The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-07-25

Wnen a ulreCu queslioh WAC "phSN
him, but when one of those appar-
emily lucid intervals came to him his
loquacity was irrepressible and dan.
gerous. Lisbeth hoped that no IL
believed what he said, but to some
she was deceiving herself.
have n knack of believing
what amuses them, especially when
the words uttered are mischievOus
and malignant. When the weather
was cold Sim Glendinning invariably
sat in front Of the kitchen fire, Just
as, when it was warm and sunny, he
sat in the porch. The short
had come, and he was very
in the porch now, and alto
thought he preferred the
kitchen because there was no more
going on there to amuse him, and
when visitors came to see Lisbeth in
the parlor he could generally hear
what they were talking about-the
the partition being a very slight one
1t was astonishing how Jim knew
what was going on though he very
rarely gave any evidence of his
knowledge.
Lady Gertrude had been dead
weeks, but he had never vouchsafei
one single word on the subject, none
of the inmates of the house thought
that he had grasped the fact. CnIy
Lisbeth was quite aware that he
knew all about it and about a good
many other things of which it would
have been as well had he remained
in ignorance.
Only on one person did Jim Glen
DINING always smile when he saw
him coming to the Cottage, and that
was DIR. Watson, who had been most
kind and considerate of the unloItu-
nate man. 1t was a cold bleak day
in early December, the north wind
was bowling ~piteously when Jim
Glendinning sat as usual, his bands
extended to catch the blaze, warm
ing himself by the kitchen fire; and
DR.. Watson as he occasionally did
arrived at the back door. There was
a look on Glendinning's face that
surprised him, a strange amount OF
intelligence in the dark eyes, rather
wicked intelligence too, for the old
man looked as if he vert ready fol-
any mischievous act, and that tbs
stupidity was changing into mania.
was what the doctor feared.
DR.. Watson had had a good deal tc
do with mad people in his younger
days and was not in the least afrait
of encountering one, so he accostet
Glendinning in his usual friendl.
way.
"Glad you've come" said Glen
DINING, who, even in his talkativ
moods used as few words as possible
"That's all right. Don't you fee
well? You look all right. Bette
than usual. What has happened?'
"Tell me, why do you come here st
often?', was the retort.
$40 see you, are you not unde
my care?"
"Or to voc Lisbeth."
The doctor colored up, he coulC
not altogether gainsay that.
"She'll never marry you. G,
away and come back no more"
"How do you know?n
"Old Jim amt such a fool as h
looks"
"You will have to prove you
knowledge before l will believe it,"
"He is in the other room"
"He. Who?n
"Sir Clement Dunraven.n
"My God, man, what are you talk
ing about?"
sold Jim he knows, he amt quit
a fool" and again that semi idiot
laugh.
"Sir Clement Dunrayen has ju.
lost his wife to whom he was deepl
attached, why she is scarcely cold i
her grave; but there, why am 1 dis
cussing such q subject" For D.
Watson, right enough, thought tt
poor fellow half demeuted and tn,
he was not justified in needing h
assertions.
"Clever people think they kno
more than fools, but they don't.
said Jim sententiously.
Then there was a pause and Z
Watson became aware of voices
the next room and that Lisbeth W
conversing with a man, whose vol
certainly resembled Clement Dunr
yen's.
"Who is Lisa's father-ask he
Who is Lisa's mother--ask herr"
And Jim Glendinning chuck
over the dismay that was obselvat
on DR.. Watson's face at the questio
He had imagined for some til
past that Lisbeth was Lisa's motht
but that Sir Clement Dunraven "
the father was indeed a complete
new light TO him.
"mpossible, Glendinning, impo
sible," he shouted. "Besides, W
should you tell me this?"
Glendinning pulled his chair
close to the doctor, SC close that t
words as he spoke them seemed
hiss into the others face.