The Washington herald., 1906-12-11

do you know anything about her.
aunt?'
''Yes. do; and much more than she
likes. She's a gypsy"
Il thought she was said Durham. re-
membering the Romany dialect used by
the housekeeper; but she doesn't look
| ike a gypsy
well" said Miss Berengaria. rubbing
/ her nose again and taking a seat. "shes
/ in the New Forest-the Loveis. ! under
stand-picked her up, and looked after her.
/ All l know of her dates from the time
| she came to Hurseton with the gypsies.
/ She was then a comely young woman.
and I believe Walter Gore admired her. %
My father" said Bernard. coIoring.
i beg your pardon, my dear" SAID
| the old lady L can't say good Of your
| father, and / won't say bad. so let me
| hold my tongue"
NO" said Durham. rather to the sur
prise Of the others. Now you have said
so much Miss Plantagenet. you must say
ALL"
"Al what?" demanded the old lady. ag-
! gressively
'Wen, YOU see. Mrs. Gilroy claims to
have married Walter Gore"
Then she's "a liar" said Miss Beren-
garia. emphatically and vulgarly. WHY,
| Walter was married to your mother Ber-
nard, at that time"
Are you sure?' he asked eagerly.
"Of course / am. I don't make any
statements unless I am sure. Il was af-
ter the marriage; for Sir simon-I was
! friends with him then-consulted me
about your father aaving married the
italian mountaineering your pardon
again, Bernard. / then learned the date
Of the marriage, and It was quite three
years afterward that Walter saw Mrs.
Gilroy. 1 don't know what she called
herself then. But she disappeared, and
/ understand from Sir Simon she mar
ried Walter under the impression he was
| a single man-drat the prohigater' added
Miss Berengaria.
'Theu the son
"Soni' echoed the old lady turning to
Durham, who had spoken. You don't
mean 20 say there is q sOn2''
Yes" And Durham, thinking It best
20 be explicit, gave a detailed account
of Mrs. Gilroy's Interview. Miss Beren-
garia listened with great attention, and
gave her verdict promptly.
It's as plain as the nose on my face. "
ried as she thought but when she came
TO see Sir SimOn-aHd that was after the
death of both of your parents. my dear.
she interpolated turning to Gore. "she
must have learned the truth. ] think the
old rascal-no, 7 won't speak evil OF the
dead-but The good old man'-her hearers
smiled at this-"the good old saint was
sorry for her. He made her the house
keeper and promised 10 provide for her
after his death"
Five hundred year, she says" put
in Durham
''Ah. I can't conceive Simon Gore part
ing with money 20 that extent" said
Miss BerenE3ri1. dryly. especially to one
who had no claim upon him whatsoever" "
You don't think she hzd"
Deuce take the man, Don't 7 say so?
OF course, she hadn't Walter Gore de-
ceived her-begging your pardon for the
third time. Bernard-but Sir Simon acted
very well by her. will say that. As TO
there being son. I never heard But
II this-what do you call him?"
Michael Gilroy."
Well If Michael GiIroy is the image
of Bernard who IS the image OF his IA
ther in looks. though I hope not in con-
duct there is no doubt that ne was the
man admitted by Mrs. Gilroy. who killed
SIR Simon. OF course. she viii fight tooth
and nail for her son. daresay-I am
convinced that ii is fear Of what she
said 10 you. Mr.. Durham. that has made
her 90 away. And q EOOd riddanCe Of bad
rubbish say !. concluded the old spin
ster. vigorously. "and for goodness sake,
where's the luncheon? I'm starving"
This speech provoked @ laugh. and as
every ones nerves were rather worn by
the position Of affairs. it was decided to
banish all further discussion until the
meal was over. Miss Berengaria without
being told took the head Of the table
I represent the family in the absence
Of that silly young donkey" she said.
'Oh. Miss Berengaria,' said Bernard,
smiling. IF you call Conniston that
what do you cali me?"
a foolish boy, who lost his head when
he should have kept It"
Il lost my heart. AT all events"
Alice laughed. and they had n very
ly fond Of Gore and OF Commission also.
but she liked to-as she put it-take
them down a peg or two. But whenever
there was trouble Miss Berengaria, in
spite Of her sharp tongue, was always
20 be relied upon Her bark was FIVE
times as bad as her bite, therefore those
present made all allowance for her soma
what free speech
I'VE start back at half past four" an
nounced the old lady. when the luncheon
was ended, 'as / don't Ike driving in