Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-01-17

Wa3 wanting. lie oVluonCly uaA SoAe-
thing on his mind-some piece of ras-
cality.
"My dear Miss Hope" he began,
after the first greetings we're over. 81
grieve to be the bearer OF very unpleas-
ant intelligence"
Mary looked up with quiet indiffer-
ence, scarcely believing that, after all
she had gone through, any news, good
or bad, could have for her more than
the most passing interest. Slythorpe
continued:
CT am sure that you will believe
did it for the best; but misfortunes will
happen, even with the utmost caution.
L am sure I thought the Investment was
as safe as the bank; but there's no trust
ing anything nowadays
"What is the misfortune, MIR. Sly
thorpe, for you haven't told me? Moth
ing very serious, hope"
"Only too serious. my dear Ma"
he tried 10 say "Mary," but couldn't
get it out, and substituted MISS
Hope -" nothing less, fear, than the
loss of the whole of your little fortune"
Mary turned very pale, but gave no
other sign of emotion. how did 1t
happen" she said, with an effort.
"Your money was, as you know, In
the per cent, where it produced a
miserable E160 year. In the hope OF
doing better for you, I sold out and IN
vested it in new mining company, the
Wheal Marina, which promised to pay
minimum dividend of 10 per cent. land
SO would have just trebled your income.
And this morning am grieved to find
in the Times that the company is an
utter smash. The Directors have
bolted, and the shareholders will lose
every penny of their money"
els all gone Nothing left ,"
"Not sixpence, and you remain liza
BILE for calls to the amount of about as
much more"
Poor Mary's fortitude quite gave way.
ooh dear, what shall L do ? haven t
friend in the world.
"No, no, don't say that, Miss Mary"
said Slythorpe, in gentle, patronlzng
manner; sit isn't as bad as that comes
to. I havn't disguised my own feelings
towards you, aud though you've lost
your money, you know that needn't
make any difference between you and
me. My affection amt of the mercenary
sort; in fact, as I got you into the mess
Though with the best of intentions,
mind you,) it's only fair [ should get you
out of it.
Mary had hidden her face in her
hands, but she became aware from the
increased intensity of the all-pervading
scented soap aroma that Slythorpe was
drawing nearer to her, and in another
| oronnI hor ICf
She drew herself up proudly.
"Sir, I am willing to believe you
mean kindly, but your offer under such
circumstances is an insult. BE good
enough to leave me-
It was two days after this scene that
Mary Hope, with the Times before her,
was answering advertis ements for gov
erness. She had answered three adver
tisements, and had folded and sealed
her letters, and now, with her desk be-
! fore her, was counting her little store
of ready money, and calculating how
| long she could at any rate subsist be-
fore she found employment. In re-
placing her purse, her hand fell upon a
portrait, which she took out and gazed
at fondly. "Dear old Godfrey, if you
had lived, how different my. future
would have BEEN I suppose [ ought
to lay, Gods will be done, but, 0, it's
very, very hard!' A few moments she
continued gazing through her tears at
the portrait, when a sharp knock at the
outer door startled her. and she replaced
it in the desk. She heard Mrs. Murga-
troyd in conversation with some one,
and then a quick, well-remembered
voice said, " Where! This room!' And
in another moment the door was flung
open, and Mary Hope was sobbing IN
her lost lovers arms.
Godfrey Howard had been danger
ously wounded, and had been prison
er for the greater part OF a year IN an
Indian dungeon, where for many weeks
his life hung upon thread by reason
of an attack of malignant fever. He
had landed in England but twelve hours
previously. and had lost not moment
in seeking the presence of his darling
and her father, for he was, of course,
ignorant of Bernard Hopes death.
Mary, too, had much to tell, and nest
ling by Geofrey's side. her little white
fingers hidden in the rugged brown
hands Of her lover, which held them as
though they would never again let them
20, she told him all she had gone
through-the loss of her father, the
history of the will, and, lastly, the loss
of her little fortune.
ST don't understand it," said Geof.
frey. "The man has been playing some
very deep game"
"Perhaps he really wished to get me
more-what do you call it Interest for
my money. [ dare say it was meant
kindly enough, though it has happened
so unfortunately"
"I don't believe it, darling. If all
had gone we'll you would simply have
received your three per cent, and Mr.,
Slythorpe would have pocketed the diff
ference"
go, Godfrey, Geofrey! I'm afraid
you have came home very uncharita BILE
Besides, what does it matter about LOT
of stupid money, now I have got you
back again? Unless, indeed, you
would have liked me better for having
the money"
There is only one psssible answer tc
such an accusation, and Maj. Howard
,o,Jo r.. that io RI COW bo called Mary