The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-27

authority to exercise. no sort Of claim to direct
her actions even if she consented to accept his
advice. AS last resource he ventured on an
allusion to the relative of whom she had spoken
down stairs.
"When do you expect to see your brother-in-
law again. he said
IL don't know" she answered. "Ishou2d like
to see him-he is SO kind to me-"
She turned aside to take leave of Lucy.
"Good-b bye, my little friend. If you live to
grow up, hope you will never be such miser-
able woman / am" She suddenly looked
round at Mr. Raypnrn. Have you got wife
at homes" she asked.
MY wife is dead"
And you have child to comfort youl Please
leave me; you harden my heart. Oh. sir. don't
you understand? You make me envy you'll"
Mr.. Rayburn was silent when he and his
daughter were ont in the street again. Lucy. as
became dutful child, was silent, too. But
there are limits to human endurance-anj
Lucy's capacity for self-control gave way at last.
Are you thinking of the lady, papaW she said.
He only answered by nodding his head. His
daughter had interrupted him at that critical
moment in a mans reflections, when he is on
the point of making up his mind. Before they
were at home again Mr. Rayburn had arrived at
decision. Mrs Zants brother-in-law was evil
IDENTIFY ignorant of any serious necessity for his
interference-or he would have made arrange
ments for Immediately repeating his visit In
this state of things if any evil happened to Mrs.
Zant, silence on Mr.. Rayburn's part might be in
directly to blame for serious misfortune. Ar
irving at that conclusion, he decided upon run
ming the risk of being rudely received, for the
second time. by another stranger.
Leaving Lucy under the care of her governess,
he went at once to the address that had been
written on the visiting card left at the lodging
house. and sent in his name A courteous mes
sage was returned. Mr.. John Zant was at home,
and would be happy to see him.
W.
Mr.. Ray burn was shown into one OF the private
sitting-rooms of the hotel
He observed that the customary position of the
furniture liz a room had been. in some respects,
altered. An arm chair, side table, and foot
stool had all been removed to one of the win
dows, and had been placed as close as possible
to the light. On the table lay large open roll
OF morocco leather. containing rows OF elegant
little instruments in steel and ivory. Waiting
by the table stood MIR. John Zant. He said
Good morning" in a bass voice, SO profound
and so meodious that those two commonplace
words assumed a new Importance, coming from
his lips. His personal appearance was in har
mony with his magnificent voice he was tall.
finely made man of dark complexion with
curling beard which hid the whole
lower part of his face. Having bowed with
happy mingling of dignity and politeness. the
conventional side of this gentleman's character
suddenly vanished; and an insane side, to all
appearance, took it's place. He dropped on his
knees in front of the footstool Had he forgot
ten to say his prayers that morning. and was he
III such hurry to remedy the fault that he had
time to spare for consulting Appearances
The doubt had hardly suggested itself before it
was set at rest in most unexpected manner.
Mr.. Zant looked at his visitor with bland
smile, and said please let me see your feet?"
For the moment Mr. Ray burn lost his pres
ence of mind. Are You corn-cutter9" was all
he could say.
Excuse me-" returned the polite operator;
iS in
fession." He rose from his knees, and added
modestly: Il am chiropodist."
Il beg your pardon"
Don't mention 1t! You are not, imagine. in
want OF my professional services. In my leisure
hours, amuse myself by practicing chemical
experiments: and | sometimes write in a scen-
tifc journal Perhaps you have heard OF me in
that aS sry''
ITO what motive, sir, may I attribute the
honor of your visitg"
By this time Mr.. Rayburn had recovered him
self.
Il have come here" he answered, under cir
cumstanees which require apology as we'll as
explanation"
Mr.. Zant's hiehly polished manner betrayed
signs of alarm his suspicious pointed to for
mldahle conclusion-a conclusion that shook
him TO the innarmost recesses of the pocket in
which he kept his money. THE numerous de-
mands on me" he began.
Mr.. Rayburn smiled. MAKE your mind easy"
he replied. Il don't want money. Ny object
is to speak with you on the subject of lady who
is a relation of yours"
My ss.er-in-l aw!" Mr.. Zant exclaimed; "pray
take seat"
Doubling if he had chosen convenient time
for his visit. Mr.. Rayburn hesitated. ''Am l
likely to be in the way of persons who wish to
consult you" he asked
Certainly not My hours of attendance on
my clients in London are from IL to L. The
clock on the mantelpiece struck the quarter past
] as he spoke. II hope you don't bring me bad
news" he said very earnestly. when called
on Mrs. Zant this morning. heard that she had
gore out for walk. It is indiscreet to ask how
yon became acquainted with her2'
Mr.. Rayburn at once mentioned what he had
seen and heard in Kensington Gardens: not for
getting to add few words. which described his
interview afterwards with Mrs Zant.
The ladys brother-in-law listened with an in
terest and sympathy, which offered the strong
est possible contrast to the unprovoked rudeness
of the mistress of the lodg house. He de-
clared that he could only do justice to his sense
of obligation by following Mr.. Rayburn's ex-
ample. and expressing himself as frankly as if he
had been speaking to an old friend.
The sad story of my sster-in-law's life." he
said, will think, explain certain things which
must have naturally perplexed you. My brother
was introduced to her at the house of an Aus
tralian gentleman on visit to England. She
Was then employed as governess to his daughters.
So sincere was the regard felt for her by the
family that the parents had, at the entreaty of
their children, asked her to accompany them
when they returned to the colony. The COVER
ness Thankfully accepted the proposal"
Had she no relations in Englandl" Mr. Ray
burn asked.
She was literally alone in the world sir
When tell you that she had been brought upIn
the Founding Hospital you will understand
what mean. Oh there is no romance in my
sister-in-law's story! She never has known. or
will know. who her parents were or why they
deserted The manifest in her
was when she and my brother first met. 1t was
instance, on both sides, of love at first sight.
Though not rich man. my brother had earned
a sufficient income in mercantile pursuits. His
character spoke for itself In word, he altered
all the poor girls prospects, as then hoped
and believed. for the better. Her employers de-
ferred their return to Australia so that she
might be married from their house. After
happy life of few weeks only"
His voice failed him; he paused and turned