The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-07-04
raven is going of his head9o he

raven is going off his head9n he
asked. -
"I don't know what to think. He
talks nationally enough, but his ap.
pearance is 80 changed you will
scarcely know him. He has made q
perfect mountebank of himself"
"What does Lady Geretude say
about it?"
"Poor Gertrudei She is so Ill, she
says very little. I do not think she
notices much-she seems to gel
worse and worse every day."
"Ah, IL that poor little boy had
not died."
81 do not think 1t is altogether the
boys death that is fretting Gertrude
I am sure there is something wrong
about Sir Clement and she knows it
Lady Marcia and I fancy, perhaps he
has got some ineurable malady."
This was a new light, TO Sir Miles
Berkeley, and M which he was moi
altogether inclined to accept. He
had seen for some time past thai
trouble was hanging over the FRIEND
Of his boyhood, but he did not think
that it was in the form of IN incur
able malady. However, of course.
he could not tell what might have
developed since they parted. lie
might reverse his opinion.
Lady Marcia for one in her life
had managed to put a check on hei
VSsa,sc-iag proclivities, and had not
said a word about the coming of Sil
Miles Berkeley. Great then was the
surprise when, accompanied by
Elvira, he walked into the joint sit
ting-room of the little party. Ever
Lady Gertrude, who was lying OIL
the sofa, reused herself as che very
seldom did now, and welcomed him
with exceeding cordially. But,
prepared though he had been by
Elvira, Sir Miles was aghast at what
he saw. Perhaps he thought that
her illness had been somewhat exag-
gerated, and found to his regret that
this was not the case. The appear
ance of his friend, too, gave him
cause for very grave apprehension.
As Elvira had said
"Where was the smart, well-got-
ten up Sir Clement .Dunraven, who
had until now been in his dress and
appointment a typical English gen.
tleman."
No, Sir Miles would not have
known him had he met him unex
pectedly.
AS for the beard, it had grown sc
quickly and 30 grotosquely thai
there was reason for shrewd suspic.
ion that it was not altogether real.
Sir Niles looked at Sir Clement sc
keenly that the wretched man col
CURED beneath his gaze, and devoutly
wished that Miles Berkeley hat
otayed at the Surgery, since hi
was much more likely to interfere
with the Incorporating which wal
the outcome of Sir Clements con
slant fear les. lie should meet thu
Rev, Abel S'n,'eton.
That his brain, not his body, wa,
affected with somo perchance incur
able malady was tho decision a
which Sir Miles arrived during tn,
first half-hour he was in that room.
And he WA not very far wrong
What man can suffer so intensely o,
ceasalessly from the pangs of re
morse as dill Clement Dunraven
without the brain becoming more O.
less affected?
Ncvcrthel, IS, Sir Clement wa
perfectly ane on all subjects tina
had 10 reference to that insupport
able dread of discovery which wa
making his life a burden to him
Above all, he was very sane in hi
ctrong objection to tho way in whicl
| he considered that Elvira was play,
ing with "that good fellow Berke
ley"
Naturally he supposed that 81
Miles had como to Wiosbaden solel,
on Elvira's account. He never sus
pected that he had been made tn
excuse for his coming. He would
persistently pooh-poohed such
suggestion, and he would have bee.
fairly right. If Elvira had nc
wanted Sir Miles, very assu,edly sh'
would not have sont for him.
Still there did not appear to b,
any chance of matters arriving at
crisis, and good, patient Miles Bork
eley, hung back while Elvira firte,
and amused herself, and treated hin
to dashing repartoe in Il way tina
riled Clement, who notwithstandin!
his w. grave shortcomings, appreci
ated most kecnly the upright, hon
durable qualities of his fri>n nj
Whenever he "went for him." t,
use his own expression, urging hin
most strenously to make Elvira Civ,
a definite "yea or nay" But per
haps Miles Berkeley dreaded tn
"nay," for days passed and he coul,