The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1885-03-06

Lucy Monckton rose from her chair in
genuine agitation. Her better angel
tugged at her leart-strings.
Forgive me, sir, oh, forgive mel" she
cried, bursting into tears. Then she
caught bitter, threatening glance of
her bad angel fixed upon her, and she
said to Monckton, 81 can say no more,
1 can do no more. Itwas fourteen years
ago-I can break peoples hearts. Hush
1t up amongst you. have made hero
weep; his tears burn me. / don't care
for the man; I'll go no further. You.
sir, have taken deal of trouble and ex
pense. / dare say Colonel Clifford will
compensate you; L leave the matter
with you. No power shall make me act
in it any more"
and said, quite calmly, well, really
think, madam, you are not fit to take
part in such a conference as this. Com
pose yourself and retire. / know your
mind in the matter better than you do
yourself at this moment, and will act
accordingly"
She retired, and drove away to the
Dun Cow, which was the place MOnck-
ton had appointed when he wrote upon
the card.
Colonel Clifford" said Monckton,
"all that is wOman's way. When she
is out of sight of you, and thinks over
her desertion and her unfortunate con-
dition-neither maid. wife, nor widow
she will be angry with me if | don't
obtain her some compensation"
"She deserves compensation" said the
Colonel gravely.
Especially if she holds her tongue"
said Monckton.
whether she holds her tongue or
not" said the Colonel. 81 don't see how
l can hold mine, and you have already
told my daughter-in-law. A separation
between her and my son is inevitable.
The compensation must be offered, and
God help me, I'm q magistrate, if only
to compound the felony"
Surely" said Monckton, at can be
put upon a wider footing than that; let
me think" and he turned away to the
open window; but when he got there he
saw lot of miners clustering about.
Now he had no fear of their recognizing
him, since he had not left vestige of
the printed description. But the very
sight of them, and the memory of what
they had done to his dead accomplice,
made him shudder at them. Hence
and turned his back to it.
81 think with you, sir" said he, melli-
fluously, that she ought to have few
thousands by way of compensation.
You know she could claim alimOny and
be very blister to you and yours. But
on the other hand l do think, as an i'm
partial person, that she ought to keep
this sad secret most faithfully, and even
take her maiden name again."
Whilst Monckton was making this
impartial proposal BARLEY opened the
door, and was coming forward with his
deed, when he heard voice he recog-
nized; and partly by that, partly by the
fellows thin lips he recognized him,
and said, "Monckton! That villain
here!"
"Monckton," said Colonel Clifford,
that is not his name. 1t is Meredith.
him very suspiciously, and Monckton,
during this examination, looked per-
fectly calm and innocent. Meantime a
note was brought to Colonel Clifford
from Grace: Papa was the witness. He
is quite sure the bridegroom was not
our Walter. He thinks it must have
been the other clerk, Leonard MOnck-
ton, who robbed Mr.. BARLEY, and put
some of the money into dear Walters
pockets to ruin him, but papa saved
him. Don't let him escape"
Colonel Clifford's eye flashed with
triumph, but he controlled himself.
SAY will give it due attention." said
he: I'm busy now"
And the servant retired.
"Now, sir" said he, sis this case of
mistaken identity, or is your name
Leonard Monckton?"
Colonel Clifford, the hypocrite,
sadly, 81 little thought that / should be
made to suffer for the past, since came
here only on an errand of mercy. Yes,
sir, in my unregenerate days / was
Leonard MoncktOn. | diSgraced the
name. But l repented, and when
adopted the sacred calling of a clergy
man parted with the past, name and
all. l. was that mans clerk; and So"
said he, spitefully, and forgetting his
sing-song, was your son Walter Cliff
ford. Was that not so, Mr.. Bartley"
Don't speak to me, sir" said BARLEY.
II shall say nothing to crafty you nor
to affrOnt Colonel Clifford"
Speak the truth, sir" said Colonel
Clifford; never mind the consequences"
swell, them" said BARLEY, very I'M
willingly, "they mere clerks in my office,
and this one robbed me-"
Zone thing at time" said Monckton.
"Did 1 rob you of twenty thousand
pounds, as you robbed Mr.. Walter Cliff
fordY"
His voice became still more incisive,
and the curtain of the little room OPEN
ed little and two eyes Of fire looked in.
"DO you remember one fine day your
clerk, Walter Clifford, asking you for
leave Of absence-tO be marriedp"
BARLEY turned his back on him con-
temptuOusly.
But Colonel Clifford insisted on his
ayes, he did" said BARLEY, sullenly.
But" said the Colonel, quietly, 'he
thought better of it, and so-you mar
ried her yourself"
This bayonet thrust was so keen and
sudden that the villains self-possession
left him for once. His mouth opened
in dismay, and his eyes, rowing to and
fro, seemed to seek door to escape.
But there was worse in store for him.
The curtains were drawn right and left
with power, and there stood Grace Cliff
ford, beautiful, but pale and terrible.
She marched toward him with eyes that
rooted him to the spot, and then she
stopped.
snow hear me; for he has tortured