Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-30
CHAPTER ",

kvou's eyes fell upon 1t, she truly thought
they must be playing her false; that her
sight was failing her.
The living Of Great Wilton was be-
slowed upon the Hon. and Rev. Wilfred
Elliotsen, a personal friend of the Earl
OF Avon.
Her ladyship called out for her daugh-
ter In commotion; she sent her maid.
Charity, to hasten her. Grace feared her
mother was worse, and flew to the room
with rapid steps.
What can be the meaning Of this,
Grace?" gasped the countess. Henry has
not given the living to Mr.. Baumgarten
after all; he has given 1t to young Elliot
sen ~
"Oh, indeed" said Grace, carelessly.
"Harry can do as he likes, suppose"
NE, he can't, in such a case as this.
At least he ought not. Once his promise
was given to me, it should have been
kept. l cannot understand his going
from 1t. 1t is not like him."
well, mamma, don't see that It mat
tiers to us, whichever way it may be-"
But it does matter. don't want a
simpering young fellow like Wilfred FL
liOtsen down here, and whose wife goes
In for rank Puseyism besides. She has
only been waiting for his appointment to
a church, report says, to make him play
all kinds of antics in it; she leads him by
the nose."
Grace laughed.
1T is no laughing matter" reproved
her mother, "for me or Mr.. Baumgarten.
] shall be ashamed to look him In the
nj ha hoI Icv -.
for his marriage with Miss Dane and
their life at Great Whittonv
"How do you know that" asked Grace,
quickly.
"Mrs. Brice told me so when she was
here yesterday" replied Lady Avon. "She
knew from the Danes that Ryle Baumgar
ten was to have Great Wilton and to
marry Edith. Why Henry should be SO
changeable ! cannot imagine"
Lady Avon was evidently very much
annoyed, and justly so; annoyed at the
fact, and annoyed because she was I'M
lble to understand her son, who was
neither capricious nor inconsiderate. She
wrote letter of complaint to him that
day, and awaited his answer.
The i'll news broke abruptly upon Mr..
Baumgarten. The little hard worked, in
offensive Mr.. Brice, who had kind heart
and never failed to have kind word for
his patients, CHANGED to see in the Times
the same paragraph that Lady Avon saw,
and on the same morning.
and on the same morning.
BLESS my heart" he exclaimed, what
ten have made such a mistake? He said
n to1I IL, Il
who mistook the matter ="
Away he FASTENED to Wilton Cottage.
the newspaper in his pocket, and into the
clergyman's presence, who sat in his lit
tie study writing a sermon. And when
he got there, he felt at fault how to open
the ball. 1t seemed so cruel thing to
do. Mr.. Baumgarten, who looked gay and
unconscious, led up to it.
Have you heard any particular news
this morning." began the surgeon, after
q few words had passed.
mo-" lightly replied Mr.. Baumgarten
Two not seen any one to tell me any
l have been busy since breakfast with
my sermon for next Sunday. Nearly the
last l shall preach at Little Whitton,
expect"
Mr.. Brice coughed. "Have you heard
from Lsrd Avon?" he asked.
mot yet. I rather wonder at It, Every
morning l look for a letter from him, but
1t does net come. He may be in France
again for all know myself; l don't like
to call at Avon House until my appoint
ment Is confirmed. 1t would look push
ing; as II l were impatient"
well. IL saw a curious paragraph
In the newspaper just now, about Great
Wilton being given away; but it was
another name that was mentioned, not
yours" said Mr.. Brice. II thought I'd
come here at once to see IL you knew
anything about It,"
mot anything; newspapers are always
making Mistakes" smiled Mr. Baumrar-
ten.
Mr.. Brice took the paper from his
pocket. Finding the place, he laid 1t be-
fore the clergyman, who read 1t. Read 1t
twice over, and began to feel somewhat
less easy. He read 1t third time, aloud
I'VE are authorized to state that the
valuable living Of Great Wilton, Home
shire, has been bestowed by its patron
the Earl Of Avon, upon the Honorable
ard Reverend Wilfred Elliotsen."
There ensued a pause. The two gen.
tlemen were looking at one another. each
questioningly.
1T must be a mistake" said Mr.. Baum
earten. Lord Avon would not give the
living to me, and then give 1t to some one
eise."
The question is-did he give It to
your" returned Mr.. Brice. Perhaps the
mistake lies In your having thought So"
II saw it in his own handwriting, in his
letter to his mother. Lady Grace showed
1t to me; at least, q portion of 1t. He
wrote in answer to an appeal Lady Avon
had made to him to give me the living.
His promise was positive one. 1t is this
newspaper that makes the, mistake, Brice !;
1t cannot be otherwise"
ANY way, we will hope So" briskly
added the surgeon. But be spoke more
confidently than he felt; and perhaps Mr..
Baumgarten had done the same.
Lord Avon's reply to his mothers let
ter Of complaint and inquiry came to
her by return Of post, and ran as fol-
lows:
MY Dear Mother-I cancelled my
promise Of giving the living to Baumgar-
ten at Grace's request. She wrote to me
posthaste some days ago, telling me there
L