The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-05-26

10 me also, madam, ana L DelleVe III
to be very unusual proceeding on his
part. But marriage is an exceptionally
important thing, as his son Is under
age'-
Under age! Thomas under age I'M
possiblel" cried the widow.
at is fact, madam; but were it other
wise, it would be of no importance, since
Mr. Lobyear is entirely dependent on his
father, who is determi ned to discontinue
his allo vance, and cut him out of his will,
if he marres without his consent and ap-
prevail"
Mrs. MOntacute remained in pensive
contemplation of very pretty foot for
some little time before she replied: "Ex-
cUse me for being over cautious, Mr.. F'lel;
but you are an utter stranger, you know,
aud | should like to see the letter from
Mr.. LObyear's father, if you have it about
you"
Certainly, madam" replied the law
yer. "a very natural and proper pre-
caution on your part l might be a rival
prompted by motives of jealousy. Here
is the letter, which, however, fear may
give you pain. Evil tongues he con-
tnued, as the widow took the document
and ran her eyes rapidly over it "evil
tongues have evidently traduced you.
Alas! the best and fairest cannot escape
slanderl Indeed, the greater the merit,
the more virulent the envy"
Evidently genuine. Thank you," said
the W idow, returning the letter with eX
traOrdipary cOmposure, considering how
size was treated in it, and then. once more
fixing her gaze upon her boot, which she
figeted about, she relapsed into silence
and meditation. at length she raised her
eyes slowly TO the lawyers, and looking
at him quietly, but very fiXedly, she said !:
" Mr.. Fiel, you have come to me treating
this affair as pure matter of business, and
therefore | will not speak to you of my af
feCtions; it would prolOng the interview !;
and probably you will not understand me.
| will speak OF the marriage engagement
between me and MIR. Lobyear, then, pre-
cisely as if it were a mere commercial
transaction. In order to fulfill my part,
have lett India, where | had a home, and
have come to England to live on my
meagre pension. For all his threats,
year will really disinherit his only
child"
pardon my interrupting you, madam !;
nothing is more probable. The ardor
with which he pursues his favorite science
amounts to mania, and 1 fear that he
would be hardly sorry for an excuse to
devote his entire fortune to the building
and foundation of IA museum
"There is certain force in what you
say" replied the widow, calmly; land |
do not conceal from myself that it would
be very great misfortune indeed for both
OF us if Mr.. Thomas LObyear were to be
deprived of his income upon our mar
riage Still. it would be worse for me to
break off, and remain here, far from
friends, peDniless."
NAY, madam, not penniless some
compensation would be your due"
Lugets Veneres Cvpid.nesque-if they
didn't come presently to fair up-and down
bargaining The matter was finally set
tied thus. Mrs. Montacute was to start
for New York by the next mail, Mr.. Fiel
taking and paying for her passage; she
was to write a farewell letter to young
LObyear, breaking the match, a.d keep
ing silence about where she was going to.
Mr.. Fiel was to accompany her on board
the ship, and then to place IN her hands
the sum of one thousand pounds.
When this treaty, with "NO Trust for
its basis, was concluded, Mr.. Fiel took his
leave; and as he stepped into the street,
Jack Horner alone could appreciate his
sensations. Never had So delicate a case
been so skillfully handled Three days
afterward, Mr.. Fiel escorted the fair
widow to Liverpool; accompanied her on
board the American steamer; staid with
her till the last moment, gave her the
thousand pounds, and returned to the
bosom of his family, having himself sealed
and posted most satisfactory letter OF
farewell to poor young Lobyear, which
was put in his hands unfastened, that he
might assure himself that the contents
were according to treaty.
Next day, the deserted lover came to
him in hurry-stOrming, upbraiding,
beseeching him to tell him where his
charmer had flown to; threatening muir
der and suicide when the lawyer remained
obdurate. Finally, he rushed away, de-
claring that he would never speak to him
again.
"Yes, you will, when you want money
said Mr.. Fiel, as the other banged the
door behind him.
He was right. In less than fortnight
young Lobyear returned, pale, calm, and
naughty, and coldly intimated that he
was about to return to the East, and re.
quired funds. After some discussion
about necessary expenses, passage money
outfit, what his father usually allowed
him, etc, Mr.. Fiel let him have five hun
dred pounds, and saw him depart with in
finite relief-for now the ediiice of his di
plOmacy was crowned. Commissioned to
separate a young couple, he had des.
patched one to the East, the other to the
West. What success could be more com
plete? He had always estimated his own
acuteness very highly, but now he felt as
II he should "strike the stars with his
sublime top" as a schOolboy friend OF
ours once translated d familiar line OF
Horace. This state of extreme self salts
faction lasted some months, during which
he locked forward to the letter of thanks
and admiring approval which he expect
ed from MIR. Lobyear, the father.
1t came a mail sooner than he expected
One morning, on entering his office, he
found two foreign letters awaiting him
one from an unknown correspondent, the
other in the familiar handwriting of hi:
client in Japan. He opened this lettel
eagerly, and prepared for praise.
DEAR SIR: can't make out the meaning of al
this rigmarole You have written To me about a sol
ana marriage. nad son Orcc. Il Lieutenant II
the -Jh, but the poor hoy fell victim To the eli
mate of China ten years ago You refer to n lelte
of mine, dated from Hong Kong, and il is tTu
that was there about the time You mention, bu
certainly never wrote to you during M stay.
you are IN your senses, you have been grossly i'm
posed upon by some rogue or another. wish yo
would have the goodness to call upon Pinum O
the British Museum and tell him; NC.
The rest all about bugs and beetles.
Mr.. Fiel staggered to his desk, took on
the letter he had last received, and com
pared it with this present one; the imita
tion of the handwriting was cunningl,
executed, but a palpabe forgery Hao
he entertained the ghost of suspicion "A
the time, he could not have mistaken it.
1t was good hour before he PARTIAL,
recovered from the effects of this blow
and then, in bewildered, mechanica
way, he opened the second foreign letter
1t was dated from New York, and raj
/