The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-06-06
PENRHYN'S WARD.

old fellow, but 1 should really like to
know how you happened to do it2 l
should, by Joyew
"Got married, you mean?"
why, yes; you were old enough"
To know better, eh?" interrupted
Larry Penryhn, knocking the ashes
off his cigar.
Precisely" answered his friend;
"and you see, nobody expected it of
you, because you were always so GER
tain of remaining a bachelor, and
gave everybody your word for it,"
"When said I should die a
bachelor, did not think would live
to be married." quoted Penrhyn, yet
with reelected cast in his eye to
satisfy one that something more
rational was to be expected.
1T was a cool night, and there was
confidence burning in the Goals upon
the hearth, and the two men sitting
beside 1t, with the tobacco between
them, were old cronies. Time and cir
cumstances had drifted in between
them, but for this one night, at least,
they were together again, and sat talk
ing as women are said to talk to each
other OF the hidden life, but as only
men can, because Of common morals,
common manners and common follies.
81 really could not help it, Tom"
said Penrhyn, looking hard into the
lire. at really seemed the only thing
to do at the time p
1t was rather strange reason to
give for so grave an event, but looking
into the calm, strong face of the man
taking into consideration the mass
i've, intellectual brow, the firm, yet
tender mouth, one might know that it
could be nothing less than worthy a
true and honorable gentleman, how
ever anomalous in form.
You want to know all about it !"
at last, he said, with laugh, and
blowing up fog of blue smoke
around him he settled deeper in his
armchair as il the story were not a
short one. "Well, to begin with, my
wife is the daughter of Halstead Scot,
whom you doubtless remember"
Now, indeed, did blank surprise sit
upon the countenance Of Penrhyn's
friend, who did remember Halstead
Scot, whose stupendous rascality and
breach of trust had convulsed city,
and of whose miserable self-murder
the world yet talked about.
do not wonder that you are sur
prised that l should have married the
daughter of such man, especially as
that man was not supposed to have a
daughter up to the hour of his death
but hear the story, and reserve your
judgment until you get the case.
"About six months previous to Scot s
suicide, when his irregular practice
was only being limited at, softly, among
the knowing ones, he came TO my office
one day and wanted me to Join him in
the prosecution of some cotton claims
against the government.
81 thought it rather queer that a
man in his position should approach
me- scarcely full-hedged barrister-
with propositions Of such magnif-
cence, but, more out of curiosity than
any actual idea of taking hold of the
matter, asked for time to look into
the case.
"The papers were old, yellow, appa-
rently without flaw, and involving
millions of dollars, yet l concluded that,
in justice to my own clients, could
not undertake to work in the case
The next thing that came was Scots
suicide, and the papers rang with his
attempted fraud, his forgery and tho
complaints Of the people whose moneys
he had held in trust and speculate.
away. At this point in tee unhappy
mans history, my real connection witt
him began. The morning following
his death there came to me, through
the mails, letter reading something
in this wise:
"'LARRY PENRHYN-L believe yol
to be an honest man. l therefore give
the inclosed papers into your keeping
feeling sure that the secret they con
tain will be safe with you, and tha
you will protect from all painful
knowledge the being whose life they
so vitally concern.
'(Signed), HALsTEAD SCOT
"Now comes the most singular par
of the story. Thepapers inclosed wer
a certificate Of marriage between Hal
stead Scot and Gabrielle Wyndham
government bonds to the amount 0
thirty thousand dollars, registered il
the name of Gabrielle Scot, and tn
necessary directions for finding tina
person.
1.-TWO days later there came to IN
another letter, written in cramped
old-fasiioned and feminine style, from
(which, as opened it, there fell out
printed slip cut from some newspaper
and giving an account of Scots un
happy end. The letter itself was scan
of words and ceremony, and brief
stated than SCOT had informed th
writer that IN case OF his death / wa
TO act as N Us Gabrielle's guardian, an
requesting earnestly that l would Sc