Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-02-05

SOLITUDE, Lazy l4yulaFu, Oh Hof feiu1n ioani
herself suddenly confronted with gentlrr
man mysteriously planted on the hearrhrag
IN her absence. The new visitor may be.
rightly described as a gray man. He had
gray hair, eyebrows and whiskers; lie woIs.
gray coat waistcoat and trousers, and
gray gloves. For the rest his appearance
was eminently suggestive of wealth and
spectablity amt in this ease Appearances
were really TO be trusted. The gray man
was DO other than Lady Lyeliartl's e.al ,d
wiser, Mr.. Troy.
Il regret, my lady, that ] should ha I've been
so unfortunate rs 10 startlo YOU" he said
with a certain underlying embarrassment in
his manner 81 had the honor OF sending word
by Mr. Moody that would call at this hunr
on some matters of business connected with
your ladyship's house property. presumed
that YOU expected to find NE here waiting;
your pleasure
Thus far Lady Lydiard had listened to her
legal adviser, fixing her eyes on his face iii
her usually frank, straightforward way.
She now stopped him in the middle of sen
tence, with change of expression on her
own face which WAS undisguisedly a change
to alarm
Don't apologize, Mr.. Troy, she said II
am to blame for forgetting your appoint
ment. and for not keeping my nerves under
proper control" She paused for moment,
and took seat before she said her next
words. May ask, she resumed, 'iif there
Is something unpleasant in the business that
brings yen hereT'
Nothing whatever, my lady; mere for
malties, which can wait till tomorrow or
next day, If you wish it"
Lady Lydiards fingers drummed impa-
no taxi ho,
long enough, Mr. Troy, to know that Icannot
endure suspense You hauc something un-
pleasant to tell men
The lawyer respectfully demonstrated
Really, Lady Lydiard-nhe began.
sit won't do. Mr.. Troy. know bow you
look at ME on ordinary occasions, and see
how you look at me now. You are very
clever lawyer; but, happily for the interests
that commit to your charge, you are also
thoroughly honest man After twenty years
experience of you, you can't deceive me.
You bring me bad news. Speak at oace, sir,
and speak plainly"
Mr.. Troy yielded, inch by inch. as i: were
II bring news which, ! fear, may annoy
your ladyship." He paused, and advanced
another inch. sit is news which ] only be-
came acquainted with myself on entering
this house He waited again, and made
another advance. u happened to meet your
ladyship's steward, Mr.. Moody, i'll the
ball"
'Where is he4" Lady Lydiard interposed,
angrily 81 can make him speak out, and
will Send him here instantly"
The lawyer made last effort to hold off
the coming disclosure little longer. "Mr.
Moody will be here directly" he said. MIR.
Moody requested ME to prepare your lady
ship
''Wil you ring the bell, Mr.. Troy, or must
IT.
Moody had evidently been waiting outside
while tho lawyer spoke for him. He saved
Mr. Troy the trouble of ringing the bell BY
presenting himself In the drawing room.
Lady Lydiards eyes searched his face as he
approached. Her bright complexion faded
suddenly. Not word more passed her lips
She looked and waited.
In silence ON his side, Moody laid an open
sheet of paper on the table. The paper
quivered in his trembling hand
Lady Lydiard recovered herself first. is
that for me?" she asked.
eyes, my lady"
She took up the paper without an instant's
hesitation. Both the men watched her anx
iously she read it,
The handwriting was strange to her. Tho
words were these:
81 hereby certify that the bearer Of these
lines, Robert Moody by name, has presented
to me the letter with which he was charged.
addressed to myself, with the seal intact.
regret to add that there is, to say the least
of it, some mistake. The Enclosure referred
to by the anonymous writer of the letter,
who signs "A Friend ia Need, has not
reached me. No e500 bank note was in the
letter when ] opened it. My wife was pres
ent when broke the seal, and can certify to
this statement If necessary. Not knowing
who my charitable correspondent is asF..
Moody being forbidden to give me any H.
formationl, [ can only take this means of
stating the case exactly asst stands, and hold
myself at the disposal of the writer Of the
letter. My private address is at the head OF
the page. SAMUEL BRADsTocK
Rector st. Anne's, Deansbury, London"
Lady Lydiard dropped the paper on the
table. For the moment, plainly as the rector's
statement was expressed, she appeared to be
incapable of understanding it. "What, in
Gods name, does this meang" she asked.
The lawyer and the steward looked at each
other. Which of the two was entitled te
speak frsts Lady Lydiard gave them nc
time to decide. ''Moody," she said, sternly
''you took charge of the letter; look to you
for all explanation"
Moodys dark eyes flashed. He answered
Lady Lydiard, without caring to conceal
that he resented the tone in which she had
spoken to him.
II undertook to deliver the letter at its
address," he said. II found it, sealed, on
the table Your ladyship has the clergy
mau's written testimony that handed it tc
him with the seal unbrokeu. have done my
duty, and have no explanation to offer"
Before Lady Lydiard could speak again.
Xir Troy tliscreetly interfered. He saw
plainly that his experience required 10
lead the investiga ton in the right direction
pardon me, my lady" he said, with that
happy mixture of the positive and the polite
in his manner OF which lawyers alone possess
the secret ''There is only one way of arriv- !
ing at the truth i'll painful matters of this
sort. We must begin at the beginning May
] venture to ask your ladyship IA questions"
Lady Iydiard felt the composing influence
Of Mr.. Troy. 81 am at your disposal, sir
she said, quietly.
care you absolutely certain that yon in
closed the bank uote in the lettsrt the law.
yer asked
81 certainly believe 1 inclose1 it, Lady
Lydiard answered "But was so alarmed
at the time by the sudden illness of my dog
that do not feel justified in speaking posi-.
lively"
WAS anybody in the room with youf lady
ship when you put the iuclosure in tie let
ter, as you believer"
az was in the room," said Moody. 81 can
swear that saw her ladyship put the bank
note in the letter, and the letter i'll the cit.
velope"
"And seal the envelopem asked Mr. Troy
"No, sir. Her ladyship was called away
into the next room to the dog before she
could seal the envelope"
Mr.. Troy addressed himself once more tn
Lady Lydiard. did your ladyship take tllss,
letter into the next room with yous'
81 was too much alarmed to think of it.
Mr.. Troy. left it here on tina table,"
with the envelope openE'
Yes
'How long were you absent in the other
room?"
sHalf an hour or more"
Hal" said Mr. Troy to himself this com
plicates it little He reflected for awhile
and then turned again to Moody. "Did any
of the servants know of this bank note being