The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1889-10-13

They all thought themselves very clever
excepting Tasia, who thought of nothing
but how to pet and comfort her found
ling" as Mr.. Perkins called him, and to
bring him back to health; but they had
to deal with wits as sharp as their own.
When they marched forth armed with
the law to arrest the pseudo Osmund
Questir, all trace of him had vanished;
but brief letter addressed to Mr.. Cues
tin, Sr., which came by post, threw much
light upon the past;
DEAR UyCLE-As impertinent per-
sons have upset my arrangements, and
will, ere this, have surprised you by an
exchange of sons, think it expedient
to run down into Spain. Now don't
trouble to seek for me, for Spain is not
accommodating in these matters, and as
l am positively your nearest relative,
after my cousin Osmund (who holds to
life with the most unaccountable tenac-
ity, seeing what poor idea he has Of
enjoying it), you WILL presume. let the
affair drop. l saw your son first in
Rome, when his extraordinary resem-
blance to myself-his double first cousin
put little scheme into my head. We
travelled along from Belfort, and | give
you my word could as easily have dis
missed him from world of disappoint-
ments, as reduce him to state of par
tial insensbility, in which / conveyed
him with all tenderness to the admirable
institution wherein he has been ever
since. Should you ever require an estab-
tishment of this kind, can most heartily
recommend it, and have, given DIR.
s. full authority to use my name.
After all l was right-nothing but in
sanity could have induced Osnund to
help nurse cholera patients at Naples,
with whom he had no more to do than
with the man who picks up sticks in the
moon, 40 now find he did
Now, when you are disposed to re-
fleet upon that part of my conduct which
affects myself, pray bear in mind two
things: firstly, that my grandfather left
all his wealth to you, for the mean reason
that my father knew how to spend it;
and, secondly, that you were so pleased
at what you took for your sons submits
sion to your will, that you received me
with what must describe as foolish inn
petuosity, and without the slightest COM
junction for the young lady who has
proved herself better man than any of
us. How come to know about her mat
tiers not, but confess have not an idea
what put her on the track. l have al
ways found these women too clever for
me, and don't doubt that this is also
your experience.
"Many thanks for all favors. Remem-
Der me kindly to Osmund and the young
lady, your future daughter-in-law.
Believe me, yours very truly,
LEOPOLD QUEsTIN."
"And So" said Mr.. Questin to Anas-
tasia, ''you sold your little pearl neck
lace for the sake of this fellow, did you?
only hope you may not live to consider
it the dearest bargain you ever made"
Not long after Mr.. Questin had dis
covered to what extent his nephew Leo
pold had robbed him by means of forged
checks, the marriage of Osmund and
Anastasia was celebrated at the English
embassy.
Six months later Osmund said to his
wife, Leopold, the scoundrel, was the
best friend ever had. What was three
months detention, when all the time
was but serving for my Rachel?'