The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1894-12-27

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interrupt me, North, with your ilnperti-
nent questionsl disapprovo u this
whole business, sir totally diaapprove
Of t., and Mrs. Maynard is we'll aware
/ Of the fact. Yet she disregards my I'd.
vice and goes directly counter "a my ex-
press wishes, simply because, forsooth,
YOU counsel such Counsel Your con
duct is reprehensible, North, reprehen-
sible to the last degree, and 1 havc q
right to complain Of it. tell you,
North, you and Mrs. Maynard arc bent
upon robbery downright, deliberate
robbery, sir and it's time there was a
check put upon your proceedings
.sRobbery?" North repeated the word
with calm surprise. while he stood with
folded arms, looking steadily and
haughtily at the major. OF whom,
may I ask, sir??"
s'Of whom?" rctorted the major, an
grily. "Of that orphan whose fortune
YOU are trying to steal. Annie Du-
pont, that's wholn!"
II am happy to assure You, Maj.
Maynard, that nothing could be further
from our intentions than what you sug-
gest. If it should ever be my good for
tune to discover that young lady l
should do everything in my power to
place her in possession Of her legal
rights"
ssOh, YOU would, eh? Place her in
possession of her legal rights, would
you?'' sneered the major. That's a
likely story! Why are you trying 50
hard to find her, then, and keeping SO
very quiet about it, if you intend any
good to her? Fair words don't cheat
me. North. I know very we'll that
you've scheme in your heads to steal
every dollar of that fortune from her.
But I'll thwart you yet, North-Heav-
ems and earth, I'll thwart you, if I have
to bring disgrace upon the family name
to do it!''
s:Arc you insane, Maj. Maynard"
cried North, white with the indigna-
ton that he could no longer control
"Your malice explains your bringing
this preposterous accusation against
me: but one would think that the very
comnonest instinct Of chivalry would
forbid you speaking thus Of your wife,"
For one moment the major was 81
fenced; catching his breath quickly he
looked up at North, with . dazed won
der that presently gave place to bolster
GUS and contemptuous merriment
My wife?" he repeated, almost chok-
ing over the words. Heavens and
earth, sir. do you intend this for a
CHASTITY attempt at q joke? My wife?
Hang me If don't believe that you arc
drunk, after all! How dare you refer
in this way to my brothers widow?'
If a man who has been pushing for
ward into an unknown country, believ-
ing himself to be on firm ground,
should suddenly find that he was
sinking in quicksand, we might
perhaps imagine his sensations
on making this discovery, yet find
it difficult to describe them. To those
whose imaginations are equal to pictur-
ing the details or sucn All experience
we leave the task Of divining Allan
North's state of mind when he found
the solid ground of his own conjectures
thus suddenly giving way beneath his
feet. Amid all the chaos Of his thoughts
these three words: '.My brothers
widow" stood out distinctly, pointing
the events of the past few days with
significance that he had never before
Suspected: s%S5
Before he could collect himself suf
ficiently to realize either the startling
fact that he had jus, learned or the
magnitude of his own blunder, the ma
jor returned to the attack.
Snow want to know, North, if you
intend to keep on with your search for
that girl, or if you'll agree to give it up
-eh?"
The tone and words acted upon North
as a sudden restorative. He spoke de-
cisively and sharply in reply:
81 must refer you once more to Mrs.
Maynard. AS her lawyer can have no
discussion whatever with you on these
points 1t is dishonorable for you to
question me with a view to eliciting in
formation which she sees fit to with
hold from YOU
::Oh, dishonorable, CHI? Heavens and
earth, do you tell me that am dishon-
orable?'' roared the major, while his
eyes sparl1led with delight at having at
last so tangible a grievance to seize
upon. did you come up here to insult
me, sir?' -.- Il
ssNeither to insult you nor to be in
suited by you" returned North, coolly.
eff youl. language has been courteous
to me mine has certainly been respects
full to YOU
ssYou may leave the room, Northp
eyclai,ner3 the major ringing furiouSlV