The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-04
CHAPTER XIII.
HIS OWN PRESERVES.

HIS OWN PkESEhNES.
After that passionate embrace there
came long, solemn silence between the
two. broken at length by knock at the
door.
In reply to the baronet's "Come I'M" a
| footman entered with a card Sir Law
renee glanced at it with a careless mot at
home" on his lips, but the sight of the name
recalled him not only to his duty as host,
but TO his latest plan in the character OF the
Rat
The name was that of Mr.. Haviland, a
worthy old gentleman, who shared with
Sir Lawrence, by general request, the
trusteeship OF large sum OF money which
had been subscribed at dinner that had
taken place that day from which the baro-
net had indeed excused himself at the last
moment in hts sudden plan to claim his
daughter, but had headed the list with q
donation which was truly munificent
Ii was this money that was to be part Of
the clever scheme to avert every possible
suspicion OF the identity of the Rat with
the baranet. 1t was to be stolen by the
former, and then replaced by the latter, a
bit OF eonjuring In which the Rats soul de-
lighted, none the less that 10 was for once
unaccompainied with an actual crime,
though he would certainly have arranged
the coup for another evening, had he
known that this was to be the first with his
daughter.
1t was too late, however, to draw back
now.
"In a moment" he said to the servant,
who withdrew after cycling Nellie with re-
spectful curiosity, for the news OF the ar
rival Of the masters daughter so unexpect-
eddy was causing no little excitement in the
lower regions Of the mansion.
| "Nell, dear" said her father, drawing
himself slightly away and beyond the
reach Of her eyes, as II they could SEQ and
read his confusion In his face, Il have bust
| ness tonight which must be attended to-"
| You will not leave me 30 soonp she
said. IF you 60 when / have had you so
| short time | shall fear it is all a dream
and that l shall wake TO find you lost to me
STILL"
at Is no dream. dear. Remember said
that. But | must see to this business.
Even to be rich and powerful one is not TO
be ones own master"
"Rich and powerful" repeated Nell,
wonderingly. Are you really so, fatherl5
To think you do not know what | am,
not even my name, he said, half lightly,
half sadly. "You are the daughter, Nellie.
of Door deformed creature, who can't
reach up to lay hand upon your head
who can't walk sometimes without stick.
but of one who has power, so far has lies in
money, to make you happy, to make the
| future atone for the past. | am indeed rich
and powerful, child. But my position has
| been naught to me-until now, now when
you are found whom l thought lost, per-
haps forever, 1t shall serve to leave no
| want OF yours unqualified Nellie Hunting
ford, daughter of Sir Lawrence Hunting
ford, Baronet, beiress TO his fortune, and
| partner OF the position be Is winning. Il in
| JOY to me, my child, how does 1t sound to
| YOUR
"Too good almost to be trues Sir Law
renee Huntingfordw replied Nellie, In won
der.
"Ah, but the grand name is nothing to
the one you give me-fathern said the
hunchback.
"And l, little, blind, nameless Nellie am
your daughter, Nellie HuntingfordP she
| went on.
Forget all that pain, )" he replied, gently
II will give you more than a name, dear.
You shall have silks and satin TO wear, furs
and jewels. and all the best OF everything
that money can buy"
''No, no." she said quickly, mo fine
clothes and jewels for mel l cannot see
them, not one, not onem Despite her will
to hide her sadness from her father, that
! low, half-whispered cry made him vince as
if knife had been at his heart. 81 need
no jewels, save my mothers ring" she ad-
! ded, forgetful for the moment that it was
hers no longer.
ut was that which united u.s." said her
INA@NASN'
! for the sudden union. How was il you
were wandering alone in the streets this
afternoona thought you said those people
were Kind who took you in when you were
| il!n
$50, indeed, they were," she replied,
but, oh, father, felt like a prisoner, and
ran away TO try to find you"
"And ran straight into my arms. Do you
not remember faintinR on some stepsl 1t
| was outside this house. l put you in
charge Of my servant. but sfterward |
could not rest for thinking how like you
were to my wife, your mother, who is dead.
| And so sent some one to find out all about
| you. They brought me news from the
house where you went, that you had q ruby
ring like the one gave my child, and in
haste l went and claimed you, never know
ing till then that you had left the home |
had provided for you abroad, when l was
too poor 70 keep you with me-"
The story sounded so plausible that the
girl bad no cause TO question It. Still less
could she on her part break her oath, and
tell the truth Of her coming to England.
| She only told the story in part-as well
never dreaming he knew the whole, only too
! well.