Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1881-07-06

be made public I shall not try to prevent
it: All of my papers are in the desk of
which once gave you the keys. Did
you search thoroughly"
90 did, and Sir Godfrey, I wanted to
tell you then that your letters would be
sacred to me. I did not read line OF
them. Do you believe me?''
Thoroughly. We may conclude,
then, that the document is not there.
Now, the late baronet's papers aud n
book, which believe to be his journal,
are in that small Indian cabinet. The
key"
"Sr GeoArey"- GriAiths had
raped unheeded several times, and now
opened the door, can you spare
E]inor? She is wanted upstairs"
"No, cannot" returned her master,
irritably; II want her here. It seems
to me you are continually interrrpting
us. Mrs. Griffiths.
I try to do my duty, sir, dryly.
"Now, what do you mean by that?
Speak out"
The housekeeper having come for that
she could. She stammered, hesitated,
and did all she could to render herself
unintelligible.
Not that she thought any harm her
self-oh, dear, no! Elinor was as we'll
behaved a young woman rs she had ever
met; but when q young woman was that
handsome she needed to be especially
careful. Servants would talk, and she
did think, with her duty to Sir Godfrey,
that he'd ought to ha' been more care
full.
At this point Sir Geoffrey's patience
entirely forsook him.
''Do you mean to say" he Numbered,
that the servants have dared-have
dared to speak disrespectfully Of this
young lady q
Mrs. Gritfiths intimated that such, in
deed, was her meaning.
There can be but one answer to that.
Elinor, will you honor me by becoming
my wife ?"
"No, Sir Godfrey, I will not" she
returned. "While I admire your chiv.
airy" ~,
you know I have been idiotically in love
since the first day I ever saw you? This
good woman has merely precipitated
Matters"
In that case, Sir Geoffrey, can only
thank you for your constant kindness to
me and leave your house.
The girls voice was faint, and she
trembled very much as she rose to leave
the room, leaning Oh Mrs. Griffiths, who
was pleased to signify her approval of
her conduct.
"Wait minute, Elinor. Mrs. Grit
fths, you may CO." The housekeeper
courtesied and withdrew. "You must
finish your search before you leave Red
wood. Here is the key of the cabinet
COB, no, she cried, bursting into
tears, {" / cannot let you help on your
OWL ruin"
"Iwish your tender-heartednessw would
take another direction. Elinor why will
you not become my wife? You will not
answer? Well, perhaps I shall find the
solution of this mystery here" AS he
spoke, he unlocked the Indian cabinet.
"Letters- bills-more letters. This is
Sir Henry's journal, I think. Ha
What's this ?"
A slip of paper dated some twenty
years back. A certificate of marriage
between Sir Henry Staiues, Bart, of
and Margaret Scott, spinster.
The young man continued to gaze at
the slipof paper, scarcely taking in what
it meant.
"Don't you see? Your cousin was
married man secretly MI these years, and
I am his daughter. swore to prove
the lnarriage-not for the estate, oh, not
for tho esttte-but for the sake of my
mothers henor."
"Then you are Elinor Staines," SLOW
~, "and beiress of Redwood. Yes, 7
understand now. Cousin-you are my
cousin you know, in some degree or
is the finest property in the
country. I congratulate you on your
success; I wish you every happiness.
Happiness y fairly sobbing-"oh,
Geoffrey, I don't want to take it away
from your
Tten somehow she was crying on his
shoulder, and he found his arm going
round her unrepulsed.
If he could forgive her and if her
mother would not mind, she murmured
incoherently. And then Godfrey
Staines knew that she had learned to love
her enemy.