Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-12-13
ati am WIn
gictmre Gallery
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
s'ren me the story of the picture, Mrs.
Wynford, please"
S'Well. you see. Miss Thurlow was a
great belle and had SO many rich and
acted men after her, and Master Walter
vas only a third son, with two healthy
brothers, so it is scarce to be wondered
at that her father refused with scorn
when the poor young curate Of st. An
aelm's made bold to ask him for the hand
Of his only daughter in marriage. In
vain Miss Marion wept and pleaded and
said that she could never love another.
The old man was memorable, swore loud
y and sent Miss Marion to her room,
yhile as to Master Walter he drove him
from the house, telling him never to dare
enter il again and then went back to his
ripe and Spectator in cool disregard Of
me two young hearts he had so well nigh
broken.
"My mother was a young woman at
that time. and she lived to reach her
more than three score years and ten. but
she often said that she could never forget
the face of the curate as he walked into
the library on the evening after he had
been at the Hall. All the glad light SEEM
ed to have faded from his usually bright
blue eyes, and he moved and spoke as one
IN a dream.
about eight months after that there
was a wedding in Hanover square. and
the bride was the beautiful daughter Of
Bir Spencer Thurlow of the Hall. But, in
spite Of the grandeur of the nuptials-
bright flowers, sweet music, etc., to say
nothing of the magnificent rent roll Of the
bridegroom-it was well known that her
heart was not in it. "A match forced by
her father to save her from forming an
alliance with some poor country curate
with no expectations was whispered by
the great people that thronged to the
marriage feast. What lucky escape!
"And Master Walter-you ask how he
bore it?
''Ah. as few men would or could. He
buried the great sorrow Of his life deep,
deep down, and spent his days in going
about doing good. Well. the years Jew
BY: from time to time whispers were
heard that Miss Thurlow had not done
quite so well after all. and that Mr..
Leonard. her husband. treated his young
wife shamefully. and there was rumor
that he had lost largely in speculation.
and soon after report that he had died,
saving absolutely nothing. So much for
. forced marriage!
''Sir Spencer started to find his daugh-
ter and fetch her home as soon as he
heard of the death Of his son-in-law. But
travelling was slow in those days. and
when he reached the humble little cot
tage where she had spent the last months
81 her married life he found the heavy
wooden shutters fast barred and look
ef utter desolation about the whole place.
10 all his queries the only answer was
that after the gentleman died the lady
md her maid had gone off suddenly. but
where nobody seemed to know. The old
man employed detectives. spent money,
ETC.. but all to no avail and at length.
disheartened. he returned home, and be-
fore another year was over the grass was
growing upon his grave and Thurow
Hall went into the hands Of a distant
cousin.
''Ahout this time I think 1t was that
Master Guy, who was at that time the
squire. went for cruise in his yacht on
the Mediterranean, accompanied by his
next brother, Wilfred: that is more than
30 years ago. but never to this day has
word been heard of crew or vessel. So
after months Of anxious waiting the Gu
rate of St. Anselm's took his place as
squire Of Keithleigh Abbey.
Zone winter evening. after he had been
squire for some time, he was sitting in
his study. trying to fix his mind on a SER
mon for the coming Sunday. when a
mans voice. sharp and discordant. broke
IN upon the stiffness.
"'There. you young cub. take that! A
bird that can sing and won't must be
made to sing! Pipe up and give 'em Eye
Banks and Braesv' Walter Keith. in
spite of all his gentleness. was no cow
!. ard. When he heard a cry. he whistled
% Rex, the great bloodhound, and ran
quickly to the door. The ground was COW
cred with snow, and in the moonlight he
saw very plainly two figures, the one
rough looking man. the other thinly
clad boy Of some or 10 years. carrying
q violin. At Rex's deep growls the man
took to his heels and fed. but the child,
too exhausted to move. sank down a help
hess mass on the snow. The squire lifted
him up and carried him tendery into the
warm. cheerful study. 1t was many
long day since child had been in the old
Abbey. and it caused great excitement.
even though this one was only little un.
known strolling violin player. Servants
hurried here and there with hot blankets.
nulled wine, etc. Truly there was some
thing almost pathetic in the small. pale
face. with its black eyelashes and curly.
dark hair Those who stood by never
forgot how the tears came into the
squire's eyes when he saw the deep welts
that cruelty and hard usage had made on
Abe tender flesh Of the boy. One little
arm was marked with. the letter c.
which made all wonder. and old Thomas.
the butler. whispered 10 Margaret. the
cook Mark my words there's some mys-
terry abort the lad He doesn't look bit
like an Italian fiddler.
His name was Carlo. He did not
know how old he was. Marco had never
nd him that
THE master. the man for whom he
ed the violin and by whom he was
n in return. not his father?
no; he could not remember bis ia