Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-11
CHAPTER XII.
LADY Holland From Oporto.

Lazy hOilAuu Z TOIu SpOAIO.
Harvey wiseman did not go to Oporto
after ALL He set out on the journey. but he
got no further than the railway station at
Elgin. He was on the point Of taking a
tourist-ticket for Southampton, when a
chance meeting with an acquaintance turn
ed him back.
"Hullo. Wisemanr' said his friend, a
farmer who had just come in by train from
Forces to attend the Elgin market; you
seem to be keeping a lot Of company now
adays down your way! / hear the young
laird has come home, and now his wife s
come after him.
Wiseman was waiting his turn at the
window of the ticket office. He put his
purse back in his pocket and turned
sharply around.
His wife," he said. who told you
that, Mavor."
We'll, 1 had 1t from one who should
know" said Mavor. laughing. 1T was the
woman herself"
The woman herself"
No less person! You look surprised.
man. Were you not expecting Lady Hol-
land?"
Il don't think Sir Eustace was" an
swered Wiseman drily.
Then he'll be all the better pleased Of
course said Mavor: and then. catching
sight of a cynical smile which fitted
across the distiller's face. he added. laugh
ing: AT least 1T isn't for two old bache-
lors like you and me to suppose that he
won't! How is he looking after his long
spell in foreign parts?"
"Oh, much as usual" said Harvey, add
ing. mentally: IF he didn't he'd be cas-
Ter to deal with. confound him"
HE used to be a handsome lad, as I re-
me mber him. said the farmer, reminis-
Gently.
Harvey seered slightly. Handsome is
as handsome does" he muttered.
The farmer heard the words and was
surprised by them. He knew all about
the scandal in the Holland family. of
course. and in other company he might
himself have quoted the same proverb in
the same connection. But Harvey Wise
man was the young mans cousin. and the
clan feeling is strong in Morayshire. Ac-
cording to this rough Scotch farmers
code of ethics Wiseman's sheer at his
klnsman was an ugly thing. He turned
wondering glance upon the distiller's face,
I've delicacy, changed the subject
You re for a journey yourself this
morning." he asked.
L was" said Wiseman, but your news
has saved my money. How did she come
to tell you that she was Lady Holland?"
oh explained Mavor, three or four of
us travelled in the same carriage with her
from Forces. She had come down by the
early train from Perth, think. We didn't
know who she was, and we began talking
about the return of your cousin"
and she Joined in and told you that he
hadn't returned, couldn't have returned?"
asked Harvey, eagerly.
mo. She said nothing, but just listened,
until we began arguing whether the stat
ute of limitations applied to the crime of
treason. Then she stopped us. and told us
we were discussing her husband. We felt
pretty foolish at that, I can tell you. But
the queer thing was that she didn't seem
to mind much"
How do you know that?"
haS oil Soid
be 1 don't know it. Maybe she was only
pretending-to hide her real feelings.
Anyway she continued the conversation.
asked when Sir Eustace had arrived, and
If we knew whether he was at the Abbey
now; and just before the train stopped
she made fuss about being told the best
way to get to the Abbey from Elgin, and
how much the cab fare would be-"
Has she gone there?' asked Harvey,
quickly.
Il don't think so. She went into the
hotel. You had better go and introduce
81 will" said Harvey. land as I've got
my gig here, l can save her the cab fare.
I like woman who is careful about things
OF that sort! What is she like, Mavor?''
you don't know her yourself, then?'
Tall. fair, big features; must have
been handsome when she was few years
younger" said Mavor
"Foreign-looking. of course? She's a Por-
tugUese, you know"
rs she? wouldn't have guessed it," said
the farmer.
Then she doesn't look foreign"
She doesn't look foreign, and don't be-
lieve she is foreign She's got the English
accent very strong" said the Scotchman.
But I'm a bad hand at describing wo-
man. You'll or yourself what she's
like. But l should have said that she was
very English, and as proud and haw-haw as
they're made. She seems fond of the BARN,
though"
s1rSa n, ;r,, 81 ,,osoa5 yxr;sa,,,, nrs +bara
a BARN? How old?'
"Oh, just walking and saying a word or
two"
boy or glrl?" asked the distiller next
The answer meant much to him.
Il didn't ask. Go and find out for your
self, man. She'll answer your questions bet
ter than l can"
Wiseman went to the hotel, and found the
woman In the coffee room, breakfasting.
He looked round for the child, but it was
not there.
He went to her table, and in voice
which excitement made strangely husky,
asked:
Lady Holland?"
She looked up sharply. Yes, that's my
name" she said. 'Well?"
Wfseman introduced himself. Already he
had made quick judgment of Eustace's
wife, and was wondering how he could turn
his new knowledge to account. Mavor was
foreigner. The large, fair features were
weli-cut, but something besides years had
coarsened them; and the accent, which
MGvor had described as very English. was,
to Wiseman's wider knowledge, merely
Ccckney.. Sir Eustace Hollands wife was
not lady.
Harvey Wiseman! she said. "Oh. then
you're Cousin Harvey-no fool. but bit of
a kEave-as Eustace used to say"
Harvey frowned; he had hardly expected
this sort of greeting.
Come, don't be offended" said Lady Hol-
land, cheerfully. ~ daresay you and won't
be any the worse friends because you know
how to look after yourself" She gave him
a sudden keen glance, continuing: I'm q
little bit like that myself, you know. I sup
pose you know that I've come here to as
sert my rights?'
II thought 1t probable" said Wiseman.
perhaps l may be able to help you
She gave him another sharp look. "Oh?"
she said. See profit In that. do you?
But Eustace told me that you were the coll
lateral heir"
but only the collateral heir" said Wise
man, smiling. And you didn't come here
alone"
She looked at him with approval, and
laughed.
You're sharp?' she said. nodding. You
catch my meaning first time! We shall get