The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-08-04
BY Kate Trimble sharber.
Copyright. 1914. by
Bobbs-Merrill Co.
Continued from Our Last Issue. }

CONTINUED from Our Last Issue.
/ After this 1t took my new ac-
quaint>pce about half a minute
I. propose that L-go and meet her
father and mother.
"We'll find them in the IL
brary," she ventured, and we did.
! 1.-THE South! How nice! We
love Americans" they both ex-
claimed.
miss Christie is a newspaper
woman-traveling alone!"
|, The daughter, whom they ad-
dressed as "Hilda," made the an
nouncement promptly.
Indeed?" said the mother, lin
deed?"
my world" said the father.
"My world"
/ Then he turned to his daugh-
ter.
i my dear. the American women
are SO capable!" he said.
And you do not mind the lone
Illness of the trip you're taking?"
the mother put in hastily.
II didn't-until today"
/ But we must see to 1t that
you're not too lonely" she hasten
ed to assure me. where have
they put you in the dining room,
my dear?"
| L mentioned my tables loca-
ton.
| "Oh, but we'll get the steward
to change you at once!' they
chorused.
I'D best write down our num-
Der, though I'll see the steward
myself" the father said.
From his pocketbook he pro-
duced card. scribbling their
table number upon the back and
handing it to me.
"Mr. Herbert Montgomery, Ban
nerley Hall, Bannerley, Lanca-
SHIRE" was the way it read.
i 'Lancashire?" l asked, looking
up so quickly that Hilda mistook
my emotion for dismay.
Eyes, we live in Lancashire
but"
! But we're going on to London
first" Mrs. Montgomery assured
me.
/ well see to it that you're put
down, safe and sound, at Charing
Cross" Mr.. Herbert Montgomery
finished up.
4 l looked up again, this time in
sheer bewilderment.
| Liverpool, in Lancashire" Hill
da explained. 81 thought perhaps
you were afraid we would desert
you as soon as we locked"
| l laughed in some embarrass-
ment.
| I'm sure l never before heard
that Liverpool had any connection
with Lancashire l explained.
but l was thinking of-some-
thing else"
i Something else-how curious!
Why, what else is Lancashire
noted for in America, pray?"
4 do you-does 1t happen that
you have ever heard of Colmere
Abbey " l asked.
They drew a deep breath, evil
IDENTIFY relieved.
do wei" they chorused again.
well, rather!" !
Surely you don't mean to tell
me that it's your own homer" l
demanded, wondering IL coinci-
dence had gone so far, but they
shook their heads.
Il No! Just next-door neighbors. ="
Il "Next-door neighbors to the
place, my dear young lady" Mr..
Montgomery modified, glancing at
his wife rather reproachfully.
mot to the-owner of Colmere!"
i But l scarcely heard him. I
was trying to place an ancient
memory in my mind.
'Bannerley Hail."
i That's our place."
But I'm trying to remember
where l have heard of it," | ex-
planned. "Of course! They men,
toned it at one time or another"
"They?-Who, my dear? Why
Herbert-isn't this interesting?"
"Why, Lady Frances Webb
and Uncle James Christie"
Their questions and my half
ldazed answers were tumbling over
one another.
| James Christie-Grace Chris
ltie?" Mrs. Montgomery asked,
connecting our names with a de-
lighted opening of her eyes. why,
my dear!"
"They all rode over to Banner
ley Hall-the day being fine!'" l
quoted, from one of the letters
written by Lady Frances Webb.
THAT was in my great-grand-
fathers time" Mr.. Montgomery
elucidated. And James Christie
was your"
"Uncle-with several greats
between"
l began telling them my story
! from the day of Aunt Patricia
! sudden within, just before hel
death, down to the paolpet OF faded
letters lying at this moment il
the bottom OF my steamer trunk
II thought perhaps the presen
owner of Colmere might let me
burn them there!" explained.
The three looked at me intent
lily for an instant, but not one o.
! them laughed.
D And you're carrying then
back to Colmere-instead OF sell
ing them!" Mrs. Montgomery fin
ally uttered in a little awed voice
as / finished my story. How ex
/ traordinary!"
J Most un-AmericaR-ff you'll
not be offened with me for saying