The state herald., 1895-10-25

tege than he chose to confess and he
never took the trouble to contradict
them. He had said that Hamilton
Shore was his nephew, and what 80
ciety chose to believe on the subject
was a matter of supreme Indifference to
him.
The lad was now sixteen, and, having
shown a disposition to enter the law,
had been removed from the public
school and was working under tutor
somewhere in the vicinity of his uncle's
house. Except at breakfast-tlme he
and Ruthven saw but little Of each
other; but he was under the special
charge of Mrs. Garrett. who gave him
his supper when he returned home of
an evening. and generally looked after
him. 81
He was n fine. handsome lad, tall
and upright. with wide-open blue eyes.
and fair. curly hair-bearlng no resem-
blance whatever to his uncle. On rare
occasions he appeared by Ruthven's
side In the stalls Of the theater, and he
always attracted much attention from
the friends Of the latter when he did so;
but his uncle did not encourage thr
practice. Like most men who have
passed through the crucible OF the
world, he did not see the necessity of
being scorched by its flames, and
wished to save Hamilton from too early
an acquaintance with its evil. He had
| been burned himself too often not TO
| dread the fire for his nephew.
So young Shore was still considered
and treated as a mere child. ut which
he was sometimes more than disposed
to grumble.
Ruthven. who usually sat up writing
half the night, seldom left his bed till
eleven or twelve o'clock in the day.
when. after desultory breakfast, he
would saunter down to the Strand and
spend his afternoon among the theatri-
cal world Of London. being as well
known In every lobby and greenroom
as the manager himself.
1t was on one particular day in spring
when, having passed some hours in the
way described. he was walking quietly
down street in the city in which one
OF our principal police courts is stu
ated. There was an amused smile upon
his face. the smile of n man who has
heard something which excites his ridi-
Guile either by its absurdity or Its I'M
truth.
The fact is, Lord Lupton had Just met
and congratulated him on his supposed
engagement to Cissy Vanilla, the pref
| tiest and most popular burlesquer on
the boards. His lordship had appeared
to imagine that 1t was the most natural
thing in the world that the well-known
dramatist should be about to contract
| an alliance with the well-known act
ress and that he was very lucky fell
| low to get her. Ruthven had acknowl-
edged the possible luck, while he de-
MED the fact, but his lip curled inward
ly the while. He and Cissy Vanilla!
Where would the worlds folly stop?
Last month he had been accused of
Next week, in all probability. he should
hear his name linked with that Of Sig
nora Scandalati, or some other promi-
nent female. Why could they not leave
him alone-he who troubled his head
so little about paying attention to any
of them? II his detractors could only
have looked into Ruthven's heart ut
that moment they certainly would not
have put themselves out OF the way to
Invent destiny for him any longer.
AS Ruthven arrived ut the police
court he perceived there was n large
crowd at Its entrance-so unusually
large one. In fact. that 1t induced him
to ask the policeman in attendance the
reason OF It.
| IT'S one OF them spiritual cases COM
Ing on. sir: doctor to be tried for him
position. and the hevldence against
him given by member Of parliament"
Ruthven Immediately decided upon
going in to hear the trial. II was n
common habit OF his to attend the po-
lice and law courts when anything OF
interest took place. His profession was
the study OF mankind. and he knew OF
no better arena for the pursuit Of It,
So he turned short round and entered
the court. II was very crowded In an
ticipation Of the coming case, and for
some minutes ne couid hardiy get
sthhdihg room ana OF whnt was going
on In front Of him he had no idea, ex-
cept from the remarks OF the people.
VINO were not complimentary to the
cause OF justice.
shame! exclaimed one man. sturd-
| lily.
III she did do II. what harm?" said
another.
shes mere child to look at." re-
marked n third.
Silence In the courtr' was shrleked
out by the clerk In office.