Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-04-26
CHAPTER Tx.

Out11 luCS NSIt ltlSI tAlC 1ClNt I1llG marked Ridgeley's boundary line, Allen Fauntleroy sat silent, leaning ill his corner of tho carriage Hawkins spoke once or twice, but getting no answer re- lapsed likewise into silence.
 When they had splashcd through the swift stream, still flush and palely tur- bid, FauntlerOy said, drawing a long breath:
 II could not hear it upon his ground, but HOW in heavens $ name tell mo what all this means" "
 ''Seems to me a matter of names, Fauntleroy versus Overton - Overton versus Fauntleroy, Hawkins said, fold ing his arms and sticking his chin ill the air.
 The other looked at him impatiently and said very low:
 Don't fence, Hawkins. The time for that is past. Tell me now, on your hon or, the whole cause of grievance that old man cherishcs.
 "Why didn't you ask him? You had time enough. But I reckon you were so struck with the girl you forgot every thing else. 'Pon my life, Fauntleroy, you must have rushed things. It is not quite common to find a fellow proposing formally to a young woman he has known not quite 24 hours. But if you could make the rifle there-run away with the girl-what card it would be for our side! She's the major sole heir, and with her thus well ill hand the syn dicate would grab at the property at our own figuse.
 For answer Fauntleroy called to the driver: Stop! Open the door!'
 Whats wrong?' asked Hawkins inn patiently as the man clambered down from his seat.
 Nothing" said Fauntleroy, "only 1 refuse to ride with a man who gives me insult ill place of information.
 "You are a touchy one, " the lawyer retorted, banging to the door. "Go on, Dick. I'll give this young man what he wants
 "Very well, but be little careful how you do it, " his client retorted sink ing back upon his cushions so as to look the other full in tho face. Hawkins shifted trifle under the scrutiny, but said:
 You are an odd fish, Allen-nearly as odd as the old one back there, '' nod ding behind them You know warn cd you against going there-as yourself, that is. If the old man hadn't known who you were, I'm persuaded you would easily have got into his good graces, enough so maybe to induce him to listen to reason. You sec, you are to him not merely the heir and agent of the Faunt- 1orox-c Tbara'c o boon ,,,o,.o tbot Unu that almost nobody knows. :"
 Why was net tolG?" tho young man asked stcrnly. The other laughed disagreeably, saying:
 "Well, now, it's a bit awkward to say to fellow ill plain English, Your fa ther was thorough paced scoundrel.' But that's the frozen fact of the case '
 'How did he prove it?" The tone was even, but Hawkins saw that the others eyes had begun to blaze. He drew lit tie more away before he said:
 "It's . long story. Did you never hear how he dicd?''
 "He was drowned before he was 30, five years after l was born-at least that is what have been told and believe"
 Correct, not doubt of it. Ill fact, l
  drowned with him Can you guess who it wasp
 "No. Not my mother?''
 "Not by long shot. She went mad at your birth and spent the rest of her life-1O years-in a lunatic asylum. 1 don't think Peyton, your father, ever cared much for her or she for him if the truth were told The old folks made the match. So it isn't astonishing that aft CT her misfortune the sight of him set her fairly wild So he put her wholly out of his mind and went the pace. tell you was a lad in those days, but remember well how he opened peoples eyes. He drank his company blind, yet went away with head in air, bet high and nearly always won. While as for women, they ran after him until won- der he didn't despise the whole sex.
 "One winter he went to Alabama and there met Margaret Overton"-
 "The majors daughter?'' Allen cpied, in spite of himself. The other went on:
 "Yes, the majors daughter, as like him as two peas and the very apple of his eye. Folk that knew him we'll said in those days that his Peggy-his Pretty Peggy he called her-was the one thing in the world he put before the claim. How he ever agreed she should stay whole winter away from him is one of the mysteries, but he did agree to trust her in caro of her mothers sister, who was matchmaker and fool When Peyton Fauntleroy came, she thought here was her chance to make an end of