The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-08-09
CHAPTER xI.
Continued.

to deal with this thing. 1t doesn't
matter to me whom l go with so long
as l get there, and since your friend
brought me here without volition OF
my own / have felt it but right he
should pay all expenses and take me
home. | have nc money, nor have
sent home for any. And ] expect
every comfort when travelling that
should be given lady of my age
Having thus stated her wishes, she
looked at the clock.
I'VE have still twenty minutes be-
fore the gate opens" she remarked.
VERY WE'LL" I agreed; ''but
should like to telegraph to my wife,
who will expect me back at the
hotel
Poor deluded young woman .
said my companion. Telegraph by
all means, but / shall go with you"
Would you mind telling me your
name?" I hazarded. "Since we are
to travel together, perhaps it would
be more satisfactory
81 am Miss Schuyler" she replied.
Miss Harriet Schuyler"
] dropped the bandbox and stared
Lncredulous.
Miss Harriet Schuyler" I ejacu-
lated. Aunt Harriet?"
II don't know why you should call
me Aunt, young man." she returned,
"but I am Miss Harriet Schuyler.
Pick up my box
Instead, grasped her hands and
squeezed them fervently. Never in
my life had been so glad to see any
one, and I said so.
Tell me all about it," I begged.
TELL me all about it.
Aunt Harriet's story was briefly
thus:
She had gone that stormy night to
see her nephew, because she wanted
to surprise him. I was quite familiar
with all details of the expedition up
20 the time she disappeared into
Starts room, but from that pont ]
listened with breathless attention.
"And when went into that ROOM
she solemnly stated, 81 found it was
not BERTHE at all, but vile imposter
who had wormed his way into the af-
fections of the family by false pre-
lenses. ! told him what l thought
of him, and what / proposed to do
about it,"
I gathered that the interview had
been unpleasant for Starr, but was
careful to express no sympathy for
him. Nor, indeed, did / feel any.
We had all suffered from his esca-
pade, and just retribution was but
his due. Aunt Harriet said Starr had
clustered at first and tried to insist
that he was the missing BERTHE, but
she soon brought him to his senses. -
He then became very meek and hum
BILE, and proposed that he should go
home with her and confess to Mrs.
Schuyler-Smythe what he had done.
Had she but known that when Starr
is apparently most amenable to rea-
son he is always to be distrusted, per-
haps she would not have followed him
so confidingly downstairs.
He brought up his friend, Mr..
Ferguesson," she said, land they both
seemed to be such polite young fell
lows that felt downright sorry ]
must expose him to Mildred, but OF
course could not let her marry an
impostor."
"Of course not" conceded.
1--WE got in cab" she continued;
"Mr. Ferguesson came inside with
me, and Mr.. Starr went on the box
After while we stopped and l saw
we were on the dock. They told me
there was congestion of traffic owing
to a fire, and it would be better fol
us to go round by ferry. The next
thing knew we were off. sal
and waited for a while, but nobody
came near me. We seemed to be 9
long time getting round, but / had
heard ferries were slow boats, al
though did not know very much
about them. 1t seemed to me ages
passed, then Mr.. Ferguesson came
in, looking perfectly distracted anG
using language that was disgrace
He said we were aboard the steamer
bound for Boston,"
Aunt Harriet here swallowed sew
eral times audibly. 1t seemed a.
though her feelings were getting tn,
better Of her. Indeed, she was Sc
absorbed in her recital that she die
not notice the New York train was
called, and ! did not bring it to he,
attention.
I'VE had most unpleasant trip
she resumed, 'for l was very ill, ant
your friend was entirely without sym
pathy. Strange to say, there was
good stateroom reserved for me, Blu
Mr.. Ferguessoh had to get what sleel
he could in the cabin We arrived il
Boston and went to the Fremon
House. had no money, my blacl
bag having been stolen, and he sale
he had but very little. ! did not be
lieve him, Of course, and insisted up
on the best hotel, l demanded tina
he should take me back to New
York, and threatened to call in tn,
police. In short, have made it a
disagreeable for him as l possibl.
could
remembered Randy's harassed ex
preston, and thought it probabl
that the trip had been anything bu
agreeable for him,
And this?" | inquired, liftinl
the bandbox.
oh. that's Adolphus, my Man
cat. ] had him under my cloak, yol