dragged. 1t ha undergone a
thorough renovation. and instead of
goll-colored curtains. sofas and chairs,
i. was furnished With pale blue.
Welby had scarcely n:.ticel these
changes when the doc: opened and a
lady in an elegant nii,i':i:r dress of
some fine Oriental fabric. white and
sprigged with gold, sailed majestically
Into the room. 1t was Mrs. Greville.
looking as beautiful and stately as
fresh and blooming as sh chad looked
so many years ago. T:me seemed to
have but little power over her majes-
tic beauty.
AS soon as her eyes fell upon young
Dunbar, a ray of surprise and JOY
lighted up her face, and she fastened
toward him with extended hands, eX-
claiming:
''Fulke! Oh, my son! What happy
surprise. Why, when did you arrive?
You must have left Paris Immediately
after the receipt of my letter! Did
you get my letter from Calcutta?"
Welby could not answer all her
questions in a breath. as she had
asked them, SO he confined his atten-
ton to tile last, and replied. as he re-
ceived and returned her embrace:
Il missed your letter from Calcutta;
but received the last from New York.
And l left Paris within a few days
after its receipt
you good boy! but when did you
arrive? There has been no steamer
in for three or four days. l know it.
because l have been looking out for
Il letter from you, not hoping to see
You so soon i'll person. said the lady,
in happy tone. as she sank grace
fully into an easy chair, and motioned
Welby to take another one near her.
Welby obeyed, and when he was
seated. replied:
81 arrived by the Phoenix, a week
ago
"a week ago, you unnatural boy;
and you have not called to see ne, or,
rather. come home to me, before to-
day? What have you been doing with
yourself all this while?' inquired the
lady, half-angrily.
Il came over with a distinguished
client. whose business was Of such
eminent Importance that it admitted
of not one hours delay. We did not
even cross to the city, but proceeded
at once from the custom house to tie
station. and took the express train to
Washington, where we arrived late the
same night. | have been kept brlSily
engaged upon the affairs of my client
ever since my arrival in America 1t
was last night l returned to New
York. and this morning l have seized
the first free moment to pay my re-
spects to you" said Welby.
'Fulke! once for all, tell you, do
not like your delving SO hard at the
drudgery OF your profession! There is
no earthly necessity for it! You will
have quite enough to live upon with
out it! Not, observe, that l find fault
with your having profession! Every
man of talent ought to have one! But
will not have you delve at it's drudg-
cry like pettifogger earning his daily
bread! l would like to see you an en-
inent lawyer like William Writ or
Daniel Webster"'
Welby smiled as he answered:
"But, my dearest madame, do you
Imagine that either William Writ or
Daniel Webster reached the eminence
they attained without a good deal of
Wearisome climbing; in other words,
a good deal of delving at the drudgery
of their profession, as you call it? Be
ieve me, madam, there is no royal
road to eminence in any of the learned
pAoAeSSlolis. iOi every HSplrlnL what
ever there is the same rugged and toll
some ascent: And to very few is Civ
en- the power to reach the summit!'
You may be right, Fulkc! But do
not see how dancing attendance upon
Mcnt. like a lacQuey upon his lord.
is going to make you attorney general,
however," said the lady, with a gay
laugh.
Where is Lois? She has not made
her appearance yet! Does she know
that l am here? Or is she not well?'
inquired Welby, anXiously.
'Iois is gone to her jeweller, to sec
about the setting of some fine emer-
aids l collected in the East. She eft
the house Il few moments before you
came, and so, of course. could not
know of your arrival. AS for her be-
ing well, she never had an hours ILL
ness in her life, and was never in finer
health than at present! She will be
delighted to see you, my dear Fulke!
And, by the way, l hope it will not be
long before you and Lois agree to fix
upon your marriage day. 1t is quite
time to consummate your engagement!
Sba iS f,yontv.thraa. Won rn