The National tribune., 1881-12-17


Tom. A few days before he received it, he hat
the name of Mr. Silverton, and he remembered
this as the name of whom he had often heard hi
father speak of as one of his earliest friends. III,
resolved to search him out; and in this was sue
cessful. He found Mr.. SilvertOn extremely kind
and much distressed to hear of the breach that
had taken place between him and his father.
II feel all the mere regret" said he to Tom
because in my younger days, | Joined with
others of my family in repudiating brother who
had married, as we judged beneath him. [ never
saw his face again, and he must, / fear, be long
sought to find some later traces of him on the
Continent, but in vain. [ trust your father will
never feel the remorse that have often felt"
On the receipt of my letter as to his fathers
engagement, Tom again waited upon Mr.. Silver
ton. The latter gentleman read the letter care
fully till he came to the name of the lady-whose
name Tom had not in his former conversations
with him happened to mention-when he at once
exclaimed: why know the lady / saw her
in Paris within these few weeks"
"That can scarcely be-" replied Tom; "she has
been at Atheling for some considerable time"
There is some mystery then," said Mr.. Silver
ton. "Let us 60 at once and see into it." And
they thereupon got conveyance, and drove to
Madame Fayres residence.
1t was, as had been suspected and as related
above. The woman whom Toms father had
pointed out to him as Madame Favre, was an
lmpostor; and Tom determined that immediate
must be taken, or his father might be
made the victim-as he was in reality very nearly
being made-of the woman,s deceptive and prac-
ticed wiles. The woman's real name was Miss
Emma Farthisg, and had no connection with
Madame Favre, except that she had once been
hat lady's companion, and had robbed her and
tbsconded
All this was told to us in a few minutes by
dr. Silyerton; but still the Squire gave no sign
If recovery from the stupor Of agony into which
he revelation had cast him. He only groaned
IS the character of the woman who had deceived
lim was repeated in his hearing.
"But are you quite sure" asked with lawyer
Ike hesitation, that this person we have known
s Madame Favre is the Miss Emma Farthing
vhom you refer to?"
"The best way to settle that ;" said Madame
'avre, who had not hitherto joined in the con-
ersation except by occasional tokens of assent to
IT. Silvert0n's statement" the best way to set
lie that is for us to confront the lady, and see for
urselyes."
eyes, that is right" said Mr. Silverton; and l
I'd the way to the library. The Squire, however,
tmained seated where he was.
Outside the library door, the servant was stand
lg as directed, and he opened the door as we
pproached. l entered first, but only to find the
,om empty! The birds had flown But how?
glance at the half-0pen lattice showed that |
lille the footman had been keeping watch out
de, the two ladies had quietly stepped out and |
caped by the lawn. This was proof sufficient |
the identity of the lady with Miss Emma Far
ling. l could now understand the wild. con-
sed gleam that had lit up her eyes half an hour
efore as the carriage passed the window-she
ust then have obtained a glimpse of the lady
le was personating, and knew that her destiny
as sealed. Further was now able to apprec
e the lady's extreme lberality in making an
'solute conveyance Of all her pretended property
her prospective husband; and her cleverness
arranging that her income should be secured
oOn the broad acres of Atheling NY blood rose
;ainst the sleek and supple deceiyer, as pom
red upon all that had taken place, and especi-
ly upon the fact that for such an adventures
e Squire should have turned his only son out
doors and executed deed of disinheritance
ainst him.
My first impulse was to give orders that the
oman be followed and detained till she could
handed over to justice. But Mr.. Silverton.
sely as l now think, said: NO; let the wretch
creature GO. Her apprehension would oplv
nder the matter public, aud my old frien nd the
uire is already Inundated enough. But it
,uld only be prudent to see that she leaves her
esent place Of abode on the estate as she found ,
and for that reason, it would not be anoiss
ere you to step thither and see to this, while
back to the Squire and make some endeayor :
alleviate his present anguish of mind" I
Acting on this suggestion, though an hour had t
this time elapsed, took my way to the dover
use where the spurious Madame Favre had {
herto baslzed in the sunlight of her temporary I
Od fortune. I felt that also had been imposed /
on, and was consequently in no pleasant frame L
mind as [ walked towards my destination and /
S prepared, if / found the impostor there, to v
eak some very sharp words. But my prepara- V
Us were unnecessary. AS might have thought L
lady was too much an adept at her trade to
ger long on the skirts of detection. Her maid +
all-wOrk, the village girl formerly alluded to, q
8 now sole occupant of the house. Her mis- Fl
So and the maid, she told me, had hurriedIy t