Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-10-19
{tkXk**4*4f|*RKK*********1
t Lady Annals Warning !
( by Magdalen Rock.
t%+%<%%+***++%++tt<<<<<ttA
by Magdalen Rock.

IN hastily, you shall not enter
upon such bargain blindfolded. Let
me see," the speaker consulted
schedule for moment. "Yes, there's
a train to Helmssord at $3.50. If you
are not otherwise engaged, we can
journey by it to Durant 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! I am perfectly
satisfied to give you the money l say
for your property" Kirby Ellis an
swered. He was a short, stoutly-built
man, with keen black eyes and
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-
tions, and fewer still were as success
full.
"But I am not satisfied to take it,
his companion remarked, quietly. TO
tell you the truth, you offer too much.
Durant Hall is dilapidated old struc-
ture, and won't sell 1t to you except
you see it."
The sepaker 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 gambler or a spend
thrift, but he possessed an easy-going,
generous disposition, some artistic
and expensive tastes, and no business
instincts. He had married pretty
young English girl, who had died.
leaving him with a baby two months
old. The child he had placed under
the care of her maternal aunt, and for
many years he had led an aimless,
pleasurable existence, in continental
cities chiefly.
A few months previously he had
taken up his residence in London, for
the purpose of being near 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 hal
and its few hundred acres were heav'
fly mortgaged. He had been not a lit
tie surprised when Kirby Ellis had Of
fered him fancy price for the rem
nant of his property. He had mel
that gentleman once or twice abroad
and had wondered why ne was so anN
ious to cultivate him, once he settled
In London.
y "Well, what do you say?" Durant
demanded, after a short silence.
"Isuppose you must have your way
Ellis replied, rather shortly.
"All right then. I'll wire to the OLE
housekeeper to expect us. and NEE
you at Paddington in half an hour,
Durant said, rising.
Ellis nodded and the two men sep
arated. Three hours later they were a
Durant Hall, and its owner insisted OF
its would-be purchaser seeing the en-
tire property he was so eager to pos
sess. Evening had closed into nigh
when at length they sat down to dinner
in the large wainscoted library. 1t wa!
the most comfortable room in th'
lower part of the mansion, and various
portraits of dead and gone Durant'
hung upon its dark oaken walls. On,
of these seemed to have special at
traction for Ellis, and Guy Duran
laughed as he noticed it.
Everyone remarks that portrait,
he said. "Shall l tell you Lady Anna
story?"
81 shall be glad to listen," the CUES
promised. "She is very beautiful" witt
another glance toward the picture.
"She was, if that represents her will
any degree of correctness. 1t wa
painted long after Lady Anna hat
shared the common fate of humanit,
from an old miniature of her. Yes, sh
was beautiful"
The speaker paused to look at tn
delicately nodded features, at the slen
der neck encircled by the enormou
ruff that was the fashion of the time, a
the fair hair swept high from the leve
brow.
ana tne Story Ellis sara.
swell, it seems that Lady Anna wa
a Catholic, though the Durants wer
then. as now. Protestants."
Guy Durant laughed cynically as b
paused for moment.
"They attended to worldly matteN
If the story is true, more than TO spil
itual, and accepted Henry's Six Article
as readily as his sons Thirty-nine. Bu
Lady Anna was different. Her hu.
band. Piers Durant, was one of Eliz;
beth's courtiers, but this fact did nc
save his wife from being denounced q
a Catholic, nor did his entreaties say
her life when she was convicted of a!
sisting a priest to escape. She was e,
ecuted in the courtyard of the hall, an
died as bravely as her coreligionist
usually did"
SIS that ALP" Ellis asked. The stor
had little interest for him.
"All, except the legend. 1t is sal
that her spirit is often SEEN"
In,