The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-08-01


what to make of it any more than did.
L must see himr she cried out at last
jumping up from the table; i must see
him, and Speak of an angel, madam,
saws |: here he isl and sure enough, by
the funniest chance in the world, IN
walked Mr. Valentine into the patio at
that moment, don't think he was over
pleased at the meeting; but it was too
late to get out of it, so he came up; and
noticed he only glanced at the lady, as
if she was some one he had never seen
before; then he gave me good day, and
took my hand. 1t was bit awkward,
said, 4 suppose you will wish to CON
verse with your wife alone, sir; | will
leave you Ny wifey says he; 1 was
not aware there was such personv is
not this lady your wifeT cried |. He
stared at her like man astonished, and
then at me. i never saw her till this
moment said he. Come, SIR said |, i
have just seen the certificate of her mar
rage with you oh, it's all mistake,
put in the lady. Il was never married
to this gentleman; l never saw him; ]
am the wife of Mr.. Valentine. We'll,
and this gentleman is Mr.. Valentine,
said l. He may have the same name,
but he is another person altogether, said
she. AS to that, said l, you must settle
it between you; Mr.. Valentines papers
are all correct, and there is only one
estate in England With the name that his
very quietly, Il am not a murderer, ma
lam, and you will only waste your time
IN trying to prove me such. But l can
assure you that, if / am not your hus-
band-and l certainly am not-no such
person exists in the world. Neither can
you sustain the charge that am aiming
either in combination with Mr.. Clifton
or alone-to keep you out of this prop
erty. told him week ago, before you
arrived in Mexico, that | would have
nothing to do with it, and to that deter
mination | shall adhere. The utmost you
can attempt to do is to show that | am
not Mr.. Valentine, and that you are well
come to attempt. But warn you before
hand that all the evidence is on my side,
and that you will fail. | advise you to
go back whence you came, and to give
up any idea of ever becoming a great
English lady. Meanwhile, | have the
honor to wish you good morningv
"He bowed to her as polite and cool
as you please, and walked out of the
patio and followed him. What in the
name of wonder does all this meanY
asked him.
Really, Mr.. Clifton said he, 4 can
give you no explanation, You have
heard the whole conversation, and you
must draw your own conclusions from
it, as do mine. fyou believe that that
lady is the wife, or the widow, of the
Mr.. Valentine who has inherited the cs-
tate, you are at liberty to act in accord
ance with your conviction. The most
difficult thing will probably be to make
other people believe as you do
That's all right, Mr.. Valentine said
|, but there is one thing you can tell
me. You said just now that you had
heard speak of that lady before, and the
inference was that what you had heard
was not to her credit Now what did
you mean by that
"'Well, Mr.. Clifton said he, perhaps
I may have heard of her before, or per,
haps | may be mistaken in thinking
had; but don't see why the inference
to be drawn is necessarily a bad one. At al
evnets, she has never done me any harm
and don't believe she ever will, or can
and | have no present intention of harm.
ing her, either by word or deed. AS
said before, you must follow your own
Judgment; az for me, what have said
stick to, and nothing will change me.
BY that time we had got to the door Of
the office of the secretary of the interior
who was q friend of his, and he went in
and left me in the street, to do my OWE
| thinking"
"Well, and what was the upshot of il
all?" inquired Mr.. Stapleton.
1T isn't ended yet" Mr.. Clifton re-
piled: but from facts that subsequently
! came to my knowledge / came to tbt
conclusion that might learn something
Gy coming on to New York"
"Now that think of it, it's growing 6
little chilly, too" rejoined Mr.. Stapleton
"&nd as the governor of South Caroline
ouce remarked to the governor of Nortl
Carolina, it's a long time between
drinks have some acquaintance with
the head steward on board this boat; sup
! pose we go down stairs!"
Apparently Mr.. Clifton accepted thi.
suggestion; for when, a few minute,
later, the bearded gentleman pushed
open his blind, the two camp stools were
vacant.