Middletown transcript., 1904-04-16
GEOFFRY'S INHERITANCE
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CHAPTER I

tt was the last omnibus from Piccadllly
Circus to Noting Hill, and gray-haired
lady-like woman was carefully guiding a
fair young girl Of about sixteen years and
a lovely boy Of four or five to the crowded
corner where the people from theatre and
music hall were eagerly struggling for
places in the interminable line Of omni-
buses that drew up almost every minute
near Swan and Edgar's.
would have gone with you all the
way, Molly, the elder lady said regret
fully, but feel one Of my bad headaches
coming on, and I'm afraid I'm going to
be ill. What will your mother say, dearf
She will never trust you with me again.
Dear Mrs. Welby, We shall be quite
safe, answered the girl cheerfully. The
omnibus passes our own door, you Know
SO YOU need not worry. Good night, dear
and don't wait any longer!
The poor pale-faced little woman-a
governess, to Judge by her looks-went
away slowly, looking back two or three
times to catch another glimpse OF the fair
young face watching her SO wistfully /;
and, as she did SO, she saw man push
his way through the waiting crowd and
get into the omnibus-which was already
driving away-with scant ceremony, and
occupy seat nearly opposite to the pretty
boy and his companion, of whom how
ever he seemed to take little notice.
But the girl, fond of weaving small
romances of her own about the people
she came in contact with, was in few
moments busily conjecturing who her
vis-a-uis might be, and whether he would
90 all the way to Noting Hill. He was
short, dark, and communicating, and
might be anything from farmer to
laborer. But in any position, she thought,
he would and must be detestible. He
had coarse mouth, partly hidden by a
thick black moustache and bushy beard,
and his eyes were light and shifty. AL
together, a more hateful-looking man,
Molly thought, she had never seen and
at last she turned her pretty head aside
in disgust, and drew her little brother
nearer to her, so that his head might find
resting place, as he was evidently tired
and sleepy.
When the omnibus drew near to the
Marble Arch, most of the passengers got
out to change for Edgware Road and, as
the last descended, the conductor fret
fully pulled the string, for the omnibus
was behind time, and away it started
with unusual speed. Just at the darkest
part of the road-where no more passen-
gers were likely to be waiting-the con-
ductor mounted to the top of the omni-
bus, and curious change came over the
face of the man opposite to Molly.
Quick as lightning he drew something
= white from his pocket, and the next
moment handkerchief was pressed to
the girls face and strange sweet smell
of apples seemed to overpower her. She
lost consciousness, and slipped sideways
on the seat beside the sleeping boy.
When she regained her senses, the
lights Of Bishops Road were shining into
the omnibus and she was alone. The
evil-looking man had disappeared, and
her young brother with him!
About eighteen years before this occur
renee happened, Lord Erndale's youngest
son had married young girl of lineage
as ancient as his own but unfortunately
she had brought him no fortune beyond
her own sweet self. He was a fair noble
looking man, beloved by all who knew
him; and universal feeling Of indigna-
tion was aroused when, within two years
of his marriage, stranger appeared on
the scene claiming to be the son OF an
elder brother who was supposed to have
been lost at sea, and lawsuit conf
menced as long and as trying as the cele-
brated Tichborne case.
Anxiety and trouble proved too much
for Lord Erndale. He died suddenly of
heart disease, being found one morning
dead in his study, where lie had been
sitting up late at night, with a pen still
held in bis powerless hand and mass of
evidence, on which he had been occupied
spread out on the writing table before
him.
His son, who had been travelling in
Italy with his young wife, but who had
returned Immediately on hearing of the
appearance of the claimant to the title
and estates, carried on the struggle for his
inheritance with answering confidence,
and succeeded so far in throwing such
grave doubts on his opponents story as
to render him powerless to establish his
claim. But this was after months of liti-
CATION and the birth of young Lord Ern-
dale's little daughter; and SO impoyer-
ished was the Earl by the legal expenses
he had been forced to incur that he was
compelled TO let his family seat at Ern-
dale and live abroad in most strict econ
omy until he could in some way retrieve
his position.
People had noticed, when the claimant
to the Erndale title had failed in proving
his case, the bitter and vindictiye spirit
in which he took bis defeat.
My lord, he said, addressing the Judge
before whom the case had been tried,
you call this English justice, but don't. |
The case does not end here. lose now,
but my time will come.
Being hurried out of court somewhat
unceremoniously, he finished his speech
in the street, where some of tlfe crowd |
cheered him and bade him go in and |
win," and some Missed him as he got |
heavily into a cab and was driven away.
He certainly did not look like an Ern-
dale. He was short, broad. and red
haired, altogether as sinister-looking a
person as one might meet in a days
march. But firm Of solicitors had taken
up his case, and they still buoyed him up
with hope, because, having undertaken
it at their own risk, they were prepared
to go any lengths to carry it through