Threads gathered up : $b A sequel to "Virgie's Inheritance"Sheldon, Georgie, Mrs.
General
Threads gathered up : $b A sequel to "Virgie's Inheritance"
Sheldon, Georgie, Mrs.
American fiction -- 19th century
They arrived at Englewood late in the evening, and found his lordship’s
carriage awaiting them at the station, for Mr. Thurston had telegraphed
of his coming, and stated that he should bring two ladies with him.
They found Englewood, at least what they were able to see of it, a
delightful place. The house, a massive structure of stone, was an
ancient affair, but it had been well preserved, and although it was the
home of an eccentric old bachelor, was a most comfortable and home-like
dwelling. Evidently his lordship knew and appreciated the luxuries of
life.
The following morning, Mr. Thurston had an interview with the invalid
and informed him of his recent discovery.
Lord Norton expressed himself very much delighted with the news, and
appeared very eager to make the acquaintance of his grand-niece and her
daughter.
Accordingly, after he was somewhat rested, Mr. Thurston conducted the
ladies into his presence, and the moment his eye rested upon Mrs.
Alexander, he declared his conviction that she was a Norton; “her
features are very like his sister Nora’s,” he said, “although her
grandmother was not nearly as handsome,” he added, with a twinkle of
humor about his mouth.
The old Bible and marriage certificate were brought to him, and
confirmed his statement regarding the relationship. He recognized his
sister’s handwriting immediately, and produced some of her letters to
compare with it.
“There can be no doubt,” Mr. Thurston said, after a careful examination
of the chirography, “and I congratulate you, my lord, upon the
fulfillment of your desire; and you, madam,” turning to his client,
“upon having discovered your relative.”
“Will you stay with me, Virginia?” the old man asked, turning a wistful
glance upon the beautiful woman. “It will not be for long,” he added;
“the sands of my life are nearly run out; a few days, or weeks at the
most, will end my life, and it will be pleasant to feel that some of my
own kin are near me at the last.”
Yes, his niece said, she would stay; her heart went out with a feeling
of pity and tenderness toward the man, who all his life, had lived in
such loneliness and isolation, and she resolved that she would devote
herself exclusively to his comfort during the little while that he
remained upon earth.
Mr. Thurston was detained a day or two to attend to some business,
relating to the will, which gave everything, with the exception of some
annuities to old servants, to Virginia Alexander and her heirs forever.
She had come to Englewood on the very day of Mr. William Heath’s
accident, and it was the following morning, at the very hour of her
first interview with her uncle, that Sir William Heath received the
telegram announcing his cousin’s critical condition.
He, too, left on the two o’clock train for Liverpool, reaching
Middlewich about the same time that Mrs. Alexander had arrived at
Englewood the night before.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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