Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-12-04
TIL
LITTLE WAIF.
a Story Of Absorbing Interest.
By BERNARD HERBERT.
IcHApTER xxII.-coarrsuEp.l

Garland Nicholas Garland" muir
INJURED the lady, Unexpectedly; ther
with sudden frightening of the bean
tiful face, she said, why certainly; he
was the foster-brother and constant at
tendant of Orrin, my husband, when
boy. Oh, it all comes back to me now
Though he never lived with us aftel
my marriage to your father, he fol
lowed me when l was driven into exile.
He proposed some plan of revenge
upon Mr.. Clifford, to which / refused
to listen. I Thought him an envious,
bad man."
Little Oracle and the lawyer ex
changed an intelligent glance; it oc
Cured to them both simultaneously
that it was none other than Garland
who robbed the unconscious mother Of
her infant, and ever after held the in.
nocent child above Orrin Clifford's
head as constant threat for the extor-
ton of money. And, though their
surmise was never proved, it was none
the less correct.
In the ominous silence that ensued
Mrs. Clifford broke the seal and drew
forth paper which she proceeded to
unfold. One swift glance at its con.
tents and she exclaimed in surprise:
why, this is legal document duly
signed, sealed and witnessed! It is
your fathers will, Oracle, leaving his
entire property to you. 1t does not
concern me-"
She held the parchment towards the
girl who, scarcely able to stand from
excess of emotion, struggled to her feet
and passed the instrument to Mr..
Edgar with trembling hands AS she
did so, a scrap of paper fell from an
inner fold and futtered to the floor.
Mrs. Clifford picked it up just as this
lawyer cried:
1T is the will, indeed The will
myself drew up in England scarcely
two months ago! Oracle, I congratu.
late you'll"
He had scarcely ceased speaking
when Mrs Clifford remarked:
This bit of paper is addressed to me.
Listen"
Aud in clear voice she read the fol-
lowing lines:
DEAR MADAM-As We may never again
meet in this world, write these few words,
nSPtiss th"' oOillC udy lHtt VIII reach YOU.
The inciosed will | stole from your husband
as he lay upon his deathbed, / was offered
large sum OF money to do it, and this is
my excuse. was also paid to destroy it,
which have not done | have not read it,
but ifit Is not made out in your favor ii
ought to be, for you We're a true wife and
an honest woman; and l wish to show YOU
that L. at least would not injure you. For
the last ten years the injustice which your
husband did you in driving You from his
aearth and home has been slowly but surely
Killing him. He has left no stone unturned
TO find you and beg your forgiveness. With
mis- end in view he went to Europe two
years ago. but death has come upon MIN
without his having found any trace Of YOU
II the wishes OF guilty man can do you any
good hope that these words may some
day meet your eye and bring you the com.
Tort and happiness you deserve. Respect.
tulfy yours, NICHOLAS GARLAND,
AS the musical voice ceased, the early
gray of the dawn crept in at the un.
curtained windows OF the little parlor.
1t was Lawyer Edgar, who, after while
broke the eloquent silence.
Come he said. "it is morning, and
being fully equipped for battle now. we
have an eventful day before us. You
will require all your strength, so l adj.
wise you to retire and secure what rest
you can. Meanwhile, I will smoke
cigar in the orchard and decide upon
our mode Of attack"
For hours thereafter silence reigned
IN the humble farmhouse, and it was
high noon when little Oracle and hel
mother came forth into the sunny gar
den to meet the lawyer.
Il have just seen poor old Jean, were
Mrs. Clifford's first words; che was
overjoyed to see me and seems quite
himself. He says he has had vision
during the night which betrayed his
daughter Cora as the kidnaper of his
little Stella. He considers the woman
quite capable of numbering the child
should she find her III her way. He is
esolved to see her without delay"
"Apd he shall see her, replied Mr.
Edgar, steadily; indeed, l shall insist
lpon his seeing her. Ny plans are
ormed. We shall all go to the house
It Black Pond this afternoon. That
woman, Cora Boyden, is desperate; she
J ravening tigress, and it is high time
ler claws were clipped
just at sunset Madame Clarisse's
arriage drew up before the lonesome
~ne house, and q resolute little party
ncended to the terrace
CHAPTER XIII.
a sSs DESPERATION.
The persons who aiighted from
'i<ian.s Clarisse's carriage when j drew /