The Penn's Grove record., 1884-10-18
THE R%IGHTFUL HEIR.

J..
For some weeks past the engagement
between the Earl of Beauvray and Miss
Millicent MOyle had been chrOnicled In
the fashionable intelligence of newsna-
Ders, and the marriage was appointed
to take place in July. Beauvray House,
Piccadilly, had been placed in the
hands of the decorators Beauvray
Castle, in Northshire, was being refur-
nished and beautited by the combined
energies of upholsterers, painters, and
landscape gardeners and grand sub
scriptions had been set on foot amongst
his lordsbip's tenants, his brother off,
GERS of the Guards, and his fellow mem
bers of the NorthshiTe hunts, TO make
the new countess some handsome pres
ents. There were many who considered
Miss Moyle a lucky girl, for Lord Beau
vray was not only of ancient family,
young, immensely wealthy, and WELL
looking, but he was popular everywhere,
owing to his sunny temper and perfect
uprightness of character. There are
young nOblemen VINO make their grand
eur consist in throwing away their
money and making their reputation into
ducks and brakes. But Lord Beauvray
had been merry without being dissolute.
He was the most irreproachable of gen.
tlemen, Just as his betrothed, Miss
Moyle, was the fairest flower among
that bouquet of pretty girls who had
been presented at Court In the same
season as herself. Millicent Moyle was
a rich heiress as well as a pretty girl
but this was about all that could be said
for her. Her father, JOSIAH Moyle, a
bill discounter of Lombard street, was
d new man. of the City plutocracy-
one of those inanciers who have made
such rapid fortunes that everybody ex-
poets to hear of them next i'll the Bank
ruptcy Court. 1t was said that he and
Lord Beauyray had become acquainted
while travelling abroad, and that the
peers relatives had been much scandal
lied on hearing of his lordship's inten-
ton to marry the daughter of a man
whose ~antecedents were just a little
misty.
AS for Mr.. Moyle, quite conscious of
how great q piece of luck had befallen
him, he could not refrain from brag-
ging before his city friends abe ut his
future son-in-law, 1.-THE earl" He
talked of retiring from business, of OBJ
tanning a seat in Parliament through
Lord Beauvray's influence. and devot-
ing himself theneeforth to tue aSSidu-
Gus study of Conservative politics, and
the cultivation of a~ristocratlc connec-
tons. The poor man had been admit
ted, on Lord Beauvray's presentation,
to one or two first-rate clubs, and he
had been introduced to SO many ladies
and gentlemen of title that his head was
turned. He sighed over his business
ledgers from twelve till four every day
as if he had begun to realize the pur-
suits and as Dol as his counting
house closed, he would hurry off in a
white waistcoat and with a flower in.
his button hole, to take a drive round
the park in his spanking phaeton,
drawn by a pair of bays whom he could
i'll manage. 1t was honest Moyle's de-
light in these drives to meet the finely
appointed barouche, which carried his
wife, his daughter Mile, and Lord
Beauvray and to note the number of
hats which were lifted as it passed by.
Such bows made him grin in pure glee.
One sunny afternoon, Just a fort
night before the date fixed for
the marriage, the bill discounter's
phaeton was drawn up as usual along
side the pavement of Lombard Street,
waiting till the stroke of four from an
adjoining steeple should bring out the
plutocrat from his office, when a
brougham, with a coronet on the pam
els, clattered up behind, aud Lord Beau
vray alighted. He was CHASTITY pale,
The hall porter, who knew him by sight,
and had always admired his pleasant
smile, was startled by his appearance
not less than by the broken voice in
which he inquired if Mr.. Moyle had
left 2 Just then Mr.. Moyle himself
strutted out, all glorious with a gera-
mum in his coat and a white hat perched
a-cock on his pointed gray head. "Ahl
Beauvray p cried he, with cheerful
welcome, but perceiving the look on
the peers face, he exclaimed why,
what's the matter? Not i'll, 1 hope 2"
No, not ill but | want to speak to
you in private" said Lord Beauvray
hoarsely.
shall We go off in the phaeton ?"
stammered Mr., Moyle, full of uneasi-
ness.
"No, into your room but let us be
quite alone" repeated the earl. and he
himself led the way towards the sane
tum where the Observation-Disclosures
most of his business.
Mr. MOyle had a trek when agitaUed
of grasPing his nose with the whole of
his hand, and working 1t up and down
as if IL were made of india-rubber
which be wished to elOngate. His ma
sal organ underwent a deal of pulling
In the brief interval that elapsed before
he and Lord Beauyray were clOseted
together. Then, Pumping down in TIE
armchair at his writing-table. Mr..
Moyle stared in bewilderment while the
peer sat down opposite and produced a
long blue envelope with several black
seals. Laying this on the table, Lord
Beauvray placed his hand on it, and
looked into the inaucler's eyes.
"Mr. Moyle," said he sadly, II have
a painful communication TO make /; hut
l will not beat about the bush. | find
that | have no legal right to the title
which l bear, or to the fortune which |
am using"
ETH what p' exclaimed Mr., Moyle.
with a gasp.
~ made the discovery this morning
In rummagIng through a box OF deeds
continued Lord Beauvray, whose voice