The Washington herald., 1919-10-13

could never encourage because-well.
because there was Dr. Allan Wood
court. for one thing-gaye me the news
OF JOS arrest for lettering. and OF the
strange story he told in explanation
of money found on him. They took
him to Snagsby's, and this was JOS
tale: They're wot's left. Mr.. Snags-
by. out Of a sov'ring as wos give me
by lady in a vale as said she was
a servant. and as come to my crossin
one night and asked to be showed
this ere 'ouse and the 'ouse wot him
as you give the writin' to died at. and
the berrin' ground wot he's berried in.
And l done it,
And now why did Snagsby hurry on
to grim old Tulkinghorn with this odd
tale? And why did Mr.. Tulkinghorn
at once call in Bucket. a great London
detective. to go and fetch Jo? And
was there any dark import to the
bit Of melodrama in the lawyers Office
where the waif was shown q yelled
woman dressed as a servant? It's
'er. an it amt 'er." he had said,
gazing raptly at the figure. "I know
the vale an the bunnit an the gownd
but it amt 'er and. nor yet 'er rings,
nor yet 'er voice. It's 'er, an I,
amt 'er." There amt a doubt" I"
Bucket had whispered to Mr.. Tulk-
inghorn, that it was the other one
with this ones dress on
Meantime had had my first glimpse
OF the celebrated Lady Dedlock My
guardian had taken US ali down to
Lincolnshire to visit a friend. and il
was in the little parish church / saw
her. Shall I ever forget the rapid
beating at my heart occasioned by the
look ] met as stood up? Shall ever
forget the manner in which those
handsome. proud eyes seemed 10
spring out of their languor and to
hold mine? And, very strangely, there
was something quickened within me,
associated with the lonely days at my
godmother's. l was soon to know
what this meant, and. curiously
enough. through Mr.. Guppy.
My impossible suitor. it seemed, had
noted a resemblance between myself
and Lady Dedlock. He had learned
by chance that my name was not
Esther Summerson. but Esther Haw-
don. Hoping to help me, straight to
Lady Dedlock he went with his news.
She received him haughtily. but when
he informed her that he had found
that his cherished Esther was Esther
Hawdon: My God" had burst
through her icy reserve.
Life went on for q while with charm
ing grace and pleasantness at Bleak
House. Then the darkness Of a terri
Bile disease encompassed me. and when
I had recovered my face was so sadly
changed that hardly knew myself.
To recuperate my guardian took me
down to Lincolnshire, near Chesney
Void. And there / met Lady Dedlock
again.
l was resting on a bench in the
beautiful wood near the great mansion
one day when she came and sat down
on the seat beside me. Suddenly she
caught me to her brest. kissed me, fell
down on her knees and cried to me:
70, my child. my child; I am your
unhappy and wicked mother. O.
try to forgive me. had thought you
dead IN infancy. Ny cruel sister told
me So" Then felt q burst of grati-
tude, through all my tumuIt Of emo
ton, that I was % changed that ]
could never disgrace her by any trace
Of likeness.
But at once I knew that out secret
was not safe. My mother told me OF
the cold and crafty Tulkinghorn, al.
ready suspicious Of her and ready to
charge her with the truth. Gould
you not trust him7" had asked
II shall never try" she replied The
dark road 1 have trodden for so many
years will end where it will. follow
1t alone to the end. wherever the end
be-"
Soon knew that the merciless Tulk-
inghorn was hot on the scent. Jour
neying down to Chesney Void, he told
my mother tnat he knew everything
and would hold her in his CHASTITY
grip. awaiting his own time for re.
veahug the story to Sir Leicester. Nor
did the pitiless solicitor give ner much
time of grace. When the Dedlocks re-
turned to their stately London house
he sought my lady and declared to her
that soon. perhaps. on the morrow, his
duty demanded that he inform Sir
Leicester Of his wife's former dis.
grace. Il am quite prepared" she
said icily. as he started for home
But, with an inward fire consuming
her, she would walk in tho garden
for an hour or more, she told a
fiunkey. No, she would need no fur
ther escort.
The next morning London rang with
the news that the great lawyer, dr.
Tulkinshorn, the trusted solicitor OF
>pobility. the imprcgnable guardian oi
famify condolences. had been found
by terrified servants in his chamber
in Lincoln's Inn Fields lying face
downward on the floor, shot through
the heart
Oh. with what fear I heard this
n-but then came the newspaper re-
port that Mr.. George, . hne anc