The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-04-04
aught to do with the topic Of Pierce

W. WV
only person who missed him from
among that throng, and that Lady
Marcia, gossiping and laughing with
her many guests, never gave him a
thought.
At last, however, she caught sight
of Elvira's saddened face as she was
at that moment watching the door
that led from the house on to the
lawn.
"Pierce Vaughan has never come
after ALL" she said aloud in her inn
pulsive way. 81 wonder why2 1t is
very odd. Ali here is Clement
D%unraven, l will go and ask him If
he knows anything of the absentee"
Sir Clement was talking to some
people who had only lately come into
the neighborhood aad whose ac-
quaintance he had only just made,
when Lady Marcia dashed into their
conversation in her usual impulsive
style.
az say, Clement, what has become
of Pierce Vaughan?n
The unhappy man somewhat more
accustomed of late to remarks and
talk about his cousin, he was not,
therefore, qnite as startled by the
| question ~ he would have been a
few weeks back. A slight change
nevertheless came over his counte
nance az he said,
THAT is just what / should like to
know. We have seen and heard
nothing of him."
t'Queer, is it not?" continued Lady
Marcia, che generally writes to me
he goes abroad or off anywhere for
any time"
perhaps he is at Homburg," sug-
gested Sir Clement, catching at a
straw.
"Happy thought. Here is Mr..
Larpert just come from there. Was
Pierce Vaughan at Homburg, Mr..
L~arpert?n
The gentleman questioned shook
his head. "Certainly not. | must
have seer him we are such old
friends.n
Lady Marcia once more turned to
Sir Clement.
"Look here, Clement, you must
take some steps to find him. l am
getting anxious"
~ should not imagine there is any
thing to be anxious about" answered
Sir Clement, forcing a laugh; chow
ever | will do what you like.n
"You should write, or still better,
go up to his rooms in London and
ask where he has gone"
81 will if you wish it, but he will
hate it-he never did like to be inter-
fered with"
Since that terrible day Sir Clement
never called his cousin by his name
if he could possibly help 1t; when
compelled to allude to him he always
said She"
"Never mind what he hates. No
body really dislikes having an inter.
est taken in his well -being.n
While they we're they were thus
talking Murchison, the butler, came
TO Lady Marcia with a telegram in
his hand.
"Perhaps this is from PIERCE" she
said. "No-only an excuse from the
Fosters"
Murchison still remained, like the
well trained servant he was, waiting
until she had read her telegram, then
he said, "There is a man waiting in
the servants hall, my lady, who
says he is Mr.. Vaughan's clerk, and
would like to speak to you"
Good gracious! then there is
something wrong. ] knew it, Not
tnat she even suspected such a thing
till Elvira Delane put it into her
head. "Come with me, Clement-let
us 90 and hear what he has to say.
Really, / feel quite nervous. | did
not know ! was s. prone to emo
tions."
Sir Clement looked far more nerv.
Gus than Lady Marcia, SO his new
acquaintance thought, for his bronz-
ed face had become almost white and
his hand shook as he lifted his hat on
leaving them to follow Lady Marcia.
Griffin, for of course it was Griffin
the devoted, was shown by Murchison
into a little morning room there to
be interviewed by Sir Clement and
Lady Marcia.
Griffin was rather sorry when he
saw Sir Clement. He would have
gone to Aboyne court if he had
wished for an interview with him,
but Griffin had much of that instinct
to which faithful retainers are prone.
and he did not fancy that his master
and Sir Clement were on the best O
terms.
"What is it, what is it?" asked
Lady Marcia hurriedly. She hat
been worked VI at last to quite {
pitch of excitement about Vaughan
at is nothing, my lady. At leas
| don't know anything, but though
perhaps you might be able to tell ms
something about Mr.. Vaughan"
"What do you mean, man, wher'
is hep"