Middletown transcript., 1904-05-14
IcoxrISuEp ERoA xlAsT WEEK
per arrived q olnlllur'

cf FER
Whs I'll per arrived Rolmhurst,
aftsr safely bestowing Geoiffy il the
Village inn, he was welcomed BY the old
butler with the glad respect Of an ancient
an51Ifaithful servant
Hler ladyship will be glad to see yoli,
Id, he said, showing the Baronet into
the library.
Sir Jasper stopped him hurriedly.
Look here. Joscelyn, lie said-7can you
manage to let. me see Lady Graham BE-
fore mentioning my arrival to any one
else? If she is in the grounds, will 60
to her
Her iadyship is speaking to Macpher'
son in the winery. Sir Jasper, was JOS.
celyn's reply and the Baronet, saying
he would see her there, hurried off on bis
anxious but joyful errand.
Seeing Sir Jasper's unusual excitement,
Lady Graham, with a sudden thrill Of
expectation, met linn halfway across the
lawn.
Maxwell was down at Hilary, he com.
menced, with flush on his honest face
which told of the strife within, when
your letter about Geoffry arrived, and he
sent me down to have little chat about
It with YOU. Did Lady Erndale know
you had written?
No, was Molly's tremulous. answer
no-she knew nothing of my letter but
tears choked her voice. and for some
moments she could not speak-I think,
if we had tidings now of Geoffry.it would
be too late. She will never live to see
him again.
In his delight and haste Sir Jasper
threw prudence to the winds.
Too late, be exclaimed in voice husky
from excitement-too late, Molly, if l
brought him to you here now?
Pale as death, Lady Graham swayed,
and would have fallen il Sir Jasper had
not caught her in his strong arms.
am brute, be said remorsefully, and
not fit for an errand like this! But cheer
up, my dear, for, as sure as | live, the
lost heir OF Erndale is found !
It was some moments before the tide
of Lady Gralam's emotion could be
stemmed or her intense agitation in any
degree subdued, but at last she raised
her swimming eyes to the old Baronet's
face and prayed him to tell her all.
It's a long story, be began, sitting down
beside her on rustic seat and holding
her trembling hand in his own big brown
palma long story, my dear, but I'll
make it as short as Lean. Youi brother
was kidnapped at the instigation of the
man Thomas Seaton who tried for the
Erndale peerage long ago. Registered
falsely as Seaton's own child, he was re-
ported dead to the man employed to steal
him. Butthis man, Callagan, suspected
trick, and discovered that instead of
Geoffry's death that Of Thomas seaton's
own boy had taken place and now, after
all these years, when we advertised for
this Callagan, he turns up and confesses
everything; and, Molly, my dear, the
tenant Of Hilary Dover House Tom
Archer or Tom Seaton | had already
learned to love-is no other than Geoffry
Erndale, your long-lost brother
Molly's eyes were shining, and the
tears had dried on her glowing cheeks.
Bring him to me here-at once she
cried passionately, her voice breaking in
strong emotion. And stay to help me to
break these happy tidings to my mother
Yes-I'll gladly stay, child, was the
old Baronet's CHEEKY reply. And I'll go
and fetch Geoffry myself-he's pacing
about like Gagged lion at the village inn
Then Molly stole softly into Lady Ern-
dale's room and told her their old friend
Sir Jasper Hilary had called to see them.
May he come up, mother mine, pres
emily she asked fondly and Lady Ern-
dale looked up, surprised.
You seem so bright and happy, Molly, |
she said gently-happier than you have
looked since James left. Yes-I will see
Sir Jasper, she went on, with faint |
smile. I fear he has mary anxieties and
troubles, dear. and we must persuade him |
to let Betty come to us for time, for,
after all, an only child il very lonely |
creature.
Lady Graham's fair face was turned
aside. She remembered with a throb of /
ecstasy that the mother who spoke so
feelingly OF an only chld's loneliness had
now two to claim her love and care and
she went over to the window and gazed
out feyerishly at the fair scene, and
watched for the coming jog. at the very !
thought of which her heart felt as if it
must burst.
/ will 60 down now, darling mother,
she said at last, finding it impossible to
remain qniet any longer and I'll bring
Sir Jasper up presently.
And Lady ErndaIe drew down tile |
sweet flushed face and kissed it, bidding
Molly take good care Of the old Baronet |
and see that he had everything lie wanted |
Meanwhile Sir Jasper. nearing the vii
lage inn, found Geoffry not pacing about |
like Gagged lion in the best parlor as lie |
expected, but pacing along the road lead
ing to Holmhurst.
could not wait. he said hastily-how
was it possible? My mother-does she |
know? Does she believe that / am in
deed her son?
Your mother knows nothing yet, Geof-
fry, said Sir Jasper, laying a restraining
hand on-liis companions arm and turn.
ing back with him to Holmhurst. But |
your sister knows everything, and is wait
ing impatiently to welcome you. She
has prayed.me- of all people in the
world Ito prepare your mother for the
shock Of this great joy. By Heaven, I've |
prayed as never did before that it may |
not kill her but my heart misgiyes me
sorely!
The two strobe on in silence.