The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-07-25
CHAPTER VIII.

All Eady Grace tarQunaf SueSLS udu
arrived, save one. That one was Wini-
fred Eyre. On the morning of the day
on which she and her cousin were to have
appeared at Endon Vale. letter came
to Lady Grace. saying that Madame de
Montolieu was seriously i'll with an at
tack of bronchitis. and that until she
was sufficiently recovered Winifred could
not leave her.
Miss Champion, of course, arrived all
the same and, if the truth must be told,
she was very well satisfied with what
had occurred. The idea Of driving over
to Endon Vale with her cousin had been
most distasteful to her; and now that she
was relieved from that unpleasant neces-
sity she was radiant, and, as her broth
err, who accompanied her, remarked, in
most unusually good temper.
The greater part Of Lady Grace Far
| quhar's guests were strangers to her.
Those she knew were Lord Harold Frs
| kins, Miss Alton, the Honorable Evelyn
| Van and his sister. AS the reader will
; pass some time in the company of the
visitors at, Endon Vale, it may not be
super1uous to enter into a few particu
lars concerning them. Lord Harold Frs
kline has already been mentioned; so we
will begin with Mr.. Francis Clayton,
who from his cousinship to the host
claims priority of mention.
Francis Clayton was a man who would
have completely baffied the researches Of
those estfmable people who persistently
find good in everyone. There was not an
amiable trait in his character, nor a kind
action Of his on record; and yet he passed
muster In society, because he possessed
a certain degree of manner, and because
his income was very large one. He was
not q man to charm women, and yet there
was many one who would have been
content to ignore his evil qualities and
take him for the sake of his rent roll.
Francis Clayton was 81, and it was his
boast that he had never made any woman
an offer of marriage.
Miss Alton had been at Endon Vale
some days, and was great favorite with
everyone in the house. Her aunt, Lady
Marion, was in Ireland, and as she was
not particularly attached to her prim old
; grandfather and grandmother, whom her
aunt visited annually, she had been very
glad to accept Lady Grace's invitation to
spend a month with her. Marion, OF
Fee Alton, as her fond aunt had chris
little coquet in the world. Her mother
and Lady Marion were twin sisters, and
the former having formed an attachment
for handsome young captain in the army
whom her father would not hear of rar
off with him, and subsequently accom-
= panied him to India with his regiment
! where she died. Two years after, hel
> handsome young husband caught a fever
| oFF in /,
: and then their two children were sent tt
+ England. The elder, a boy, died on tn,
e passage home, and the little girl wal
. received with open arms by her aunt a
Il a precious charge from her dearly beIov
l. ed sister.
l. Lady Marion was by this time marie,
to baronet of considerable wealth, Blu
n she had no children; and when Sir Mar
e maduke Alton died. ten years after thei
d marriage, the title went to a younge
II brother. He was. however, able to leav
Is her & handsome income for her life, an
n Lady Marion Alton lived in very goo
< style. She was devoted to her niece, VIII
ls she insisted should take her name; an
H. to prevent any inconvenience from the
ly both having the same Christian nam
|? Lady Marion rechristened her pretty Ii
tie niece Fee, and very appropriat
Mt name it was.
At the time we write Fee Alton WI
y, IS, and just through her first season. 81
It. was small, but perfectly symmetrical;
On was only envy that prompted people
say sometimes she was nothing but q
nd animated wax doll. Everyone admire
w and liked her, and she liked everyone
nj return She was the life and soul of
| :, nil asaa
IN of the ridiculous. and if she was litt
he malicious sometimes it was impossible
oh he angry with her, she was always
eager to atone for 1t.
o. As opposites frequently attract ca
20. other, 5he was at the present time enga