New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-28

noticed last nlgnJ lIlJ you ltluHcu NlBdS, anu
smoked cigarettes, said Lord Gorme. I'm with you
there though my doctor tells me its a bad habit
most pleasant habits do seem to be injurious, don't
thew Or perhaps YOU haven't found that out yet
You're Young. and I'm old. find that for me smoking
calls thought out Of that Vastly deep where all thought
lies And like this silver box 1t gives me pleasure to
see It. Once it contained love letters written 10 an an
ccstor Of mine by beautiful royal lady. lie had to
give up the letters but the box he kept for reminder
of happy days
Lord Gorme talked on, as nc watched his guest light
a cigarette and then lit one for himself and talked on
drcamily yet ncrvousy, as Troy would have realized
had he known his host better
al too keep the box as a reminder OF happy days,
the elder man said "Cncc it held love letters written
to me by a beautiful lady. She was not royal; but she
was the queen Of my youth. | too had to give up my
letters Rather an odd coincidence that.
ayes" Troy agreed, wondering good deal why tins
Lord (as he mentally named his host, should make
such condolences to him, stranger dwelcr IN another
world The talk Of a royal adys love for an ancestor
might have seemed like Boosting from a different type
of man: but it was not boastng from Lord Gorne II
would be impossible for him to boast. Whatever his
faults might be- Troy instinctvcy felt that snobbSh-
ness would be utterly foreign to him.
Lord Gormc smoked on in silence for few minutes,
gazing from under halilowced lids at his guest Then,
as if he read the others thoughts he said abruptly,
"No doubt you're wondering why speak to you OF an
old love affair Of mine You think it can be OF no pos
siblc interest to YOU; but | believe you are wrong.
Because believe this | sent for you, that we might
have talk alone | told you last night that lookcl
forward to a talk The book excuse to bring
YOU here And the love letters not so irrelevant rs
they may seem, Mr. Troy. They were written by the
one woman | ever loved Here is her picture. was
looking at it when you came in
AS he spoke he lifted the piece Of old and silver
L .;tI, no had n
the desk, and picking up ivory miniature in finely
chased gold Frame held it out to his visitor Robert
Cameron TROY" he said in a changed and sharpcncl
voice, "tell me if you know that face
Troy hestated an instant if asked to do a thing
he had no right to do; then he took the goldramcl
oval Of ivory from Lord Gorme. by Jove he exclaimed
at can't bc-and yet it is"
The elder man was watching him closely. "You do
recognize the likeness
as it possible asked Troy that this IS picture OF
my Mother
"Ah!" Lord Gorme calculated. "That puts an end
to any doubts | had. You Margaret Cameron 5
son. | knew it must be so. She married Robert Troy
It's strange fate that after all these years brings you
across the sea TO this island and to my house-not
knowing Or did you know Did she tell YOU the story
"Shc did not tell me anything Of yourself, Troy an
swcred looking up from the lovely young face Of the
portrait TO the handsome old face of the man.
Then | should like to tell YOU Lord Gormc sail,
"f YOU would care to hear. Would you care'7
"Ycs said Troy. "Ilovel mymothcr with all my soul
$50 did /, said Lord Gornc when She was nineteen
and was twenty-thrcc. 1t lasted just one year. our
love drclm-for it was hers too. She loved me or
thought she did. The dream broke; but with me the
love has lasted through my life. It's long time to 60
on loving woman one lost as youth, almost boy:
thirty-fivc years. am nearing sixty now. But Mar
garet Cameron was girl in million. She would have
grown into a wonderful woman.
"She was a wonderful woman" cried Troy. "Shc
died when we were about fourteen; but we knew She
was the best and most beautiful woman that ever lived
I'm glad you appreciated her with all your heart
That leaves YOU with less regret for the years without
L...-.,,n trhn nnnl holm nn,L..