Middletown transcript., 1904-04-23

rather forbidding aspect.
May / come in? asked soft voice, a
Betty paused irresolutely for momen
and then crossed over to the bed, seeing
she was not forbidden to enter, and lait
her cool hand on the sick woman's burn
ing fingers.
Who are you? whispered the fain
voice of the stranger, as Betty's toucl
fingered caressingly on the almost trans
parent hand.
My name is Hilary, the girl answered
gently, but they always call me Betty
May I stay with You for little while
or would you rather I went away?
Stay breathed the sick woman feebly
Your face is sweet and kind. I am no
i'll. she went on feverishly-only tired
and they will not let me sleep.
You shall 60 to sleep directly you drink
this beef tea, said Betty soothingly, ant
I will sit by you and hold your hand
and, putting her young arm beneath tht
pillow, she raised the weary head and
held the cup to her patients lips.
Meanwhile Sir Jasper and Tom Archer
sat smoking and talking for fully an houl
and then the Baronet suggested that they
should send up and see how BETTY had
succeeded in managing the invalid. Ton
himself went at once to his mothers
room, and saw her sleeping peacefully
her hand clasped in Betty's and restfu
expression on the worn and weary face
Stealing downstairs softly, heAdescribed
to Sir Jasper the sight he had beheld.
Didn't I say she had managed me 7? the
old Baronet said, with a chuckle. Very
well, then she'd manage anybody-by
George, she would.
But, when the carriage came to the
door to take Sir Jasper and his daughter
back to the Manor House, it was found
impossible to separate Betty from her
patient. At every attempt to release her
little hand from Mrs. Archer's clasp the
frail fingers frightened their hold even in
sleep, and to risk waking her was not to
be thought of.
And 30 it came to pass that Sir Jasper
and his daughter stayed all night at the
Dover House and, although the London
nurse arrived on the following day, Betty
stayed on with her father at Doctor
GiIes's express desire.
During the tedious illness that followed
hers was the only voice or touch that
could quiet the sufferer; and, when the
crisis was passed and the invalid feebly
struggled back to life, it was to Betty she
clung with the dependence of mother
on her child rather than with the cling
ing of helpless invalid to her nurse.
But of the real rank of her tender COM
panion Toms mother knew nothing. It
would have alarmed and unneryed her !;
and Betty, guessing this, prayed OF Tom
to speak Of her only as the daughter of
a friend he had made since coming to
England. Doctor Giles and the London
nurse, taking their cue from him, were
silent also.
We may find out the boy is as good as
ourselves, Betty, Sir Jasper would say
con6dentially, though can't see how it's
to be proved for Maxwell says that those
rascals Cadican & Cooper have got all the
papers connected with that Colonial's
claim to Lord Erndale's title and estates.
Mr.. Maxwell had given it as his opinion
that Tom must 60 to Cadican & Cooper
himself, for to no one bul Tom Mould the
evil.minded lawyers open their lips.
They're the same firm who fought the
case for Thomas Seaton, Mr.. Maxwell
said. with a puzzled frown; and sup
pose they'll do the same for his>son, if, as
I suspect, Mr.. Tom Archer is the son of
Mr.. Tom Seaton, the claimant to the es-
tates OF Erndale over thirty years ago,
Seaton was the name by which Lord
Erndale's brother chose to be known in
The Colonies. It's atangled skein to un-
ravel. and it's very strange that I should
have business with the son Of the man
lid my best to keep out of Erndale. I
ike the lad; but, If he wants to 60 on
with this preposterous claim OF his faith
sr's, ] must wash my hands Of him. It
sn't likely he'll prove it if his father
'ailed; and he has been kept so utterly
n the dark that it's worse than useless
o try to get anything out OF him that is
likely to help us.
] always understood, said Sir Jasper,
hat the Thomas Seaton who tried to
'ust Erndale out OF his rights was red
haired communicating man. If this
Joy is his son, I suppose there's a bar
mister somewhere, for that look OF the
Erndale's didn't come by cl,ance-of that
III swear!
It didn't strike me at first, the old law
,er went ON thoughtfully after pause
,ut, when we came down together to see |
bis property, something about him struck
ne as strangely familiar, Now Of course
see what it is. He's an. Erndale, / |
lon't doubt but his father must have
,een Legitimate.
Sir Jasper rubbed his hands and
huckled.
/ wish he was the missing heir, he
aid after pause. But Of course that's
impossible; and that impostor Seaton
gouldn't have sent him to Cadican &
,ooper If lie hadn't been his own son.
MOL suppose he wouldn't, allowed
Or. Maxwell thougltfully. Yet there's
abont the business I can't
Understand. I should like TO see the
ads mother; but perhaps she's not
trong enough to receive me2
I'm afraid not, said the Baronet yex-
dly; but TIL zee her myself as soon as
hey will let me, and then perhaps we
nay secure some Glue. She has taken
to Betty, but hasn't the
aintest notion who we are.
/ think, advised Mr.. Maxwell, it would
e better for her son to broach the SUBJ
4