Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-11-09

! Cripps had contrived to get struck off
the rolls, and at the present time, iudg-
| ing trom appearances, was at very low
water ind ed Bnt the fact of this man
having been instrumental in proving
the death of the first Mrs. Lancaster
seemed to invest his communication
with peculiar interest and Importance.
"rhe truth is, Mr.. Lancaster" said
Mr.. Grips, when he and Medwyn Lam
caster met ~ appointment. ~ have
discovered quite recently, by the 'mer-
| est accident, that | was mistaken in the
conclusion l arrived at CONCERNING the
death of that lady"
"What do you mean? Explain
| yourself" said Mr.. Medwyn Lancaster
| sharply.
"Hymanum est errare, Mr.. Lancaster,
| as We used to say at school," returned
Mr.. Grips, blinking his bloodshot eyes,
81 traced Mrs. Lancaster to various places
| and at length obtained 4 certificate of her
| death and burial. She. was buried, if you
| recollect, Under her maiden name of Ann
| Williams"
"Yes-yes, I recollect." said Mr.. Med
| wvn Lancaster impatieutly.
"Well, sir, to frank with you, after all
| these years, | rather jumped at conclu-
sions," continued Mr.. Cripps, ingenious
ly. Gam Williams is unfortunately a
| common name"
'Do you mean to imply, then, that the
certificate you obtained for me referred
to another person. exclaimed Mr.. Ian
caster in startled tones.
THAT is 50, SIR" replied Mr. Cripps,
"What. is more, have reason to believe
that the lady we were in search of is
still alive. l would undertake to pro-
duce her if necessary"
Medwyn Lancaster starts to his feet in
great agitation. If his brothers first
wife was still living, it followed as
caster was illeoitiinate, and could not
! therefore legally inherit his fathers
property. He was 50 startled and over
whelmed by the extraordinary revel-
alton that for some moments he could
hardly control his emotion, and was quite
incapable of sober reflection. Mean
while, the eX-lawyer sat watching
him with an expression of low cunning
and ill-concealed exultation, the sight
OF which quickly recalled him to his
senses.
''Whv did you first communicate with
me anoymouslv??" he inquired abruptly,
resuming his seat and looking the lawyer
straight in his face.
because | wished to make sure you
were disposed to move in the matter"
replied Mr.. Grips somewhat disconcert-
ed. "Besides, i did not expect YOU
would remember my name"
Mr.. Medwyn Lancaster was shrewd
man OF the world, and this answer con-
firmed suspicion which had suddenly
crossed his mind. He now felt convinc-
ed that the mans story was lie, con
ceived with the object of Turing him in
to a base conspiracy against his broth
er's son. The anonymous letter had no
doubt been written in order to test his
nephew's inheritance. Mr.. Chipp's
manners and appearances were no doubt
calculated to arouse distrust, but Med
wyn Lancaster had an additional reason
for disbelieving him. The fact was that
though he had employed the man to OBJ
tain evidence Of the death of his broth
er's first wife, he had not been content
to rely on the result of his investiga-
tons Without confederation. In the ex-
cess of his zeal and disappointment, he
had subsequently &ken infinite pains to
verify the information Mr.. Cripps had
obtained, and had convinced himself
beyond a doubt of its correctness.
1t was Il symptom of an unhealthy
frame of mind that he neither expressed
nor felt Indignation at the mans infa.
nous design. The only sentiment he
was conscious of was keen disappoint-
ment. Yet at the bottom of his heart
there lurked dark and dangerous
scheme for turning the ex-ldwyer's base
ness to account. 1t suddenly occurred
to him that Arthur was just the sort of
lad to be easily imposed upon by an I'M
scrupulous scoundrel like Grips. If he
could be induced to believe that he was
not legally entitled to his Inheritance
there was no knowing what might hap
pen. The young man had the reputa-
ton of being Chivalrous and honorable
almost to the point of absurdlty, and 1t
was quite possible that he might volun-
tarilv renounce hi,Enirthright to avoid
unpleasant disclosures. The bare idea of
such contingency set Medwyn Laacas-
ter's brain on fire and deprived. him of
ali moral consciousness. He could not
resist the temptation of suggesting
to the lawyer to call upon Arthur and
tell him his story, which Mr.. Grips
consented to do upon receiving EGO Tor
his expenses. Mr.. Lancaster fattered
himself that his companion attributed to
him the highest motives for making II
suggestion, but in reality the astute at
torney guessed pretty we'll what was pass
ing in the mind of his patron.
To do Mr.. Medwyn Lancaster justice,
| it must be admitted that he suffered Sc
we're qualms Circumstance during the next
ten days. He was not a man of high
] moral principle, but neither was ne able
| to reflect calmly upon what he had done
| without remorse and uneasiness. Yet
| he awaited the result of the lawyers
communication to Arthur Lancaster
with something like hopefulness, and it
never occurred to him to put the young
mans mind at rest.
He was rudely awakened from his
state of mental apathy by shocking
| and startling occurrence. Poor young
| Arthur Lancaster was found dead in his
bed one morning, with a bottle, which
| had evidently contained laudanum,
| Crashed in his hand Mr.. Lancaster was
| summoned to Cambridge as the nearest
| relative of the deceased, to attend the
inquest. He wentin fear and trembling,
overwhelmed with horror, and scarce
| able to realize the dreadful thing that
had happened. To his inexpressible
relief, however, he found the sad occur
renee was reg rrl as purely accidental
So far as he W;l- able to ascertain, the
lawyer had never called on the young
man, having probably preferred to peck:
ct the ego without mourning further risk.
| And evidence was forthcoming at the
inquest that the deceased had lately
been in the habit of using laudanum to
| procure relief from an attack of acute
neuralgia, and verdict of death from
misadventure was returned without hes
| itation.
In this manner, apparently by the
| merciful Intervention of Providence, did
| Medwyn Lancaster attain his hearts de-
sire. His sudden accession to wealth of
course elected hearty congratulations
from large circle of friends. He en-
tered Parliament, and profiting by his
official training, soon made his. mark.
/ At present he is distinguished mem