Middletown transcript., 1904-08-20

his astOlfSiltu IHUttici III liiS dIiic, anu
the JOY was still greater when the united
family sat together, with Jack in their
midst. A mysterious change had come
over Ethel. She was her bright sell
once more, with the old rose bloom on
her cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes
that had been SO long absent from them.
"Now, nanny said the young man,
please explain your mysterious CON-
munication about Mrs. Yalaney. ]"
''Oh, We all like her go much, Jack
we shall be SO glad to welcome her."
She stopped short, and cast hasty glance
at Ethel. "We-we were-''
Say on, mother mine p cried the
Young soldier gaily ethel is as much
interested as any one. Were you going
to say that you would gladly welcome
as daughter-in-law a woman consider
ably older than yourself? She could
take motherly care of me, you know" "
"Now you are poking fun at ME r.
cried Mrs. Adaire. 'sShe is not nearly
so old as yourself, and she is sweetly
pretty. Even Robert Gem, who did not
like her, admitted her beauty
$50 wise Bobby, did not-admire her ?
/ am surprised to hear it. i own she
was a general fayorite at Simla, but
no one ever detected a trace of good
looks remaining. By-the-way, is there
a photograph Q, your paragon r
"No-not one 70
"Oh," Ethel cried hastily, s.you forget
that we were all photographed at the
Deans garden-party You had copy ?"
"Yes, yes-you will easily recognize
her there"
A few moments later Jacks sleek dark
head was bent over the photograph.
(Which is the lady," he said, "be-
cause fail to see any one in the renotest
degree resembling my old friend ~
sThere-that one beside Fred Osteriy,,',
replied Mrs. Adaire..
Jacks handsome face darkened.
.eThat Mrs. yafancy?'' he said, taking
up a magnifying glass. That the woman
who has been staying in your house ?"
Eyes. l knew you would recognize
her."
With knitted brows and a curious con,
straint OF manner altogether strange to
him, Jack laid down the photograph.
, s.Yes-I recognize her." he said.
"What account did she give OF herself?'
sShe was not communicative" Lily
broke in, while her mother sat silent
and amazed. "We never questioned
herr
She led you to believe was engaged
to her ?''
'tShe never said So"
''But she did not contradict it," Ethel
put in.
"And you all believed it ?'
"We did"
"Where has she gone ?"
''To London. Mr.. yalancy's relatives
are disputing his will
"Ob, they are, are they? I knew
there was sure to be rumpu5. Tile
little fend, the clever little iend y
"Then you know her? She really is
your friend %
''No, mother; she was no such thing
In her heart she knew me to BE her
most determined enemy. own that
l knew her as the companion Of my
dear kind old friend whose home she
wrecked and whose life she embittered
That woman's name-assumed, no doubt
was Constance Neville l found out
that she had been an actress among other
things, and I was the means Of unmask
ing her before she did all the mischief
SHE intended to accomplish. In the
one unpleasant interview | had with
her she told me she would be reyenged.
/ must confess she adopted remarkably
smart way OF paying me out. But least
said soonest mended. She has broken
your bread. and it's Of no use letting
the whole world know that she has
humbugged you; so we'll keep the story
to ourselves Old EaIancy was fool
enough to leave her pretty big legacy,
and that's what she's fighting about.
She'll compromise with the family for
fear OF scandal but we must keep this
bit of the story to ourselves
They all looked very grave when they
read in the morning paper few days
afterwards the announcement of Fred
Osterly's marriage to Constance, only
daughter of Averii Neville, ESD, Of the
County Donegal, in Ireland, and Fuiham,
London"
Mrs. Osterly prefers London to her
oountrv placa The eaernf of ber Y,oot