Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-01-23
CHAPTER XXXVIIf.


"Mr: Herbert LnIey, ask permission to
reply to your inquiries i'll writing, because
1t is quite likely that some Of the opinions
you will find here might offend you If ex-
pressed trem personally. can relieve your
anxiety on the subject Of Miss Sydney West
ertield. But l must be allowed to do so in
my own way, without any other restraints
than those which think it becoming to an
honorable man to impose on himself.
You are quite right in surprising that
Miss WeSterfield had heard me spoken Of at
Mount Morven as the agent and legal adviser
of the lady who was formerly your wife.
What purpose led her to apply to me under
these circumstances you win presently dis
cover. As to the means by which she found
her way to my Office / may remind you that
any directory would give her the necessary
information.
Miss Westerfields object was to tell me,
In the first place, that her guilty life with
you was at an end. Acting under motives
which am sure you must understand. and
which hope You will also respect, she has
was sorry to see Though she tried to hide it
from mel how keenly she felt the parting.
You have been dearly loved by two sweet
women, and they have thrown their hearts
away on yOu-aS women will.
Having explained the circumstances so
far, Miss Westeriield next mentioned the mo-
tive which had brought her to my office. She
asked il | would inform her Of Mrs. Or
mOnd's address.
This request, l confess. astonished me.
ITO my mind she was, OF all persons, the
last who ought to contemplate communicate
ing in any way with Mrs. Ormond. l say
this to you; but refrained from saying it to
her. What did venture 30 do was to ask
for her reasons. She answered that they
were reasons which would embarraSs her if
she communicated them to a stranger.
After this reply-speaking as gently and
considerably as possible declined to give
her the information she wanted.
Mot unprepared, as 1t appeared to me, for
my refusal, she asked next if was willing
to tell her where she might find your brother,
Mr.. Randall LinIey. In this case was glad
to comply with her request. She could adj
dress herself to no person wOrthier to advise
her than your brother. In giving her his ad
dress in London told her that he was alb
was expected to return in a weeks time.
''She thanked me and rose to 90.
II confess was interested in her. Per-
haps thought of the time when she might
have been as dear to her father as my own
daughters were to Inc. l asked If her par
ents were living; they were dead. My next
question was: Have you any friends in
LOndOn% She answered: Il have no friends
1t was said with resignation so very sad in
so young creature that was really. dis
and asked if she felt any embarrassment in
respect of money. She said: II have some
small savings from my salary when was a
gOverness." The change In her tone told me
that she was alludiDg to the time of her resi-
dence at Mount MOrven. 1t was impossible
to look at this friendless girl and not feel
some anxiety about the lodging which she
might have chosen in such place as Lon
don. She had fortunately come to me from
the railway and had not thought yet of where
she was to live. At last | was able to be of
some use to her. My senior clerk took care
of Miss Westerfield and left her among re-
spectacle people, in whose house she could
live cheaply and safely. Where that house
is refuse, for her sake, to tell you. She
shall not be disturbed.
visit from my good friend, Randall LinIey.
''He had on that day seen Miss WeSter-
field. She had said 10 him what she had
said to me, and had repeated the request
which thought 1t right to decline; owning
to your brother however, the motives which
strongly impressed by the sacrifice of herself
which this penitent woman had made that
he was at first disposed to trust her with Mrs.
Ormond's address.
Reflection, however, convinced him that
her motives, pure and diSntereSted as they
undoubtedly were, did not justify him in let
ting her expose herself to the consequences
which might follow the proposed interview
All that he engaged to do was to repeat to
Mrs. OrmOnd what Miss Westerheld had
Saiu anu W lnlOIln the young lauy OF The re-
suit.
I'm the intervals of business l had felt
some uneasiness when ! thought OF Miss
WeSterfield's prospects. Your good brother
at once set all anxiety on this subject at rest.
He proposed to place Miss Westertield
under the care of an old and dear friend OF
her late father-Capt Bennydeck. Her vol
untary separation from you offered to your
brother and to the captain the opportunity
for which they had both been waiting. Capt
Bennydeck was then cruising at sea In his
yacht Immediately on his return Miss
Westerfeld's nclinatons would be consulted,
and she would no doubt eagerly embrace the
opportunity Of being introduced to her faith.
er's friend.
II have now communicated all that know
IN reply to the questions which you have ad-
dressed to me. Let me earnestly advise you
TO make the one reparation to this poor girl
which Is in your power. Resign yourself to
2 separation which Is not only for her good,
but tor yours.-Samlel Sd,rdzi,a-"
ITO b Continual
49,