River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-02-01

''Only too serious. my dear Ma,
he tried to say MARY" but couldn't
get it out, and substituted miss
Hope"-"nOthing less, fear, than the
loss of the whole of your little for
tune"
Mary turned very pale, but gave no
other sign of emotion. Chow did it
happen I" she said, with an effort.
"YOur money vas, as you know. in
the per cents, where it produced a
miserable EGO a year. In the hope of
doing better for YOU. sold ont and in
vested il in a new mining company,
the Wheal Marina, which promised TO
pay a minimum dividend of 10 per
cent, and so would have Just trebled
your income. And this morning | am
grieved to find from the Times that
the company is in utter smash. The
directors have bOlted. and the share
holders will lose every penny of their
money"
sis all gone! Nothing leftl''
''NOt a sixpence, and you remain
liable for calls to the amount of about
as much more"
Poor Mary's fortitule quite gave
way. 80 dear, what shall / dot
haven't a friend in the world"
"No, no, don't say that, Miss Mary"
said Slythrope, in a gentle patronizing
manner; 1T isn't as bad as that comes
to. haven't disguised my own feel
Iings toward you, and, though you've
| lost your money, you know that needn' {
make any difference between you and
H1e. My affection amt of the mercen-
airy sort; in fact as | got you into the
mess Though with the best of inten-
tions, 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-pervad-
ing scented soap aroma that SlythrOpe
was drawing nearer to her, and in an
lanOther moment his arm was around
her waist. She drew herself up proud
lily.
Sir, l am willing to believe you
mean kindly, but your offer under such
circumstances 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 three advertise
ments. and had folded and sealed her
letters, and now with her open desk
before her, was counting her little
store of ready money, and calculating
how long she could at any rate SUBJ
| sist before she found employment. In
replacing her purse, her hand fell up
on a portrait, which she took out and
gaZed on fOndly. Dear old Godfrey, if
you had lived, how different my future
would have beenl l suppose [ ought to
say Gods will be done, but, o, 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. Murgatroyd in conversation
with some one, and then quick, well
remembered voice said, "Wheret 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 a prison.
er for the greater part of year in an
Indian dungeon, where for many weeks
his life had hung on a thread by reas
on OF an attack of malignant fever. He
had landed in England but twelve
IhOuTs previously, and had lost not q
moment in seeking the presence OF
his darling and her father, for he wa:
lOf course ignorant of Bernard Hope:
death. Mary too, had much to tell
and nesting by Geoffrey's side, hel
little white fingers hidden in the rug
lged-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 ia
Their. the history of the will. and lastly
the loss of her little fortune.
'.IdOn't underestimate. said Godfrey
The man has been playing some very
deep game.
perhaps he wished to get me NOR,
what do you call it!-interest for m,
money. | dare say it was meant kind
ly enough, though it has happened 81
unfortunately.
Il don't believe it darling. If al
had gone well you would simply hav'
received your three per cent, and Mr.
lSlythOrpe would have pOcketed the diff
ference"
"Oh, Godfrey, GeoffreyI I'm afrait
lyOu have come home very uncharita
, BILE. Besides, what does it matte
about lot OF stupid money, now l hav,
got you back again Unless, indeed
you would have liked me better 70
having the money"
There is only one possible answer t
, such an accusation, and Maj. HOwar'
/ made il, that is to say, he called Mar,
i. a little goose, kissed her, and droppe,
the subject. On leaving her he took
hanson cab, and drove to the Office o
the liquidator of the company, when
; on his stating that he desired to max
: some inquiries ON behalf of one of thei
. shareholders, Mr.. Slythorpe, he wa
. Informed, to his establishment, tina
. there was not, and never had been an,
, shareholder of that name on the book
, of the company JIe then inquiries
whether, perchance, tie shares wer
standing in Miss Hopes own name, AM
again was answered in the negative
Utterly bewildered, he drove to MI
? lSlythOrps's office. Mr.. Slythorpe..wa
at home, and he speedily found him
! self in the attorneys presence. MI
. lSlythOrpo was a little nervous. III
was always a little nervous with strang
: ers till he knew their business. an
? Mr.. Howard's announcement that h
had called on behalf of Miss Mary Hop
did not tend to increase his confidence
| He was, however, far from suspectin
: Maj. Towards identity, but jumped t
the conclusion that he was hostile Sc
: licitOr employed by Miss Hope to ca
him to account. Maj. Towards mex
remark tended to confirm that impre:
D sion.
"YOu stated to Miss Hope, think,
D couple of days ago, that the propert
bequeathed to her by her fathers Wi
had been invested in the Wheal MAJ
j ina company, which has just come t
e grief. You are of course aware tina
o an investment upon such rotten ST
' curity was a gross breach of trust, 70
- which you are liable"
l. q fh0 ,,nxr-av Of