Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-02-19
MYLADY'S MONEY
BY WILKIE COLLINS.
AN EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF A YOUNG GIRL.
CONTINUED from last aoeek.
CONTINUED from last aoeek.

en- EP1SOUE IN THE LIFE OF A YUM 0lkSlb
CONTINUED from last aoeek.
Miss Pink paused to take breath. Mr..
Troy made second attempt to get a hearing.
Twill you kindly permit me, madam, to
say two words?'
NOR said Miss Pink, asserting the most
immovable obstinacy under the blandest
politeness of manner. "Your time, Mr. Troy,
is really too valuable. Not even your trained
intellect can excuse conduct which is mani
testify inexcusable on the face of it. Now
yoi. know my opinion of Lady Lydiard. you
will not be surprised to hear that / decline
to trust her ladyship She may, or she may
not, cause the necessary inquiries to be made
for the vindication of my niece's character.
In a matter SO serious as this-I may say,
in duty which l owe to the memories Of
my sister and my parents-I will not leave
the resi- onsibility to Lady Lydiard ] will
take it on myself. Let me add that I am
able t. pay the necessary expenses. The
earlier years of my life, Mr.. Troy, have been
passed in the tuition Of young ladies. 1 have
been happy in meriting the confidence Of
parents. and l have been strict in observing
the golden rules of economy. On my retire.
inent, | have been able to invest a modest,
very modest, little fortune in the funds
A portion of it is at the service Of my niece
Tor the recovery of her good name; and de-
sire to place the necessary investigation,
confdentially, in your hands You are ac-
quainted with the case, and the case natur-
ally goes to you. could not prevail on my
self really could not prevail on myself
10 men ion it TO a stranger. That is the bust
ness on which wished to consult you. Please
lay nothing more about Lady Lydiard; the
subject is inexpressibly disagreeabh to me-
, will only trespass On your kindness to tell
me if l have succeeded in making myself
understood"
Miss Pink leaned back in her chair at tho
exact angle permitted by the laws OF pro-
priefy rested her left elbow orr the palm Of
her right hand, and lightly supported her
cheek wi her forefnger and thumb. In this
position she waited Mr. Troy's answer-the
living picture of human obstinacy in its
most respectable form.
If Mr. Troy had not been lawyer-in
other words, if he had not been professionally
capable of persisting in his own course in the
face of every conceivable difficulty and dis
enlargement Mss Pink might have re-
manned in undisturbed possession of her own
opinions. As it was Mr.. Troy had got his
iNeti Ing az idoDs anu LIZ ili1eOSA AAo" SNoo~
nately she might close her eyes to it. Miss
Pink was now destined to have the other side
of the case pre- ,ented to her view.
q am sincerely obliged to you, madam, for
the expression of your confidence in me. "
Mr.. Troy began; lat the same time, must
beg you to excuse me if decline to accept
your proposal
IL IS Pink had not expected to receive such
an answer as this. The lawyers brief re-
fusa :urprised and annoyed her.
why do you decline to assist me?" she
asked
Because" answered Mr. Troy, ''my SER
vices are already engaged in Miss 1sabel's in
tie est by client whom have served for
more than twenty years Ny client is"
Miss Pink anticipated the coming disclos-
ure. You need not trouble yourself, sir, to
mention your clients name" she said.
MY CLIENT" persisted Mr. Troy, Gloves
Miss Isabel dearly"
"rhat is matter of opinion" Miss Pink
interposed.
''And believes in Miss Isabels innocence, -
proceeded the irrepressible lawyer, ''as firmly
as you believe in it yourself"
Miss Pink being human) had a temper, and
Mr.. Troy had found his way to it.
IF Lady Lydiard believes in my nieces
innocence" said Miss Pink, suddenly sitting
bolt upright in her chair, "why has my
niece teen compelled in justice to herself, to
leave Lady Lydiard's house,"
you will admit, madam" Mr.. Troy an
swered, cautiously, that we are all of us
liable, in this wicked world, to be the victim
of appearances Your niece is victim-an
innocent victim She wisely withdraws from
Lady Lydiard's house until appearances are
proved to be false, and her position is cleared
up"
Miss Pink had her reply ready. "This is
simply acknowledging, IN other words, that
my niece is suspected. am only woman,
Mr.. Troy, but it is not quite so easy to mis-
lead me as you seem to suppose"
Mr.. Troy's temper was admirably trained,
but it began to acknowledge that Miss Pinks
powers of irritation could sting to some pur-
pose
''No intention of misleading you, madam,
has ever crossed my mind" he rejoined
warmly GAS for your niece, can tell you
this: In all my experience of Lady Lydiard,
never saw her so distressed as she was when
Miss label left the house"
lind edy' said Miss Pink, with an incredu-
lous smile. "In my rank of life, when we
feel distressed about person, we do our
or an early visit. But then am not a lady
of title"
''Lady Lydiard engaged herself to call on
Miss Isabel in my hearing" said Mr.. Troy
"Lady Lydiard is the most generous woman
living"
Lady Lydiard is here!" cried joyful
voice on the her side of the door,
At the same moment Isabel burst into the
room in state of excitement which actually
ignored the formidable presence of Miss
Fink. II beg your pardon, aunt I was up
stairs at the window, and l saw the carriage
stop at the gate. And Tommie has come,
too! The darling saw me at the windowi"
cried the poor girl, her eyes sparkling with
delight as a perfect explosion of barking
made itself heard over the tramp of horses
feet and the crash of carriage wheels out
side.
Miss Pink rose slowly, with a dignity that
looked capable of adequately receiving, not
o1'a noble lady only, but the whole peerage
ii England.
Control yourself. dear Isabel" she said
mo well-bred young lady permits herself to
become unduly excited Stand by my side
little behind me-"
Isabel obeyed Mr. Troy kept his place,
and privately enjoyed his triumph over Miss
Pink. If Lady Lydiard had been actually
in league with him, she could not have chosen
more opportune time for her visit A mo-
mentary interval passed; the carriage drew
up at the door; the horses trampled on the
gravel; the bell rang madly; the uproar Of
Tomrnie, released from the carriage and
clamoring to be let in, redoubled its fury.
Never before had such an unruly burst Of
noises invaded the tranquility of Miss Pink's
villa