The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-01-31

to some five or six thousand pounds,
should rest in Mr.. Slythorpe's hands as
in those of any other person. But of
late the attorney had begun to perse-
cute her with attentions which. under
existing circumstances, would have
been distasteful from anyone, but were
dOubly so from a person whom she
could not help regarding with an in
stinctive dislike. And in truth Mr..
|Slythorpe was not precisely the person
to win fair lady's fancy. Undersiz-
ed, high-shouldered, with blinking
lashless eyes, and general angularity,
not to say knobbiness, of feature, he
might have been expected to rise SUI
perior to any weakness to personal ap-
pearance, 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:
"There's that nasty, worriting law
yer again, do declare. Slythorpe, in.
deed I'd Slythorpe him -
1t would be hopeless to endeav0r to
express on paper the intensity Of
meaning Mss. Murgatroyd threw into
her newly-coined verb. Mary smiled
at the good lady's vehemence.
my dear Mrs. Murgatroyd you
shouldn't be so severe. Mr.. Slythorpe
is a little peculiar, but I have no
doubt he means kindly, and you know
he is the trustee of poor ,papa's will. :"
IL know he il, my dear, and wish
he wasn't. I know he shouldn't be
trustee to a tomcat of mine, drat
him -
At this point the conversation was
interrupted by the entrance of the
gentleman in question, and Mrs. Muir
gatroyd, passing him with final sniff
of adherence, quilted the apartment.
Mr.. Slythorpe, for once in his life
appeared ill at ease. He was got up
with his accustomed care, and the
suggestion of scented soap which &C.
companied him was even stronger than
usual; but his usual satisfied air was
wanting. He evidently had something
Oh his mind.-some piece OF rascality.
''My dear Miss Hope, he began, latter
the first greetings had been exchanged,
81 grieve to be the bearer of very un-
pleasant 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
81 am sure that you believe I did it
for the best; but misfortGnes will
happen, you know, even with the ut.
most care and caution. [ 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't yet told me
Nothing very serious, hope"
''Only too serious, my dear Ma
he tried to say ''Mary,' but couldn' t
get it out, and substituted ssMiss
Hope''- ''nothing less, fear than the
loss Of the whole of your little for.
tune.''
Mary turned very pale, but gave no
happen g she said, with an effort.
''Your money was, as you know, in
the per cents, where it produced a
miserable EGO a year. In the hope of
doing better for you, sold out and in.
vested it 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!
els all gone? Nothing left?'
t'Not a sixpence, and you remain
liable for calls to the amount of about
as much mere.'' '.s
Poor Mary's fortitude quite gave
way. go dear, what shall I do! l
haven't friend in the world.''
''No, no, don't say that, Miss Mary
said slythrope, in gentle patronizing
manner; 1T isn't as bad as that comes
to. haven't disguised my own feel
ings toward you, and, though you've
lost your money, you know that needn' t
make any difference between you and
me. My affection amt of the mercen.
airy sort; in fact as I got you into the
mess Though with the best of inten.
tons, 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
another moment his arm was around
her waist. She drew herself up proud
ly.