The Washington times., 1918-05-27

the family"
Yes, know that" interrupted
Esther. We have talked IL over 50
often. Harold and I. The idea has
become so familiar that We have
laughed at Il. What Is there to
know: That Is what we have ask
ed each other. There Is a strange
creature At Adderley. which goes
by the name OF the Borradals
Curse. That Is an undoubted fact.
II has presumably something 20 do
with the BOrradals family. II must
be kept under proper supervision,
whatever II is. For some reason
there seems TO have been a good
deal Of laxity in this respect. but
surely mat is because there has
been no one In real authority.
Harold says he will soon change
all that What Is there to fear
more than th!sT'
Lillian shook her head veFy
gravely. I wish I could Think
she said, that Harold has any bef-
ter chance than his predecessors TO
put an end to the Curse or not 70
be Influenced by IL. He is a strong,
healthy man at present. So was his
father to the day OF his marriage"
You still think that-that
ought not to marry Harold%' There
were teary In the girls eyes.
shOd1d Net Marry Harold.
Il do. repeat It most soIemnly."
But there is no'lsgal objectionY'
NO. none.'
Then tell me all you know.
please" Esther's lips set firmly.
her natural strength Of disposition
asserting Nself. Then shall be
abfe to Judge for myself"
Lillian sighed. and after a few mo-
ments continued her story.
TO make things quite clear" she
said, you must first understand
something OF the Borradale family.
which has been kept secret from
everyone, even from Harold himself
1t Is this: Harold was not the only
son-he is not even the rightful
heir. Remember" she added has
tily. "he does not know this" She
marked the horrihed look which
had come to Esther's face.
You mean" said Esther slowly,
"that Harold has a brother hving?"
"Ye-if you can call Il living.
The true head OF the Borradale fam
fly is the thing which IL kept In
confinement at Adderley-"
The Curse%' Esther. had paied
TO her lips, though she. had half
suspected that the truth lay in some
such horror as this.
Victim Of the Curse.
"A victim Of the Curse" said Lii
ian In low tones.
Esther choked back her sobs. II
was terrible, but she had Nsteelsd
herself to bear something OF the
sort.
The late Mr.. Borradals had four
sons" Lillian continued, "but tn
very existence OF three OF them was
kept from the world. don't know
why-it is part Of that inner myB-
eery which has never been explain
ed to me. The fourth was Harold.
When the elder Borradale died few
years afterward-he mad lived for
some time in seclusion before the
event occurred-Harold became
known as the heir to all the prop
eBty Don't ask me TO explain all
this. I can only tell you that such
are the facts. There is no one 10
dispute Harold's right to the prop
erty-so you need have no fear on
that score"
But the other two sons?" asked
Esther. In trembling tones. About
the eldest-I understand"
They are both dead. Ny sister
was married to one. You married
the other"
Il was married to Harold's broth
err"
Nh UnknOrn Brother.
"Tes-a brother OF whose exist
encs Harold knew nothing"
But why was IL done-whI -
Lillian paused momGnt In
thought 1T is very difficult to ex-
plain" she said. because, as have
told you. I myself am not in full
possession OF the facts. But there
are two conflicting elements in this
mystery: the one side, represented
BY HarOld's father before his dea.I
any by Mrs. BOrrsdale, whose object
il was to eliminate the family Curse,
and another. a vague. ill-dispOsed
element which is in some way To-
Gated at Adderley. and which eI.
ever appearing in person. I don't
know IL you follow me- she added,
with a helpless gesture Of her hands.
Il would speak more clearly IL I
could I have had 10 surmise 80
much myself But this I know
there is a wing OF the old house to
which I never obtained admission.
There L. some one who lives there
I don't know who or what. ! think
that this person. whoever it may be,
eNerted an influence opposed to that
Of Mrs. Borradale think that
Grimstesd always acted in obedI-
ence to that person. although he
was ostensibly her agent. II was
from Grimstead that ] used to re-
ceive my instructions-and was
obliged TO obey them without ques-
tion.
seeks ExplRnhtlOu.
Now do YOU see what ! suggest
as a possible explanation OF the
story as far as It affects you: Sup
posing HaroId's father and Mrs. BOr-
radaIe knew that the three oldest
sons were hopeless victims OF the
family Curse-whRtever il may Be
they would naturally wish to iso-
late them-to prevent their mar
riaEe-to keep their existence a Sc
cret from the world. But the ma
lign Influence would oppose this.
and would do its utmost TO keep the
curse alive For this reason II would
aim at the marriage OF the sons so
Il was that the second was married