The Owosso times., 1881-10-28


Sir Geoffrey,' said Elinor, after his
orders had been accomplished, .is it pos
sible that you connected me with this
assaultY
Not directly, he answered, reluctant
ly.
My head was not clear about the
events of that night, and 1 thought
that to your lover or your husband, it
might have seemed as though 1 was
spying upon YOU
so that is why you would not prose-
cute? You are a noble fellow said
the girl, much moved.
Sir Geoffrey's convalescence was
rapid. Soon, but for carrying his
right arm in sling, all trace Of his
accident had disappeared. Certainly
he no longer needed nurse. Besides,
Mrs. Griffiths had recovered from her
slight illness, and was only too ready
to take Elinor's place. But the worthy
woman's literary accomplishments were
of the slightest, and the doctor having
told Geoffrey to spare his eyes, he
spared them with praisewOrthy deter
mination, and Elinor was called upon
continually to read aloud or write for
him.
He could not have been much inter-
ested in her reading, for one day, after
a long silence on his part, he broke in
to the middle of a sentence with:
Have you succeeded in the purpose
which brought you to RedwoodY u
No. she answered, in startled and
breathless tone, which showed how far
away from the subject was her mind.
Will you tell me what it is, and let
me help you in it?'
Sir Geoffrey, I came here to do you
a great injury
well, 1 wish to help you. You need
not look at me like that. am in earn
est. AS far as 1 can make out, you are
searching for some document which
you think it to my interest to suppress.
Please believe that / am sufficiently
honest man not to do anything of the
kind. If it is a will
1T is not will
well, whatever it is, if it ought to
be made public, shall not try to pre-
vent it. All my own papers are in the
desk of which 1 once gave you the keys.
Did you search thoroughly
Il did; and, Sir Geoffrey, I wanted to
tell you then that your letters would
be sacred to me. 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, and a book
which l believe to be his journal, are
in that small Indian cabinet. The
key
Sir Geoffrey, Grifiths had
raped unheeded several times, and
now opened the dOor-'can you spare
Elinor? She is wanted up stairs
NO, 1 can not returned her master,
irritably; 4 want her here. 1t seeing
to me that you are continually inter
rupting us, Mrs. Griffiths.'
Il try to do my duty, SIR dryly.
Now, what do you mean by that? ?
Speak outp ...
The housekeeper having come for
that purpose, would now have retreat
ed if she could. She stammered, hesi-
tated, and did all she could to render
herself unintelligible. aHn..f.
Not that she thought any harm her
self --oh, dear no! Elinor was as well
behaved young woman as she had
ever met, but, when a young woman
was that handsome, she needed to be
Especially careful. Servants would
talk. and she did think, with her duty
to Sir Geoffrey, he'd ought to have been
more careful.
At this point Sir Geoffry's patience
utterly forsook him.
DO you mean to say he thundered,
that the servants have dared-have
dared to speak disrespectfully of this
young lady2'
Mrs Griffiths intimated that such in
deed was her meaning.
There can be but one answer to that.
Elinor, will you honor me by becoming
my wife9
No, Sir Geoffry, ] will not she re.
turned. while admire your chival.
ry-'
'Chivalry be-that is to say, don't
you know / have been idiotically In
Hove with you since the first day ever
saw youp This good woman has mere
ly precipitated matters
In that case, Sir Geoffry, / can only
thank you for your kindness to me.and
leave your house,
The girls voice was faint, and she
trembled very much when she rose te
leave the room, leaning on Mrs. Grif
fiths, who was pleased to signify hel
approval of her conduct.
wait minute, Elinor. Mrs. Grif
fiths, you may co. The housekeepel
curtesied and withdrew. You must
finish your search before you leave Red
wood. Here is the key to the Indian
cabinet
oh, no. she cried, bursting int
tears, Il can not let you help on youl
own ruin. * - - A
4 wish your .tender-heartednes'
would take another direction. Elinor
why will you not be my wifep Yo,
will not answer ?? Well, perhaps / shall
find the solution of all this myster,
here AS he spoke, he unlocked tn,
Indian cabinet. 9AM o. sr1 yniwol.E
Letters bills--more letters. Thi
| is Sir Henry's journal, I think. Ha
What's thisp A slip of paper date'
some twenty years back-a certificat
of marriage between Sir Henry Staines
Bart, and Margaret Scott, spinster.'
The young man continued to gaze a
the slip of paper, scarcely taking il
what it meant.
Don't you seep Your cousin was
married man secretlv all these wears