Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-21
CHAPTER XVI.

REVEALS AN ASTOUNDING FACT.
Dinner was announced and took Mrs.
Mivart into the room on the opposite
side of the big old-fashioned hall, a
long, low-ceiinged apartment the size
of the drawing room, and hung with some
OLD family portraits and miniatures Old
Squire Mivart had been an enthusiastic
collector of antique china, and the specl-
| mons OF old Montelupo and Urbino hang
ing upon the walls were remarkable as
being The finest in any private collection
in the country Many were the visits he
haG made to italy 10 acquire those queer
looking ole mediaev plates with their
crude coloring and rude inartistic draw
ings, and certainly he was an acknoWi-
| edged expert in ceramics.
The biz, red-shaded lamp in the center
of the table shed a soft light upon the
| snowy cloth, and as my hostess took her
seat she sighed slightly. and for the first
! time asked of Ethelwynn.
II haven't seen her for week. I was
| compelled to admit Patients have been
so numerous that I haven't had time to
| go cut to see her. except at hours when
calling at a friends house was out OF the
| question"
do you like the Hennkers?" her moth
| er inquired raising her eyes inquirlngly
| to mine.
| yes I've found them very agreeable
| and pleasant"
| HIM" the old lady calculated dubious
| ". well, I don't. I met Mrs. Henniker
once, and I must say that I did not care
| for her in the least. EthelWEnn is very
| ford Of her, but to my mind SHE'S fast,
| and not at all suitable companion for a
girl Of my daughters disposition. 1t may
| be that I have an old woman's prejudices.
| living as I do in the country always, but
| somehow I can never bring myself to like
| her"
| Mrs. NIivart, like the majority Of elder
| ly widows who have given up the annual
visit to London in the season, was a
| trif1e behind the times. More charming
| an old lady could not be, yet in common
| with all who vegetate in the depths OF
| rural England she was Just a trlf1e mar
| roT-minded. In religion. she found fault
| constantly with the village parson whom
she declared was guilty OF r:tualistic prac-
| tees and on the subject of her daughters
| she bemoancd the latter-day emancipa-
| ton Of women, which allowed them to
| go hither and thither at their own free
will, Like all such mothers, she consid-
| cred wealth q necessary adjunct to hap
! pi1ess. and it had been with her heartlest
approval that Mary had married the I'M
| fortunate Courtenay. notwithstanding the
difference between the ages OF pride ana
bridegroom In every particular the Ole
| lady was typical specimen OF the
| 'suuire's widow, as found in rural Eng
| land to-day.
Scarcely had we seated ourselves and
I had replied to her question when the
| door opened and a slim figure in deep
! black entered and mechanically took her
chair She crossed the room. looking
straight before her, and did not notice
nv presence until she had seated herself
| face to face with me.
| OF q sudden her thin, wan face lit ur
! with smile of recognition. and she
| cried:
.Why. Doctor! Where did you come
from? No one told me YOU were here,
and across the table she stretched out
! her hand in greeting.
iI thought you were repos.ng after
your long walk this morning, dear; 30
| did not disturb YOU" her mother ex-
planned.
But Needless Of the explanation, she
continued putting to me questions az t.
when had left town and the reason 9,
my visit there. To the latter returned