The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1894-03-10
a buSba3d'S
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BY WARDEN.

Cal, stodgy self-sufticiency.
Duke Is not here to introduce us,
uncle" she began, with a ervous, ten
tative smile. But I may call you
uncle may I not?"
You may call me whatever you
please, ma5am,' answered Mr.. Berring.
ton, in a stif1y discouraging manner,
without meeting her eyes.
And I'm sorry to have to come on q
very unpleasant errand now," he said.
But that is M~armaduke's fault not
nine"
Cicely began to tremble.
II have a question to ask you, mad
am, and I'm sure you will give me a
straight forward answer" And he
looked ut her with an expression full
of suspicious penetration. Where is
joseph Radstock?
Where is Joseph Radstock?" repeat
ed Mr.. B~errington's hard voice more
~imperatively than before.
Cicely nerved herself by a strong eff
fort to the ordeal of meeting the cold,
inQuisitive eyes.
Il have inquired at the Office" he
said. "And 1 find that he has not been
there to-day. He came here last night"
pursued he, speaking mere slowly and
watching very iintently the effect of
his words on the lady's face, land that
Is the last l can hear of him.
There was a pause. Cicely had so
far lost the mastery of herself that she
did not know what she was doing did
not know that she stared out over the
hard mans shoulder at the trees on
the lawn with a face quivering with
anguish. MIR. Bennington, more susplc-
ious than sympathetic, watched her
face, trying strennously to discern what
this strong emotion might mean. Then
she came to herself with a start, and
tried to remember if in those few ter
rble moments she had spoken or utter
ed a cry. She knew now that it was
useless to hope for kindness or mercy
ut the hands of this man.
MIR. Radstock was here last night,
certainly she said at last. He dined
with us, and when he left he did not
seem very we'll able to take care of
himself. That is all I can tell YOU"
When he left? Oh, he did leave,
them"
"Of course he left"
The wretched woman told the lie
without finching; there was only n
thought in her mind now-to avert
the suspicion which grew every moment
stronger in her ~interlocutCr.
What do you want with him?" she
asked, after a pause during which MI.
bennington had kept his eyes fixed
thoughtfully on the carpet.
He raised his head suddenly at the
question, and looked at her, at first
without speaking.
You may we'll know" said he, at
last. shortly. And he took from n
of his pockets a letter-case from among
the papers in which he selected one.
which was covered closely with a fine
rather shaky handwriting, which Cicely
recognized as that of Joseph Radstock.
You know the writing:'' said Mr..
Bennington, holding the letter for her
to see, but not offering to give it up.
Yes"
II received it this morning. 1 will
read it to you. But had you not bet
ter sit down? This is all very distress
ing, and you appear fatigued."
his apparent consideration was the
result of a fear ON his part that the
pale, OverWrOught woman would faint
or go into Mysteries, in which case she
would be easier to manage sitting than
standing. Cicely took his suggestion
and mechanically seated herself, while
Mr.. Bennington walked to the window
to get a better light to read by. Then,
clearing his throat to call attention to
the importance of the communication.
he began:
william Bennington, Esquire.
Dear Slr-As n who has the hon
or TO be connected by marriage with
your family your brother having mar
r1ed my sister, and being we'll aware
OF the high esteem in which YOU are
universally held, l feel hat the pain
full duty is forced upon me of acuuaint-
ing you with a most unprincipled adj
vantage which is being taken of YOUR
eminent position on the Stock Ex-
change. l regret to have to in
form, YOU, sir, that the nephew
who has the honor of bearing YOUR
name, though he is lacking in the
attributes which have rendered YOU
distinguished, has been for some
time past in difficulties. brought
about, L fear I must add, by
an unduly e~xtravagant mode of
life. After mortgaging his house"
- Here Mr.. Bennington looked
across at Cicely to see whether this
tact was new to her. But she gave no
sign. lie went on reading: Ito it's
full value; and giving a bill of sale
upon his furniture"-Cicely did look
up then; "as a last sourc MI. Mar
maduke Bennington has forged your
name as security On certain bills which
VIII become due in about six months
m l have 40 doubt that YOUR
nephew will be able to meet these bills:
u at the same time I feel that these
circumstances ought to be laid before
you, as with your great reputation for
rectltude as well as sound Judgment
you will know how to act. I should he
glad II you would not mention nv
name as your informant, and if Won
could make use of my services in yonr
office, I should esteem it a great honor
and blessing to serve an employer who
is we'll known to combine with distin-
guished business capacity the practice
Of a noble Christianity without which
the paths of commerce are but as q
thorny waste. I beg to remain, dear
sir, Yours obediently,
JOSEPH RADsToCK."
MIR. Bennington folded up the letter
with a little cough and glanced at
Cicely, whom he expected to find v
whelmed by the enormity Of her hus-
bands offense. But she took the usual
ignorant woman's view of all matters
connected with business" and in any
case forgery was such a trife COM
pared with the crime she was trying to
hide!
You understand. madam. it is fors-
cry. Forgery" repeated he emphatic
ally. as she offered no comment.
But he didn't ask you for n
he meant to pay the bills himself. He
only used your name. And you are
his uncle!!' said she. with feminine
confidence in good intentions.