News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-04-19
The Rightfu1 Heir.


For some weeks past the engagement
between the Earl of Beauvrav and Miss
MlIcent Moyle had been chronicled in
the fashionable intelligence of newspa-
pers, and the marriage was appointed to
take place in July. There were many
who considered Miss Aoyle a lucky girl.
for Lord Beauvry was not only of ancient
family, young, immensely wealthy and
well-lOoking, bnt he was popular every
where, owing to his sunny temper and
uprightness of character. Lord Beau
vray had been merry without being dis
solute. He was the most irreproachable
of gentlemen, just as his betrothed, Miss
Moyle, was the fairest flower among that
boquet OF pretty girls who had been pre-
scented at court in the same season as
herself. NEllicent Moyle was a rich
heiress as well as a pretty girl: but this
was about all that could be said Of her.
Her father, Josiah NToyle, a bill-dis-
counter Of Lombard street, was ''new
man" OF the city pIutocracy. 1t was
said that the peers relatives had been
much scandahzed on hearing of His
Lordship's intention to marry the
daughter of a man whose antecedenis
were Just little misty.
One sunny afternoon Just fortnight
before the date fixed for the marriage. a
brougham with a coronet on the panels
clattered up to Mr. MoyIe's business
house and Lord Beauvray aIighted.
ghastly pale The hall porter was
startled by his appearance, not less than
by the broken voice in which he inquired |
if Mr.. MoyIe had left. Just then Mr.. |
Moyle himself strutted out, all glorious
with a geraniUm In his coat and a white
hat perched acock on his pointed gray
head. "Ah, BeauyIayl' cried he, with
cheerful welcome, but perceiving the
look on the peers face, he exclaimed:
Why. what's the matter? Not i'll, I
hope?"
''No, not i'll, but want to speak to you
in private, 50 said Beauvray, hoarsely.
"ShalI we go off in the phaeton %
8tammered Mr.. Moyle, full of uneasi-
ness.
" No, into your room; but let us be
quite alone" repeated the Earl, and he
himself led the why to the office.
Pumping down into the armchair at
the writing table, Mr.. Movie stared in |
beVIderment while the peer sat down
opposite and produced a blue envelope | :
With several black seals. Laying this :
N the table, Beauvray placed his hand :
IN it and looked into the fnancier's !
yes. !
''1Ir. MoyIe, said he, sadly, 4 have a :
painful communication to make, but I ;
will not beat about the bush. I find !
that I have no legal right to the title
which bear, or to the fortune which [ I
am using"
''Eh WHAT" exclaimed Mr.. Moyle,
with a gasp.
81 made a discovery this morning, in
through a box of Deeds
untinued Lord Beauvray, whose voice
grew steadieI. You know that I In
herited the title from my uncle. He
was the eldest of three brothers. My
father, the youngest, died while I was
10Y; my second uncle died few years
later, and we fancied he had been q
bachelor, but it appears that he had
been clandestinelv married. and left a
son-a lad whom you know. by the way,
for I have seen him III your house. His
name is Timbuel."
"Timburel p echoed Mr.. Moyle, with
a start. ''Youmg Timburel, VINO used to
be clerk III our firm, and whom 1 dis
missed for pre8uming to make love to
our Mile =
81 was not aware of those particulars, ."
said Lord Beauvray; '.but young Tim
burel Is the man; he bears his mothers
name (she was an actress, and we used
TO think he was the natural son of my
second uncle; but his parents We're law
fully married"
"And do you mean to say that Tim.
burel-a vulgar, conceited upstart, who
is living on his " It's at this moment,
with not a shilling in his pockets, I'll be
bound-do you mean to say he has be-
come Earl of Beauvray ?" II
''Not only that but he becomes ALSO i
lutte owner Of all my estates and prop
arty. Ny poor father left me a mere ,
pittance. When put Timburel in pos
session Of his own, shall have Il D1aIl&s j
but my commission in the Guards and
about 600 year.
Come, come, don't say such bosh,"
blurted out old MoyIe. graspiug his nose
again.
It had Just occurred to him that Lord
BeaUvray was hoaxing.
He wants to find out whether om /
Mile loves himself or his title, " reflect
ed the moneyed man. Butin a moment
this idea was dispelled by Lord Bea,l-
vray displaying the contents Of his envcl-
ope-a marriage certificate and a num-
Der Of letters which substantiated the
story. Then he entered into explana-
tions. It seems that his uncle, the Hon.
Col. de Vray, being in garrison at Malta,
had privately married an Italian actress
named TimbureIi. After a years union
this tickle person deserted him, leaving
her child to his care, and soon afterward
she died. Under the circumstances the
Colonel, though he provided for the {
boys maintenance, deemed it convenient
TO conceal has marriage, and eventually !
he died suddenly, without having ac- {
it. Apparently, however,
MS conscience had tormented him, so &
hat while lacking the moral courage to a
speak the truth during his lifetime he
lad left evidence by which it might be
Known after his death. Unfortunately t
he envelope containing his marriage GER a
ilicate had lain mixed mp with some s
,ther documents in a box which Lord J
}eauvray (who inherited the deceased's t