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


able signs OF the summons which none
can refuse to answer. A weeping girl
knelt by the bedside, her race bent over
the nerveless hand which lay upon the
coYerlet, and which she held as though
by that conyulsive clasp she could hold
her father still to life. "A t q table, e0V-
cred with papers and writing-materials,
satthe dying mars solicitor, engaged
in the preparation of his will. ''What
names shall Iinsert as trustees? You
should have two at least"
The dying man paused ere he replied
with an effort:
"Geotfrey Howard, Major One Hun
dred and Eleventh, now in India. have
no other friend"
"In that case may I venture to offer
my humble services, subject to the
usual proViso. should be delighted TO
be useful TO Miss Hope; and if your
friend is abroad, there may be difficult
ties"
"True, Slythorpe, thank you. Make
yourself trustee, then, with Mai. How
ard. Legacy-$200 for your trouble"
"Nay, my dear sir, quite unnecessary.
l really"
But AGAIN the ready pen travelled over
the paper, and a quarter of an nour later
Mr.. Slythorpe announced that the docu-
ment was ready for execution, and in u
low mechanical monotone read over its
provisions.
eyes, that will do. Give me the pen,"
he said, and with a shaking hand affixed
his signature. -." Thank God, THAT'S
safep he gasped. "Mary, my Guild, you
and Geoffrey-you and Geotfroy! What
was saying? God bless you, my dar-
ling! God Uless-"
These were the last words Bernard
Hope ever spoke.
A year had passed away since Ber-
nard Hopes death, and Mary still re-
manned an inmate OF the house OF Mrs.
Murgatroyd, the good woman whom We
have seen in attendance at her fathers
last illness, and who, to her occasional
occupation as nurse, added the more
permanent one OF letting lodgings. Ma
ry's sweet tace and gentle manner had
quite won the heart OF her good-natuFed
landlady, who was unceasing in her en-
deaVurs to soothe her grief and minister
| to her comforts. But she had another
trouble-none the less hard to bear that
| it was one in which she could have few
contidantes. Maj. Howard, of whom
mention has already been made, was not
only her fathers most valued friend, but
mad insensibly grown very dear to her.
self, and when, six months before Ber-
nard Hopes death, he was summoned
with his regiment to India, he lett Mary
his promised bride. Twice he had writ
ten within the first few weeks Of his de-
parture, since which time there had been
terrible silence, and in the same week
which left Mary fatherless, second
blow fell upon her. The One Hundred
and Eleventh had been engaged in a
smart skirmish, the number Of dead and
| 1nI hnin do
Godfrey Howard was reported among
| the fallen, and Mary had to mourn at
once her lover and her father.
The death of Major Howard left Mr..
Slythorpe sole trustee of Mr.. Hopes
will. This to Mary was matter of the
most perfect indifference. 6uspecting
evil of no one, she was as willing that
her little fortune, amounting to some
five or six thousand pounds, should rest
in MIR. Slythorpe's hands as in those OF
any other person. But OF late the attor-
ney had begun to persecute her with at
tentions which, under existing circum-
stances, would have been distasteful
| from any other, but were doubly so from
person whom she could not help re-
| gardIng with an instructive dislike. And
| in truth Mr.. Siythorpe was not precisely
the person to win young lady's fancy.
Undersized, ,high-shouldered, with blink
ing, lashless eyes, and general angu-
larity, not to say knobbiness, of feature,
he might have been expected to rise su.
perlor TO any weakness as to personal
appearance, but such was by no means
the case. Mr.. Slythorpe one morning
knocked at Mrs. Murgatroyd's door.
That good lady was at the moment en-.
gagged in busting Miss Hopes room,
and catching sight Of his approach, ex.
claimed:
"rhere's that nasty worriting lawyer
again, do declare. SlythOrpe, indeed
Pa Sly thorpe himw
| IL would be hopeless to endeavor to
express on paper the intensity of mean.
ling Mrs. Murgatroyd threw into hel
ly-ooined verb. Mary smiled at The
good lady's vehemence.
"My dear Mrs. Murgatroyd, you really
shouldn't be SO severe. Mr.. Slythorpe
is little peculiar, but have no doubt
he means kindly, and you know he is
| the Trustee of poor papa's will"
| 81 know he is, my dear, and l wish he
wasn't. know he shouldn't be Trus-
tee to tomcat of mine, drat himW
| At this point the conversation was in
terrupted by the entrance OF the gentle
man in question, and Mrs. MurgaGroyd,
| passing nim with a final sniff OF abnor.
| renee, QulJteu Gne apartment,
Mr. Slythorpe, for once in his life, ap.
peared ill at ease. He was got up with
| his accustomed care, and the suggestion
of scented soap which accompanied him
was even stronger than usual; but his
usual selt-satistied air was wanting. He
evidently had something on his mind
some piece of rascality.
| "My dear Miss Hope, ;" he began, after
| the first greetings had been exchanged
II grieve to be the bearer OF very un
pleasant intelligence"
| Mary looked up with quiet indiffer-
ence, scarcely believing that, after al
she mad gone through, any news, gooC
or bad, could nave for her more than the
most passing interest. Slythorpe con
tinued:
81 am sure that you will believe die
it for the best; but mIsfortunes will
happen, you know, even with the ut
most care and caution. l am sure
thought the Investment was as safe as
the bank; but there's no trusting any
thing nowadays"
"What is The misfortune, Mr.. Sly
thorpe, for you haVen'C told meY Moth
ing very serious, hope"
| "Only too serious, my dear Ma"-ht
tried to say MARY" but couldn't get il
out, and substituted "Miss Hope"-
.'nothing less, l fear, than the loss o
the whole of your little fortune"