Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-11-06
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
The treasure had to lie in John Bryants
strong room.
John Bryant was a stock broker, as Mr..
Boyle had been, and was, in truth man
| whose friendship to the Boyles had lasted
on from the old days of their prosperity.
He was an upright man, and he guarded
the interests of the Boyles as we'll as if
they were his own.
He locked the strange Italian bonds,
which were Maud's " finds" in his strong
room. There they must lie while inquiries
were made as to their ownership.
"They are yours, Miss Maud, until some
one can prove better claim, he said, as
he shook hands at the door of his outer
Office. 81 hope no one will claim them,'
and, with a kindly pomposity he owned,
he made little flourish in the air with one
hand. NOW should like to speculate a
little with it for you-double it-treble it"
"Or-lose it,
"That is cruel No; speculation should
never NEEDLE with it. | was only talking
empty nonsense.
Speculate fer my governessing, Mr..
Bryant" the girl said, as the three stood
on the landing of the staircase outside
That would be real kindness, now"
= es, Twill Here gravity and purpose
came and settled on John Bryant's face, to
the exclusion of any such things as merri-
mcnt or excitement of speculation. 4
will, he said again.
Then the two ladies went away, and the
man went back in lis office to puzzle his
head over Maud's goyernessing. In his
masculine mind-one step behind the pres
ent age OF wonan's independence = he
saw an unfitness in the child of his old
friend going out to earn her bread among
strangers.
Maud, a stranger, went to strangers; new
claims came upon her days; wider, new
lie came circling about her; time each
week seemed to her to be growing more
full, more rich; in while she grew to
look upon herself in the NeW-Gross life as
a dim possibility, so surely was she alb
sorbing all the Influences of the pleasant,
kindly, luxurious home where she taught
two young girls.
The bonds still lay unowned; by dint of
wisely framed advertisements claimants
came forward whose pretensions would not
bear the sitting of the lawyers questions.
The bonds were still Maud's, as John
Bryant would have it, though year had
run by since the summer day when she had
found them.
Maud's gay prophecy of good fortune
coming to them was gradually being full
filled. Harry had really sent over good
round sum to his mother; Davy got rise
in his office; cousin of Mr. Boyle came
to live with them at New-Cross, and
brought good addition to the family
purse. Times were no longer :" hard
times
Search was made for Mr. Harbutts
nephew, whom the old gentleman, they
now remembered, had never spoken OF by
any other name than that of Lewis"
Now, was Lewis a Christian name or
surname?
As pointed as could be done advertise
ments went the rounds of the country con-
corning" unclaimed stock" The Boyles
did, and always would, insist upon the be-
lief that the Italian bonds belonged to Mr..
Harbutt.
Have an advertisement giving his
name" said Maud, in letter home.
Miss Maud is losing her business head"
was John Bryant's answer when they told
him what she had said.
The things are a nightmare to me-
Mrs. Boyle said.
"Then, my good lady, we will have the
advertisement printed at once. Shall the
first Harbutt who comes have them?'
Her adviser was bit testy.
1t was September evening, and the
scene was q luxurious drawlng-room in a
Yorkshire country house. 1t was the house
in which Maud Boyle was governess.
Work was over for the day, and she, with
Cicely and Nan Simpson, was, as usual,
passing the evening with the rest of the
family. The two girls we're Ia and Is
years of age they were the children" of
the household. A stepbrother, young
Lewis Simpson, was man OF 25; he, too,
was in the room. The mother was there,
also the grandmother, the mother of the
present Mrs. Simpson.
Across the Yorkshire moors September
| wind had been blowing all day, and a
| winter-like fire burned in the wide crate.
But it was evening, and the three girls wore
pretty light garments. The two Simpsons
were in white; Maud, though the material
| Of her gown was no more than muslin, was
somber-looking IFS color YVES of the dark
! est crimson, and, seeing no lallps were lit,
| the Pickering CLEAN of freight left her
| Just a warm-toped shadow, she being
| brown-hued maiden herself
J The bell had just been rung, and as the
lamps were brought in there also came the
| big brother, a tall man and very fair, as his
father and Ciceiy were. He lounged in as
young men do lounge in among home
| company of woDenkind. He threw him
self on 4 seat by Mrs. Simpson, and he
threw one newspaper across to the old lady
| whom he called GRANNY but who, of
course, was no grandmother TO him.