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Orono Weekly Times, Wednesday, August 24, 1983-5 ROMANCES CONTINUATION OF STORY (When Crossley Barranger arrived in London, England he was looking' for a newspaper story - certainly not romance - but he has now met Millicent.) *: The fire had burned low and the chill woke him up; jt was dark and he had to fumble fumble around for the light. He was amazed when he looked at the clock and discovered it was past eleven. Undressing he climbed'into the big bed, thinking he would rise early in the morning. When his head sank into the feather pillow - he was asleep immediately. immediately. It was- quite a surprise when the drapes suddenly opened and sunshine flooded the room. Again he saw that angelic face hovering over him. "I brought you breakfast sir," she said. He looked up to see Millicent holding a large silver tray. There were eggs, sausage, toast and hot coffee on it. "I didn't order that," he 'groaned. "1 don't eat breakfast," "It's part of the 'service " she pointed out a little V;_.t. "Oh well," he said, silting up in bed, "I guess I'lkhave a little' toast and coffee." While he ate, she picked up the clothes he had strewn all over the floor the night before, He felt a little ashamed ashamed of the mess he'd made, but almost pleased when she bent over and showed off her shapely ankles. "What time is it?" he asked, asked, not being able to see the ■ dock from his position. "Seven-thirty," she replied and carme over to the bed to pour sotne coffee. He was a little shocked that he had slqpt so late, but when he considered he had been on trains and ships for two days prior to arriving at the Buxton, Buxton, he couldn't really blame himself too much. Millicent left the room saying saying she'd be back.later. When she'd gone, Crossley staggered1 staggered 1 out of bed, put on his robe and found his way down the hall to the bathroom. There were just five bedrooms on the 2nd floor and <when he found the* bathroom was free he presumed his neighbours had cither risdh before him or they were still breakfasting in bed. The plumbing was a bit antiquated antiquated but was in quite good order except when he attempted to sing, then the .waterpipes mysteriously joined joined in-harmony. He got back to the room, dressed, and decided that he'd better make a start on looking for the subject matter for his article. He spent the day visiting such places as Trafalgar Square, St. James Park and the Aldridges Horse Auction stables. He lunched at the Cheshire Cheese Inn on Fleet Street and later had a bowl of soup with the down and outs at the St. Giles Christian Mission. H By the end of the day he' had copious, notes and blistered feet and about 7:30 he decided (o return to the hotel. When he got to his room he was surprised to find Millicent Millicent sitting in one of the chairs by the fire. She looked flustered when she saw him and got up quickly - "I'm sorry," she said, "I was just tending the fire and .sat down lor a moment." "Don't apologize," laughed laughed Crossley. "You can come in here and sit down whenever you wish." As she passed him on the way to the door, he noticed how tired her eyes looked, he caught her arm for a moment and asked her if she could get him a pot of coffee. She nodded nodded and before she left he asked if she would bring two cups. She looked puzzled but nodded again and closed the door, Crossley took off his coat and put on his brocade smoking jacket he had pur- #chased recently in Italy. He straightened his hair before the mirror, and then sat down and waited for her return. About ten minutes elapsed before she opened the door and he sal there fidgeting with his fingers. When she appeared he rose to his feet as though greeting a lady guest. ' "Would you place the tray on the table?" he requested. "Then you can have a cup of coffee with me to keep me company." She looked afraid. "Oh 1 couldn't do that sir - really." "Of course you can," he insisted. "But my father might come back and he'd be very angry," she said, j "Ten minutes wouldn't hurt," he pleaded. "Surely he won't be back sooner than that." "Alright," she agreed quietly,, "ten minutes" and she sal down. Crossley poured the coffee and handed it to her. Her hands were quite delicate inspite inspite of her drudgery and when she raised the cup to her mouth,'he noticed the exquisite exquisite shape of her lips. He felt there was something strange about this girl. Unlike her father she spoke w i I h o u,t a distinguishable accent and ' Orono Bantams winning in Ontario play downs Pictured above the Orono Bantam Baseball team who over the past week-end eliminated Langton from the playdown series for an Ontario Championship. The Orono team will continue in the playdown series but as yet have not been informed informed with whom tfle next game will be with. (Back row) Terry Carleton, coach, Shawn Bailey, Randy Reid, Scott McCullough, Scott Irwin, Todd Petherick, Jimmy Wood, Craig Fisk, Donnie Lycett, coach; (front row) Bob Reid, manager, Brent Hutton, bat boy, Jason Carleton, Dwight Collin- son, Mike Lane, Brad Roberts and Steve Lycett. had a rather ladylike air about her, After engaging her in some light conversation, he asked about her real father - then, as tears appeared in her eyes, he thought better of it. However she did want to talk to someone, he had fell that, and for the next half hour she came forth with a heartrending heartrending story. She said she was born in Buxton, a resort town in the north. Her real father owned a small eslale lhere left to him by his father. She went to a private shcool, enjoyed' all the advantages of a good life including a carriage and pair, and her days were relatively trouble free. Then when she was 12, her father died and a year later her mother got into difficulty with the estate, her stepfather, James Brooks, appeared on the scene about this time and advised her to sell and buy a small hotel with the proceeds, convincing her this was a good investment. investment. He was originally from London himself and had worked as a hall porter at a number of hotels, including Horner's Temperance Hotel. She laughed when she '•aid that, she couldn't imagine him working in a temperance establishment. However he arranged for the purchase of the Buxton, originally called Woods Hotel, and six months later married her mother. For three years her mother worked worked her fingers to the bone, Millicent was at boarding school apd didn't totally realize what was going on. Jaimes Brooks was drinking heavy and there were other women. ■ Then one day things came to a head and Millicent's mother killed herself. She apparently thought she had made adequate provision for her daughter by leaving her the hotel in her will and had even gone so far as to appoint appoint a family friend as a trustee to look after her interests.' interests.' Unfortunately, the courts overturned some of .the. provisions and now Brooks owned half the hotel and had trusteeship over the other half until Millicent became 21; or got married. This she explained was unlikely because she never had time to' meet anybody and even if she did Brooks would never give his consent which was required. ■After she confided all this to Crossley she immediately began to panic in case he divulge any of it.' He assured her that ,shé> need not worry on that account, and he would dp everything he could to help her': Her cheeks were tear stained stained and he ' took out his handerkerchief and gently dabbed; them away. He walked' walked' her to the door and gave her a kiss on the brow - "I'll really try to help you," he whispered. She. smiled and disappeared down the dimly lit hallway, • , Crossley spent almost half the night trying to figure out how he could help but no brilliant thoughts immerged. At times he wondered if he should be involving himself at all. The old lady from the kitchen kitchen served breakfast the next morning, and he was out on the street within an hour heading towards Fleet Street, walking part of the way along the Strand whei;e he picked up a cab to complete the journey. He had been to Fleet Street b*lfore but it always fascinated him. This was the headquarters of great newspapers like The Daily Telegraph, The Standard, The Chronicle and Punch; and fàmôus authors like Samual Johnson, J^»hn Milton and Olive Goldsmith lived near or frequented this area. 1 Crossley had arranged a meeting with a man he had once met in New York, he published a small magazine called 'Peeries London Journal'. Journal'. When he arrived at the building he had to walk up two- flights of narrow stairs -and at the top there were just two doors both sporting engraved brass plaques. One for the office of Charles Avery, Advertising Agent and the other for Peeries London. Journal Est. 1875. There were just three offices offices in the suite, a large reception office which also housed thé circulation and advertising desks and two glass panelled doors that lead off of it - one bearing the names of Henry B.. Peerie, Publisher and the other James Steedman, Editor. As he walked in, he had been received by a charming young lady who went in to announce him to Mr. Peerie and then re-emerged asking him if he would mind waiting for a few minutes. He sat just across from her desk and gazed gazed around the office. There ' was no one at the desk marked marked Circulation, but a middle- aged rather stiff looking lady sal pasting pieces of paper together at the advertising desk. She was snorting and sighing intermittently as though she was having trouble trouble - putting whatever she was putting together - together. The girl behind the desk smiled at him. "I'll bring you a cup of tea when you're in with Mr.. Peerie," she smiled. "Thank you," he said, not feeling too much like a cup but not wanting to be impolite impolite by refusing. The girl bowed her head back to the papers task which were strewn about her on the desk and his eyes began to search around the office once again. He noticed the leather bound volumes of past issues on a large shelf behind her, and under that on the floor, piles of old magazines that .obviously .obviously had not been sold and were awaiting disposal. Jhere were the usual things in other areas of the room - the myriad of wooden filing (Continued page 8) Congratulations to the Durham County Senior Citizen's Lodge v on the Official Opening of their new 1 Recreation Building • at the complex in Orono TAYLOR SAND & GRAVEL LTD. Excavating, Septic Systems, Sand, Grave! v