The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-06-08
s elett Stnrp.
THE MISSING HEIR.


trust, however. Somewhere in the world
wandered the true lord and master of sum
mernook. distant relative of the deceased
Mark Raynor He had not been heard
from for several years, however.
He will come back some time, / IN
sure he will, - Mrs Raynor often said.
Then the king shall have his ain again.
He shall find the hearth swept and gar
ni>hed-everything looking it, best
But what will You do when Paul Ray
nor claims his inheritance? her friends
would ask
To which she always aughingly re
piled
Marry him, Of course. | am much
too fond of Summernook ever 70 leave il. ~
This threatening spring night, when all
the windows blazed in such cheerful CON
trast to the gloom without, q man strobe
up the shadow haunted avenue, and, climb
iug the STEPS, Knocked loudly on the oaken
door
In an instant pack Of yelling hlood
hounds surrounded him. Issuing trom
h.Iden dens. they tore up the steps like
infuriated fends The man bcheli their
eyeballs glowing Ike Goals ol tire through
the darkness.
God help me- he cried, iuyoluutar
II. aud rrdoubled his blows upon the closed
door Is there nobody here to lrt mc
inT he called out
He shook the latch ychcmcntly The
next instant key turned IN the lock, and
he felt himself drawn forcibly across the
I threshold into a spac,ons, well lighted hall
Were you all asleep be gaspcd.
Another moment, and those bru,es would
have torn me limb from limb
Il believe they would unooncerue,ily
returned the servant who had let him in
a stalwart, handsome man Of some thirty
year, with blonde hair. blue eyes and a
/ face much too high bred for his station.
just then came rustic of silk on the
stair. aud Mr. Rayuor looked over tb,
Z railing.
Who 1, IA, Johns What, the mat,
ter
I ye lyl IA 4 stranger. ma am
4 stranger Good heaven The dog,
might have kIllei him. I never heard
( them -Towl anl snari so ierccly befarc
She eame swiftly down the stairs. her
beautiful face quite pale Enter herr.
s'r, she said. throwing open ,hc library
door You must base beyn dryadluHy
I fn-h'soyi
ies madam, was.
( The man paused under the chandelier.
and glanced quickly sruanl the r'on It
"a. very largr apartment, hsok eases
I 6lling the c1rncrs. and family portraits
! hanging 80 the sails lie slullrd 10 str
/ how blonde hair pruIumiua,ei among she
| men bis oun hair was hlaadc
I Nov. ,is. wha, bnn-s you bsrr
Mrs Rayuor inquired. keeping hi. cye-
steadily liked upon her face
/ eamc 40 claim ms uwn, madam
Your own, man Why. who ary
I you
/ Paul Raynors the stranger answered.
sith quiet -miie
/ Mrs Raynur uttered startled cry.
II knew ,,-l know II. she sand
'Somchov Ca, that you we're the mis-
ia- heir the moment saw ypa Wei
cu,ne home
I She l,anei toward him aud stretched
oug both hands III her eagcrnrSs. genuinely
glad that be had returned at last.
Some uae came between thrm before
ths stranger had even touched her finger
tips Il Wa John. her own servant
Ills face was white ani stern
Don sou believe 4 wori the villain
~a,s. John exclaimed "A Tie i an im
poster. eau prove him such
How Wha, 10 you mean How
dare sou ,ay such things Mr., Rsvnor
ga,pcd almost going into hy,tero- in her
amaErmeut
John drew himself ap in a way that
made him l.ok ls,s than ever ike 4 ser
want
The wretch wishes to take advantage
Of your creiulity, my lady He has heard
of the missing heir, and your desire to tnd
him But he i, uot Paul Raynor |
know he IS not
Hush, John, said his mi,tr,,s.
haughtily You forget yourself.
Then turning to the stranger she added
in her sweetest tones
Il ana open u conviction, SIR Paul
would not come without some proof IT his
identity What have you L. offer
The man crossed the roum and stood
under one Of the portals that hung upon
the sall
Look at that face, then on mine he
said
Mrs Raynor did so, the color coming
and going in her cheeks the while.
They are wonderfully ike, she said
at length, with a quick drawn breath. II
AIN satisfied John, conduct the gentle
man to the guest chamber. He Is Your
master
Nay, never master of mine, muttered
John as, after moment ; hesitation he
led the way up the grand staircase to one
of the rooms above
Sleep well This is the only night
you will ever sleep at Summernook he
said on leaving the stranger alone in the
sumptuous chamber over the drawing room
Tomorrow | shall fully expose You
IF YOU canI sneered Paul, darting a
keen glance like lightning from underneath
his long lashed lids.
The next day. after Paul aud Mrs
Raynor had breakfasted alone in the great
dining hall, and wandered about the ter
races for an hour or more, John. who was
on nettles all the while, walked boldly to
the door whittier his mistress had retired
and knocked for admittance
Send for this stranger, this upstart
adventurer, he said his air that of a
prince. Il wish to unmask hiIa here in
your presence.
The mans audacity nearly struck Mrs
Raynor dumb. She rose with flushed
cheeks and flashing eyes
II will send, since you request it. she
said "But | warn you beforehand that
the result may be most damaging to you
If it is you have only yourself to blame "
She pulled the bell-rope, and three
minutes later the man whose claims were
to be disputed was ushered into the apart
ment A smile Of triumph wreathed his
I