Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-13


on hand mo, James al right. but she'd just
worry him to death. there's no repose about
Jane. Margaret Haynes now. she looks early
Victorian. though she can't be much over
thirty. She'd Just suit him-and that nice old
vicarage. I'll write and ask her to come down
for week or two, right now. What do you
think. Maurice9"
That you're the most inveterate little
matchmaker in the world. Why can't you
leave the poor old man in peace! | answered.
secretly relieved that she had for the moment
forgotten her anxiety about ,, Anne: oooo.
it's desolation she declared I'm sure he's
lonely in that big. house. What was that he
said about expecting you to-night!"
I'm going to call round after dinner and get
hold of some facts on Cornish history, | said
evasively.
I hadn. t the faintest notion as to what ex-
nected to learn from him: but the moment he
had said he knew Anthony Pendennis the
thought flashed to my mind that ne might De
able to give me some clue to the mystery that
enveloped Anne and her father. which might
heln me to shape my plans should of course
have to tell him the reason for my inquiries and
convince him that they were not prompted by
mere curiosity.
WAS filled with queer sense OF suppressed
! excitement as walked briSkly up the steep
lane and through the churchyard ghostly look
ing in the moonlight, which was the shortest
way to the vicarage. picturesque old house
Mary and had already viewed from the out
side and judged to be Jacobean IN PERIOD
As was shown into low-ceiled room. paneled
and furnished with black oak, where the vicar
sat beside log fire. blazing cheerily in the great
open fireplace, felt as if had been transported
back to the seventeenth century. The only an
achronisms were my hosts costume and my
own and the box of cigars on the table beside
him. companioning decanter OF VINE and
couple of tall slender glasses that would have
rejoiced a connoiSSeurs heart
Mr.. Treherne welcomed me genlally. : You
won { find the fire too mucht There are very
few nights in our West Country. here by the
sea at any rate when a fire Ism t comfort
man. chr It's very good of you to come round
tonight. Mr.. Wynn. | have very few visitors.
as YOU NAV CINE. And so you have met my
old friend, Anthony Pendennls?
was thankful of the opening he afforded me.
and answered promptly Yes but only once,
about it. Mr.. Treherne and IN return ask you
to give me every bit of information you may
possess about him. shall respect your conf
dence as | am sure you will respect mine.
Most certainly will do that Mr.. Wynn,
he said with quiet emphasis and forthwith
plunged into my story refraining only from any
alusion to Anne connection with Cassavettls
murder. That | was determined. would never
mention to any living soul determined also to
deny it pointblank if anyone should suggest it
to me.
He listened with absorbed interest and with
out anv comment. only interposing question
now and then. 1t is astounding he said
era vely at last And SO that poor child has
been drawn into the whirlpool of Russian pol
Itics as her mother was before her-to perish
as she did,"
Her mother?" | asked
Yes. did she Anne Pendennis. never tell
YOU or your cousin her mother history!"
Never | doubt if she knew 1t herself. She
cannot remember her mother at all only an
old nurse who died some years ago. Do you
know her mothers history. SIR
DARTLY III tell you all | do know. Mr..
Wynn-confdence for confidence. as you
said lust now. She was Polish lady,
Countess Anna Vassilitzi. | think that was the
name though after her marriage she dropped
her title and was known here in England merely
as Mrs. Anthony Pendennis. Her father and
brother were Polish noblemen, who, like so
MANY others of their race and rank, had been
ruined by Russian aggression. but believe
that at the time Anthony met and fell in
love with her. not long before the assassina-
ton of Car Alexander H.. the brother and
sister at least were in considerable favor at the
Russian court. though whether they used their
position there for the purpose of furthering the
political intrigues in which, as transpired later,
they were both involved, really cannot say.
| s., - ., ohoh1