Evening journal., 1903-03-10
LOVE LAUGHS AT PEDIGREES
BY BEATRICE HEAToN MAXWELL.

check, rose and led the way to the YER
anda, where a white cloak, shimmering
in the moonlight, betrayed Lady Mary's
presence.
She looked up as they passed, and
needless of Mrs. Brandon's imploring
gesture, said graciously; what lovely
night, isn't it, Major Wallace have
never seen the lake so pretty" Her
glance included both men, and the major
had lSnack of seizing every chance, as
Lady Mary knew.
With few adroit words he paved the
way to an introduction, and five minutes
later John Walford strolled down the We
randa steps that Lady Mary TyrrePs
side into garden that seemed to him an
earthly paradise.
"Won't you tell me about Australia
and your life there?" she asked; 1T
must be so different to ours over here-so
much larger"
He had been reserved man up to
| now; the isolation of the brush makes
people introspective and silent. But he
told her, simply and frankly, all about
| himself, for, though it was to him a
wonderful thing that a girl like this
| should care to listen to him, it was also
quite natural to open his heart to her.
Il have lived up in the country most
of the year." he said, farming sheep.
Now and then l went down to Mel
| bourne. The last time | was there it
suddenly struck me how little had seen
of the world-how small my life was. So
/ sold the place and came away, free to
| wander anywhere, and if / find anything
better to do than farming I'll do it. If
not, can 20 back and buy another
place."
81 wonder if you WILL" she said reflect
lively. "But ] think you are wise, Mr..
Walford. Ones wings cannot grow if
, one stays in nest under the caves al
ways. One wants to try them in the
open. Only. what about your friends2
Won't they miss you if you stay away a
long timer"
. 81 have scarcely any friends" he an
swered; "they have not happened to
come my way. You see, have been by
myself always. My mother died when l
was Young She was secretary TO the
head of a great engineering firm, and did
him some good service in a critical strike
time; so he left her a large sum of money
in his will. She put it into a lawyers
hands in trust for me, and after her
death he sent me TO school and college
until l was 2l, and then handed it over
to me. 1t is not much, as things go
nowadays; it brings me in about 1000
a year"
And then he told her what Major Wal
lace had said TO him. 81 wonder why he
troubles about me-" he said.
Il think it would be greatly to his ad-
vantage to find an heir for Mr.. Curtice,'
Lady Mary answered gravely. 81 fancy
that he offered his services to the old
man on those conditions"
''He is a friend of yoursl" said John
Walford, with a hint of doubt in his
, tone.
81 have known him a week." she re-
piled; -he introduced himself to us wher
he arrived at Les Suivants"
Then in response to Mrs. Brandon;
I beckoning appeal from the vefanda, Lady
: Mary rejoined her, and the major, pounc
I ing on his new protege, carried him of
to Mr.. Curtice's sitting room.
The announcement a few days after
ward that old Mr. Curtice, whose failing
health and spirits attracted general sym
p pathy, had discovered a grandson in the
r person of Mr. John Walford, created
! quite a stir of excitement in the hotel
I The romantic details of the case, spreaC
abroad in semi-confdence, by the major
made up an interesting story. John.
"reminiscences of his youth dOvetaileC
with the facts already known about Mr.
Curtice's long lost son, linked themselve;
into chain of circumstantial evidence
I that the major had contrived to render
convincing. Mrs. Walford's appearance
e in Port Adelaide, a young widow with q
baby boy, conceded with Mrs. Curticei
r sudden departure from Peluan, her re
sumption of her maiden name being at
- tributed to the knowledge of her hus
n bands invincible resolve never to return
to his people Possibly she may havi
e thought that this resolution was a neces
sity, and that she was doing the bes
r thing for her little boy in giving him al
unsullied name. The fact of her hayin:
< died without leaving any documents be
yond her will, for the information of he
son, pointed to this conclusion. Her in
n itial was the same as that in John Cur
@ tice's marriage register; her sons Chris
: tian name was John, and in personal ap
pearance John Walford bore a very pass
able resemblance to this unknown fathe
% of his.
Mr.. Curtice welcomed the prepossess
ing young Anglo-Australian with all hi
/ heart, and John without, however, an
sign of elation, accepted the new position
that fate had thrust upon him.
v. A journalist starving at Les Suivant
,e dispatched a neat little paragraph to tn
IF English and French newspapers, 70
b. which advertisement the hotel proprie
r. tor offered him advantageous terms; an
Major Wallace, with a substantial sym
z Dol of Mr.. Curtice's gratitude lodged a
h. his bank, gave himself the airs of fair
godfather and looked around for NOR
il benefcient work to do.
"Our young friend" he whispered {
n Mrs. Brandon, SIS exceedingly fortunate
= for old Curtice-poor fellow!-cannc
last much longer, and it is a question G
10000 a year. He may aspire to a goo
marriage on the strength of it. tn
daughters of some of our English peer
q have such small dowries that none
counts before rank. What do you thinl
II eh Mrs Brandon ~