The Washington times., 1918-08-03

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though . bright. cheerful one.
where Esther was accustomed to
take her meals when alone They
were stiIl at liberty to talk freely,
for after the covers had been re-
moved Esther told the servants
that they could wait upon them
selves.
Il never observe formality except
at dinner" she said. by way Of ex-
planation: then, after the footman
had withdrawn. she added: 'It Is
80 much better to be able to talk
without reserve P1atitudes just
now would be heartrending."
Basil and Lillian agreed with her
cordially.
'T was wondering" asked Bash.
what Is the source Of that curious
name. Sorsl<a? DoNyou know any
thing OF Its origin. Mrs VIII
loughby?"
'No. answered Lillian, nothing
whatever. Grimstead and the
keepers of Adderiey never used #
They employed an insulting term
when they spoke Of the wretched
creature. II was written on the pic
ture which I told you I saw-other-
wise doubt II should have known
It"
'T do not think 1t has ever oe-
Cured in the Borradale history"
said Esther. Aand have made
rather . study OF the subject In my
wish for information that might
throw light upon the present situa-
ton"
at seems to me an extraordinary
thing" remarked Basil, thought
fully, shat Mrs. Borradale could
have been the mother of a monster
like this zorska and OF two other
sons who. II not equally abnormal.
were at least mentally deranged-"
Leng Been Curse to Family.
The monster Is part of the fam
~ tradition said Esther. with a
faint smile; "they say there has
always been something Of the sort
ever since the Borradale who
brought the curse upon the family.
As . matter OF fact I have tried
quietly to investigate the early
married life OF Harold's father. but
II IL very difficult since there are
no near relations, and have found
practically no one to give me IN
formation. He was married at the
age of thirty-two, 80 he must have
been acquainted with the mystery
whatever II is-at that time, yet
from all accounts he does not seem
to have been a morose and unhap-
py man then-on the contrary. he
seems rather to have had the repu-
tation of being fast and 'devil-may-
care He was married at Helm,
but after q few months he and his
wife seem to have gone away-he
merely explained that they were
going to travel-and IL was q good
many years-Qulte half a dozen
before they reappeared. Helm in
the meantime was left In charge
OF an agent and of Mr.. Graves
father.
-As a matter Of fact IL is from
Mr.. Graves that I have learned
all this Harold was born the fol-
lowing year, and there was, OF
course. universal rejoicing, for
people were beginning to fear that
there was no heir to the title and
property. Harold's birth, by the
way. nearly cost Mrs. Borradale
her life. She had to go for q long
sea voyage, and may have been-ab-
sent for q year. These are the
facts as can gather them. What
happened during those six years Of
absence nobody knows; I take II
that the three sons were born. that
Borradale recognized their unit
ness and so refused to acknowl-
edge them He sent them on pri-
vately to Adderley. and intrusted
them, as we know, to his solicitors
Grimstead."
at soun ds reasonable" said
Basil, but as IL only convinced,
yet I cannot see how that mys-
terious woman comes to be living
at AdderIey, and what she has to
do with the Borradale history"
Sons Warned at Marriage.
The old legend has always told
of an uncanny inhabitant of Adder
ley Hail." said Esther. 'as well as
q curse upon the children of every
generation. They say that IL is OF
this mysterious creature the sens
are warned upon their marriage or
when they reach the age of thirty.
But, OF couse nobody knows the
actual truth except Harold. and. l
suppose. that hateful man, Grim
stead"
There are 50 many versions OF
the legend" unused Basil, zone Il
apt to confuse one with the other.
The Borradale ghost is a bogey all
over the country. Tell US the real
useful Just now that we are COM
pairing notes"
Lillian glanced at the clock. I'VE
ought to leave here at half-past
two" she said. "It is nearly two
now. At ten minutes past I must
go up to my room and make a lit
tie parcel Of my Jewelry and knick-
knacks, those / can take with me.
Everything else / must leave be-
hind. Esther. I shall just have time
to hear your version of the old
story before go: I wonder II Il
will correspond exactly with what
they used to tell at Adderley."
Il got II from a book OF family
Memoirs said Esther, $50 / sup
pose my version is the true one. It
goes back, as you know. to the
time OF Charles II. to the time
came to America The Borradale
of that day seems to have been an
irresponsible sort of man. The