The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-31
a BUNDLE OF LETTERS

before yesterday old Lord 1sambard
formally offered to me. am In far too
much agitation to tell you now of that
awful scene and OF all the hullabaloo
that the old brute has brewed for me
In the house. could get only one
weeks grace at his hands. and now
Edmond is at me, saying that there is
no way out save running, and that 1t is
pressing, pressing! so,~then what is
one to do? Dear, IL you were only
here with me! He has broken abrupt
~ with the family now. and doesn't
visit any more. Obi he is proud. They
are all watching me. I know--hornets,
hornets!--and are in arms against you
also. am ashamed to say. for as 1
engagement kissed the letter before
everybody.
When Looloo called out some rude
ness about that Miss Holmes" mama
coughed, and Claude. assuming papa's
bench" manner. hawhawed that
should the least unwholesome influ-
ence from whatever quarter arising.
appear to be brought to bear upon a
young sister Of his. he for one would
feel no hesitation in taking the most
obvious means to make 1t ineffectualN
dare to intercept your letters--I don't
know; therefore ! implore you to send
them for the future to the Ashton
post office. and Jenny. who is my only
friend, will fetch them. Edmond leaves
his usually at an agreed place, the
beech tree by Ritching Old Gate, and
It Is my good Jenny who fetches them;
but having gone away little on
"highly important business" as he
saws. he is for the moment writing to
the post-office.
You say that your Mr.. Ernest last
wrote you from Ashton, near here? 1T
is a coincidence that Edmond tore
himself from me one evening to go
there. and his last letter to me on the
nth was dated from ST. Gonlpers. near
you. so we seem to be going deep into
condolences. :. have no question of
yours to answer that can remember
only this, THAT Edmond's name is
O'Rourke. -.
emily Holmes to Blanche Bathurst)
Ernest returned before I had time
to write him as to his double who
haunts you, and even now that he Is
here about me l have not yet sought to
sound him. You see, dFar, don't
believe in condolences; 1 dislike them.
and this particular one ! want to fath-
ON in my own way and time.
Meanwhile. the queerness of the
thing deepens quite 'overmuch for my
liking. That Ernest should write me
from your countryside, and then Ed
mond you from mire-two men SO APP
parently aike!-and neither making
any mention of the other. does seem
to mean some species Of mystery. and
mystery in connection with myself is
Just what won't stand.
They are brothers, however; that is
now ascertained. for both are
O'Rourkes. and-here is a MARVEL
that one note OF difference between
them that noticed before is now. to
my bewuderment. no more, for I do
now see in Ernest a good deal of that
dignity" revealed in eye, pose, presence
which you mentioned as note of
Edmond, and 1t is as II in his brlet
absence from here some sobering in
fluence has turned my Ernest into a
sterner man! Or is all this only my
fancy? 1 am worried, dearie, aggriev-
ed. and angry with myself aud with
Still 1 wait. Let him speak. for I
really do not feel equal to the effort
of forcing a revelation. His way has
undergone such change! You are to
know that he hasn't once boldly
ner ever ' since his coming back
mot once! get formal ca
resses my dear, eggs without salt
crowds Of these. indeed as II an eff
fort were made to compensate quality
with quantity! Yet the rogue was all
on his knees three weeks ago.
During the forenoon of the 11th the
day on which you say that Edmond
wrote you from ST. Gompers, as Ernest
and I were strolling over the sands IT
got strongly into my head to have ii
out then and there with him. and the
question was in my mouth; but some
how. when I looked at him. my will
seemed to fail me, for the fellows
thoughts were far enough from
held my tongue. He was away on one
of his long rambles all the rest OF that
day, going, S he told me afterwards,
to--St. Gompers! However in the even
ing when he called at the house. and he
and I were by ourselves, out it came at
last. for I said then to him:
DO you know, / am still rather in
the dark as to your relatives?"
All. he shot me at once a shrewd,
quick look.
My relatives?" says he.
| Have you any Others" says 7. "be.
sides your mother and three sisters?"
''Well--some." says he; "hosts of
| cousins.
In England?''
Yes" in a tone which meant mo
more"
And I, strange to tell, was done.
] But the next day, when we were
again strolling over the harbor sands,
l made another still bolder plunge,
suddenly asking him If by chance
he knew anybody named Edmond
oRourke. and, frightened as felt, l
felt also Now l have him." for he
must either fb outrlghh-and thought
that he would hardly do that-or bare
his bosom, Ny dear. as the words
passed my lips the man turned per-
fectly pallid.
We'll. do know such a person.
he answers. do you-by chance?
II know his name" I answered.
statement which seemed to scare him.
he looked SO queer.
How he asked, shortly sternly
/ II have heard it from friend" was
my answer,
Which friend?" he asked looking
over the sea--to hide his face, as
believe: but some instinct RESTRAINED