The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-03-14


"Well Mr.. Vaughan, Sir Clement
must do as he likes. He'll be In his
grave afore an heir can come in to
make a fuss, 30 it won't matter much
to him."
"No, certainly not; that If he is in
grave"
Brown looked bewildered.
"Lord bless you, Mr.. Vaughan,
you are contrary to- day. London air
don't suit you I'm sure. However,
can there be an heir to the property
while Sir Clement lives?"
"Queer things happen sometimes,
my good Brown-this is a sensational
age"
Impossible thing 1 should call
that" said Brown, taking off his hat
and scratching his head as though
thereby to lessen his perplexity.
81 do not believe in the impossi-
ble," laughed Pierce Vaughan, "yet
as you say, such a thing is not to be
usually looked for"
Perhaps he had gone too far in
raising this question in Browns
mind. 1t amused him, however, to
stir this mans conservative nature.
He knew as well as if Brown had
said it that he considered only a
Dunraven should be the master Of
Aboyne Court, and to have had him
self reigning there would have been
gall and NORWOOD to the old serv-
ant.
"The place will be worked on new
principles and l will make a clean
sweep of the whole lot of you," he
mentally resolved as he got up from
mis- not very comfortable seat and
stretched himself; but aloud he
merely observed that Sir Clement
was a very long time putting in an
appearance.
"He'll be here, sir, he'll be here.
Sir Clement is always true to his
word. Never know'd him to waver
a line to the right or the left in my
life"
"High opinion you have of Sir
Clement, Brown. I'll congratulate
him about it when l see him, but /
am keeping you from your men with
all this talk. I'll stroll on down to
the lake. Tell Sir Clement he will
find me there. l rather want to
speak to him about a little business
m~atter.n
every well, Mr.. Vaughan, l shall
not go away myself until he comes"
Then Pierce Vaughan walked on
the peacefulness of that wood cutting
scene combined with Browns implicit
faith in his master irritated him to
that degree, he did not feel that he
could stay there any longer.
The lake to which he referred was
a sheet of water covering about two
acres. 1t a surrounded by high
trees and vas naturally rather a
dismal spot, but by the introduction
of some artificial grottoes and rustic
seats here and there, it bad been
rendered gloomily picturesque and
in very hot weather was agreeable
enough, and had on more than one
occasion been used as a picnic resort,
leave for this purpose having been
given by the owner to friends in the
neighborhood, boating on the lake
and the gathering Of water lilies at
the risk of a ducking, being among
the amusements.
When Pierce Vaughan reached this
spot it looked desolate enough, the
day was by no means cool, but the alb
sence of sun and the heavy threaten
ing clouds made the "lake- district
as Sir Louis used to call this portion
of has property, especially gloomy
and forbidding.
However, it suited Pierce
Vaughan's present mood and he sal
down on one of the seats to wait fol
Clement Dunraven, who, he fell
instinctively, would be sure to come
before long. He had a book in hit
pocket. Pierce Vaughan was a mar
who never travelled without litera
ture. 1t was a weird, CHASTITY story
in thorough keeping with his u
roundings. He read steadily on fol
sometime as attentively as If the
future heirship of Aboyne Court o.
the marriage or non marriage o
Lady Gertrude had nothing whatever
to do with him. The fact was, thu
book and its chill horror intensified
by the situation fascinated him unit
every nerve in his body became 81
strained that he could scarcely resis
the impulse to shout out.
Invariably, though, he plume'
himself on keeping his feelings unde
subsection; it was an effort at thi
moment not to let himself go.
He put the book down on the sea
beside him and took out a cigar, tn
sound of the fusee struck on tn
little silver box echoed in that soil
tary haunt until it almost ranked a
noise. 1t must have startled some
thing or someone for as Pierre
Vaughan threw the fusee into som
bushes he thought he saw somethin
move on the other side of the water