The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1889-10-27

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relief as he spoke-.'but SO much gener
osity is uncalled fof A gd9d and fan
provision for your cousin would suffice
large fortune Is no real benefit to 8
woman. 1t was cruel task to break
the bitter truth to the girl. byt'-
why in the name of heaven did you
tell her the painful story?" burst forth
Hastings impulsively, and rising he at
tempted 60 relieve his impatience by
pacing the room, soon, however, resum
ing his seat
because, my dear sir, it was my duty
to let her know her true position. How
could foresee what you would dor ]
/ could not conspire to keep you in the
dark, which meant cheating you, and. il
| you knew the truth, it was incumbent on
me to inform her. 1t was a cruel task, ]
assure you, but, although terribly
moved, she bore up bravely."
Poor little Normal wish the truth
could have been kept from her."
"Had the will but been signed she
need not have known. AS it was'--
''She shall not suffer in any way can
/ prevent" murmured Hastings.
III fancy Miss Clavering will prove a
rather difficult subject to deal with. She
absolutely refuses to accept the assist
ance yentured on my own responsible
ity to offer her."
"How could she be, SO foolish-so
wrong headed? She cannot doubt my
readiness to do what is simply justice"
"The poor young lady is evidently cut
to the soul by the knowledge of her po-
sition. She has the instinct of the
wounded deer to fly anywhere for shell
ter and obscurity."
THAT will pass away when she finds
it entails no serious loss Of
81 don't think you have any idea of
the view she takes of her misfortune, :"
interrupted Orpen. II had the greatest
difficulty in persuading her to stay In her
home until something could be arranged.
She would not accept sou for her per-
sonal expenditure; she declared she had
ample funds, never having spent all the
allowance made her by her father She
utterly refused to listen to my entreaties
that she should take no step till she had
seen you. She told me she had no claim
to be married to lady of rank, and that
she did not want to accept anything
from you under the circumstances, nor
to be exposed to the pity of Lady Julia.
think she said"---
sit is too insane!' calculated Hastings.
"But will see her. She mast listen to
me- She always did"
"Ahemp-Orp&n cleared his throat
somewhat uneasily-"Im afraid there
are difficulties you cannot anticipate,
and hope you will believe that have
acted to the best of my judgment.
"My God, OrpenI you don't mean to
say that she has married the fellow"
what fellow?' with bewildered
look.
81 rather fancied from some words of
hers that she was ntangled-or-but go
on"
81 think you are quite mistaken. i
think might have succeeded in detain-
ing her till you were able to return but
for that Mrs. Macallan. Not that she be-
haved badly, you understand; but being
an active, practical woman, she found a
fresh engagement, and. moreover, found
one for Miss Clavering, too
"An engagement What do you
meant"
"a rich colonist, returning to New
South Wales with his wife and three or
four children, required a first class gov
erness companion, and without word
to me she accepted the offer. l took in
finite trouble to dissuade her, butt
You don't mean to say, Orpen, you
suffered this preposterous arrangement
to standl That you let the will of a
mere girl stand against youi's?s cried
Hastings, starting to his feet and lean
ing against the mantelpiece. II never
heard of such internal folly!'
when you come in contact with this
mere girls will, you'll be able to Judge
its strength more justly. Strong or
weak, she insisted on fulfilling her con-
tract"
But she is under age. Why could
you not refuse to permit, as representa-
tive of her nearest of kim.
You forget what she reminded me of
she has no kin; she has no claim on
any one, and no one has any authority
over her.
Hastings groaned.
Where is she staying?' he asked,
reaching to take his hat. The sooner
see and remonstrate with her the bet
ter"
MY dear SIR" cried the lawyer with
evident uneasiness, II am afraid, very
much afraid, Mr.. and Mrs MacDougal
have started on their hc;neward voyage,
and Miss Clavering with them"
"What" cried Hastings in a tone that
made Orpen jump. "Gone? Have you
doubt about it?n
"Well, no; not much. They had taken
their passage in the Southern Queen; she
was to start on Monday --stay Well see
if she has in the shipping news" He
called down the tube: Bring me yester-
days Times if you can find it; if not, send
and get one"
at is too maddening." muttered Has
tings, his dark eyes sparkling with angry
fire.
After all, my dear SIR" urged the
lawyer soothingly. Australia is not in
accessible. A telegram from you re-
questing Miss Clavering's return can
await her arrival, followed by a letter
-. II