Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-03-18
CHAPTER <.
MANaAx AND RAYMOND MEET.


days work to do in hunting mp the his
tory Of the property in the deeds hled
in the Office Of the county register, gu
ing away back to the Hollanders, the
earliest settlers, on through the trans
ferS under the English ana Dutch CHAR
tiers.
lie took the plots where the smaller
pleasure grounds were TO be located.
Then be turned his attention 10 the
large tract where the great park was
to spring up like q section OF fairy land
ia the metropolis, embellished with
every beauty the best landscape artist
could design.
"Great heavens" was his ejaculation,
and be drew up the heavy volume closer
to his sight, while the nearby searchers
looked at him as IL be had gone crazy.
George Leland" be read, calming
down. George Leland Strange! a
coincidence; that's alps In IT,"
The lots were all owned by George
Leland, purchased at about the same
time from men whose names were
known in the history Of the county as
those Of people Of quaint manners and
methods. They were men who lived In
the past. The encroachments OF the
city Jared upon their country senses,
and though they had not much faith In
the greater development Of the NUM-
cipaity, they feared 1t enough 70 sell
out their homesteade and move further
back from the march Of peace-destroy-
ing progress.
The price placed upon the land in the
days when Leland bought it was not
high. Even 10 the city people had no
idea that this tract would form several
wards in the course Of time. This Is
notsurprising TO those who recall that
when the city hall in New York was
erected old material was used In the
rear, because the building was on the
| outskirts of the town, and no one be-
lieyed that the roar of traffic would be
heard behind 1t. The rear was not even
rongh cast. The projectors OF the
building were not adjudged thoroughly
sane, and had they dared to intimate
| that any citizen would travel beyond
and inspect it from q country view they
would have been booted out OF town.
The city to-day runs ten miles above
the city hall.
In Brooklyn, which will yet form part
of the greater New York, the city hall
was built 10 meet the demands OF the
| growth Of 100 years. 1t failed TO supply
the needs of ten. The municipal build
ing was erected later. Still the city
strided out on Long Island, and moro
room was required in places OF public
business. There are eight large bnild-
| ings in that city to-day occupied by
governmental departments, and yet the
pleasant little gentleman who has been
! deputy county treasurer for quarter
| OF a century, James Gardiner, remem-
! bers the time when II claim was pre-
sented against the municipality the
treasurer put his hands into his pockets
to see if there was enough change In
! the treasury TO pay the bill. This year
! the running expenses OF the govern
ment there will cost over $500 900,
and the city alone is rich enough TO
carry the magnificent debt OF $50, OOO, o.
| 600.
Can the cause OF the remarkable in
crease in the value OF the land George
Leland acquired twenty years before be
| better illustrated?
But was this George Leland the father
of Isabel?
That was the question forcing Itself
before Laurence Mangan. II was a
wild dream maybe, but he could not
get rid Of II. So he gathered all his
facts together. Ho went into tho board
OF assessment and found that Leland
had not paid taxes. He learned In the
arrears department that the lands had
been sold, and the skirmish he had with
the registrar had been outlined by that
worthy official in way that leaves no
need for repetition.
Maybe this is Isabel's father" unused
Mangan, after leaving the registrars,
"aud at all events It will do no harm 70
run him down. If he is alive it will be a
good thing to tell him that his neglect
OF the taxes IS about to cause him loss
OF millions. I'll see Mother st. Gertrude
again. There may be something she has
not told me that will help me In this
affair"
Mother St. Gertrude received him as
cordially as usual.
What are you after now?' was her
greeting.
cts hard TO tell"
"Well, II you can't tell. can't, I'm
sure. l hope you don't want TO see
Isabel l can't consent. 1t is better
for you not to talk to her again until
after you come back from Denver"
lido not care TO see her until she ls
willing to explain her strange conduct" "
Then you have given up Isabel|'
by no means. Pm satisfied she
will explain all when 10 suits her.
Meanwhile I will spare her and myself
the agony of such meeting as the last.
But if she is what I'm half inclined 70
think she is will surrender my claim
when the evidence is all In, as lawyers
say, and the case Is proved"
you will! She is the best girl you
ever knew, Laurence; Tm surprised
that you have changed 50 sooD. Why,
you actually Intimate there Is some
thing in the past so terrible as TO make
her unworthy in your eyes
"You misunderstood me-"
Il wish ! did, Laurence. You have
always been so generous and manly"
Listen 10 me- mObuef 81 N'i u NN'.
"Say no more" she answered.
Speak not OF the past. II evil Turk
there. Let the dead lie buried, n tae
resurrection be not glorious. Bring not
the spectral "Reminiscences Of wrong 70
haunt the paths Of virtue. Laurence.
II YOU were not so dear 20 Isabel, dis.
carding her as yon do, would ask you
TO leave. Il is as feared and told lsa-
bel-the truth was rot all told her"
Truth not told her? Who says ]
did not always speak truly2"
"Not you. I meant another"
Mother, do not be sarcastic with ne.
Anotherl What other but You has ever
spoken to her Of her parent? You