Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-27
ASERIESDF SHORT STORIES
By J. MARsDEN SUrcL1FFE,
ENTITLED
rHE ROMANCE OF AN INSURANCE OFFICE,
BEING PASSAGES Mr. AUGUSTUS WILLIAM WEB
BER, Formerly
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

| favor. DO you not see that the destruction
of the will would give him both mistress
| and estate?"
81 have thought of that" the detective
answered, "but don't take your view. If
Miss Eversleigh could induce Mr.. Ralph to
allow her to act on her fathers will, she
might marry Mr.. Eric, if she were so minded,
without any compunction. But you cannot
| convey an estate to q man who refuses to
| have it. Mr. Ralph has Miss Eversleigh in
! a cleft stick. He has only to stand out
I against her determination to act on her
fathers will, when it is not forthcoming, in
order to win her. She must either marry
him or rob him of both estate and mistress.
She would probably accept him when she
saw no other way of making good to him his
loss of fortune. There is a good reason,
therefore, for suspecting Mr.. Ralph; and the
same reason holds good for not suspecting
Mr.. Eric. If he is the culprit he will be
caught in his own trap. He is not such a
tool''
''In that case there are two alternative
possible motives to be attributed to Mr..
Ralph-a chivalrous wish to undo his
uncle's act, or a crafty scheme to put Miss
Eversleigh into your cleft stick and compel
her to marry him whether she cares for him
or not
'That is So"
So much of this conversation between Mr..
Weber it is necessary to repeat in order,
that what follows may be clearly understood.
Doggett left the room soon afterward and
turned down the corridor leading to the
servants hall, where Benefits room was
situated, intending to have a conversation
with that worthy; meditating even dis
closure of his identity and his errand to
Eversleigh Hall, for by this time he had
formed the highest opinion of the old
servants trustworthiness. Just as he reachd
Benefits room, however, Bessie, one of the
upper housemaids, came along, and finding
the room empty Doggett drew her in and
closed the door.
"Look here, Bessie Dance, want TO ask
you question or two"
Claws a mussy, Mister Holmes, what
about?"
''You remember the Squire being brought
home?"
"In course lido. As if body would ever
forget that"
Between the time of the Squire coming
home and the next morning, when he died,
did you see anyone enter this room?"
Bessie's answers to the close catechizing
to which she was subjected need not be re-
corded. At its close there was a look of
triumph in the detectives eye, and Bessie
resumed her progress upstairs, with her
cheeks in blaze and her heart humping
in her breast like frightened bird. For
had she not taken an oath that she would
not reveal the conversation that she had
been holding with Mr.. Holmes, until he
gave her permission, for if she did, it would
be sure to injure Miss Eversleigh?
Meanwhile another interview was going
on in the morning room between Miss Ev-
ersleigh and her cousin Ralph.
Ralph Eversleigh had become strangely
altered since the 'Squire's death. He had
lived his life as much as possible moodily
apart, refusing to hold communication with
/ anyone, beyond what the barest civility de-
manded. He had scarcely spoken to his
| cousin Gwendoline since he led her from
the room where the last breath had depart
ed from her fathers body and she had flung
herself on the inanimate clay in violent
paroxvsm of grief. He only met her when
the household came together for the neces-
sary meals, and then he would speak no
word unless he was addressed though his
| eyes, like the eyes OF some great faithful
watchdog, followed her and hung in mute
implOring pity on her every movement
He cursed his cousin Eric savagely in his
heart when he heard his profuse expressions
of sympathy, and saw how he strove by
thoughtful attentions to make himself
necessary to his cousins comfort He
he saw Gwendoline smile back in Eric's
| face-though 1t was a wan and wintry
smile-in acknowledgment of Eric's at
| tentions.
He was reused temporarily out of his
apathy when he heard of the missing will.
but his interest ceased Immediately when
he learned that the will left him master of
Eversleigh. He wandered aimlessly through
park and plantation, covering many miles
every day, neglectlng to return the salutes
of those who met him, never even appear
ing to see them, so wrapt was he in his
gloomy reflections. It seemed to Gwendo-
line as if her fathers death or some more
occult cause had "froze the genial current
of his soul" and that he was trying to avoid
her; and her womanly heart went forth in
divinest pity toward this man in whose
breast all hope and all interest in life
seemed to have died away. He had in fact
excited in Gwendoline that compassion
which is so akin TO love that ''thin par
titions" alone divide the two sentiments.
If Ralph had known and intended it, he
was taking the course that was best adapted
to bring about the realization of the wish
that lay so near to his uncle's heart. But
the death of the Squire had acted with a
peculiar effect on Ralph's temperament.
For the first time he found himself asking
the hand OF the heiress of Eversleigh?
Had he not all his life long, since the death
of his father, eaten the bread of depend
ence? What right had his uncle to disin-
herit his own daughter in his favor? How
could it be right for him to take advantage
of the position in which the will placed
him, supposing the will were discovered.
"But the will won't be found" Ralph mur-
INJURED to himself with q grim chuckle,
dead men tell no tales and burnt docu-
ments don't come to light again."
Ralph was proud; and now that he had
awoke to his position, without fortune or
could make his own way in the world, it
seemed to his morbid selfconsciousness that
it was nothing less than presumption for
him to dream of renewing his suit Men
would stigmatise him as a fortune-hunter.
and he would suffer in his own self-respect
forever. With Eric, whom his jealousy
taught him that Gwendoline was disposed
to favor, it was different. Eric enjoyed a
handsome allowance from his father. whose
wealth would enable him to make such q
provision for his eldest son as would save
him from the imputation of seeking his
cousins love from merceuary motives.
Altogether Ralph felt that his cup was
very bitter; and now that GwendoHne
seemed removed entirely out of his reach
his love for the'beautiiul and high-spirited
girl was fast slipping out of his control.
He was setting out for one of his daily
peregrinations, when he was arrested BY a
message that Miss Eversleigh wished to see
him in the morning room.
His heart leaped within him-he could
not help that-as he entered the room and
Gwendoline welcomed him with such
smile as he had not seen ber bestow on Eric;
but he pulled himself sharply together and