Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-01-28
CHAPTER XVI.
Mr.. Finch.
ESTABLISHED 1865.

still. The room whirled around her. Al
last-at last! She snatched up the no.
tice and read it again. No, her eye:
had not deceived her. She was wanted
Val was wanted! She looked at the
clock; 1t was scarcely past two. Miss
Airy flew to her closet, flung on hel
bonnet and shawl, thrust her shaking
hands into her cotton gloves and with
out a word to Mercy, with no more
thought of the girl than IL she was moi
in existence, she rushed wildly out oi
the house and out of Seedy Court.
How she reached Devonshire stree,
she never knew. She had dim con-
sciousness Of tearing blindly along
noisy thoroughfares- elbowing heI
way through crowds Of people, who
looked down on her shabby, tnsignih-
cant figure in angry amaze-of feeline
half choked with the wild throbbing OF
her heart; but to her scattered wits
these things seemed as vague and tndis-
tinct as the things Of a dream.
Some good angel must have guided
her, however for presently she found
herself standing on the sunless side OF
Devonshire street before an entrance
that bore the number and sign she
sought. Ascending fight after fight OF
stairs, Miss Airy pushed open a door
on the third floor Of the building and
stood in the Office of the British con-
sulate.
Several persons were present, trans
acting business at the desk or waiting
for chance to do so. No one seemed
to notice Miss Affry's entrance. She
cast one sharp glance around the place
and then walked straight up to small
gray gentleman who was seated with
his back to q window, reading copy of
the London Times. He looked up SIS
she approached.
II want to see the London lawyer
who advertised for Robert Arbuckle's
son" said the old woman, In trembl-
ing voice rs he here?"
The little gray man arose to his feet
who are you?" he demanded.
She drew nearer and peered up In
his face with breathless eagerness.
They had known each other well twen-
ty-five years before. Had the wear and
tear Of q quarter Of a century changed
both beyond recognition? Scarcely.
~ am Airy Black" answered the wo-
man, "the sister of Robert Arbuckle's
wife. And you-merciful Heaven! You
are Peter Finch himself"
Mr.. Finch's face was as expression
less as a piece Of leather!"
Follow me-" he said. and straight
way led Miss Airy into an inner room
closed the door and sat down beside
her, scanning her closely with pair OF
eyes that meant business.
You say that you are Airy Black "
remarked Mr.. Finch, calmly. THE per-
son who answered to that name al
Deepmoor Hall twenty-five years age
was not In the least like YOU
She looked him squarely in the face.
That's true enough, for Affry Black
was young then, and pretty-you told
me that yourself one day in Lady Ar
buckles laurel walk. / was coming
home from an errand at Deepmoor rec
tory, and ! met you there-do you re-
member?-just where the path dipped
down to my lady's rose garden. You
tried to kiss me behind the laurels, and
/ boxed your ears; was not used to the
free ways Of lawyer clerks"
The blood arose in Mr.. Finch's gray
cheek at this reminiscence Of youthful
gallantry; then he laughed.
GO on-tell me more!" he said, IN a
sprightly tone.
What shall tell you?" flashed the
old woman, fierce excitement leapine
into her face and voice alike, that
twenty-six years ago my sister, Chris
tine Black, was waiting-maid to Lady
Arbuckle-that she was the prettiest
girl in all Observation-Disclosures not a pic
ture among all the family portraits al
Deepmoor Hall could compare with
her? You remember her blue eyes,
dare say, and her white skin and hel
yellow hair, for the person who saw hel
once could never forget her. Shall
tell you that we were the twin daugh-
ters of old Sir Godfrey's gamekeeper
who had been shot by poachers the
l. f. kN1 L. of
that we were alone in the world ant
loved each other dearly? Shall tel
YOU about the baronet's two sons
young Mr.. Godfrey, the heir, borr
aristocrat, like his father. and Mr.. Rob.
ert, gay, wild, ne'er- we'll, the black
sheep of the Arbuckles-a man WHIT
could never withstand handsome face
whether gentle or low-born? Shall
tell you how Mr.. Robert fell in love
with his mothers waiting maid, anc
fed with her to London, and there
married her like the true gentleman
which he was, in spite Of all his faults
I can show you Christine's marriage
lines Peter Finch, and her wedding
ring. / have kept both all these years
as the most precious things had in the
world"
mo one ever doubted in the leas
that Robert Arbuckle married your sis
ter" answered Peter Finch; pool
young man! He was stark staring
mad"
Mad or sane" said Miss Airy, bit
terly. he was the only one Of the Ar.
buckles who was born with heart. All
they were a hard race, sir-a stiff.
necked, iron racei Her ladyship turned
me from my place at Deepmoor Hall
turned me into the street, although
had no hand whatever in Christie's
marriage; indeed, it was as great
shock and surprise to me as to anybody
sir. took the little money l had anc
went up to London and found tht
young pair in miserable lodgings dowr
Old Brompton way-a dismal hole, a:
damp as a wash-house, for the old bar
onet had cut off his sons supplies. Mr.
Robert was sure, though, that his fam
ily would forgive him; but he reckonec
without his host. They didn't forgive
him, as you know we'll sir-they curset
and disowned him, and left him to taxi
his choice of beggary or starvation. ,
don't think Mr.. Robert had five pounds
in the world at the time joined Chris
tie in London. After a while he wa
forced to write and ask help OF hi
father; but his letter was never an
swered. Lady Arbuckle. though, sen
the poor lad two fifty-pound notes-Sh
had little feeling for him, though sh
was quite as furious as the others
his marriage. You brought the none.
TO us-do you remem Der ?-and with
some motherly advice from her lady
ship; she thought Mr.. Robert had bet
ter leave England at once-take him
self and his wife to America or Aus
tralia, or some Place where the rela
tiyes he had disgraced would neve
hear of him more. How Christine wep
and walled when you told us!-you se
that my memory has not gone the wa.
of my good looks, Peter Finch-an!
poor Mr.. Robert went quite wild witt
wrath and disappointment. He bad
YOU tell his lady mother that he woul'
eo-that he would never see her fac
again, nor the faces Of any of his kin
dred. Two days after he sailed witt
christine for America, and l went witt
them. I swore then that would neve
forsake the poor foolish pair, and
never did"
Mr. Finch started up-he could con
tain himself no longer.
.Where Is the boy-where is Rober
Arbuckle's SON." he cried, breathlessly
.'Here-in this city-with me-" an
swered Affry.
Alive and well?"
Ill