Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-12-12

MAY ask how long you lived with
him?"
The lady buried herf&ce in herhands
The question took her by surprise, and
| this was a woman's article to gain time
and answer cleyerly.
But the ingenious MOnckt0n gave it
a happy turn. Poor thing Poorthing!"
| said he
He left me the next day" said Lucy,
! sand I have never seen him since"
Here MOnckton interposed; he fan
cied he had seen the curtain move. aEx-
cuse me-" said he. Il think there is
| somebody listening!" and hewent swift
| ~ and put his head through the curtain.
But the room was empty: for meantime
Grace was so surprised by the lady's ar
rival, by her beauty, which might well
| have tempted any man, by her air of
responsibility. that she changed her
tactics directly, and she was gone to her
| father for advice and information in
spite of her previous determination not
/ TO worry him III his present condition.
| W hat he said TO her can be briefly told
elsewhere: what he ordered her to do
was to return and watch the man and
| not the woman.
During Lucy's hesitation, which was
| somewhat long, a clergyman came to
the window, looked in. and promptly
retired, seeing the Colonel had COM
pany. This, however, was only a mod
est curate, alias detective. He saw in
half moment that this must be Mark
| Waddy's pal; but as the police like to
go their own way he would not watch
| the lawn himself, but asked Jem Davies,
| with whom he had made acquaintance,
| to keep an eye upon that with his fell
| lows, for there was a jail-bird in the
house; then he went round to the front
| door, by which he felt sure his bird
would make his exit. He had no earth
| ly right to capture this eccleSiaStic. but
| he was prepared if the Colonel, who was
magistrate, gave him the order, and
not without.
But we are interrupting Colonel Cliff
ford2s interrogatories.
Madam, what makes you think this
| diSlOyal person was my SOM"
Indeed, sir, don't know" said the
lady, and looking around the room with
| some signs Of distress. II begin to hope
it was not your son. He was tall
| young man, almost as tall as yourself.
He was very handsome, with brown
hair and brown eyes, and seemed incap-
able of deceit"
Have you any letters of his?" asked
the Colonel.
Il had great many, sir" said she,
but | have not kept them ALL"
Have you one?" said the Colonel,
sternly.
ooh, yes, sir" said Lucy, "I think 1
must have nearer twenty; but what
good Will they be?" said she, affecting
simplicity.
why, my dear madam" said Monclz-
ton, Colonel Clifford is quite right; the
handwriting may not tell gOu anything,
but surely his own father knows it. |
think he is offering you very fair test.
| must tell you plainly that if you don't
produce the letters you say you possess,
| shall regret having put myself for
ward in this matter at ALL"
Gently, sir" said the Colonel; "she
has not refused to produce them"
Lucy put her hand in her pocket and
drew out a packet Of letters, but she
hesitated, and looked timidly at Monck-
ton, after his late severity. Am T
bound to part with them?"
Certainly not" said Monckton, "but
you can surely trust them for minute
to such man as Colonel Clifford. lam
of opinion" said he, that since YOU can
not be confronted with this gentleman's
son Though that is no fault of yours).
these letters (by-the-bye, it would have
been as well to show to me) ought now
at once to be submitted to Colonel Cliff
ford, that he may examine both the con-
tents and the handwriting; then he will
know whether it is his son or not: and
probably as you are fair with him be
will be fair with you and tell you the
TRUTH
Colonel Clifford took the letters and
ran his eye hastily over two or three.
they were filed with the ardent pro
testationS of youth, and a love that evil
IDENTIFY looked toward matrimOny. and
they were written and signed in a hand
writing he knew as well as his own.
He said, solemnly, "These letters are
written and were sent to Miss T.11cv
Muller by my son, Walter Clifford"
Then, almost for the first time in his
life, he broke down, and said, God for
give him; God help him and me. The
honor of the ClitfOrds is an empty
sound"
Lucy MOncktonrOse from her chair in
genuine agitation. Her better angel
tugged at her heart-strings.
Forgive me, sir, oh, forgive mel" she
cried, bursting into tears. Then she
caught bitter, threatening glance of
her bad angel fixed upon her. and she
said to MOnclztOn, Il can say no more.
can do no more. ItWas fourteen wears
>.
1t up amongst you. | have made a hero
weep; his tears burn me. | don't care
for the man; LII go no further. You,
sir, have taken q deal of trouble and ex-
penSe. l dare say Colonel Clifford will
compensate you; [ leave the matter
with you. No power shall make meact
in it any more"
Monckton wrote hastily on his card.
and said, quite calmly, "Well. really
think, madam, you are not fit to take
part in such conference as this. Com
pose yourself and retire. / know your
mind in the matter better than YOU do
yourself at this moment, and [ Will act
accordingly"
She retired, and drove away to the
Dun Cow, which was the place Monck-
from Grace: Papa was the witness. lie
is quite sure the bridegroom was not
our Walter. He thinks it must have
been the other clerk, Leonard Monck-
ton, who robbed Mr.. BARLEY, and put
some Of the money into dear Walters
pockets to ruin him, but papa saved
him. Don't let him escape"
Colonel Clifford's eye flashed with
triumph, but he controlled himself.
SAY | Will give it due attention" said
he; L m busy now"
And the servant retired.
Nov, sir" said he, lis this case of
mistaken identity. or is your name
Leonard Monckton?"
Colonel Clifford" said the hypUrrite,
sadly, Il little thought that [ should be
made to suffer for the past. since came
here only on an errand of mercy. Yes,
sir, in my unregenerate days / was
Leonard MoncktOn. [ disgraced the
name. But [ repented, and when :
adopted the sacred calling OF a clergy