The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-13


 She occupied her own rooms year after year: every one who was any one knew Mrs. Tudor. Mrs. Tudor knew every in Society. and moved with equal ease in the English, French, and Spanish sets. A childless widow, wealthy and peculiar, she had an extraordinary knack of getting her own way: ac- complaining with success feats that a consideration amount of satisfact- ion and savour out of her life In appearance Mrs. Tudor resembled the traditional fairy g~Imother; she was small and wore high-heeled shoes. Over cushion her white hair was drawn off her face; 1t was a resolute old face,> with deep-set blue eyes and appointed chin. Mrs. Tudor generally dressed in black. in the evening many diamonds glitter ed about her person. and at all times she carried herself with imposing dig nity. Well-connected and rich, bold to speak and prompt to act, the English widow was a power in the land. To- day a traveller, her nephew, had lunched with her-an offic~r, on his way through to Gibraltar--and as they sat together in the cC- +idor, drink ing coffee. they watched the great ex- odus from the dining room pass by;
  most of these Madame had gay word or nod. As Mrs. Cox and Mrs. Brit ten went chattering along. flowed by the tagging and indifferent Hester Captain Tudor stared hard, took his cigar out of his mouth. and ex- claimed
 hullo, Aunt Laura, so I see you havc the heiress herei"
 "Heiresst" she repeated. "I should hope we have more than one in sucn large hotel. Whom do yol mean by the?'
 T aiiude to the red-haired grill in back. who went by just now.
 "oh. Miss Forde! She is only com- panion to a lady; little dressy. scheming woman, who Is rather in the fast set She brought her out with her. II suppose. to play .propriety. The g.rl does propriety! and Mrs. Britten- plays
 supplemented the young man, who was evidently impressed by the brilliancy of his discovery.
 "But what do you mean. Freddy" demanded the old lady; "come-have another cigar--and tell me all about it. This sounds delightfully."- promising and mysterious"
 Well said Captain Tudor, carefully selecting and lighting another Havana, you know Tom Colson? He has some capital shooting on the borders of Lincolnshire. and Shalesmoor is his village. When I was shooting round there last September. partridge-driving, Mrs. Tom told me this tale, which I will pass on to you-you san make any use of it you please"
 "Yes, Yes" urged his aunt impat- iently. but get on, get on. How l hate a preface"
 ''It seems that an old fellow called Forde had lived in Shalesmoor Grange for twenty years. He married hand some North h-countrywoman, who, in the teeth of her relations, endowed him with f10.000 and herself. She died after a while, leaving one child this girl here-and from that time he seemed to freeze up and go in for money-gubbing heart and soul. He slaved all his life. and never gave him. self or any one a holiday" And now he is gone. I suppose this is his daughters holiday" interrupted Mrs. Tudor. Not exactly my own idea of one, kat-weli,. never mind, proceed"
 Miss Forde-she must be i've or six-and- had a deadly life; | all her daysshut up in the old Grange -I cannot tell you whether 1t is moated or not-but Mariana had far | liverlier time; at any rate, she had a. How do you know that Miss Forde has not one?"
 "Bah!"-contemptuo1 you | have only to look at her! I don't sup l pose she has exchanged two words
 with a young man ever since she was l born"
 q would not be so sure of that Freddy"
 I "Oh, but I am! Old Forde was most | peculiar, and his servants were more peculiar! The girl was strictly brought | up: no dancing, cards, or company; i'm deed by all accounts, she had not
 much time, being drudge and nurse to
 her pater, who latterly was paralytic.
 She lived inside wall, and was never
 visible except at church-that is where
 I saw her."
 What an existence! Poor creature,
 no wonder she looks so limp and sat-
 upon"
 "The old boy quarrelled with his
 relatives, and there was an impression
 that he was poor; so naturally he was | let alone!"
 Come. comet Don't try to be cyni- cal Freddy"