Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-07-14
A Question of Time.
BY JUDGE CLARK.

1T is useless, this persistence. The tie
of cousinly relationship is all that can
ever exist between u.s.
But l have other reasons to urge
None that can avail
AT least hear them
Yes, if 1 am forced, but my answer is
already given
You may reconsider it,
1t was no longer in the persuasive tone
of the lover that Adrian Hermon spoke.
His last utterance had touch of stern
ness in it, far better COMFORTING, than his
previous manner, with the sinister glance
of his kindless, passionless eye, more than
once, during the dialogue, bent in keen
perusal of his Cousins face. The changed
intonation had not passed unnoticed-a
fact sufficiently evinced by the look, half
scornful, half inquiring, which Alice
Hermon turned upon the speaker.
Your father Adrian continued, left
his affairs in a position 80 perplexed and
intricate, that when, at your request, /
undertook their settlement, it was some
time before their exact posture could be
ascertained. A thorough examination, /
am sorry to say, proves his estate largely
insolvent. Our long absent uncle, you
are aware, ignorant, it seems, of your and
my existence, bequeathed his immense
fortune to his two brothers, your father
and mine--the whole, in the event of the
death of either before that of the testator,
to go to the survivor. The fact that your
father died one day before our uncle, and
that mine survived him several months,
legally entities me to the whole of an in
heritanoe, half of which had else been
yours
The conclusion of the whole said
Alice, with curl of her beautiful lin. be-
ing that the accident of day has made
me penniless and you rich
Under the circumstances, had hoped
Adrian resumed, that my offer 49,.
Let me be sure understand it, inter-
rupted Alice; is it to purchase the hand
have refused to giOe| ....
The offensive words are your own said
Adrian. ....r-
And their meaning yours Alice re-
torted.
The shadow deepened on the young
mans brow. The icy glitter of his eye
became more serpent-like, and there was
that in his voice when next he spoke that
sounded ominous of evil.
You at least prize your fathers reputa-
tion p he said.
More dearly than life, Alice answered.
1T is with you to shield or blast it p
The girls cheek blanched, and there
was something painful in her startled
look that besought more earnestly than
words an explanation of her cousins Ian
guage.
"A large sum your father held in trust,
Adrian went on, is not forthcoming, and
disgrace much attach to his name, unless
you choose to avert it. The means are
happily within your power. Accept my
offer, and from my fortune the defaul
shall be made good, and none need evel
know it,
The momentary pallor that had over
spread the face of Alice gave place to
deep flush, and it was grand thing t.
see the indignant flash of those lustrou
eyes, before which her bastard kinsmal
quailed.
Your statement she rejoined, shat m,
father died poor, could readily have be
lieved, knowing his generous nature ant
how little likely he was to have hoardet
wealth. But the imputation of dishones
ty, / know to be as false as the hear
that conceived it and the tongue tina
gave it utterance Go but go with thi
assurance a speedy and thorough inves
tigation, by those whom | and others ca,
trust, shall place it beyond your powe
again to malign the virtues of the dead
True to her promise, Alice lost no tim
in seeking the counsel and assistance of a.
old friend of her father, who was, besides
shrewd and able lawyer.
MIR. Barker had quick eye for rogue
~, and was very prompt in dealing wit
it. Within week after his first inter
view with Alice, Adrian Hermon wa
served with a couple of writs-one CT
tation requiring him forthwith to file hi
accounts as administrator of Alice's fatl
er; the other a summons in an actio
brought to recover Alice's portion of he
uneles estate. The last everybody sal
was hopeless, the death of Alice's fathe
one day before that of her uncle settlin
the question. 1t was quite unusual fc
Mr.. Barker's zeal to outrun his iudgmen
but it seemed to have done SO in the pre-
ent case. However, the little lawyer wer
about his business i'll his accustomed wa,
keeping his own counsel and seeking Il
ones. ~
Considerable time elapsed before I'll
case could be brought 70 a hearing Al
drew Hermuu, he Ilch uncle. after man
years merchandising in the East Indie
had at last embarked for home aud die
at sea. His death was reported TO ha,
occurred on the 25th of December 49,
that OF Alice's father having happened O
the 24'h OF the same month. Capital
Harris, the commander of the vessel. w,
now absent on another voyage, and h
testimony being deemed material bv hot
parties, it was necessary to wait his r,
turn.
He came at last, and the case WI
brought on.
BY several witnesses Mr.. Barker prove
the death of Alice's father to have take
place ON the Gath of December, at eigl
O'clock in the evening.
Captain Harris was then called. Aft,
few preliminary questions, he WI
asked to state the precise time of Andre
Hermon's death.
Exactly four minutes before 81
o'clock on the morning of the 25th ,
December was the answer
Are you quite certain of that z nj
Barker continued.
Quite; 1T is entered in the log booi
Mr.. Barker paused a moment
Is there any necessity for proceediu
further, Brother Barker?' interposed Il