Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-11-27
CHAPTER XIV.
THE HAND OF FATE.

At the iirststroke of noon next day Arnold
arrived at his cousins house in Chester
Square. He was accompanied by Iris, by
Lala Roy and by Mr.. Frank Farrar.
"Pray, Arnold, what is meant by all this
mysteryG' asked Clara, receiving him and
his party with considerable surprise.
81 will explain all in a few minutes, my
dear Clara. Meanwhile, have you done what
you promisedF
eyes. l wrote to DR.. Washington. He viii
be here, l expect, in a few minutes"
"You wrote exactly in the form Of words
you promised me?"
eyes, exactly. l asked him to meet me
here this morning at a quarter past twelve,
in order to discuss q few points connected
with Iris's future arrangements, before he
left for America, and ! wrote on the enve,
lope, Immediate and important"
Every we'll. He will be sure to come, ]
think. Perhaps your cousin will insist upon
another check for fifty pounds being given
to him."
"Arnold, you are extremely suspicious
and most ungenerous about DR.. Washington,
on whose truth and disinterested honesty ]
thoroughly rely"
eve shall see. Meanwhile, Clara, I desire
to present to you a young lady of whom we
have already spoken. This is Miss Aglen,
who is, Ineed hardly say, deeply anxious tc
win your good opinion. And this is Lala
Roy, an Indian gentleman who knew hel
father, and has lived in the same house with
her for twenty years. Our debit shall
soon be able to say your debt-of gratitude
to this gentleman for his long kindness tC
Miss Aglen is one which can never be re-
paid"
Clara gave the most frigid bow to boil
Iris and Lala Roy.
Really, Arnold, you are talking il
enigmas this morning. What am l to under
standl What has this gentleman to do will
my appointment with DR.. WashingtonG'
"My dear cousin, l am SO happy thi
morning that l wonder l do not talk il
conundrIms, or rondeaux, or terra rima. l
is a mere chance, / assure you. Perhaps
may break out in rhymes presently. Thi
evening we will have fireworks in the square
roast a whole OK, invite the neighbors, ant
dance about a maypole. You shall lead Of
the dance, Clara"
Pray go on, Arnold. All this is very in
applicable"
This gentleman, however, is n very oil
friend of yours, Clara. Do you nos recog
nize Mr.. Frank Farrar, who used to stay a
the Hall in the old daysg"
II remember Mr.. Farrar very well,
Clara gave him her hand. "But l shouli
not have known him. Why have we neve
met in society during all these years, MI
FarrarP
~ suppose because l have been out of sc
ciety, Miss Holland" said the scholar
"When a man Rarries, and has q larg
family, and a small income, and grows old
and has to see the young fellows shown
him out at every point, he doesn't car
much about society. l hope you are we
and happy"
81 an very well, and l ought to be happy
because / have recovered Claude's lost he'll
ess, my cousin, Iris Deseret, and she is til
best and most delightful of girls, with til
warmest heart and the sweetest instincts {
a lady by descent and BIRTH"
lShe looked severely at Arnold, who sal
nothing, but smiled incredulously.
Mr.. Farrar looked from Iris to Miss Ho
land, bewildered.
And why do you come to SEQ me to-da.
Mr.. Farrar-and with ArnoldT
because l lave undertaken to answC
n question presently, which Mr.. Arbutl
not is to ash me. That is why am her
Not but what it gives me the greatest plea
ure to see you again, Miss Holland, after
many years"
"Our poor Claude died in America, yc
know, Mr.. Farrar."
$50 | have recently heard"
"And left one daughter"
M"That also have learned" Flo locke
at Iris.
"She is with me, here in this house, an
has been with me for a week. You ma
understand, Mr.. Farrar, the happiness l fe
in having with me Claude's only daughter
Mr.. Farrar looked from her ~ Arno
TTOTr q