San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-11-20
CHAPTEI. VII.

CHAPTER VIII.
Once more Mr.. Ford and Lord CarlSwoOd
sat together: the lawyer looked puzzled,
the master of Bralyn unhappy.
so you give up all hope" he said to
the solicitor You think there is no
chance"
II have done all that man could do. and
have failed" he replied drearily; IF there
had been one resource left, | should not
have come to your lOrdship. Ii is almost
useless perhaps to ask the question: sup
pose none of your daughters letters have
been kept
Il have never seen any Of Them" said
Lord CarlswOOd.
You did not notice the pOstmarkS on
the envelopes" pursued Mr.. Ford
Il have never seen the letters at all;
gave orders to Thorpe to destroy them as
soon as they came, aud never to allow them
to he brought to me. thought she would
be sure to write: but have never asked if
she has done so.
DO you think it probable that Thorpe
may have noticed the postmarks?" asked
Mr. Ford.
Il cannot tell; but you can ask him"
The bell was rung, and the butler sent
for. Mr.. Ford repeated the question, and
wondered at the change that came over
the mans face
Il should like to ask one question before
answer" he replied respectfully. Your
lordship has been pleased to make me a
confidential servant permit me to inquire
if YOU want information about my young
mistress?
l. 4 y,.I -
not her. but her child or children if she
has any living
They would hardly be children now"
observed Mr.. Ford; and then, turning to
the butler. he added, Tell me, Thorpe
when did the last letter come. and did you
notice the postmark on it,
The man looked at his master.
81 hope your lordship will not be angry
with me-" he said; Il have disobeyed you.
You told me to destroy all Miss Carls-
woods letters, but did not do 80. have
ept them, thinking and hoping that seine
day they would be useful. l have them
every one by me now" .
A sudden light came into Lord Csrls-
woods face
THAT is good news" he said: Il am in
debted TO you for your sense and prudence
Thorpe"
He tried to speak calmly, but it was
easy to see that he wa, terribly excited.
Mr.. Ford was more administrative.
"YOu have done the wisest and most
sensible thing you ever did in your life, -
he cried. Let us see the letters, Thorpe,
at once"
The man FASTENED from the room, and
returned with bundle of letters in his
hands. He laid them before Lord Carls-
wood
They are all in order, my lord" he
said lust as | received them; they have
never been touched. This was the first
and that was the last
And then. discreetly, Thorpe withdrew.
Mr. Ford went over to the table where
Lord CarlswOod sat
You must open them FOrd-I cannot"
he said. His face was white. his hands
trembled. MY daughter-Oh my daugh-
ter"' he said to himself and Mr. Ford OPP
ened the letters.
He was hard man, Il cool, shrewd, cal
culating lawyer. whose life had been spent
amongst deeds and parchments, but as he
read, the tears rose to his eyes. and more
than one deep sigh came from his lips.
Katrine's first letter was a girlish gay
composition, treating the whole matter of
her elopement and marriage as jest, ask
ing her father if he would not be well
pleased to find his daughter married with
out any trouble to himself. Yet at the
end there was a little prayer for pardon
She asked him to forgive her, and not to
feel annoyed. She had done that which
would make her happy all her life. She
would write again from London. she said.
The second letter was full of praise of
her husband. He was so kind, SO good so
clever; there was no one like him. The
next contained an imploring prayer that
her father would write. She had not
meant to anger him so deeply, and she
would not believe that he intended to cast
hnr OF. Then came desDairing letters,