The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-01-04

C8AHv6N
1t was two days after the scene recorded
in our last chapter, and Mary Hope, with
the Times before her, was answering ad-
vertisements for . governess. Mary was
not one to sit still under the pressure Of
calamity, however heavy, and having got
over the first shOck Of her misfortune, at
once set about bravely to earn her own
livelihood. With this view she was now
seeking to procure . situation, either as
governess or companion, entering upon
her task with Z brave heart, though she
well knew the trials to which such po-
sition would probably expose her. She
had answered three advertisements, and
had folded and sealed her letters, and now,
with her open desk before her, was count.
ing her little store of ready money, and
calculating how long she could at any
rate subsist before she found employment
In replacing her purse, her hand fell upon
portrait, which she took out, and
gazed at fondly. "Dear old Geof-
frey. if you had lived, how diff
ferent my future would have been! I
suppose ought to say Gods will be done,
but, oh, it's very, very hardg" A few
moments she continued gazing through
her tears ut the portrait, when q sharp
knock at the outer door startled her, and
she replaced it in the desk. She heard
Mrs. Murgatroyd in conversation with
some one, and then q quick, well-remem.
bered voice said: "Where! This room !"
And in another moment the door was flung
open, and Mary Hope was sobbing in he.
lost lovers arms.
After the blissful excitement of the
first meeting had subsidized, season of
mutual explanations followed. Godfrey
Howard had been dangerously wounded,
and had been prisoner for the greater
part of year in an Indian dungeon,
where for many weeks his life had hung
on thread by reason of an attack of ma.
lignant fever. His worn and sallow
features, his skin. bronxed to Oriental
swartness, and the scar of deep saber-
cut across his cheek, scarce hidden Ivy
rather ragged beard, bore eloquent witness
to the perils he had passed through. He
had landed in England but twelve hours
previously, and had lost not a 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 nesting by Geoffrey'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 go, 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.
II don't understand it," said Godfrey.
1.-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. l daresay it was meant kind
ly enough, though it has happened so un.
fortunately"
II don't believe it, darling. If he had
really had your interest at heart he would
have regarded safety before all things.
strongly suspect that if all had gone we'll
you would simply have received your
three per cent, and Mr.. Slythorpe would
have pocketed the difference"
80 Godfrey, Godfrey! I'm afraid you
have come home very uncharitable. Be-
side. 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 was only one possible answer to
such an accusation, and Maj. Howard
made it-that is to say, he called Mary q
little goose, kissed her, and dropped the
subject, having taken care, however, to
ascertain the address of Mr.. Slythorpe and
the name of thecompany in which Mary's
money had been lost. On leaving her he
took hanson cab and drove to the Office
of the liquidator of the company, when,
on his stating that he desired to make
some inquiries on behalf of one of their
shareholders, Mr.. SlythOrpe, he was in
formed, to his establishment, that there
was not, and never had been, any share
holder of that name on the books of the
company. He next inquired whether,
perchance, the shares were standing in
Miss Hopes own name, and again was
answered in the negative. Utterly be.
wildercd, he drove to Mr.. Slythorpe's Of
fee. Mr.. Slythorpe was at home, and he
speedily found himself in the attorneys
presence. Mr.. Slythorpe was q little
nervous. He was always little nervous
with strangers till he knew their business;
and Mai. Towards announcement that he
had called on behalf of Miss Mary Hope
did not tend to increase his confidence.
He was, however. far from suspecting
Maj. Towards identity, but jumped to
the conclusion that he was hostile solicit
tor employed by Miss Hope to call him to
account. Mai. Towards next remark
tended 10 confirm that impression.
"You stated to- Miss Hope, l think, a
couple of days ago, that the property be-
queathed to her by her fathers will had
been invested in the Wheal Marina Com
pany, which has just come to grief. You
are of course aware that an Investment
upon such q rotten security was gross
breach of trust, for which you are liable"
"Not at all the power of investment is
unlimited. Indeed, shares of companies
are specially included"
I" You are certain of that?''
"Quite so. drew the will myself"
"Very good. The shares stood, sup
pose, in your own NAME"
"Ye-es; in my name of course as sole
trustee"
"Then pray how is it, Mr.. Slythorpe,
that don't find your name among the
list of shareholders of the company!"
Mr.. Slythorpe's countenance fell.
"Because-because-I may as we'll
make q clean breast of ito tell you the
truth, the money never was in that com.
pany at all. 1t was false alarm, sir, a
false alarm"
"Then where on earth is the money,
sir? And what do you mean by false
alarm?''
"I'n tell you If you'll have little pa
thence. As brother solicitor, I'm sure
you won't press harder on me than you're
quite obliged. Miss Hopes money is in
the Wheal Mary Ann, one of the most
flourishlng companies going, and her
shares are worth just double what gave
for them"
"Then what on earth induced you"
"I'll tell you. Between ourselves, I've
taken an uncommon fancy to Miss Hope,
and had made up my mind to make her
Mrs. s. but somehow she didn't take to
me quite as kindly as l could have wished.
Now, the other morning when I took up
the Times, almost the first thing caught
sight of was the smash of the Wheal
Marina, and the similarity of name gave
me quite turn, for just at the first mo-
ment thought it was the Wheal Mary
Ann. And then the thought struck me,
"If it only had been, may lady, you'd
have been glad enough to say Yes to
Samuel Slythorpe." And then thought
g - A.