The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-04-25

II snOulu ike 10 20 10 ner,' Sne
said, after remaining absorbed In
thoughtfulness during some minutes.
"Go to whom, G~ertie?" asked Sir
Clement, returning from his own
thought wanderings, with a start.
"To Lisbeth, dear. She must be
so much in want of being comforted."
"You cannot go love, you r not
strong enough yet. How strange it
is that you should have taken such a
fancy to this Lisbeth.
"No, l suppose prudent old Watson
would not let me go there for my
first drive. But | think l shall write
a little note and ask Lisbeth to come
to me. | will tell her l am so sorry
for her trouble and that | do so want
to try and help her."
"Of course you can do so If you
wish it, Gertie, but l do not see how
you can help Lisbeth."
"Kindly words and afiectionate
sympathy must always be of help
when one is wretched. You and /,
dear, are very sorry about poor
Pierce's death, but we can by no
means fathom the depths IF despair
into which this poor woman may
have sunk at the thought of her
father being accused of having muir
dered him. | know VIVA, dreadful
feelings l should have II anyone |
love were placed in a similar position.
| really think l should be inclined to
commit suicide, | could not bear it,
"Gertie, how dare you talk like
this. 1t drives me mad to hear YOU
And Sir Clement having once
more sprung to his feet began to pace
hurriedly and eXcitedly up and down
the room.
"Wky Glen, you are as nervous as
a woman These horrors have thor
oughly unstrung you, dear. AS soon
as DR.. Watson will allow it we must
go away and have a thorough
change
1--WE cannot go away until the
a~ssizes are over, it is impossible.
You may, but must stay here. 1t
is my duty
"And it is my dutyto stay with
you, dear love, and not only my
duty but my pleasure"
\ few minutes later Sir Clement
was called away-Brown wanted to
see him on some matter in coDnec-
ton with the estate.
lie went in fear and trembling; he
always trembled now at every sum-
mons however trivial and Lady Ger
trude was left alone to think over the
dire and awful story she had just
heard and had much difficulty in
realizing.
AS Clement had said, it was strange
that she should have taken such a
violent infatuation for Lisbeth, since,
had she known all the past, Lisbeth
was the last woman she would have
elected to care about. Yet it was
only of Lisbeth she thought now.
She knew full well, as we'll as anyone,
that her dear friend Elvira Delane
was more in love with Pierce
Vaughan than vas altogether wise,
considering the character of the man.
but she set Elvlra Delane and her
feelings entirely on one side. Elvira
must get Yer this love-affair as
other girls had had to do before;
after all, there had been no engage
ment between her and Pierce Vaug-
han, and probably there never would
have been. No, her one thought
was of Lisbeth. What could she do
to lessen her bitter agony.
She remained very still for some
little time after Sir Clement left her,
and then getting up went to her
writing table and wrote a note.
Having finished it she rang the bell.
"Let the boy dive the pony-cart
down to Miss Glendinning's cottage.
He is to take this note with him and
wait for an answe Probably Miss
Glendinning will return here in the
carriage.n
Eyes, my lady"
And the old family butler went off,
turning the note over and over in his
fingers.
He was wondering whether he
ought to tlke it to Sir Clement. All
the household had been strictly
charged not to say a word before
Lady Gertrude of the terrible event
that had so lately occurred, and the
man naturally, not knowing that she
had been informed at last, WAS fear
full what she might hear if Jim Glen
dinning's daughter suddenly put in
an appearance at the Court.
To interfere was, however, he
decided, not his province. When he
first went to service he had been told
by his father, always TO do as he was
bid. He followed that recommended
ton now, and sent Tom with The
pony carriage and the note, while
Sir Clement was still closeted in the
business room with Brown.
1t was a short bat most sympathetic
little note, expressing Lady Ger
trude's regret that she could not her
If IL --