Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-11-28

II must give up my dear child, sooner
or later. Her happiness Is dearer to me
than anything; and can wish her nc
greater blessing than 10 find good and
worthy husband"
At that moment Edith opened the door
but, seeing US, she stopped in the en-.
trance.
"Come here, Edith" said Sir Edmund;
and, taking her hand, he continued, "Alr.
Thorne wishes you to be his wife; Is that
your wish alsof'
She buried her burning face In her
fathers shoulder; she could neither say
yes or no.
'It IL question that should not be de-
cided hastily" the baronet continued;
''take time, my dear. Meanwhile, see
no reason for your leaving the house, he
added, addressing me.
"Unless-"I faltered.
"Unless Edith wishes it," the baronet
said, helping me out. "True. Shall you
feel more at ease, dear, if Mr.. Thorne
goes away-for certain time, say? Shall
he go?"
Still screening her face, Edith shook
her head, and then knew that / had
won treasure greater than the Hesper
diamond.
In the afternoon of the Goth, Sir Ed
mund said:
~ have been looking at your engage
ment, Bernard, from practical point of
view, and fact occurs to me that, at
such time as this, would probably es-
cape you. That agreement Of yours
must be altered. You will soc that, for
Edith's sake, what I call the tontine
clause-a clause comforting upon the sur
vivor deceased partners share in the
Great Hesper-should be abrogated. It
entails risk which she must not be ex-
posed to-you understand me?"
/ understood what he said perfectly,
and agreed with him that the clause
must be altered.
Consult with your partners" he said,
Gas to what change is advisable. ex-
pect my lawyer here on the 24th, and he
can then draw up a legal agreement in
accordance with our general WISH"
] took the Judge into Van Hoeck's
room that night, and there told him Of
my engagement to Miss Lascelles. Van
Hoeck was visibly alarmed when he
heard this; and when went on to say
that Sir Edmund wished the clause al
tered by his lawyer on the oath, he said
quickly, in q low voice:
1.-THE crafty old fox! What does he
mean by thaty"
"His meaning is obvious enough" ]
replied; ''if marry Miss Lascelles, and
die, she will be dispossessed of my share
in the diamond. I can leave her only a
legacy of debt"
Eyes, end that amt all on it," said the
Judge, dragging his wiry chin-tuft
through his hand and bending his brow.
THAT amt all by lump. We're play
ing with marked card in the pack-a
card as might tempt e'er one on US tc
foul play"
"What on earth do you mean? Speak
plainly if you can," said Van Hoeck, in
angry Impotence.
swell, I mean this ere" answered the
Judge. with slow impressiveness, ''that
if one of my partners wasn't gentle
man, and t'other wasn't helpless blind,
I'm burned if I'd 60 to bed without a
under my piller, and my fin
ger on the trigger. don't alude to one
any more'n another, but well Just take
Israel's word for gospel, that everyone
is thief if you give him chance Of
thievin'; end, at that rate, I'm just as
likely as not to murder my two pardners,
and git the whole of that diamond to
myself. Consequently, you will allow
that the squire has double reason for
wantin' that agreement altered; for it
amt only the money he's got to secure
on to his daughter, but her husbin's life
likewise. Time enough for the young
lady to be wilder in the nat'ral order
Of things in general"