The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-28
MISS M0NKT0N'S MAR
RIAGE.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "a FRENCH HERES
IN HER OWN CHATEAU"
CHAPTER VII-(CoFr1suEp.A

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speaking to her father.
sMr. Barrett has implied that Captain
Crosby is not by birth gentleman" re-
piled Sir George, very dryly. II myself
should be glad to know what he means
Crosby knows why. These things should
be clear and above board. I hate mys-
teries."
"But you told me yourself that he was
. sgentleman. And certainly no one need
ask, said Letitia, in her clear voice.
Crosby bowed his thanks.
Il had every reason to think so; but
there seems some difficulty in the way of
his giving an account Of himself," said
Sir George. I
"Why don't you tell papa all about
itY' said Letitia. "1-we all want to
know" and then she blushed and
stopped suddenly. Fg4
"Can I ask you to trust me 80 far as
to remain in ignorance of my true birth
little longer, without any change in
your opinion Of meT' sale, Crosby, look
ing at her earnestly. ~.
"As long as you please" answered
Letitia. "Say SO too, papa. He has
some good reason" #:
"There you are right, Miss Monkton.
He has very good reason," said Hum
phrey.
"Thep pray tell us what it is" said
Letitia, quite ready in her lovers defense
to look him fearlessly in the face.
eyes; for Heavens sake let us know
what you meanW said Crosby.
His proud bearing as he stood there
, not far from Letitia would not have sug-
gested that he had anything to be
ashamed of. Mrs. Bushe, who had been
feeling very anxious, saw it with pleas
ure, and remembered the mysterious
things he had said the day before. Per-
haps he was prince in disguise-but
who? On the whole, for dear Letitia's
sake, considering the Royal Marriage
Act, she hoped not. ao.
Humphrey Barrett looked slowly
round at them all, and the unpleasant
smile curled his lips again, as he said:
.,.s "Well, you bear me. witness that am
asked to say what know. If Captain
Crosby had been more courteous l
might have kept it to myself but tits
the kindest thing, after all, to open Sir
Georges eyes, He may brave it out if
he likes, standing there, but | have it on
good authority. His father lives in Cork;
he is old Mat Crosby, the tailor. Every
body in the south Of Ireland knows him
we'll"
The announcement had it's differing
effect upon the group that stood round.
Mrs. Bushe turned pale and caught her
breath with Mortified gasp. Sir George
frowned, became extremely red, dropped
his daughters hand, and turned to look
at Crosby. Letitia began to laugh.
As for Crosby, sort of spasm passed
over his face; what it meant nobody
could say for certain, but to Sir George
it Was as good as confession. Especial
ly as, after one glance at Letitia, he made
no attempt to contradict Humphrey, but
stood grave and silent, as if waiting for
somebody else to speak. Humphreys
face slowly frightened and became
triumphant, as Sir Georges darkened
more and more.
"If this is believed, he said to Crosby,
"you have only yourself to thank for it.
Your authority, Mr.. Barrettg'
"a man who was his. servant till lately
Roger Vance,"
"The fellow he turned off," said Sir
George. "There is something queer
about this affair altogether. Crosby,
have liked you, rs you know. If you will
at once tell us frankly who you are, l
will believe your word against Roger
Vance's." 4-
'I thank you, Sir George" said Cros-
by, with the faintest smile. 81 h've Hl-
ready asked you TO trust me. YOU
that could not say anything about my
family at present. l will only repeat
what / said then" lEaf ~
"You will not even say that the fel-
lows story is lieT'
II decline to enter any further into
the subject"
Mrs. Bushe sighed. Letitia was listen
ing almost breathlessly. Sir George
looked completely puzzled for moment,
and then burst into rage.
1HCu yVu dlC VIC sui VI blllS tdllOT,
sir! And for all this time past you have
acted lie, have pushed your way into
the society of gentlemen, have wormed
your way into my confidence! Do you
suppose / should have made a tailors
son my aid-de-camp, have invited you to
my house, and then be subjected to such
unheard-of insolenceW e.J.
II can bear good deal from you, sir"
said Crosby. "But if an honest tailor's
son has wit enough to pass for a gentle
man, I do not see why he should be 50
heavily handicapped. In the English
army the way is open to merit, and you
can hot say that I have not done my
duty as an officer" aeA
at is perfectly impossiblep' said Mrs.
Bushe, no longer abe to Contain herself.
"Look at him, Sir George. A tailor's
sonp 7'ipa ''
Crosby's elegance and distinction. as
he stood there SO calmly in the midst of
the storm, were perhaps more likely to
influence women than men. But Sir
George himself could not look at him
without feeling of some sort.
"Come now. Crosby" he said, IT hate
all thfs tragiieees!! &c! nonsense. Tell me in
plain words that YOU are not this tailor's