Daily Kennebec journal., 1879-04-05
NO.. S6.
Gales ano Skettbes.
THE FATE OF THE FOSBROOKES.
Continued from Yesterday

You must withdraw the brief at any
cost. He will ruin our cause. In my ia
ther's name insist on the withdrawal of
the brief" this in answerto Mr.. Stretton's
visible protest
| thought it quite time to interfere.
As haughtily as himself. stepped for
ward. "Mr. Reginald Fosbrooke pre-
sumo ?'
His bow said "aye, and who on earth
are yOu?"
Your brief sir, and my retaining fee
shall be in Mr.. Stretton's office in less than
twenty minutes. There is no need to
withdraw the case-I throw it up And
| turned on my heel under the archway. |
met my clerk on his way to dinner and
sent him back flying for the offending brief
and Stretton's check, which lay unchanged
in my drawer. / had heard Stretton's re-
monstrance as went and heard the others
annoyed response.
had barely taken three steps after my
clerk when a crash and a shrek called me
back. Reginald Fosbrooke was lying
stunned on the pavement, the page was
scrambling to his feet, bystander had
caught the afi'righted horse, the carriage
wheel was crashing in collision with a cab,
and the lovely occupant was i'm imminent
peril.
Darling forward, managed to extricate
the lady from the phaeton before the piung-
ing animal made wreck of it.
She seemed as liieless as the man on the
ground My clerk was back by this time.
Shouting to him to bring doctor to my
chambers, and to Stretton to have his pros
trate client brought thither. hurried for
ward with the insenslble girl in my strong
,,ln nbai
The couch had soon another occupant.
This will be quieter than shop" |
whispered to Stretton, and we can keep
the crowd out here He nodded a sort of
dozed assent
Before doctor reached us my charge
had revived And then her distress over
her .'dear brother" her "dear Reggy,"
was pitiable to witness.
| did my best to console her, and to as
sure her that her brother was not dead,
only stunned and would doubtless recov-
er shortly; and rs she turned her liquid
eyes in thanks on mine, | felt there was
one Fosbrooke who could never be my
enemy.
A couple OF hours went by before Regi-
nald Fosbrooke gave sign of returning
animation The doctor had muttered
something of conclusion of the brain and
internal injury from the horses hoofs in
sisted on quiet forbade removal and, aside
to Stretton and me, suggested telegraph
ing to friends.
Barbara could almost have guessed
her name had not the injured man mur-
INJURED it. as she knet beside him in sob
ing agony-caught the suggestion and re-
marked simplv-sO simply that I'm sure
the doctor thought her wits were wander
ing-"There is no need, they will already
know of this catastrophe at home.
They must have had telegraph of their
own swifter than that of science Surely
enough. before the close of of the after
noon Squire Fosbrooke- must have
been on the road before our messenge was
dispatched-stood by the side of his eldest
son, and clasped my hand with grateful
earnestness as that OF a stranger, sayinghe
was glad he had found him alive He was
a grave, digniied. but not naughty, man,
preternaturally old, and bent beneath the
heavy burden of memorable fate
He and his daughter took posseion of
my chambers, with many courteous apollo
gies for turning them into hospital, APP
parently unconscious that they were in
debted to more than chance namesake
Only the patient knew my antecedents and
when, at the close of the week, he recog-
nized ne as his involuntary entertainer, he
grew irritably impatient to be removed.
The doctor shrugged his shoulders, his
gentle sister shed tears. his father, Mr..
Stretton. and myself demonstrated The
heir of Fosbrooke was wilful.
He was borne thence with the tenderest
care but barely had he crossed the thresh-
old than violent hemorrhage set in. and
only a lifeless body was carried into the
ghboringboring hotel. A broken rib,
displaced had lacerated some internal
organ.
Mourning did not arrest the law suit.
The Squire, ignorant of Reginald's prohi-
btion, wrungm hand at parting. and said
he was sure his cause was in good hands.
| had gone with them to the station, possi-
bly, drawn thither by the grateful thanks in
Barbara Fosbrooke's every tone and ges-
ture. Then it occurred to the Squire that
| might better understand how the case
stood between him and Myers if went
over the ground and tracked the Foss
brook and he asked me to follow them
down in time for his poor boys funeral.
| went back to my chamber musing.
Two strange events had come to pass, |,
the descendant of Rupert. the discarded,
hau Deen invited To the manor Moreover,
was in love with Barbara.
The manor house was a magnificent pile
with back ground of waving woods. Per-
haps it was the presence of undertakers,
and crowd of funeral guests with mourn
ful robes and faces. made me feel the in
terror so gloomy in its grandeur, nowith-
standing the faint smile of Barbara. and
the courteous reception of Barbara's
mother.
Was it chance that assigned to me- the
latest conner in the crowded mansion. the
apartment at the end Of the corridor? |
had followed the servant mechanically,
my mind filled with Barbara's greeting,
and not his apologies, but my rapid survey
of the hastily-prepared chamber set me
thinking.
A label outside the oaken door showed
that it was set apart for Lawyer Stretton's
friend The hurried and bewildered SER
wants had no conception that they had
shown Rupert Fosbrooks's representative
into Rupert's room.
If had doubt it was dispelled by the