The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-06-11

had reached him in a roundabout way from
the returned letter Office by way of the
Towers.
He was extremely surprised, but thought
there must be some mistake. Perhaps the
Testers had gone away? The postofice
frequently compensated for extra shrewd-
ness in some respects by displaying faculty
for making Grass mistakes in another.
The day but one after his arrival in town
the Earl ran down to Westerton. His
cousin had been buried in the family vault
in the church One of his first and most
obvious duties was to visit the grave. But
that was not what occupied his thoughts
in the train, nor was it that which made
him so impatient to reach his destination.
At the station Paul was met by the
steward, a white-h haired old man, who had
deeply felt the death of his young master.
The new Lord Seachester was too much
master of himself to interrupt the faithful
retainer 3 long account Of the sad event
and Of the cOnc0mitant details.
1t vas not until they had left the church
that Paul was able to pat the questions
which had been trembling on his lips all
along
''The Testers, they were great friends
Of mine when | was at the Towers. A
letter | wrote them has been returned by
the postofhce. Do you know anything of
them p
why, yes, sir. Haven you heard p
''No, what p the young man interrupt
ed, his heart, as it were, coming into his
mouth at the tone rather than the words
of the steward question.
MIR Lester died very suddenly. 1t
was found out when he was dead that all
his money was gone.
''You don't say sol exclaimed the
Earl And the ladies, Mrs. Lester
and-?'
They have gone away, sir. No one
seems to know exactly where. -
Lord Seachester spent the next two
hours making inquiries. Nothing more
could be cleaned except wild and contra
dictory conjecture. The house was shut
up. The windows seemed to stare at him
with unbhnking eyes, as if determined not
/ 70 give up the secret of those who so re-
Gently had looked out from them.
Paul went back to town, and at once
set inquiries on foot, quietly and cautiously,
in all directions A month passed. Moth
ing transpired There is no way so effective
Of hiding yourself as taking lodging in
some obscure part of London.
Lord Seaehester grew white and dlstrait.
He lost his sleep His days were spent in
walking aimlessly about the streets, per
petually hoping to find some clue, perpet-
ually returning home weary and disap
pointed.
One day, without intention or yolition
on his part, his eye happened to rest on
poster of Messrs Mailing y Mailing, the
colossal drapers. 1t had evidently been on
the dead wall on which Paul saw it for
some time Other newer advertisements
we're GU both sides of it. The moment
Paul saw it he stopped dead. Something
about it struck him as strangely familiar.
Il was absurd, he would have passed on,
but he felt constrained to turn back to look
at it more closely. Yes, the pose, the
figure, were strangely familiar.
If Agnes Lester had not stood for the
/ likeness from which that poster was taken,
she had a double Il was not the face.
That was the conventional representation
which had done duty dozens of times be-
fore. 1t was the figure and something in
/ the attitude.
Paul called passing hanson, and told
the man to drive to MeSsrs Mailing place
of business. As soon as the cab drew up
at the curb the peer jumped out, bade the
driver wait, and hurried into the shop.
Can | see the proprietor
The shopwalker looked doubtful. Paul
was irritable impatient.
Kindly 20 and tell Mr.. Mailing that
Lord Seachester viii be much obliged if he
viii give him five minutes conversation.
The man bowed obsequiously and hur-
ried away ON his errand.
On the counter lay book of patterns.
Paul turned them over, and quickly found
smaller reproduction Of the same adVer-
tisement he had previously seen as poster
on the wall. He was more convinced than
ever that he was right.
After few minutes Mr.. Mailing came
forward.
s.Nay | ask the name of the young lady
who stood for this particular photograph ?
II am afraid, my Lord, that is a ques
tion ought not TO answer. We are under
a sort Of pledge of secrecy. Of course,
with the young ladys consent that would
be different matter.
Lord Seachester was quite prepared for
his reluctance. In few sentences he
managed to convince Mr.. Mailing that the
rule ought to be broken in this case In the
interest of all persons concerned. The
head Of the great firm was not too old to
have lost touch with the age Of romance.
Paul had been sufficiently explicit both as
TO his feelings and intentions.
With the coveted address in his pocket,
Lord Seachester was soon speeding toward
Brixton at a rate which the promise of a
liberal douceur had secured.
That morning Agnes Lester had been
gazing into the blank wall of utter despair.
Her life was closing round her. At the
best, drab, monotonous, dreary; at the
worst. struggle to obtain the bare neces-
saries of life, not for herself only, but for
the invalid mother whom she loved. Mrs.
Lester had not vet come downstairs. Ag
mes was alone.
Unshed tears stood in her beautiful eyes.
She heard the sound of wheels. A
hanson pulled up at the door
The handle of the door turned, and Paul
entered.
Through the mist of her tears the girl
saw her lovers face and read what was
written there, that old, old story which is
ever accommodating itself to a new setting.
MAY l, darling he said. He gath
cred her, INCREASINGLY, crying little, but
not for sorrow, into his strong arms.
1t was not until more than an hour had
passed and all was settled between them
that Agnes asked the question
Il cannot think how you managed to
find us, Paul. Do tell me p
Don't you think should know your
likeness anywhere?'' he replied.
Il 1