The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1921-12-30
Lady Brown Of
New England
By CLAIRE SMITH

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Copyright. 1921. Western Newspapef Union.
Little Miss Brown had one bright
spot In her otherwise drab life; that
was her friendship for Merton Cald-
well.
Caldwell was no hero; he was Just
q New York business man. He spent
his summer vacation at Cape Cod, In
the village where the little school
mistress taught. =
II shall not be here next summer,
Miss Brown" said Caldwell one
bright afternoon In August. They had
been strolling together along the shore.
II am going to take six weeks and
visit England" he continued, not
knowing that Miss Brown was sud-
denly quiet. II am going to take in
all the old Northumberland castles
and"
northumberland" I" echoed Miss
Brown.
"Yes. My family came from there"
"But SO did mine," said Miss Brown
quickly. "The Brownies Of Constable
castle are supposed to be relatives Of
mine. II you go there you must visit
the place. and tell me all about 1t. It
is one Of the show seats Of the cOun-
ty."
They parted soon after Miss Brown
went back to her school, and Caldwell
to his Office. Next~summer he sailed
for England and In due time found
himsolf at Cnn st hlo IN stla
The castle was itself notable, but
more so the old Norman church.
The sexton, grumpy old fellow,
expatiated upon the history Of the
statue with shrewd calculation that
the American visitor would bestOw
largess upon him.
"Thats the tomb Of Sir Roger" no
croaked. HE lay theye--all but his
heart, which is buried in Jerusalem.
But his lady don't lie by him.
"Now, John, you're telling the story
wrong interrupted laughing voice,
and Caldwell turned to find himself
gazing into the eyes Of Z singularly
pretty girl Of twenty years or so. you
are Mr.. Caldwelll" she inquired. 1--WE
heard about you in the castle, and my
father wants you to come up to dinner
and make our acquaintance"
Merton Caldwell found his welcome
.slngularly unaffected and warm. After
u pleasant evening he'-was invited to
make the castle his headquarters, and
the upshot was that, week later, he
was still guest there, and his host
the squire, resolutely refused to let
him depart, at least until the relation
ship had been cleared up.
II think" he said, "that you and
Lucy are twenty-ninths cousins"
Lucy was the most delightful cou-
sin he had ever had. Nt @nr
She proved mine Of genealogy.
+, "Why, I do believe didn't finsh
: that story Of the legend" she said one
day when they stood side by side at
: the tomb. "You know Lady Browne
/. was really bad woman. She ran
, away t0 Lyonesse, in the west some
where--a mythical country far out in
the Atlantic-while Sir Roger was In
the Holy Land. When he, came back
, he prophesied that IN eight hundred
: years she would come back to him,
and he would recognize her and rise
out of the grave and pardon her."
' There was II newcomer at dinner
Caldwell. He was young fellow
just down from Cambridge, and evil
: IDENTIFY an old friend.
!. "'d have known you for a Caldwell
=. any day." he said to Merton. "D0 you
5 know you are the exact image Of Sir
> Roger?"
After dinner the squire took him
aside. II ought to tell you," he said.
innocently, "that Mr.. Caldwell and
: Lucy are to be married next autumn.
: They have been engaged for year.
So II they are little inhospltable
!. you-you'll understand, eh?"
! "Yesi' answered Merton, dismally.
An hour later he was In the Norman
church, beside the tomb. He must
leave on the morrow.
A beam of moonlight lit up the an
cient lady's marble face, and. as 1t
> did SO, Caldwell started back with an
: exclamation of amazement.
: The face OF the knight was hIs--so
: much he had seen. Halt that Of the
: lady was-not Lucy's. but Miss
, Browns.
Half an hour afterward he was bid
ding his host good-by In the hall of
the castle.
If Miss Lucy had guessed his feel
Ing she would have thought herself
mistaken when she looked into his
frank face.
II hope you will both be very hap
py," he said. "And perhaps the old
alliance between the Brownies and
Caldwells will be repeated many a
time"
They did not quite understand
until they received his wedding an,
nouncement.
For, important as his business might
: have been, Merton Caldwell hurried
first to Cape Cod. And he found Miss
Elizabeth walking upon the sands