The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-09-06
o7e SHADOW O
BERTH. ;: : :,,,: Of a Crime.
CHAPTER. 11r-tCo,t,nuea.S

CHAPTER. IIl-(Continued.)
Greatly, that young person is begin
ming to give herself too many airs, y
he muttercd. "Ah! my poor Elisa, you
did vesy wrong in raising this girl so
much above her station in life for
which 7''cvidencc lad intended her."
Godfrey knew nothing Of Rosa
mond's flight until he missed llcr Mt
the breakfast table next morning.
10 his question. Mr.. Meldicott an
swercd that sdlc had gone away OH a
visit to some friends.
"Gone without mentioning 1t to me!''
cried the young man with startled
look. "Wllcre has she gomez"
"She expressed wish that I should
not tell you," answered his uncle,
chipping an egg.
Godfrey pushed away his plate and
fell hack in his chair, staring ut him
In stupctled manner.
"My dear Godfrey, I may as we'll
he frank with you," said Mr.. Mcdli-
colt. pausing in his meal to give more
weight to his words. II have per-
ccivcd. and others have perceived.
that both yourself and Rosnmond
seem to have forgotten your-your-
mutual observation-disclosures one
another"
II confess that am in love with the
young lady who is known to the world
as your adopted daughter, and that l
desire to make her my wife," an
swercd Godfrey. boldly.
"You talk absurdly. and the sooner
you put such folly out of your head
the better. young man. was the stern
reply. "Wlat would your father say
to this. We're liz living?"
II simply answer that the lady
whom you are not ashamed to own as
q daughter is good enough to he my
WIFE," answered Godfrey. stoutly.
"W'llilc. as Il minor. am under your
guardianship. shall not disoley
you. sir: when l am my own master
shall liz responsible only to myself"
Mr.. Metllicott was again taken by
surprise: lie had expected resistance.
but not of this kind: he had looked for
hlustcr-with that lie was prepared to
dcal-lut this quiet determination was
quite another thing, and not to he
Conbatted by any means at his COM
nland.
He knew not what to say, and could
only regard his disobc,lient nephew
with the stcrncst look he could put
upon his face. which. however, did not
produce the least effect upon the de-
liHGuent.
You know, SIR" replied the latter.
"lhai lave an invitation to spend Il
few weeks with my college chum.
Frank Hradly, and with your permits
81 T A1,1~
row evening""
you mean, suppose. that you will
60 III search of that girl.' cried his
Uncle, contrasting his defeat by falling
Into Il passion.
"No, sir; shall not make an attempt
to see Miss Medlicott.'
For tie future, we shall have done
with that nonsense" interrupted tho
lawyer. sharply, land we will speak
Of her as Hosamond."
II prefer that namc," was the Uuict
answer. "lIavc l your permission tc
leave Tomorrow"
Mr.. MedlicOtt was about to pro
nouncc Il very decided negative, hut
Thought better of it. swallowed his
temper. and gave Il Srumbling assent.
SO ended the scene between uncle
md nephew. AID the next morning the
latter went away OH his visit.
NJ. Mel,licOtt regarded himself us a
rruclly ill-uscd man; he was full of re-
sentiment against Godfrey, not 80
much for having opposed His will, us
Tor the manner Of the opposition.
But toward poor RcsamOnil he had
conceived IL positive dislike.
\ lauper, who had fattenetl upoll
his m,,lty. who might have been Il
Mcnial drudge all her life hut for him,
who had Eecn reared in idlcness, edll-
tairG as a lady Mt his expense, that
flla should dare to assume an mir of
,Gisniiy when lie addressed her. and
,lai';,sc the money lie was SO generous;
us to offer l.cr. It was the most al.onl-
Unable fngi;ttUtle.
And he poured forth the tale of his
injuries into the sympathetic car Of
Luke Abershaw, In not quite such Of
fensivc terms as we have set it down
here, but lie was too proud 10 own,
especially to a dependent, that the
young girl who was known as his
adopted daughter was taken out of the
workhouse.
Very few people knew that story
and the general impression was that
EosamoEd wns II distant relative of
tie late Mrs. McdlicOtt's.
1AEd by this contlOlement and SYM
patly The secretary advanced still
higher in his employers estimation,
Until lie became his cnntidnnt, his fac.
totuh. without consultation with
whon lie could do nothing.
Deprived Of the society of ROsn.
mord and Godfrey, he spent nearly all
the time not occupied by his profess.
tonai duties in the library.
The infatuation for his new protegc
Soon became the subject of general
comment. and nobody could discover
what there was so wonderful about
the young man to inspire 1t.
".ill" old Dawson would say, sl,ak.
Ing his head. "tlmt fellows II snake In
the grass. I'm sure Of it. and If master
don't rue l'eing so wrapped up in him.
my name amt what it is."