The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-07-14
THE LAWYERS SECRET
By B. L. Farjeon, Author Of "Bread
Cheese and Kisses"
CHAPTER Iv.-CoNTINUEp.

CHAPTER IV.-CoNTINUEp,
"Because, Mrs. Dalton, to answer
you l must first question myself; and
believe me, a man must have consider.
able courage who can dare to ask him.
self whether, in this tiresome Journey OF
life he has taken the right or the wrong
road. l confess myself coward, and
implore you not to compel me to be
brave"
He rose as he finished speaking, and,
looking down at his dress, continued:
The first dinner-bell rang quarter
of an hour ago, and behold me Still in
travelling costume; the sin is yours,
Mrs. Dalton. Till dinner time, adieur'
Ellinor, left alone, sank into gloomy
!reverie.
"What-what can be the mystery of
this mans life?" she murmured to her
self. If l dared-but no, no! dare
not answer that question"
ltwaS difficult to recognize the gloomy
and bitter Horace Margrave of half an
hour before in the brilliant and versa
tile visitor who sat at Sir Lioners right
hand, and whose incessant flow of witty
perSifdgc kept the crowded dinner-table
in a roar of laughter. Ellinor, charmed
in spite of herself, beguiled out of her
self by the fascination of his animated
conversation, wondered at the extraor-
binary power possessed by this man.
$50 brilliant, so accomplished" she
thought; $50 admired, prosperous and
successful, and yet so unhappy"
That evening the post brought Eli
nor letter which had been sent to her
town house, and forwarded thence to
Sir Lionels.
She started on seeing the direction,
and, taking it into the little inner
drawing-room, which was still unten-
anted, she read it by the light of the wax
candle on the chimney-piece. She re-
turned to the long saloon after refold-
ing her letter, and, crossing over to a
hall table. at which Horace Margrave
sat, bending over a portfolio of engrav-
ings, she seated herself near him, and
said:
''Mr. Margave. 1 have just received a
letter from Scotland
From Scotlandr'
eyes. From the dear old minister,
James Stewart. You remember him?"
''Yes; white-headed old man, with
"A family of daughters, the shortest of
whom was taller than l. Doyou CORE
.spond with him?''
"Oh, no. 1t is so many years since
/ left Scotland, that my dear old
friends seem one by one to have dropped
of. l should like so much to have
given them a new church at Achindore,
but Mr. Dalton of course objected to the
Outlay of money; and as that is point
never dispute with him, 1 abandoned
the idea; but Mr.. Stewart has written
to me this time for special purpose"
"And that is?"
''To tell me that my old nurse, Mar
=garet Mackay, has become blind and
infirm, and has been obliged to leave
her situation. Poor dear old soul! she
went into service in Edinburgh, after
my poor fathers death, and l entirely
lost sight of her. l should have pro-
vided for her long before this had l
known where to find her; but now
there is no question about this appeal,
and l shall Immediately settle a hun
-dred year upon her, in spite of Mr..
Dalton's rigid and praiseworthy econ
~omy."
Il fancy Mr.. Dalton will think
hundred year too much. Fifty pounds
for an old woman in the north of Aber-
-deenshire would be almost fabulous
wealth; but you are so superb in your
notions, my dear Ellinor, hard-headed
business men, like Dalton and myself,
can scarcely stand against you
Pray do not compare yourself to
Mr.. Dalton said Ellincr, with quiet
-scorn.
I'm afraid. indeed, 1 must not"
he answered, grayely; ''but you were
ssaying"
THAT in this matter will take no
refusal; no pitiful and contemplate ex-
-cuses or prevarications. J. shall write
to him by to-morrow's post. cannot
get an answer till the next day. If
that answer should be either refusal
or az excuse, l know what course to
taxe"
And that course" -
81 will tell you what it is, when l re-
ceive Henry Dalton's reply. But am
unjust to him." she said, she cannot
refuse to comply with this request"
Three days after this conversation,
lust as the half-hour bell had rung, and
as Sir Lioners visitors were all hurry
ing off to their dressing-rooms, Ellinor
laid her hand lightly on Horace Mar
graves arm. as he was leaving the large
drawing-room. and said:
Pray LET me speak to you for few
minutes l have received MIR. D""an's
answer to my letter"