Litchfield enquirer., 1878-11-28
Rirhtbodv. my late husband, was interested

This time 1t seemed an age to MrS rlgHC- body before the men returned from then solemn consultation in the corner. She could both hear and feel that their discussion was more animated than their previous confer ences. She was little mortified. however, when they sat down, to. hear Seventy Four say slowly:
 "We wish ts say that we don't allow to say boo much" r- ->
 Do you think that the sacred compact, between Mir. Rightbody and Mir. Silsbee referred to her ?" -~----,z .----. -
 .'We reckon it do. L1j &5 ~e = < <
 Mrs. Rightbody, flushed and animated, would have given worlds had her daughter been present to hear this undoubted confrma- ton of her theory. Yet she felt a little nerv- ous and uncomfortable, even on this threshold of discovery,
 ''She's in Tuolmne, ]" said Seventy Four
 "A little better looked arter than formerly, |" added Seventy Five. . q see Then MT. silsbee enticed her away?"
 "Well, ma'am it aoos allowed as she runned away. But it wasn't proved, and it generally wasn't her style" d d. S-' \
 Mrs. Rightbody trifed with her next ques- tion.
 ''She was pretty, of course ?"
 The eyes of both men brightened.e s zF
 ''She was that F' said Seventy Feur en- phatically.
 '1t would have done you good to see her," added Seventy Five.
 Mrs. Rightbody inwardly doubted it but before she could ask another question, the tive men again retired to the corner for consulta- tion. When they came back there was shade more kindliness and confidence in their man. ner, and Seventy Four opened hls mind more freely. A1gz z & --~s lA&41% scsI f I@@5. @J
 ''We wish to say ma'am, looking at the thing, by and large, in a fair-minded way that ez yOu seem interested, and ez Mir. Right body was interested, and was, according to all accounts, de eceived and led away by Silsbee, that we don't mind listening to any proposition gou might make, as lady, -aliowin' you was ekaily interested"
 Il understand" :" said Mrs. Rightbody quick ly. "And you will furnish me with any pa pers." Il 3ExTlE% ~ The two men again consulted.
 ''We wish to say, ma'am, that we think she's got papers, but"
 '1 must have them, you understand" inter- rupted Mrs Rightbody, ''at any price," / ba "We was about to say, ma'am," said Seventv-Five slowly, ''that, considerin' all things-and you being lady7-you kin have her, papers, pedigree and guarantee for twelve hundred dollars"
 It has been alleged that Mrsy Rightbody asked only one question more, and then faint
 
 day it was understood in Deadwood that Mrs. Rightbody had confessed to the vigilance con- mittee that her husband, celebrated Boston millionaire. anxious to gain possession of Abner Springer's well-kown sorrel mare had melted the unfortunate Josh Silsbee to steal it !; and that finally, failing in this, the widow of the diseased Boston millionaire was now in person. al negotiation with the owners.
 Howbeit, Miss Alice, returning home that afternoon, found her mother with a violent headache.
 ''We will leave here by the next steamer" said Mrs. Rightbody, languidly. ''Mr. Ryder has promised to accompany us.
 "But mother"
 ''The climate, Alice, is cverrated., My nerves are already suffering from it. The associations are unfit for you, and MT. Marvin is naturally impatient" -, .- Miss Alice colored slightly. A
 "But your quest, mother ?"
 'Tve abandoned it."
 "But have not" said Alice, quietly. ''Do you remember my guide at the Yosemite Stanislaus Joe? We'll, Stanisaus Joe is-who Mrs. Rightbody was languidly indifferent
 Well, Stanislaus Joe is the son of Joshua Silsbee."
 Mrs. Rightbodys sat upright in astonish- ment. -N @5'a A47J AI.R ef I ''Yes but, mother he knows nothing of what we know. His father treated. him | shamefully, and set him cruelty adrift years | ago and when he was hanged the poor fel- | low, in sheer disgrace, changed his name" But if he knows nothing of his fathers ! compact, of what interest is this ?" &. D.
 Oh, nothing Only thought it might lead Mrs; Rightbody suspected that sfsomething" and asked sharply:
 ''And pray how did you find it out2 You dld not speak of it in the Valley" "Oh didn't find it out until today" l said Miss Alice. walking to the window 'He | happened to be here, and-told me-" If Mrs. Rightbody's friends had been astounded by her singular and unexpected pilgrimage to California so soon after her husbands decease, they were still more as- founded by the information, year later, l that she was engaged to be married to @ Mir. Ryder, of whom only the scant history was know that he was Californian, and former correspondent of her husband It was unde- niable that the man was wealthy, and evident ly no mere adventurer; it was rumored that he was courageous and manly but even those who delighted in his odd humor were shocked at ms grammar and slang. It was said that MT. Marvin had but one interview win his 1 father-in-law elect, and returned so suplemely IL. Il horse stealing story, more or less gsrbled, l teund It's way through lips that pretenGed to decry it, yet eagerly repeated it. Only one member of the Rightbody family-and a new one-saved them from atter ostracism. t was young MT. Ryder, the adopted son, Of the prospective head of the household, whose culture, manners, and general elegance hsci mated and thrilled Boston with new sensa- ton 1t seemed to many that Miss Alice l. should, in the vicinity of this rare excite. for get her former enthusiasm for a professional Ire; but the young man was pitied by society, and various plans for diverting him from any l mesotta'ce with the RghtbodY family wsre conceded. It was a wintry night, and the second anniversary of MT. Rightbody's death, that a E nght was burning in his library. But the dead mans chair was occupied by young MT. Ryder, adopted son of the now proprietor of l the mansion, and before him stood Alice, with ] her dark eyes fixed on the table.
 There must have been something in it, | zoe, oeheve me- Did you never hear your father speak of mine ?'' ''Never" |
 but you say he was college bred, and born. gentleman, and in his youth he must have had many friends |"
 Alice, said the young man gravely, 4sswhen have done something to redeem my name, and wear 1t again before these people, before yOu, it would be well to revive the mast Rut till then"
 But Alice was not to be put down.
 Il remember, she went on, scarcely heed ing hum, that when came in that night papa was reading letter, and seemed to be discon- l certed" N'oon IA letter ?" A TT s~Tss ssYes; butt added Alice. win a s;cb when we found him here insensible, there | was no letter on his person. He must have destroyed it," Did you ever look among his papers ? If found, it might be clue.' The young man glanced toward the cabinet Alice read his eyes, and answered.:
 "Oh dear, mo- The cabinet contained on,y his papers all perfectly arranged, ,-you know how methodical were hls habits,-and some