Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1901-01-17
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: Lady Annals Warning I
: By Magdalen Rock. !
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By Magdalen Rock.
mo, NO, Ellis" Guy Durant said,

schedule for a moment. Eyes, there's
q train TO Helmsford at 1880. II you
are not otherwise engaged, we can
journey by It 10 Durant Hall. You
can view the park and the few acres
surrounding It, examine the house,
dine and sleep there. Then. II your
are foolish enough. tempt me with
your offer"
Nonsense, Durnnti ] am perfectly
satisfied to give you the money I say
for your property" Kirby Ellis an
swered. He was a short, stoutly-built
man, with keen blacS eyes and a
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 / am not satisfied TO take II"
his companion remarked, quietly. ITO
tell you the truth, you offer too much.
Durant Hall is a dilapidated old struo-
ture, and won't sell II 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 gambler or n spend
thrift, but he possessed an easy y-golng,
generous disposition. some artistic
and expensive tastes, md no business
instincts. He had married 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 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-
cian In whom he had much depend
ence. lie had been aware for some
time that his heart was affected, and
DIR. Chalmers had told him thnt his
length OF days could not be long, and
for the frat time he had begun to
consider his child. No provision had
been made for her, and Durant hall
lily mortgaged He had been not lit
tie surprised when Kirby Ellis had Of
fered him fancy price for the rem
nant OF his property, He had met
that gentleman once or twice abroad,
and had wondered why ne was so anx-
ious to cultivate him, once he settled
In London.
"Well, what do you sny?" Durnnt
demanded, after a short silence.
"Isuppose youmurt have your way"
Ellis replied. rather shortly.
"All right then. I'll wire to the old
housekeeper to expect us, and meet
you at Paddlngton In half an hour"
Durant said, rising.
Ellis nodded and the two men sep
arated. Three hours later they were at
Durant Hall. and its owner Insisted on
its would-be purchaser seeing the en-
tire property he was 40 eager TO pos
seEs. Evening had closed into night
when at length they sat down TO dinner
In the large walnsooted library. twas
the most comfortable room In the
lower part OF the mansion, and various
portraits OF dead and gone Dunantz
hung upon its dark oaken walls. One
OF these seemed 10 have special at
traction for Ellis, and Guy Durant
laughed as he noticed H.
Everyone remarks that portrait"
ne said. shall tell you Lady Anna's
storyP"
II shall be glad 20 listen" the guest
promised. "She Is very beautiful, with
another glance toward the picture.
"She was, II that represents her with
any degree OF correctness. II was
painted long after Lady Anna had
shared the common fate OF humanity
from an old miniature OF hor. Yes, she
was beautiful"
The speaker paused 10 look a, the
delicately nodded features. at the slcu.
der neck encircled by the enormous
ruff that was the fashion OF the time. at
the fair hair swept high from the love,
brow.
"And the story3" Eli. said.
"well. 1t seems that Lady Anna was
a Catholic. though the Durauts we're
then, as now, Protestants"
Guy Durant laughed cynically ms he
paused for a moment.
rrhey attended 10 worldly matter,
~ the story 1, true morc thnn IN ,nir.
ltuAl. and,aeeepted Henry, si, Article.
a, readily a. nj, .on,s rb,rtv.nine mn
I,aoy Anna was aigerent uer hn,.
hand pi.r, Dnrant w.. an. - r,,.a.
b4th's eonr,Ier. hnt this t,o, d!1 ~,
save nj, wife from heinz dern,ncsd =.
Cntbolie nor dId nj, crtrsnti.,,,yc
SITTING s Pss.' ::ssPs Ss'Is''S s; rs' q e; &