The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-24


that part accompanied Algernon on his
travels, returned with the news that so far
as they knew he went alone.
Robert had seen Constance two or three
times in the interval. His own hopes had
fallen greatly, but he did his best to keepup
an appearance OF confidence
~ gu do not say so, but | can see that
you think my cause is hopeless, Mr.. Har-
but" she said one evening When he called
upon her, and informed her of the failure
OF his agent TO obtain any information
about the man who had accompanied her
father.
81 do not think 1t is lost Miss Corbyn.
Many hopeless case has been pulled out of
the fire before now. l acknowledge that
for the present we are baffied aud that
think as | will | can see no way whatever
of proving our point. The idea may occur
to me or to you, or we may come across a
clew accidentally. lam as much convinced
as you are that the marriage took place,
and that being so, the proofs may sooner or
later fall into our hands. For instance, this
courier, il he was courier, NAV be at
present travelling on the Continent. He
may hear sooner or later of Mr.. Corbyn's
death, and on finding that his nephew sue
ceeded him in the property would naturally
say to himself a child was born at st. Mao.
and if that child is living, it is the lawful
heir of the property He would see that
there is money to be made out of the thing,
and would likely enough go over TO st.
Malo and make inquiries there
THAT is what have been thinking, too"
the girl said, but, unfortunately, the
man may be dead, or he may be entirely
out of the way of hearing Of my fathers
death"
THAT may be the case, of course, Miss
Corbyn, and think it would be as well to
insert tue advertisement for him once a
month or SO in hopes that it may, if he is
alive, sooner or later catch his eyen
Then you think that it is of no use my
waiting here any longer, Mr.. Harbut?n
Frankly, do not, Miss Corbyn. l do
not see that there is anything for you TO do
l have already advertised reward for the
register of marriage, which may have
taken place either in a London church or
elsewhere. and | shall do so again at inter
walls. If saw that there was a chance Of
your doing any good by staying here, |
should say by all means stay, but see no
good in your wearing yourself out with
anxiety without any prospect of benefit"
II have been talking 1t over with Madame
Duport, Mr. Harbut. or course, | cannot
think of her staying away from her home
indefinitely. She has been wonderfully good
to me, but cannot let her do that"
II am quite ready to stay" Madame Du-
port said, with tears in her eyes, 81 cannot
leave herr
Leave herl" Robert repeated in surprise,
"then do you think of staying here alone,
Miss Corbynp
II am not thinking of living alone
Mr.. Harbut, but certainly intend to stay
in England. | have told you before that |
intend to devote my life to prove that my
mother was married. l care nothing for the
estate, but | will clear my mothers name
if it takes me all my life to do It. Ny idea
is to obtain a situation as governess or COM
panion. If / were doing something / could
wait patiently, but l could not go back to
st. Malo to the quiet life there | must be
doing something to prevent my thinking
AS you say, something may occur to me or
to you and should want to communicate
with you"
"Of course--if your mind is quite made
up, Miss Corbynp
"My mind is quite made up"
II will do my best then to help you to
obtain such post as you wish. but own
do not see that your presence in England
would be any advantage, as you conld come
over from st. Malo at a few hours notice.
Still that is your affair. You will remem-
ber-I know the idea is repugnant to you,
still it is right | should mention it-that
whenever you choose to accept it, your
cousin Philip is ready to settle an annual
allowance upon you"
Constance waved the idea aside.
II would not have accepted it at the first
for to have done so would have been To have
admitted that my mother was not married.
Now that we are sure that she was, al
though we may have no legal proof, it
would indeed be- a base act to do so. What
would be the best way to set to work to OBJ
tain situat1on9 Madame Duport says it
would be difficult without recommended
tions. OF course, speak French as we'll as
English, better | think. have had good
masters in music and drawing, and carried
off the prizes in both in my last year at
school. | am sure that the mistress would
give me testimonials. Had / better adver-
tise, do you think, or put my name down at
the offices that Annette says there are for
governessesW
II will think it over and let you know to-
morrow or next day, Miss Corbyn. That
matter is quite out of my line, but no doubt
can find out all about it..
That night Robert Harbut wrote a note
to Miss Leicester, saying that he would call
next day at o'clock, and that he hoped
she would manage to be in, If she could, as
he particularly wanted to see her. Hilda
had of course been informed Of all particu-
lars relating TO Constance and her claims,
and was quite ready to fall in with any sug-
gestion Robert Harbut might make about
her. He began by telling her Of the deter
mutation that Constance was taking, ex-
pressing his own regret that she did not re-
turn with her friend to st. Malo.
II differ from you altogether, Robert, and
l think it is perfectly natural that she
should not like to settle down to the dull
life there. | shouldn't think that any one
almost but not quite able TO prove that she
is well born and neress to a grand property.
would settle down in a hum-drum little
French town, with a cloud over her name.
Why. it would be enough to make one go
out of ones mind | think that she is per
fectly right to get something to occupy her
time with. Now how is she going to set
about it? OF course, it makes it difficult
her not having been out before. No doubt
sac could get place IN a school, but that
would be slavery; besides, she is altogether
too pretty and nice That would be against
her in private family, too; If there were
sons they would be falling IN love with her.
No, the best thing would be for her to go as
companion with some nice person who
would treat her as a friend. have half a
mind to tell papa that | want companion
myself, and / am sure l often do"
"How about the brothers. Hldap
Miss Leicester tossed her head. She was
an ardent champion.
''They might do worse, she said.
"A great deal worse, If she ever succeeds
in getting proof Of her mothers marriage;
but scarcely otherwise"
Don't talk in that old-fashioned way,
Robert. She is charming, and | know
nobody would rather have as sister-ln-