The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-02-08

unwilling as am to cause my father an
noyance, will hand the letter over to
him. In that case you need not mention
to him that l consulted you about the
matter first"
Certainly not; but mind, you prom
ise?" said DIR. Lane, playfully, as the
young lady took leave of him.
The fact was that the doctors chival-
rous feelings were Thoroughly aroused by
the discovery that an INSCRIPTIONS
scoundrel was seeking to impose upon
and intinidate young and innocent
girl. The intelligence filled him with
honest indignation, the more especially
as Miss Overton seemed disposed to
yield to the mans demand. Her eager
ness to conceal the matter from her
father evidently arose from mingled
sensitiveness and reluctance to make
scene, coupled with flial solicitude.
But Dr.Lane was strongly of the opinion
that Mr.. Overton ought not to be kept in
ignorance of the attempted extortion and
he resolved to take an early opportunity
of calling upon him to ascertain if the
young lady had faithfully kept her prom
Use.
A week passed before he could find
time to carry out his intention, when
one evening he received a pressing note
from Mr.. Overton, asking him as par
ticular favor to step around to his home
Immediately. He did SO, and was con-
Quoted by the footman across the hall to
the library. Just as he reached the
library door maid servant came out of
the room looking so white and scared
that she at once attracted his atten-
| ton.
who are your he cried almost invol.
UNFAIRLY struck by sudden recollection
of her face.
lam Miss Overton's maid," she said
in a low tone of voice, as she hurried
past him.
DR.. Lane started after her with
puzzled expression, but before he had
time to compose his thoughts he was
ushered into the library, where he found
Mr.. Overton engaged in an animated
and rather angry discussion with grave,
elderly gentleman, who was presently
introduced to him as Mr.. Brooks, o So
licitor.
II don't say the servant girl is speak
ing the TRUTH" the lawyer was saying
when he entered. "Her nervousness and
agitation may be quite natural. But
it would never do to rely upon her evil
dence."
"Well, here is DR.. Lane" said Mr..
Overton, hastily performing the cere-
mony of Introduction. "You will now
hear what he says. You may recollect,
DIR. Lane, when you called and saw my
daughter month or two back, men
| toned to you that we had a disagree
ment."
Perfectly" said the doctor, wondering
what was coming.
"It was about foreign scamp of o
singing master, whom she fancied her
self in love with, and who has since
turned out to be married man with
family" said Mr.. Overton, who was
evidently laboring under strong excite.
ment. "He accepted bride to leave the
country and go to America. 1 brought
my daughter to town this season to get
her out of the way till he had started,
and the poor girl is now accused of
having gone to Liverpool to see the ras-
cal off"
"The question under discussion is"
interposed the lawyer, whose cool mat
ter.of-fact tone contrasted strangely with
his clients excitement, whether it
would be expediept to prosecute man
named Downs for attempting to extort
money from Miss Overton by threaten
| ing to disclose to her father the alleged
fact that the young lady was at Liver
pool on the day the singing master
sailed for America"
Certainly he shall be prosecuted and
punished with the utmost rigor of the
lawr cried Mr.. Overton, starting from
his seat and striding about the room.
''As said before, my dear sir" said
Mr.. Brooks testify, I'VE must first con-
slider what evidence we have to disprove
the mans story. 1t would be most un-
wise to prosecute him and create scan
dal unless we can show conclusively that
there is no foundation for his allegations.
You could get conviction no doubt,
but chat is very small matter, compared
with your daughters reputation. The
maid servants evidence would be worse
than useless"
"Well, Dr. Lane, you can settle that
point, at all events" said Mrs. Overton,
anxiously. You can swear to having
seen my daughter in her own room up
stairs, on the morning of the 10th of
April =
DR.. Lane did not answer Immediately,
for it suddenly occurred to him that he
was placed in q most awkward dilemma.