Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-17


wondered what did with my money,
Allan, how contrived 10 get rid of that
handsome income which your love had
settled on me. You know now. 1t was
not spent on private charities as you fan
cied. Ii was not from motives of benevo-
lence that ! stinted myself OF those luxu-
ries women love Ii was my worthless
son who drained my purse and sQuandered
your money in gambling clubs and on
race-coursesr
Your SOM"
"Yes, my son, Stuart Mackenzie's son,
who, God help him, has inherited all Stu
art Mackenzie's vices, including the ca
pacity for murder. Ny son, who may before
long be standing in the criminal dock TO
be tried for the crime Of that fatal night,
and to bring disgrace upon you through
your wretched wife. He was not
drowned, as we thought, in the 'Erl
King He wrote TO me from San Fran
cisco within two months of my marriage.
He had seen the announcement in an En-
glish paper, and he congratulated me on
my good fortune and my power to help
him. From that time TO this his letters
have been one long series Of demands. l
have complied, weakly, hopelessly, ready
TO grant anything rather than to let you
know my trouble, rather than that you
should feel ashamed of your wife's son.
He is mine, you know, my very own, my
flesh and blood No dishonor can touch
him that does not cast its shadow upon
me- / could not bring myself TO confess
how low he has fallen IL | had told you
anything l must have told you all l pre-
ferred to keep my secret, and in this one
matter to be a hypocrite.'
poor Clare, poor misguided Clare. AS
if / should fail you, love. Why, would
have stood by you and helped you if you
had been the mother of half a dozen
scampish sons"
"Ah, you are so good, But wanted TO
spare you all trouble and worry"
And SO worried yourself ont Of health
and spirits. All wrong, Clare, said Sir
Allan, gently.
Il tried, under these conditions, to do my
duty to my wretched boy, tried to be his
adviser and guide, TO put him i'll an honor
bly, way of life. gave him the means of
living like q gentleman; the leisure to cul-
tivate the profession of his choice. re-
fused no request he made me. lent
willing ear to his promises of amendmen.
All in vain. He was drunkard and a
gambler-his vices were ingrained in him
q hideous hereditary taint-the leprosy of
SIN. When he stood before me that night,
down at the heel, haggard,
knew that he had fallen to the
lowest depth of moral and physical ruin.
Ills shaking hands and restless manner
told me too plainly that he was sufferer
from his fathers old disease, the brandy
drinkers fatal fever. He had SO suffered
before, as l knew. He hardly emerged
from boyhood when he was first attacked
by that horrible complaint. / knew all
this; but did not know that he could be
mad enough or wicked enough TO attempt
murder. He told me Of his courtship Of
that he had passed him
self off as Frenchman, was daring
enough to talk about claiming the fulfill
ment of her promise directly she came of
age. He asked me for q large sum Of
which | refused; and, while was
absent from the room, he opened the
japanese cabinet where you had put the
the notes-he must have seen you from
the balcony-and WAS in the act of making
off with them when you entered"
Il understand" muttered Sir Allan. "It
WAS Tic ludl illsatlc ullu ucSpcEalc
| had forgotten all about that money
"Other people did not forget. Miss
Darnel brought detective from London,
and he Yvt the whole story together
"Dora brought detective here, and
without my permission" exclaimed Sir
Allan. "She brought the police into the
house while was lying unconscious here!
That was father a wide stretch of her
as my sister"
I'VE were so anxious about you, dearest
Grace. Il dare say il was
Aunt Dora's anxiety which made her send
for the detective"
Il don't think the whole of Scotland
Yard could have done very much toward
,aving my life, Oracle. It would have
Deen more sisterly of your aunt to have
her inquiries till was able to
sanction them
hief was my son and Grace's suitor," said
lady Darnel Happily for us, the man
rom Scotland Yard was beguiled by
alse scent, and my wretched son is still
It liberty. God only knows where he is,
md what we may next hear of him.
Nothing bad, l hope, MOTHER said
trace, 'for the colonel has undertaken to
ook after him; and as had a very CHEEKY
etter from the dear old man this morning,
have no doubt he has managed every
hing admirably. Would you mind his
,oming hSre now, father, l am dying to
lear what he has done"
yes, Grace, you can send for him now"
Grace went off to deliver her own
and Allan Darnel and his wife
we're alone for a little while Alone, and
ide by side, full Of trust in each other,
ust as they had been before the crime
which for little while had wrapped their
ives in black cloud.
-Ah, Clare, what besotted idiot-whst
uffian have been to you," said Sir Allan,
fitting his wife's hand to his lips. What
hall do to atone for my brutalitys"
"Get well and strong as fast as ever you
an, dearest, and let us start upon that
delicious journey to the Italian lakes.
And-yes-there is one other favor l
hould like to ask you"
There is nothing you can ask, love,
which will not grant"
Il think, Allan, when we come back to
)arnel it would be better for your sister
find home elsewhere. do not believe |
hat she and can ever be quite happy |
nd at ease under the same roof, for have |
n idea that she detests me-"
And upon my honor, Glare, believe |
on are right. She shall find another |
ONE. You and will have nothing but |
unshine in our domestic lives You don't
lind Grace, do your Grace is devoted to
ou,"
"And am devoted to Grace. / shall be
cry sorry when we are obliged to part
nth her. All, Allan, while we are still
lone, tell me that you can forgive the
,ouble have brought upon you through
~ unhappy son-poor Grace's entangle-
lent-that terrible wouni which has i'm
eriled this dear life. If you had never
nown me these things might not have
appened."