The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-01-03


difference between you AMI me. My
affection amt of the mercenary sort; in
tact, as got you into the mess Though
with the best of intentions, mind you)
it's only fair l should get you out OF it,"
Mary had hidden her lace in her
hands, but she became aware from the
increased intensity of the all-pervading
scented soap aroma that Slythrope was
dra wing nearer to- her, and In another
moment his arm was around her waist.
She drew herself up proudly.
"Sir, am Willing-tO believe you mean
kindly, but your offer under such cir-
Gums tances is an insult. Be good
enough to leave me-"
1t was two days after this scene that
Mary Hope, with the Times before her,
was answering advertisements, for a
governess. She had answered three ad-
Vertisements, and had folded and sealed
| her letters, and now, with her desk
before her, was counting her
| little store of ready money,
and calculating how long she could az.
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
Godfrey, if you had lived, how different
my future would have bgenl suppose
|
lIRs very, very hardW "A few moments
she continued gazing through her tears
at the portrait, when a sharp knock at
| the outer door startled her, aud she re-
placed itin the desk. She heard Mrs.
| Murgatroyd in conversation with some
one, and then a quick, well-remembered
| voice said, "Where? This r0omp And
in another moment the door was flung
open, and Mary Hope was sobDing in
| her lost lovers arms.
| Geoffrey Howard had been danger
ously wounded, and had been prisoner
| Tor the greater part OF the year in an In
dian dungeon, where for many weeks
his life hung upon thread Dy reason OF
an attack OF malignant fever. He had
landed In England but twelve hours pre-
| yiouslY, and mad 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 Geo1frey's
side, her little white fingers hIdoen in
the rugged brown hands of her lover,
which held them as though they would
never let them go, she tolu him all she
had gone througn-the loss OF her father,
the history of the will, and, lastly, the
loss of her little fortune.
81 don't understand it," said Godfrey
'sThe 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 dare say it was meant
kindly enough, though it has happened
so unfortunately"
81 don't believe it darling. If all had
| zone well you would simply have re-
ceived your 8 per cent, and MIR. Sly
thorpe would have pocketed the differ
ence."
30, Geoffrey, Geoffrey Pm afraid you
have come home very uncharitable. Be-
sides, what does it matter about lot of
stupid money, now l have got you bac k
again? Unless, indeed, you would have
liked me better for having the money"
There is only one possible answer to
such an accusation, and Maj. Howard
made it; that is to say, he called Mary o
little goose, kissed her, and dropped the
subject. On leaving her, he took Han
som cab and grove to the office of the
| liquidator of the company, when, on his
stating that he desired to make some in
quiries on behalf of one of their share
| holders, Mr.. Slytnorpe, he was informed
| to his astonishment tnat there was not,
and never had been, any shareholder of
| that name on the books OF the Company.
| He next inqired whether, perchance, the
shares were standing in Miss Hopes own
name, and again was answered in the
negative. utterly bewildered, he drove
to MIR. Slythorpe's office. Mr.. Slythorpe
was at home, and he speedily found him
self in the attorneys presence. Mr..
Slythorpe was little nervous. He was
ALWAYS little nervous with strangers
| till he knew their business, and Major
Howard's announcement that he had
called on benalf Of Miss Mary Hope did
not tend to increase his confidence. He
was, however, far from suspecting Ma
Ijor Howard's identity, but jumped to the
conclusion that he was hostile solici-
tor employed by Miss Hope to call him
to account. Major Howard's next re-
mark tended to confirm that impression.
"You stated to Miss Hope, 1 think,
q couple of days ago, that the property
bequeaJhed to her by her tathers will
had been invested in the Wheal Marina
Company, which has just come to grief
You are of course aware that an invest.
ment upon such rotten security was a
gross breach Of trust, ior which you are
liable"
'.Not at all; the power OF investment
is unlimited. Indeed, shares OF compa.
MES are specially included.'
"You are certain of thatW
"Ouite SO. l drew the will myseIf.n
hH cry ROUus uO bUUOu, L SUD,
pose, in your own name"
| "Ye-es; in my name, Of course, as sole
Trustee"
''Tnen pray how is it, Mr.. slythorpe,
that I DON'T ind your name among tue
list OF shareholders OF the Companyp
Mr.. Slythorpe's countenance fell.
"Because-because- may as well
make clean breast OF Ito tell you the
truth, the money never was In that Com
pany at all. 1t was a false alarm, sir, a
lalse alarm" -.......
"rhen where on earth is the money
sir? And what DO you mean by a false
alarmW
spa tell you, if you'll have a little
patience. AS a brother solicitor, Pm
sure you WOMB press harder on me than
you're quite obliged. Miss Hopes money
is in the Wneal Mary Ann, one of the
most fourlshing companies going. ant
her shares are worth just double what
gave Tor them."
"Then what on earth Induced you-
"Pll tell you. Between ourselves
4 pve taken an uncommon fancy to Miss
Hope, and had made up my mind tt
make her Mrs. s.; but somehow she
didn't take to me quite as kindly a:
. l could have wished. Now, the Other
morning, when L took up the Times