Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-13
CONTINUED from TxesAoy. Dec. ~
A DETECTIVE VICAR.
BY MISS n. Z. BRADDON.
CHAPTER Y.
aDELAY THIS MARRIAGE

IL
on the premises No. Mr.. Ump!eby had
left half an hour ago, to return to the bosom
of his family in Tolking.on Park
Happily for the eager vicar, Tolking ton
Park was an adjoining suburb. where those
we lto-do city ms OF Grandchestsr who did
no; like the labor o: daily railroad journeys
contented themselves with a semi-urban re-
tirement in villas of shair own building,
amids. strawberries Of their own planting,
overlo' king the towniest an most formal
Of public parks 1t had long been grief to
the female Umplebys that, where other
merchants families Of wealth and sanding
had gothic mansions or Italian palaces set
IN richly wooded landscapes remote from
the SIN Ike Of tie ci y, they hal only the
sterentyned surroun1 IS OF thickly-popu-
lated sub irb and were in nowise better OH
than their mex, door neighbors.
A cab with horse of his own choosing
drove NJ. Leworthy to the utmost limit OF
To kinZton P rk in less than half an hour.
He found the Umpl by mansion. which was
ca led Mount Lebanon although the ground
on which it stood was as fat as a pancake,
and there not redar within mile. 1t
was a substantial, square house, with bay
windows. a broad fl ght Of steps, grandiose
iron railincs, pain, q dar's blue and sur
mounted with gildei pineapple, and an all
pervading glare Of ate "a windows
The hall was 'es,ellate |; lie drawing room
was brillia t in color and pa n ly new.
Here Mr. Le worthy sat wait 2 for the mas
ter 4 tn. o SO. vhi vcu1g lady N an
adjacent chamber avor d hun with sol
feg 10 exerc s., VIII C stra n i to the utter
mos. a som W at acrid vo c..
81 wonder whether that is the bri ie sing
mgr specula Ell the vicar, "and | wonder il
sne very much attached to my gentleman
r tn herd / mes for her if she is fo1d Of
him, p Or chi 7
At last NJ. Urpleby appeared, plethoric,
rrticrrd. 10 pous
"Happy 10 have the honor Of making YOUR
acqu IN anc,, vicar he said. Il have long
kIo Oh bv repute
Every one in Grandches or does that" an
swere Lev orthy pleasantly. 81 have been
too of en- IN hot water not to be pretty we'll
kno n"
Impossible TO please everybody" muir
INJURED Mr.. Umpleby.
"Piec SLY an the man who tries 1t ends
by p easing no on. have talen my own
cour g. and ii on IN I've ma ie good many
enemies, hank God-Pve ma twice as many
friends. Now, Mr. Ump.eby l must ask
you to receive me with all 20 III nature and
to believe that l mean well by you and
yours. al no -gh have come on u most I'M
pleasant business"
The merchant locke IN ,asy, Another
great firm gone wrong, perh Fps; question
of big al debt
as it business matterl" he faltered.
"No it is family matter"
"Ohp he said, with an air of relief, as II
this were of minor Importance
"You are going to marry your daughter
tomorrow" said the vicar.
"Iam"
"To your clerk, Mr.. Foyr
ayes, sir, 1t is not the first time that q
merchants daughter has married her
ia hers clerk, believe. though it is out Of
the common course of things"
II am here to beg you to postpone the
marriag,'
"On what groundsT
Before tell you that, you must give me
your promi q to communicate nothing tell
you o Mr. Foy."
Mr. Ump eby hesitated
"Mnd, l. is vital to you, as a father, to
know what have to tell"
Mr.. Ump eby gave the required promise
The vicar told his story, beginning with
the scene at the railway station. ending
with the story he had hear at Parminter.
"Were you aware that Foy had sisteri"
al never heard him speak of one."
"Cu, ous that, in your future son-n-law.n
Mr. Umpl,by sat and stared into space
like a man bew,ldered He wiped his 4rge
bald forehead with the biggest and most ex-
pensive thing In bandannas.
aThis IS most frghtful Suspicion he
said; "a young woman pois oned, for YOU
h,,.I, ~
soned 1t is an awful position. Every ar
rangement has been made for the wedding,
as you may suppose-guests invi ed--some
of the best peopls in Grandchildren My
wife and lau hter have the highest op Mon
of young Fov. may say they are nfltu-
atei about him. His conduct in business
has been irreproachable There must be
some mlstake-soms ridiculous misunder-
standing"
a got Foys address at your own Office,
and az that address l heard of sister. Of
whose existence you are absolutely unaware.
Do YOU think that speaks well for your in
tended n-in-law"
ale may have had some powerful reason
for concealin her existence She NAV lie
weak in her in elect She may have gone
wrong. AS tor your idea of slow poisoning,
that is too absurd"
"And You mean this young man to marry
your daughter tomorrow morningF
"Wnat am | to dol l never cared about
the match. l have been persu into Civ
ing my consent. My girl had a right to look
higher But to stop the marriage now would
be-
IS imply prudent Investigate the case as
l have put 1t before you. Ii am deceived
If Foy IS not he man who took tina dying
glrl 10 he railway s;ation-if Foy's sister
or a woman who passed as his sister, is
not lying cad at M,lldale, l will make the
humb est apollo y to you and MIR. Foy for
my aseless susp cions You must take your
own course. 1 want to save your daughter
from sorrow and disgrace Remember you
have been warned. If Foy is the man take
him to be, the police will be DIGGING his
hess tomorrow morning when he goes into
the hurch to marry your daughter Good
af ernoon l have given you plain facts
and have no time to spare for discussion
Mr., Umpeby would fain have de- aimed
him, but the vicar was in a hurry. He
drove back to Grsndchester and to the
headquarters of the police. to whom he re-
peatej his story. They had been at work
all day. and had done very little. They
had discovered porter at the station who
remembered the arrival of a Gentleman and
sick lady in a paid shawl They had seen
the woman who took charge of the ladies'
waiting room, secon c.ass-slwavs more
crowded than the first class-ani from her
they had heard again of a sick lady in a
plaid shawl accompanied by very atten-
tive gentleman. but she could give no
account of the PERSONAL appearance Of either.
The lady's lace was hidden by a veil, and
there had been so many people rushing in
and ont i,ss ut thu ast that fhnra Il Cd haan