Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-11


other man, 10 see this thing to the end: conceived
IL and acted upon IL.
The ibrsry9 That was the room on the right of
the hail. opposite 10 Mrs. Tigram's sitting room
Probably nay was certain, lt had another door
opening on the passage In which st0oo- ~
opinion. When john nshered in the visitor oy
one door i had already, by way OF the otner,
ensconced myself behind a screen, that seemed
70 know would face IL Twas going 70 listen fer-
haps had my reasons Perhaps-but there what
matter? i, as fact, listened
Inc room was spacious out somper ~aIn ss.st
was a thin, dark man OF middle size, with mar
row face and a stubborn feather OF black hair
rising above his forehead; a man OF welsh type;
He was standing with his back TO the light, a roll
or papers In one hand. The fingers OF the otner,
drumming upon the table, BETRAYED that ne was
still scanning him stealthily-I had never seen
him before-the door was opened. and Mrs. Wig
ram came In. / sank back behind the screen. i
think some words passed, some greeting OF the
most formal character, but though the room was
still, failed 10 hear IT. and when recovered
Il am mere at your wish, Mrs. wigrau, and your
service, too he was saying, with an effort at
galiantry which sat very Ill upon him, although
/ think it would have been better II we had left
the matter TO our solicitors"
''Indeedg"
al was; and | perfectly understand, Lord
WetheTby, your preference for that course, u she
hide her dislike for MIN. "You naturally SHRINK
from telling me youf terms face TO face
"Now, Mrs Nigrami Now, Mrs Wigram! Is
not TINS tone 70 be deprecated9" he answered,
lifting mis- hands 81 come 10 you as a man OF
business upon business"
Business? Does that mean wringing advan-
tage from my weaEneSS?" she retorte1
He shrugged his shoulders. 81 do deprecate
this tone," ne repeated. 81 come In plain English
refuse as you please. i dYer you 1--WE hundred
year for this house. 1t is immensely too large for
your needs and too expensive for your income,
and yet you have IN strictness power TO let II.
Very well; who can release you from that re-
striction, offer you i've hundred year Tor the
house. What can be more fair?"
"Fa1r? In plain English, Lord Wetherby, you
are the only possible purchaser and you nix the
price. Is that fair? The house would let easily
Tor 81 200"
Possibly" he retorted, If it were in the open
market But 1t is not"
"NO.p she answered rapidly. "And you, having
the e4o,0oo year which, had my husband lived,
would have been his and mine; you who, poor
man, have stepped into this inheritance-you offer
me $500 for the family house! For shame, my
lordi Tor shame."
"We are not acting play" he said doggedly,
showing that her words had stung him Ia some
but my rights, and one OF those am willing 70
waive In your favor. You have my oner."
''And If refuse IL? II let the house? You will
not dare 10 enforce the restriction"
Try me, he rtJoined, again drumming with his
fingers upon the table. TRY me and you viii
see."
"If my husband had lived
"But he did not nve," he broke In, losing
patience, 'and that makes all the difference. Now,
u
scene! Do you accept my Ofer?'
For moment She had seemed about to break
down, but her pride coming To the rescue she re-
covered herself with wonderful QuickneSS.
Il have no choice" she said with dignity.
al AIN glad you accept" he answered, so much
relieved that ne gave way TO an absurd burst OF
generosity 'Comel' he cried, 1--WE will say
gulneas Instead OF pounds, and have done with it!'
she looked at him In wonder. mo, Lord
/ prefer TO keep 10 them. You said that YOU
would bring the necessary papers with you. II
you have done sol VIII sign them now, and my
servants can witness them"
81 have the draft, and the lawyers clerk is no
doubt, in the house" he answered. 81 lett direc-
lions Tor him TO Oe here at H."
Il do not think he Is IN the house, the lady
answered. ~ should know II he were here"
Not hereG he cried augrlly. "Why not, won
der! But l have the skeleton lease: IL is very
short, and 10 save delay VIII NIL in the partcu-
lars, names, and SO FORTH myself, you viii per-
init me 10 do SO. 1t will not take me twenty min
uteS."
"As you please. You will find pen and ink on
the table. III you viii kindly ring the bell when
you are ready Will come and bring the servants"
THANK you You are very good" he said,
smoothly; adding, when she had left the rooIn
land the devil take your impudence, madam.
SIS year, and so you are welcome to it. was
Tool To make the Offer" And with that, now
grumbling at the absence OF the lawyers CLERK,
and now congratuating himself on the saving
VI lawyers lee, my lord sat down to his task.
hanson cab on It's way TO the East India Club
ratified through TIE square, and under cover or the
noise stole out from behind the screen and stood
In the middle OF the room looking down at the un-
conscious worker. III Tor minute felt strongly
the desire 10 raise my hand and give my lordship
such surprise as he had never In his life expert
enced any other man might have felt the same
and as IL was put it away anu only looked quietly
ABOUT me- some rays or sunshine piercing the
corner pane Of a dulled window fell on and glori-
fled the WetherOy cOat-of-arms blaZOned over the
wide fireplace, and SO created the one bright spot
In the bare, disnantled room, which had once, un-
less the tiers OF empty shelves and the yet IinQer-
Ing odof OF Russia he'd, been lined from moor TO
ceiling with books My lord had taken the rurni-
ture; my lord had taken the books; my lord had
taken nothing but his rights.
Retreating softly TO the door by which had en-
tered, ana rafting the handle, advanced fresh
into the ROOM will your Iordship allow ne9n
said, after had In vain eoughed twice to gain his
attention.
he turned hastily and looked at me with a face
full OF suspicion. Some surprise on finding anoth-
er person In the room and close to MIN was nat
ura, out possioiy there was also something in the
atmosphere OF That house which threw his nerves
on their balance. .'Who are your" he cried In a
tone which matched his face.
You lett orders, my lCrd," explained with
MesSrs- Duggan Poole that a clerk should at
tend here at eleven. very much regret that
some delay has unavoidaoly been caused"
"Oh, you are the clerk! !" he replied ungraclOus-
ly. "fou do not look much like a lawyers Clerk
Inyoiuntlriy glanced aside anu saw In a mir.
TOR the reflection OF a tall man with thick beard
ana mustacne, gray eyes, ana an ugly scar seam
ing the Lace Irom nos 10 ear. "Yet hope TO give
You full satisfaction, my lord" murmured, drop
ed a confidential clerk"
We'll, Well, sir, TO your work, he replied irrita-
bly,. "Better late than never; and after all IL NAV
be preferable for you 10 be here ami see IL duly
executed Only you will not forget" he contin-
ued, hastily, with glance at the papers, ..tnat 1
have myself copied fOur-welI, thre5-three fun
folios, sir, for which an allowance must be made
But there! Get on with your work. The hand
writing will speak for ITSELF"
/ oOeyed, and wrote on steadily, while the earl
walked up and down the room, or stood az a
window. Up stairs sat Mrs Wigram schooling
herself, dare swear, TO take this one favor thai
was no favor from the man who had dealt out 10
her such hard measure. outside a casual passer
through The square glanced up at the great house.
aud seeing tue bent head OF the secretary and the
ngure Of his companion moving TO and fro, saw as
he thought, nothing unusual; nor had any pre-
Sentiment-how should ne-Of the strange scene
which the room with the dingy window as about
TO witness.
had been writing for perhaps fve minutes
when Lord Wetneroy stopped In his passage
behind me ana looked over my shoulder With
JERK MS ey esias fell, touching my shoulder.
BLESS my s0ui!' he exclaimed. 81 have seen
your handwriting somewhere; and lately too
Where could IL have been?y
probably among the family papers nv lord
answered 81 have several times been engaged IN
the family business In the time OF the late Lord
Wetherby."
Indeed" There was both curiosity and sns-
him?"
''Yes, my lord. / have written for him In this
very room, and he has walked up and down and
aietated 10 me, as you might be doing now, ex-
His lordship stopped pacing to and fro. and re-
tedIed 70 the WINDOW on the Instant But could
see mat ne was Interested and was not surprised
maen ne continued with transparent carelessness:
Va una Sv JUncaence And may ask what 1t
"At tldt timer" i Answered lonlrinr btrr f,,i, d,