Middletown transcript., 1904-04-16

we shall have to be up by the first streah
| of dawn.
There was such constant coming ano
going to and from Kimberley to the dis
tant outlying stores that the three young
mems journey with Van Belt caused
neither suspicion nor surprise. AS il
happened, Van Belt. being an ill-eondi
toned surly fellow. had few passenger
and fewer. chums. But he had taker
kindly to John Forbes, who, being run
away London apprentice, knew some o
Van Belts people in Eastcheap and fo'
that reason he willingly consented tt
carry him in his wagon.
If you're ever back in London town
he said. after the first iolting Of the team
had little subsided, I'll get you to carry
a~tit of letter to cousin OF mine who's
well-to-do in a store hard by. But you'll
be making your pile first, l guess? hi
added, looking at the young fellows
strong frame and bronzed skin.
I hardly know, was the careless an
swer. Piles are not SO easily made, ano
I'd swop many one for your wagon-and
team-yes, | would
Van Belt growled out some sort ol
| reply, his whole attention being at that
moment engaged by HE oxen and john
turning to his companions. settled him
self down as well as he could for the
swinging and rolling and iolting of the
wagon.
CHAPTER ii
During the fourteen years that had
elapsed since the abduction OF Geoffry,
Lord Erndale, great changes had come
into the lives of his family. Lady Ern.
dale's whole hold on life seemed in those
long weary years to be the one hope that
her SON might yet be restored to her
arms. Fragile always, it seemed mir
acle that she still lived. The secret fame
that kept her alive was her unfailing be-
lief in Geoffry's return. Detectives had
been put on the track of the missing heir
and rewards offered but all efforts failed
to discover one trace of the child and his
captor.
Molly's description of the man was
clear and unwavering.
He was a dark horrible-looking man,
she affirmed, with bushy beard.
should know him again anywhere.
But the baffled detectives declared that
that was of no use to trace the man, as
doubtless he was disguised effectually.
So the weary years-weary to poor
Lady Erndale-dragged on. Molly, in
troduced by Lady Herries, made bril-
liant marriage; whilst the Erndale peer
age remained in allegiance, there being no
next-of.kin to claim it, and the young
heirs death never having been proved.
One of the conditions of Molly's mar
riage was that her mother should remain
with her.
Twill never be parted from her-never !
the young beauty declared firmly ;>and
her lover, Sir James Graham, being a
good man and wholly devoted to his lady
love, willingly consented.
But Lady Erndale was difficult to
manage.
1 am a poor spiritless creature, she
said to her intended son-in.law, and l
shall cast shadow on your homel I
am only fit to live alone.
Then you shall be alone when you
please, was the kindly answer, and your
suite Of rooms shall be sacred from all
intrusion. They shall be as much your
own as if you were at Erndale only you
will be under our roof and near us in
heart and love.
And SO it was finally settled. Lady
Erndale had suite entirely to herself,
and was cared for and watched over with
tender devotion.
The old firm OF solicitors who managed
all Lady Erndale's affairs paid periodical
visits to Holmhurst Priory, as Sir James
Graham's place was called and one was
paid shortly after John Forbes and his
companions reached England.
The senior partner, MIR. Maxwell, told
his client, amongst other things, of the
strange luck that had befallen Forbes,
who was brother to one of his clerks.
He was apprenticed to large tea-mer-
chant in the city, the lawyer said, knit
ting his brows, and ran away to Kimber-
ley when the first news of the diamond
fields became public property and now
my fine gentleman returns, having made
enough to enable him to live in idleness
all his life, and one of his companions has
also made his pile.
Yes ? said Lady Erndale gently.
She did not like to stop the flow of her
old legal advisers eloquence but she
could not feign an interest she did not
feel in the story of JOHN Forbes and his
brother. But Mr.. Maxwell could not so
easily drop the subject. Having been
invited as usual to luncheon, he resumed
it with zeal.
The young fellow l was telling your
ladyship of, he said, after his glass had
been replenished more than once with
some very special Burgundy, wishes to
invest in landed property and settle down
in England. There is near Erndale a
pretty little place in the market which | |
think might possibly suit him. The old |
lawyer had spoken the name of Erndale |
with evident hesitation and reluctance,
and he fastened to add, The property |
allude to belongs to the Hilary family,
and. from what hear of their circum-
stances, / should think no reasonable |
,ffer would be refused.
l am very sorry to hear what you say |
'f the Hilarys, said Lady Erndale, leay- |
ng unnoticed the chief point in Mr.. Max
Wells story. hope things are not SO
Dad as your words imply.
Oh, every one knows the state OF the
'ase too well the lawyer replied. shaking
bis head. When Sir Jasper dies. don't
believe that pretty daughter OF his will
lave penny. She'll come in for the