The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-20


de aud that young Ferris have come TO the
conclusion that she is illegitimate, and
therefore the thing is to be kept a secret
from me. | must think over whether had
better breach the subject and let him know
that | am aware of her existence, then /
should learn what steps they We're taking,
but on the other hand there are many reasDns
why it would be better that ne should think
me Ignorant about it"
This was what she thought, she only said:
II suppose you will be moving into the
Court, Philip. There seems no reason why
you should not do So"
'Yes, | suppose | might as well. mother,
or rather we might as well, Corbvn is so
much nearer than Clitheroe, that it will be-
great deal more convenient for the town;
OF course it will be questl n for you to de-
eide whether we shall keep on this house."
Then Mrs. Clitheroe knew that the two
young men had considered it morally GER
tain that this girl whose existence they had
learnt, was not born in wedlock.
There will be plenty of time to think
about that, Philip" she replied, ''of course
we shall shut up Clitheroe, but that counts
| for good deal In winter. At any rate we
have got this house on our hands for an
other year and a half and shall be able to
see how things work before that, but there
Is no doubt that it is right and proper that
you should take possession of the Court at
oncen
Il suppose it is the right thing to do,n he
| agreed, rather reluctantly. II should say
| thought it is better to let a week or 50 pass
| first, do not want to seem to be hurry to
step into uncle's shoesp
Every well, Philip, there is of course no
hurry about it, )" but Mrs. Clitheroe at once
guessed that Philip wished to delay until he
| had made quite certain as to the status of
this unknown cousin. Ferris is going to
make inquiries" she said to herself ~
would give good deal to find out what
the girl herself knows"
This indeed was the point upon which
Mrs. Clitheroe's thoughts had been fixed
| from the moment when she burned the CODY
of the marriage certificate. Another copy
might be found among her brothers.
| papers, though this was hardly likely, or
| there might be some memorandum which
would afford clew. Fortunately there
| could be no letters which would give this
information. for the mother had not Q.
turned to England, and had never been
| separated from Algernon from ths time of
their marriage. therefore no letters between
them could be In existence. Still Algernon
| might have given copies of the certificates
to the girl Ia order that the people she
lived with might have proofs of tue mar
rlage. Possibly, too. he might have made a
will and left 1t with them. Everything de-
pended upon what he had done; if he had
taken these precautions Corbyn Court was
of course lost to Philip, if he had not she
might preserve it for him.
Both Mrs. Clitheroe aud her son talked
more than usual that evening, for both
| were anxious to conceal the fact that they
were preoccupied, aud it was a relief to
them when the hour for going to bed ar
| rived
at is no use bothering about it," Philip
said angriIy to himself when he was alone,
81 am fool to worry. Ferris seems to
have no doubt that it Is all right, and if it
isn't should not fret myself about it, so
why should | bother now. l will not let
| myself think any more Of it until hear
| from him the result of his inquiries.
think will run up to town for three or four
| days; suppose it would not be the right
thing for me to go into the club for another
week or so, and | should NOPE to death if |
had to stay here doing nothing till then"
Philip adhered to his resolution not to
allow his thoughts to dwell any more upon
the discovery made that afternoon, and ao-
cordingly he was sound asleep in half an
hour. His mother sat for hours before the
fire in her bedroom, and when she at last
| got into the bed there was no sleep for her
until daylight began to break. Then her
mind was thoroughly made up
II will do it, she said, firmly. "Philip
| snail not De detraudeQ or his rights, and no
peasants granddaughter shall reign in the
old house Of the Corbyn, if l can prevent
| itn
| The next morning at breakfast Philip,
with some doubt as to how his mother
would receive the proposition, said that he
had been thinking of running up to London
| for few days.
81 can't very well go down to the club or
meet people just at present, mother, every
one would think it their duty to talk about
uncles death. and would rather get out Of
it for the present if he added, ''you will
not find it very dull by yourself here"
He was pleased at receiving cordial as
sent to his proposal from Mrs. Clitheroe
81 think it is very good idea. Philip, it
will make change for you. and on your
return you can go straight back to the
Court, and | will join you there. We will
| stop there for week or two, just to take
| possession, and then return here till the
spring. By the time we come back you
will oeable to resume your former habits
and to hunt again if you like. There is no
occasion for nephew to shut himself up
| for any long time after the death of an
| Uncle. | snail not find it lonely here.
shall get on very well until your return.
Then may as well 60 up to-day by the
expressN
81 think that is the best thing you can do,
| Philip" Accordingly Philip went up to
London by the IL o'clock train.
CTO BE CoNTINUED)