The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-03-03
CHAPTER XIV.

Motner 81. Gertrude TO Raymond. Is
abel is frantic, and this, coming SO soon,
places all the responsibility upon me for
opposing your plan. Are you sure il is
Laurence?'
Il just heard the news from the re-
porter who brought me your message.
i have no doubt of its truth. His own
comrades have identified him."
The Trumpet is going to publish the
story of his trouble tomorrow. | un-
derstand you have tho influence to sup
press it. / must ask you to do SO"
Il assure you l will"
Then, about the funeral? To at
tend to that is the least our order can
do for one who was such a friend. But
will you Hid our agent i'll securing the
necessary permits"
Let mo look after the whole ma tier
and pay the expenses. -.
No; we cannot do that"
Have you thought of the burial
place? Tho case is considered one of
suicide"
"Suicide,"
"Yes."
And that means the denial of Chris
tian burial! What shall we do:"
My idea is to place the body in a re-
celving vault for time. Events may
demonstrate that ho was killed or that
it was the result of an accident. Mcan-
while continue Investigations.
II will consult Isabel"
How is she?"
She is bearing up bravely. She
seems to get strength from the desire to
vindicate his memory. She had not
thought of this new fcature-demal OF
Christian burial.
- 1t may not be the proper timc to
suggest it, Mother st. Gertrude but
from my worldly, more experienced
point of view she ought, for the sake
of his memory, place herself under my
protection and with me proceed to make
Investigations. She cannot do it here,
and she will not trust any ono but her
self, l feel, under the circumstances.
You cannot, with peace of mind, allow
her TO proceed alone.
interfered once. l will not do so
again. 1t shall be as she says. But
the denial of Christian burial 1t is
terrible! Terrible!'
. am certain that we can prove that
1t was not suicide. Perhaps his ex-
oneration will incriminate another-we
may be able to prove that ho was foully
dealt with.
Il will 60 TO Isabel"
Raymond had determined to marry
Isabel He was afraid that Mangau
might learn just enough to justify the
issue of an injunction that could be CON
tinued for some time. The publication
of these proceedings might elicit facts
to undermine his hold on the property
IL an order to restrain him from getting
the deeds was decreed.
Mother st. Gertrude eyed him critic
ally. She was suspicious still of this
man. She believed his profession of
love for Isabel. His reputation as a
man of wealth dispelled the idea that he
was after her property. Again, the nun
had not learned of the value of the
lands that We're destined To be convert
ed into parks Therefore his love ap-
peared to be disinterested. 1t was the
intensity Of his ardor-its velocity, one
might say-that she could not account
for, but his eagerness to remove any
and all aspersions from Lanrence's s
character sprang from broad spirit of
generosity, she concluded. Where gen
erosity was great, other affections were
proportionately developed, she reasoned,
and their outpour as impetuous.
Before you CO." he added, "there
are few things / should say Some
one must get an order from the public
administrator for Laurence's effects.
His sister can get it. Naturally, if she
consents to a speedy marriage, will
take charge of that, sec what is neces-
sary to be done To straighten out his af-
fairs, satisfy all claims, if any, and
carry out the designs of Miss Le-Le-
land, | will say, with your permission,
and hope to be allowed the privilege
Oh calling her Isabel"
1t is sad affair, this DEATH" said
Mother st. Gertrude, her grief at last
mastering her and driving out of mind
all else. The tears, long suppressed in
the presence Of Raymond, forced their
way, and ms stream, inst breaking
through conlining barriers, roars in
triumph at its freedom, these lachrymal
riyulets signalized their victory over
her power of mind by wrenching from
her heart sob after sob that gave SINGER
ity to her flow of sorrow.
Even Raymond was touched. Here
was woman who had stood at many a
bed of suffering, alleviating human ills,
who had been so accustomed to death
that 1t became almost an everyday in
cident in her life, yet weeping like a
child, crying piteously as the lamb that
vainly runs and bleats amid the heath
er of the Scottish mountains, for the
mother that has slipped from sight and
lies manglcd in the treachereus ravinel
What agony he was causing her and
Isabel Raymond appreciated. and if
he could retrace his steps with safety
even his strong determination to proceed
onward to the goal he had in view
would have wavered and deserted him.
But the danger behind, the ruin of his
reputation, lessened in his eyes the con-
u