Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-06-21
CHAPTER XVII,

sea-w washed shores, the tall white
cliffs, the clover meadows and green
lanes. the woods, streams, and valleys
had a nameless charm for her. She
even went so far as to declare that
she loved the gray mists and fogs, the
cold winds and keen frost. The fair
scenery and coloring OF fertile Italy
were nothing to her beside these
beauties Of her own home. Her poti-
cal emotional nature was awakened
and there were times when Lady
Fielden was afraid that the girls
intense feeling would endanger her
health But It did not. The brave,
young heart was reused to It's work.
Gertrude took one day to rest, and
on the next Lord and Lady Flelden
drove her TO Scarsdale. 1t was toucn-
Ing to see the girls face as she roam
ed over the old house. Now and again
faint CLEANS Of memory came over
her, and she would stand quite still,
struggling with her tears. 1t was
then that Harry had some difficulty
TO restrain himself from taking her IN
his arms and comforting her.
Mrs. Pickering, the old housekeeper
wept for JOY.
"You are welcome, indeed Miss
Allanmorel" she cried. Il had never
.yen hoped to see any OF the family
here again.
Gertrudes eyes opened widely at
the sound Of her name; but Lady
Fielden made gesture for silence,
One or two Of the old servants who
had been there at tho time or SIT
Karl's disappearance were equally de-
lighted to see their masters daughter
Gertrude would have taken up her
residence at Scarsdale, for she longed
to be alone; but Lady Fielden would
not hear Of such thing.
A faint rumor had spread through
the county that Sir Karl's daughter
young as she was, had returned to the
old home, because she was not salts
fed with regard to her fathers fate;
that she refused to believe that he
had voluntarily left his home and his
wife, and that she was now staying
under Lady Flelden's roof for the eX-
press purpose of making Inquiries.
Every one pltled her. People had
long believed Sir karls fate sealed
and settled; he had left the country
with Miss de Ferras sixteen years be-
fore, and his name was almost for
gotten. they had lamented his down
fall, they had sympathlzed with his
wife, and sorrowed for her children;
then they had consigned the matter to
oblivion.
Gertrude spent day after day in the
Old home at Scarsdae, questioning
the housokeeper until she knew every
detail connected with Sir Karls dis
appearance far better even than her
mother; she spent hours In the rooms
that had been her fathers trying to
imagine from his surroundings what
he had been like, She made friends
with the old groom James. who never
weared Of repeating all that he knew
of his masters disappearance.
or Lord Rhysworth, who was stlll
unmarried, Gertrude had made com
plcte conquest, He leased her by call
Ing her Donna QuiXote." but he own
ed to himself that, If 1t were pos
slble for any one to succeed In throw
ing light on Sir Karl's fate, 1t would
be his devoted daughter who would
accomplish that end.
One day Gertrude sat down with
her three friends to hold their first
deliheration together She had made
herself mistress Of the case; she knew
every detail She had stepped her
mind thoughts, and senses, in this
story Of the past, In this lnotted mys-
terry, which she had set herself to un-
navel Her face always wore the pre-
occupied expression Of one whose
thoughts are seldom with the present.
If she could, she would have given
her life to have proved her fathers
innocence. People spoke of her with
tears in their eyes, and said she had
n golden heart.
The consultation took pace in Lady
Fiolden's houdoir.
1t seems puzzle to me" said Lord
Rhysworth. "To put our task into
plain English, we want to know the
best plan for finding lost man-one
man lost In this great wide world, 1t
seems difficult mission, but we have
much to encourage us, We can send
to Scotland Yard for one or two Of It's
cleyerost detectives; we have steam
and electricity; we have, above all
other things, the love of a brave and
devoted daughter to help us. Now,
as matter of course the first ques-
ton is, How shall we proceed?"
Send for one or two detectives to
help us; those men always think of
things that never occur to any one
else said Lord Fieldcn.
Il agree with YOU 1t would be
very wise thing to do" said Gertrude,
Then Lady Fielden objected
"A detective was employed at the
time, but he could make nothing out
OF the case"