Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-03-26

V%~ VS>Ss
"Come. Dick" she said, don't be rim
dictivr."
"Friendsr' he replied. "Oh. yes; l know.
You told ne there was nothing between
you and anybody, and next day 1 am told
all about Hugh. Call that truthfulness, l
supposef'
1T was the truth, Dick. 1t really was"
Il don't believe it. SapphiraP'
"Well, Dick, if you take it like that, I've
got nothing to say"
81 don't care what happens now. If any
thing happens it's your fault-you and all Of
you"
"What will happen, Dickr
Anything may happen, I suppose. How
am l to know what will happenF
swell, Dick" the girl replied, 81 can't
stay to guess riddles. VIII you shake hands3"
mo. SapphiraI"
Norsh retired without another word.
The Office boy thought Of Spring-heel Jack,
and what he would do under such provoca-
ton. But it was useless. He was not man
enough by several inches.
Half an hour afterward there was another
step IN the stairs. Dick fastened to assume
the air Of a junior partner, and the office
boy once more closed the drawer and grasped
the handle of the copying press.
This time it was DR.. Hyacinth Cronan.
He was still in the overwhelming wave Of
the first days enjoyment Of his new honors.
Yet one might lave thought that there was
something wanting, as if the full flavor Of
his title had not beens quite brought Quit
requires time for the complete enjoyment of
everything, even a title. His brow was
knitted, as they used to say in the old
metaphorical times, when people would knit
a brow as well as a stocking, and curl an
upper lip as easily as a ringlet, and hurl
~scornful words as readily and as effectively
as big stones. They could also unhand each
other. He looked, to put the thing plainly,
disturbed.
"Is your father in his officer he asked,
cutting short Dick Murridges proposed con-
gratulations. II will step n"
II expected you this morning" said Mr..
M~urridge. ~ expected you would look in.
You came TO talk over the new position.
Well, / am not much accustomed"-he
laughed a dry laugh-"to advise noble
lords.n
you need not trouble about the title. 1
came especially 10 ask you about a certain
document which l signed here two or three
years ago."
"Quite SO. 1t is in my safe here. For inc
consideration of two hundred pounds
money %down-you resign the whole of your
reversionary interests, whatever they might
be-"
81 remember the transaction perfectly.
You offered me two hundred pounds
for my reversionary rights. 1 wanted
the money pretty badly. l always do.
The reversionary rights. You explained
to me at the time that there were
two lives between me and the succession. l
thought l had no more chance Of the title
than l had Of the crown Of England. Tell
me exactly what it was l sold. There are
other rights besides reversionary rights, l
suppose9'
What you sold was your chance of sue
ceeding to the property of which the late
Lord Clonsilla was only a life tenant"
What made you offer me the money!
because | knew that yours was a sub
stantial chance"
'But there were two lives, men no older
than myself, between Lord ClonsilIa and
myself"
Zone of them, when you signed that paper,
l knew to be suffering from a hopeless disor-
der. He died, in fact, a few weeks after
wards. The other had been married for ff-
teen years without children. hoped that
he would have none. Well, my hopes were
well founded; not only are there no children,
the man himself is dead. And you are the
now %viscount, and what estate there is has
come to me. 1t isn't much, after all"
You knew this and you did not tell meT
Il did. You thought you knew all about
it, and you did not ever take the trouble to
inquire before you signed. Don't talk about
honor, doctor, because in the city there is no
such thing. Clever people invented the word
in order to keep other people foolish. It was
sharp practice-nothing more. / was aston
ished at the time that a man of your ca
pacity shouldn't have made some inquiries
before you sold your rights Why didn't
your
81 suppose because | trusted you"
OhO JOu oupPOoCi pAOA4 eAub 4 was DouSt-
olently giving you two hundred poundsg'
'No; I supposed we were making a fair
bet. My chance of the small estate-what is
iti a thousand ayeara-was worth, thought,
what you offered"
Never think in bu~siness-never trust
never believe any man"
IF there is no honor, there is, / suppose,
some kind Of fair play between men who
deall Do you call your play fairf'
Eyes, I do. You might have got the
same information as l got. But never mind
fair play. The estate is mine, and / shall
send word to the tenants that they are to
pay their rent to me. Do you dispute my
claimg'
II would il | could; but l fear / cannot"
Think of it Take legal advice about it.
AS for the land, it is only a few hundred
acres, and none Of the tenants have paid tho
rent for years. They'll have to pay or 60
now, II there's law left in Ireland. You
haven't lost anything. You couldn't have
made them pay"