Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-04-27

~ BE
NH of his chair convulsively, and
Iv remained for moment
speeches. under the shock.
Then he swung around toward me.
Come here, Lester" he said hoarse-
ly. II needed you once before, and I
need you now. This touches me 90
closely can't think consecutively.
You will help, won't your"
There was an appeal in his face
which showed his sudden weakness
an appeal there was no resisting, even
had l not myself been deeply interest
ed in the case.
Gladly" answered from the
depths Of my heart seeing how over.
wrought he was. I'LL help to the very
limit Of my power, Mr. Royce"
He sank back into his chair again
and breathed long sigh.
II knew you would" he said. Get
the story from Thompson, will your
brought a chair and sat down by
the old butler.
you have been In Mr.. Holidays
family a great many years. haven't
you, Mr.. Thompson" I asked to give
him opportunity to compose himself.
Eyes, a great many years, sir-near-
~ forty. should say"
Before Miss Holidays birth. then r
"Oh, yes. sir; long before. Just be-
fore his marriage Mr.. Holiday bought
the Fifth avenue house he lived In ever
since, and I was employed then. sir.
as an underservant"
"Mr. Holiday and his wife were
very happy together. weren't theyr I
questioned.
Every happy: yes, sir. They were
just like lovers, sir, until her death.
They seemed just made for each other.
sir" and the trite old saying gathered
a new dignity as he uttered 1t.
Ipaused a moment to consider. This,
certainly. seemed to discredit the theo.
~ that Holiday had ever had liaison
with any other woman. and yet what
other theory was tenable7
There was nothing to mar their hap.
piness that you know Of? OF course, II
I added, you understand. Thompson,
that I'm not asking these questions
from idle curiosity. but to get to the
bottom Of this mystery II possible"
II understand. sir" he nodded. mo,
there was nothing to mar their happi.
ness-except one thing"
And what was that?"
"Why, they had no children, sir. for
fifteen years and more. After Miss
Frances came. Of course that was all
changed" =
"She was born abroadT
Eyes. sir: in France. I don't just
know the town."
but you know tn. date Of her
birthT'
"Oh. yes, sir-the 10th of June, 1870.
We always celebrated It."
''Mr. Holiday was with his wife al
the timer
Eyes, sir. He and his wife had been
abroad nearly q year. His health had
broken down, and the doctor made him
take a long vacation. He came home
a few months later. but Mrs. Holla.
day stayed on. She didn't get strong
again, some way. She stayed nearly
four years. and he went over every
few months to spend a week with her.
and at last she came home to die.
bringing her child with her. That was
the first time any Of US ever saw Miss
Frances"
"Mr. Holiday thought a great deal
Of herr
you may well say 80. sir. She took
his wife's place." said the old man
simply.
And she thought a great deal Of
himY'
More than that, sir. She fairly wor.
SHIPPED him. She was always at the
door to meet him; always dined with
him; they almost always spent their
evenings together. She didn't care much
for society. I've often heard her tell
him that she'd much rather Just stay
at home with him. 1t was he who
rather insisted on her going out, for
he was proud Of her, as he'd a right
to be-"
YES" I said, for oil this fitted In
exactly with what 1 had always heard
about the family. There were No
other relatives, were there"
None at all. sir. Both Mr.. Holla