The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-02-06
Z I.

$1,000
t~uresque. ~many-gabled inn, which stood
opposite the western entrance of the an
Gent Abbey church. 1t was a ghostly
old inn, with its wide window places, high
mantelpieces, odd three-cornered rooms,
long passages, and unsupported cupboards.
John Clayton. the present landlord, had
inherited it from his father, who, in his
turn. had inherited it from his father,
and he again from his. In short, the
BLACK Wolf had been in possession OF
the Claytons for two hundred years. 1t
was the most comfortable inn in Abbots-
hold. The sleeping accommodations, the
fires, the cleanliness recommended it far
and wide. There was a plump, motherly
Iandlady.
The guests at the dinner had departed,
save two, and those two sat each on a
low, lounging chair before a brilliant fire.
Baskets and plates Of choice fruit. hot
house flowers in great china vases, yet re-
NAMED ON the long table.
Both of the lingering guests were
young: each was singularly handsome.
The elder was fair, with golden mustache,
light curling hair, a finely cut mouth, a
straight profile, large blue eycs-quite an
Adonis of the blond order. Anybody
who understood the signs and distinctions
Of the various spheres of society could
divine at a glance that this gentleman
belonged to the upper classes. Aristoc-
racy was set upon him like a seal, from
the crown Of his handsome head to the
soles of bis well-ftting boots. Notwith-
standing, there was a daring in his man
ner, a look in his bold blue eyes which
spoke e%loquently of the life OF the man
of the world. He smiled at his COM
panion as he said:
"Tell me your history, life and adven-
lures, expectations, ambitions, loves and
hatreds. Now is your time. / am just
in the mood for a good love story. l am
the most romantic fellow in the world"
The other young man had deep-set gray
eyes, luminous and full of earnest pow
er. His complexion was brown, his fea-
lures nobly cast. A black mustache con-
cealed the short upper lip, but the lower
one and the chin were nodded as by a
Greek sculptor. He was tall, an athlete,
wiry, muscular. Keen intelligence min
gled with romantic fervor. Here was a
powerful brain, a fervid imagination, a
most passionate heart.
He looked down at his boots-rather
worn boots. if the truth must be told for
Lionel Leigh was poor I; a teacher of for
eign languages and classics in the town
of Abootshold and the villages surround
ing. The remuneration he received was
small, except in one or two instances
He was fonder of art and knowledge than
of dress. All his spare cash went for
books and ~engravings. 1t was understood
that he proposed reading for a degree,
and he was looked upon in that country
district with a species OF wonder, mixed
with a half-cont nptuous pity.
Il do not believe in your capacities for
romantic feeling" said Lionel. There is
so much of the cynic about you. and you
are m~aterialistic. and pleasure LOVING. and
money loving-are you not?"
IF 1 am" returned the other. laugh
ing, Il love what l haven't got. look
here, my dear friend not a cent-not the
shadow of a copper-not a mite to place
in a poor box, with the self-complai.ant
feeling that l have given up my all :"
and the aristocratic looking young man
tuned out his pocket lini,gs. See |.
pot even an empty purse: l had one Of
silver chainwork, and l was absolutely
compelled to send it, in the company Of
q ~ten-carat, snowy guard chain, an old
silver snuff box, and a garnet seal ring,
to enjoy the society of that useful rela-
tive. popularity known by the a~fectionate
title of uncle It's all my own fault,
too. How / shall pay my expenses here
at this good inn-where 1 nave boarded
and lodged at the expense of the fatherly
EIo<n Co. -L.1. c-%-.-L
alone knows"
Lionel looked at his companion; his
face flushed.
Mr.. Darlington" he said, you invited
me to dine. l thought You a man of prop
erty. I might have known that an earl's
cousin would not have made himself equal
with a poor professor, unless he had al
ready dropped out of his own sphere :"
and he rendered the money.
"Ungracious man ~ cried harrington.
pocketing The money, Notwithstanding.
and laughing: but l will invite you to
dinner every night for a week soon, and
give you everything that costs money. l
shall be rolling in wealth soon, tumbling
head over heels in coin. What do you
say to thirty thousand a year,
IF / had the sixth part of it, 1 should
rejoice with exceeding joy but explain"
1.-The fact is" he said, II am a sad
fellow, one over whose misdeeds all the
old spinsters in a country town would
utter a chorus of groans. L was brought
up in the magnificent house of an earl.
/ have a brother older than myself, who
will, in virtue of seniority. take titles
and estates some day. This fact, per-
haps, to begin with, a little Disguised me
with things in general. and my brother in
particular. Now / will confde in you
my troubles. and ask your aid in regard
to a fortune of thirty thousand a year.
want to run away with an heiress.
want to get her off tomorrow night, and
i want you to help me-"
"Me?"
Because she is one of your pupils, and
you have access to the house"
what house!'
"St. Martha's College, Woodmancote
Her name is Jenny Wilkinson-not an
aristocratic name, / admit. She is sey-
enteen. Jenny lived with an odious old
aunt in a great grim house ar Hammer
smith; there were grounds, and kitchen
gardens, and a s~hrubbery. Miss Tabitha
Kettle was the name, or, rather, is the
name Of the odious individual aforesaid
an old soul given to all kinds of pious
exercises. Poor Jenny had a terrible
time Of it. There was a English gov
erness. a very she-dragon of ugliness and
propriety; there was an elderly lady's
maid. there was a serious butler, and a
footman of the same persuasion. How to
get a letter passed, l could not tell. AT
last l found that a tall, faded French
woman, with flashing eyes, and an air
of good taste pervading her shabby-gen-
teel garments, was in the habit of giving
private lessons every day to Miss Will
kinson. l lodged in the neighborhood, you
must understand, and by dint of listening
TO gossip, / found out all about Jenny,
the tall, young heiress. | went to DIR.
Commons and had a look at the will, and
discovered the heiress-ship to be genuine.
Then / paid court to The French lady.
At first she was surprised, then a little