The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-10-19
Lady Annals Warning
BY Magdalen Rock.

! BY Magdalen Rock.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
mo, NO, Ellis" Guy Durant said,
IN hastily, you shall not enter
upon such q bargain blindfolded. Let
me see," the speaker consulted a
schedule for a moment. Eyes, there's
. train to Helmsford at $3.50. If you
are not otherwise engaged, we can
journey by it to 5Durant Hall. You
can view the park and the few acres
surrounding it, examine the house,
dine ard sleep there. Then, if your
are foolish enough, tempt me with
your Offer"
Nonsense, Durant! am perfectly
satisfied to give you the money I say
for your property" Kirby Ellis an
swered. He was q short, stoutly-built
man, with keen blac-s eyes and q
square, determined jaw. Possibly
there was Hebrew blood in his veins.
At any rate, few men on the stock ex-
change were bolder in their specula-
lions, and fewer still were as success
full.
But I am not satisfied to take it,"
his companion remarked. quietly. ITO
tell you the truth, you offer too much.
Durant Hall is dilapidated old struc-
ture, and won't sell it to you except
you see it."
The SPEAKER leaned back in his
chair as he spoke. For two or three
generations the Durants had been 60
ing steadily to the bad, and Guy
Durant had been but little wiser than
his immediate predecessors. Not that
he was either q gambler or spend
thrift, but he possessed an easy-going,
generous disposition, some artistic
and expensive tastes, and no business
instincts. He had married q pretty
young English girl, who had died,
leaving him with baby two months
old. The child he had placed under
the care of her maternal aunt, and fol
many years he had led IN aimless
pleasurable existence, in continental
cities chiefly.
A few months previously he had
taken up his residence in London, fol
the purpose of being near q physi-
clan in whom he had much depend
ence. He had been aware for some
time that his heart was affected, and
DR.. Chalmers had told him that his
length of days could not be long, and
for the first time he had begun to
consider his child. No provision had
been made for. her, and Durant hall
and it's few hundred acres were heav-
lily mortgaged.' He had been not lit.
tie surprised when Kirby Ellis had Of
fered him q fancy price for the rem
nant of his property. He had met
that gentleman once OF twice abroad
and had wondered why ne was so anx-
ious to cultivate him, once he settled
in London.
"Well, what do you say?" Durant
demanded, after a short silence.
"1suppose You must have your way"
Ellis replied, rather shortly. -.
"All right then. III wire to the old
housekeeper to expect us, and meet
you at Paddington in half an hour,
Durant said rising. g.. 4>
Ellis nodded and the two men sep
arated. Three hours later they were at
Durant Hall, and its owner insisted on
its wouldkbe purchaser seeing the en-
tire property he was 30 eager to pos
sess. Evening had closed into night
when at length they sat down to dinner
in the large wainscoted library. 1t was
the most comfortable room in the
lower part of the mansion, and various
portraits Of dead. and gone Durants
hung upon its dark oaken walls. One
of these seemed to have = special at
traction for Ellis, and Guy Durant
laughed as he noticed it. z.....
Everyone remarks that portrait, y
he said. ."Shall I tell you Lady Annals
story?" 49,.
II shall be glad to listen" the guest
promised. "She is very beautiful" with
another glance toward the picture.
"She was, if that represents her with
any degree Of correctness. It was
painted long after Lady Anna had
shared the common fate of humanity
from IN old miniature of her. Yes, abe
was beautiful" = e .'--. ts.--ys.. IT,,
The speaker paused to look at the
delicately nodded features, at the slen.
der neck encircled by the enormou,
ruff that was the fashion of the time, al
the fair hair swept high from the leveI
brow. 1a-ra a& 80 = s - 1z=4.sa ti-z
"And the story 2" Ellis said. &as .aess
"Wen, it seems that Lady Anna va,
a Catholic, though the Durants were
then, as now. Protestants."
Guy Durant laughed cynically d h.
4 paused for a moment. ..
'.They attended to worldly matters
If the story is true. more than to spir
itual, and accepted Henry's Six Article.
as readily as his sons Thirty nine. But
Lady Anna was different. Her hus
band, Piers Dnrant, was one Of Eliza
beth's courtiers. but this fact did moi
save his wife from being denounced q
q Catholic. nor did his entreaties saw,
! her lie when she was convicted Of as
6:x.iassa priest 80 escape. She was ex