The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-01-26

of relation Of hers and some weari-
/ some question of property. 1 thought
| that it was of little Importance, and
that she would not take it seriously, but
l find l was mistaken. 1t may even
/ oblige her to catch the London train
tonight. | promised to make her ex-
! cnses to you for the present, and I'm
afraid must add my own to them, as
/ she wishes me to stay and advise her
IN this matter, which requires some
prompt action.
Miss Desborcugh was right; the
magic word property changed the
slight annoyance on the earl s face to q
| sympathetic concern. "Dear me, I
trust it is nothing really serious'' he
! said "Of course you will advise her,
and, by the way, if my solicitor, With
ers, who'll be here tomorrow, can do
anything, you know, call him in. I
hope she'll be able to see me later. 1t
could not be near relation who died,
fancy. She has no brothers or sisters,
1 understand -
ga cousin, I think, an old friend, ;"
| said the consul hastily. He heard Lord
1 Beverdale say few words to his COM
/ panions, saw with tinge Of remorse a
cloud settle upon Lord Algernon s fresh
face as he appealed in a whisper to old
Lady Mesthyn, who leaned forward
from the carriage and said, eff the
dear child thought I could be of any
service, L should only be too glad to
stay with her.
81 knew she would appreciate Lady
Mesthyn's sympathy, I" said the ingen-
ious consul quickly, Shut I really
think the question is moreNa business
one--and"-
"Ah, yes, said the old lady, shak-
ing her head, 'sit's dreadful, of course
but we must all think of that
|, As the carriage drove away the con-
sui hurried back little viciously to his
fair country woman There, " he said,
81 have done ii. If have managed to
convey either the idea that you are a
penniless orphan or that have official
information that you are suspected of
a dynamite conspiracy, don't blame
me. And now,'' he said, cas- I have
Il
must devote myself to this dreadful
business of yours perhaps you'll tell
me what it really u.s.
"Not word more, - said Miss Des-
borough, Except" she added, check
ing her smile with weary gesture
.'except that want to leave this dread
full place at once. Therel Don't ask me
any mere.
There could be no doubt of the girls
sincerity, nor was it the extravaganza
caprice of a petted idol. What had hap
pened? He might have believed in
lovers quarrel, but he knew that she
and Lord Algernon could have had no
private interview that evening. He
must perforce accept her silence, yet he
could not help saying:
"You seemed to like the place SO
much last night. say, you haven't
seen the Priory ghost, have you?''
THE Priory ghost, y she said quick
~. whats that?''
ssThe old monk who passes through
the cloisters with the sacred oil, the
bell and the smell of incense whenever
any one is to die here. By Jove, it
would have been good story to tell in
stead of this cock and bull one about
your propertyl And there was a death
here today. You'd have added the
sibyIs gifts to your other charms"
"Tell me about that old man," she
said, looking past him out of the win
dow. II was at his cottage this morn
ing. But, no. First let us go out. You
can take me for awalk, if you like.
You see, / am all ready, and I'm lust
sitting here
They descended to the terrace to-
gether. where would you like to go?''
he asked.
ssTo the village. I may want to tele-
graph, you know
They turned into the avenue, but
Miss Desborough stopped.
lis there not shorter cut across the
fields, y she asked, Tower THEREOF
"There is, ~ said the consul.
They both turned into the footpath
which led to the farm and stile. After
a pause she said, 'tDid you ever talk
with that poor old man2'
emo"
"Then you don't know if he really
was crazy, as they think2''
Ono. But they may have thought an
old mans forgetfulness of present
things and his habit of communing
with the past was insanity. For all
that, he was plucky, independent old
fellow with a grim purpose that was
certainly RATIONAL
81 suppose in his independence he
wouldn't have taken favors from these
people or anybody?"
should think not"
''Don't you think it was just horrid
their leaving him alone in the rain,
when he might have been only in a
ft?"
"The doctor says he died suddenly of
heart disease" said the consul. cit
might have happened at any moment
and without warning.''
All, that was the coroners verdict,