The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-03-25

sition. When she was a schoolgirl and
saw other girls going at vacation time
or the end of term to their homes
she would be heartbroken. And when
she became n teacher she would regret
that there were such intervals of work
as vacations. When she was twenty
two years old. having saved some
money. she resolved to pass the sum-
mer vacation in a trip abroad.
While Jeanette was sightseeing in
London she went to loan collection of
old portraits. One portrait especially
attracted her attention. 1t was that
Of a young British officer in the uni
form OF the latter part Of the eighteenth
century. AS she stood before this pic
ture a very singular sensation took
possession of her. 1t was something |
wistful. akin to that love which exists |
between parents and children. broth |
ers and sisters. Several times she |
went back to look at the face which |
seemed to beam kindly upon her |
through its blue English eyes. The |
last time she returned TO it a lady also
looking at 1t said TO her:
what a strong resemblance you
bear to the portrait! Had the officer
not lived hundred years ago I should
suppose him to be your brother"
81 don't even know who he was" re-
piled Jeanette, secretly pleased that
n resemblance should have been re-
marked The lady had n catalogue in
her hand and turned to the number
fixed to the portrait.
"No. -" she read. Captain Hugh
c. Bourne. Royal artillery; killed in
America at the battle of Monmouth
Jeanette looked at the lady with
many emotions.
why. my name is Bourne" she said.
Indeed"
/ Eyes. and am from America"
"WeII. then" said the lady confident
/ IL, Il am sure you are one Of his
! grandchildren"
Jeanette was advised to apply for
/ information concerning the portrait to
the managers of the exhibition. She
did so and learned that it had been
lent by Alonzo Warrick Bourne. the
owner of a country estate not far from
London. where he spent most of his
time. The next day she appeared at
the manor house on the property. ana
inquired for the owner. She expected
to find a middle aged or elderly man
and was surprised to find one about
her own age. She told him her story.
He sat listening to it with marked at
tention. When she had finished he
sat for some time mute, then said;
I've always believed that | was
holding property that did not right
fully belong to me, and | am now OF
the opinion that your having seen Cap
tain Bourne's portrait will open up a
case that will sooner or later take ii
away from me-"
That is not my object said the
girl. "All my life | have been lonely
l wish only to find some of my own
flesh and blood"
There are old papers," the young
man continued, (which hint at Sc
2 cret marriage on the part of Hugh
Bourne while in America with lady
B, named Hildreth."
MY fathers name was Hugh
o Bourne" said Jeanette. surprised
. And that was his fathers name too
I'm that case" said the young man
with a touch of mournfulness in his
i tone, there was such Il marriage, anc
Hugh Bourne's descendants are the
rightful owners TO this property. A.
the time of his death America was {
far country, and little was known here
of his life there. Not supposing hin
to have been married and he having
t no brothers or sisters. his propert!
passed to the nearest of kin, Il cousin
. nd h.t hath War
- rick Her son. my grandfather. too
the name of Bourne in addition to hi
: own. That name has come down {
Il me with the property. You have onl
q to bring proofs of Hugh Bourne's mar
d riage and that you are his heir and
Il will turn over to you the property"
d Il shall do nothing of the kind"
5 II think 1t probable" said the youn
man. that l shall go to America an
~ satisfy myself whether or not l an
e holding some one else's property. |
Is so / shall surrender it"
T. And such was his decision. Th
le same ship that carried Jeanette bac
g to her duties took her relative. Their
he found in the records of one of tn
= smaller cities Of New Jersey. entere
n while General Howe was commandin
i the British forces in that region. a rec
ord of the marriage of Hugh Bourn
,e and Jeanette Hildreth. Why afte
Is her husband fell at Monmouth the wit
n failed to claim what was hers is doub
"a less lost story.
z But a compromise was effected as
: the property by a wedding betwee
n the Englishman and the American.