The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1893-04-08
ing expression of hope and suspense.

Picy I'LL &SllOloc, ytb CurlOuSIy re
sembling both, held North silent for
brief time; then, with his grave, kee1
glance resting on Mrs Maynard, he an
swered, in low tone:
"unbappily for me, Mrs. MAYNARD, il
has been beyond my power to control
ibis case OF determine the results te
s17it ourselves. But, whatever we may
have to regret, our suspense on at least
one point is ended, and on this we may
well congratulate ourselves.
An expression of dismay, succeeded
! quickly by Incredibly, swept over Mrs.
| Maynard's countenance. Leaning for
ward in her chair, she exclaimed, i'm
periouslv:
You are spea 4g in riddles, Mr..
North Pray tell me, to what impor-
tant announcement are these vague and
| general observations the prelude?''
''Why-ah-in fact, Mrs. Maynar5,
nothing could be worse;" and N5rth,
after vainly casting about IN some
Apply phraseology by which to soften
aeintelligence, now plunged recklessly
INTO the explanation. Nothing could
DC worse than the news that Hopkins
nd Shepherd have sent us. 1t is my
.uty to inform you that a decision was
reached IN our case on Wednesday,"
A decision at lastl and what is it?''
:. "a deathblow to your hopes and to
nine, Mrs. Maynard We have suffered
3 total defeatr'
As he spoke, in cool, deliberate way,
Ars. Maynard sank back in her chair as
quite overcome by the announcement.
Quickly rallying, however, She ex-
aimed, in resolutely incredulous tones:
Then we have lost our case? Oh,
Ir. North, how can this have happened?
re were SO well fortified at every point,
zen granting their claims concerning
niece TO be correct; so you have re-
stedly assured me yourself, MIR. North
Hopkins and Shepherd have reiteI-
u again and again.
4 grim little smile erept upward from
dropping ends Of North s mustache
just Illuminated for an instant the
sep glance of his eyes. When he
Re his tones seemed full of mocl1ing
assn.
Sell fortified? So we did appear to
1t was q strong case until the tear
9 and ronding OF our opponents be-
az then oar really unsubsiantial
lDlic went to tatters in an Instant
'Mr. North, what do you nean?n de-
handed Mrs. Maynard, while her beau
iful eyes grew darker still with alarm
md excitement. s'Let me l-now the
Whole trnth--the worst that there is to
ell! Speak plainly, if You please!n
81 will DO SO, Mrs. Maynard, if you
INSIST, although the plain truth is not
.ly7ays an agreeable thing to hear. In
'rief, then, the viii that was put for
yard in support of your claim to Mrs.
)unkirl's fortune has been openly de-
Jared, and furthermore proven to be, a
"a forgery
Mrs. Maynard repeated these words
as if she were unconscious
speaking aloud; then with sudden
ehemence she cried:
"Who says it is a forgeryl Who {
ares to say SO? How can they prove
?n
North was watching her closely, re
Lizing with how much significance her /
ords and manner at this crisis would
: weighed; yet he was unable to de- i
rhine the precise effectproduced upon c
sr by his announcement. That she :
as startled and dismayed he could of 1
'urse perceive at a glance; beyond this L
: could not analyze her emotions.
gliding himself steadily in hand and \
his watchfulness of her, he o
piled to her last excited words with +
UGH of reckless nonchalance in his Fl
amer:
''Oh, the proofs are invincible, Mrs. II
aynard. 1, myself, see clearly now II
at it was very poor policy to risk that n
siness." le
He spoke at random, knowing that d.
; FIRST venture must be made more or W
IS daringly in the dark; but no sooner t,
re the words uttered than he congrat- u
tied himself that his random shot had
the mark II
Poor policyl'' repeated Mrs. May
I'd, in perplexed tones, while she k
sed her eyebrows inquiringly ''And OF
W, Mr.. North, who sanctioned this Il,
r. policy?" ii
Precisely what propose to find out, m
d North to himself, with grim deter n,
nation. "By strong implication, my e5
Tor rather Noll. However, that re- W
ms to be established. or
hen to Mrs. Maynard he added, in a1
most conciliatory tones: or
Oh, wei, Mrs. Maynard, we can eli
rcely afford to discuss that point at Of
prescntlnteresting crisis. OF course, st
atever has been done thus far has an
n undertaken with the very best in fo
tons and a confident anticipation Of ha
cess. A few days ago our position w
ned tenable enough; now, however, sol
&c the case has been subjected to Of
h q merciless examination, Isee very
Irly the weak and utterly untenable
ats. The fact is, Mrs Maynard, that an
sery, as now perceive, was far from an
fully contrived, and the best we ov,