Middletown transcript., 1905-02-18
The Mystery Of Lady verriker :. ;.
BY VIOLET N. FINN

brilliant intellects and strong ambitions
which now, in. the autumn OF their lives,
they had fulfilled.
My father was the best known and
most popular physician in London. He
attended royalty, and people came even
from the Antipodes to ask for his advice.
He was universally admitted to be the
cleverest physician of the age, and | was
proud of being his daughter. The warld
knew him as polished society man with
the power Of healing in his Lands ; but !
knew him as fatlier-as the tenderest,
dearest, and best of men.
Sir Adam Gordon had been made a
baronet for some great engineering feat
which he had successfully performed !;
but when the honor was conferred upon
him, was only child, and had firmly
beiieved that it was because Her Majesty
had personal knowledge of his kind gem
erous heart and his sympathetic Intimacy
with childish hopes and fears. He had
never married, but almost regarded me
as his own child. M, mother was only
name to me. My father and my god
father represented all my family ties.
So from this conversation with my
father, looked upon my visit to Lady
verriker as an accepted fact. My two
fathers desired it. and l never went
against their deliberate wishes.
But was horribly disappointed when
was introduced to Lady Verriker in her
private sitting room in Bigg's Hotel, for,
in spite of my fathers caution, had
thought of her great deal in connection
with my dear Sir Adam. ,
He was a typical North-country man,
tall, erect, strong, vigorous, with hand
some fresh.colored face and well-chselled
features.
She was very small and slight, with
insignificant features and unnoticeable in
any way. In short, she was "drab" all
over. She had drab-colored skin, drab-
colored hair, drab-colored mind 1t was
father who made all the conversation,
while she assented in low expressionless
voice or disagreed shrinkingly and as if
she hoped that no one would hear her.
It was most difficult to talk to her. She
did not seem to have any idea of what
was going oil in the world of society or
any knowledge of literature or of the
drama. She had too curious trick OF
staring at one with frightened blue eyes
as if she were fascinated, and her thoughts
always seemed to be far away from the
subject of conversation.
Before I had been in the room for ten
minutes l was in despair, and l should
have refused to have gone with her to
Verriker Court had che not thawed a
little when speaking of my visit.
"Your father says he thinks that you
would take pity on my solitude and stay
with me for a little while" she said,
evidently overcoming her shyness with a
great effort. '1t would be so good OF you
if you would am SO very lonely J"
And her eyes suddenly filled with tears,
while there was catch in her voice that
was infinitely pathetic.
"Ethel will be delighted to do so, am
sure!' my father said briskly. "When
are you going down, Lady Verriker ?'
"The day after tomorrow. II have
to see my lawyers again she twisted
her fingers nervously as if the subject was
an unpleasant one. II hope that Miss
Fothergill will come to me as soon as
possible" she added, in a hesitating way.
Il could come on Monday if that would
be convenient to you," l said, and she
assented with visible relief. II will write
and tell you which train shall come by"
l felt very detected as'my father and |
drove home through the Park. 1t was
looking very bright and lovely, although
town was emptying, and the white dust
lay thick upon the trees and grass.
"How on earth am to exist for
fortnight with that woman p said dole
fully. "No wonder Sir Jasper committed
suicide!"
My father looked at me quickly.
my dear, Sir Jasper did not commit
suicide. He fell overheard accidentally. ""
"Oh, l thought that he committed
suicide should have wanted to have
done SO in his place, l know p
We had small dinner party that
night, and it was when nearly every one
had gone that Sir Adam Gordon found
an opportunity of speaking to me about
Lady Verriker. He had gone up to his
room-for We always kept room ready
for Sir Adam-and l was talking to Nigel
Buchanan, rising barrister and the son
OF judge.
| rather liked Nigel Buchanan. lie
was very handsome and had clean
shaven dark face, very good features
which seemed to require wig to set
them of-and very lovely blue gray
eyes. He was very clever, and his man.
ners were perfect but he was always
very grave and reserved.
l had seen good deal Of him that
season. We had known each other more
or less all our lives, but it was only with
in the past few months that we had
grown in any sense intimate. We used
to quarrel dreadfully. He had a cool
deliberate command Of himself, and never
lost his temper, as l invariably did. |
would get very irate and vow that would
never speak to him again, but he would
come to me the next time we met as ii
we were the best of friends, and never
had sufficient strength Of mind to con-
Time the quarrel.
That evening lie had rendered me good
service in my duties as hostess, and 80
detained him to tell him that was leay.
ing town. / was rather anxious to see
how lie would take my announcement.
but just at that moment Sir Adam came
in.
"Al, Buchanan-you still here % he
said. in his pleasant hearty voice. II
thought that the little maid was alone in