Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-11-12

II.fi t'd vi. Ia NtlcT.
of whom only The scaut history WAS known,
that he was a Californian, and former core.
spondent of her husband. 1t was uudcniabls
that the man was wealthy. and evidently no
mere advcnturcr: it was cd that he was
courageous and manly: but even those who
delighted in his odd humor were shocked at
his grammar and slang. It was said that
Mr.. Marvin had but one interview with his
fathcr-in-law elect, and returned so SUI
premcly disguised that the match was broken
Off. The horse stealing story, more or less
CARRIED, found it, way through lips that pre-
tended to dccry ii, yet eagerly repeated it,
Only ono member of the RiEhtbody family
and a new onc-Saved them from utter os-
tracism. 1t was young Mr.. Ryder, the
adopted son of the prospective head of the
household, whose culture, manners and gen
eral elegance fascinated and thrilled Boston
with a new sensation. 1t seemed to many
that Mis-, Alice should, in the vicinity of this
rare exotic, forget her former enthusiasm for
professional life; but the young man was
pitied 10y society, and various plans for di-
verting him from any mcsaliancc with the
Rightboly family were concocted
1t was wintry night, and the second an
niversary of Mr.. RShtbody's death, that
light was burning in his library. But the
dead man, chair was occupied 10y young MIR.
Ryder, adopted son of the new proprietor of
the mansion; and before him stood Alice,
with her dark eyes fixed on the table.
"Therc must have been something in it. Joe,
believe mr. Did you never hear your father
speak of minc:'
"Nevcr.n
But you say he was college bred, and born
n gentleman, and in his youth he must have
| had many friends
"Ahcc,' said the young man gravely, when
l have done something to redeem my name
and wear it again before these people, before
you, it would be well to revive the past But
till thcn-'
But Alice not to be put down. II re-
member She went on, scarcely needing him,
/ that when | came in that night papa was
reading Il letter and seemed to be discon-
certed.'
"a letter."
"Yes; but" added Alice, with sigh, "when
we found him here insensible, there was no
letter on his person He must have destroyed
it,"
"Did you ever look among his papers' If
found it might be a clew."
The young man glanced toward tho cabi-
net Alice read his eyes and answered:
"Oh, dear, no! The cabinet contained only
his papers, all perfectly arrangcd-you know
how metholical were his habits-and some
] lo,t
put away
LET us see them" said the young man, ris-
ing.
! They opened drawer after drawer; files
upon files of letters and business papers accu-
rately folded and filed. Suddenly Alice ut
tered little cry and picked upa quaint ivory
paper knife lying at the bottom of drawer.
at was missing the next day and never
could be found; he must lave mislaid it here.
| This is the drawer, said Alice eagerly
Here was "A clcw, But the lower part of
the drawer was filled with old letters not la
belcd, yet neatly arranged in files. suddenly
he stopped and said PUT them back, Alice,
! at once
"Why"
"Some of these letters are in my fathers
| handwriting
The more reason why should see thcm,"
said the girl impcratively, Here YOU take
part and I'll take part and we'll get through
| quicker
! There was a certain decision and independ-
ence in her manner which he had learned to
respect lie took In. l,,.:s 0ul in silence
read them with h". They were old college
] letters, so filed with boyish dreams, ambi-