The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-05-30

- up thhO 49, ~
"Who takes poor Pierce's money!"
asked Lady Marcia.
"Well he does. There was no
will, and he says he cannot bear to
touch it. So day after day things
drift on, and nothing is done. But |
think | have got him to promise to
go to town next week, look over the
papers, and give up the Temple
chambers. Griffin has written TO say
he has got a situation, that he does
not like to impose any longer on Sir
Clements bounty. So he must do
something"
"What a good thing. Keep him
up to it, Gertrude. 1t is always best
to let byegones be byegones, and
forget miseries."
OF course it was CHEEKY Lady
Marcia who spoke; Elvira was cry
ing behind her veil.
Lady Gertrude saw this, and
thought it was time to change the
conversation.
"Would you not like to see the
boy?'' she asked. "He is such a
jolly little fellow, just six months old
to-day
Both the ladies expressed a strong
wish to see him, and the bell was
rung for the heir. Sir Clement
coming into the room at the same
moment as the child, the
ton thus became much more lively,
and no further reference was made
to the m%ournful subject of Pierce
Vaughan's demise. When, at last,
Lady Marcia and Elvira Delane took
their leave, they we're escorted to
the carriage by Sir Clement, who
himself told them that he was going
to town to settle some business, and
hoped later that perhaps he and
Lady Gertrude would join them
abroad.
There was no fore -shadowing of
the events that would occur before
they met again. and the two ladies
drove off feeling far cheerier than
when they arrived. Elvira, especi-
ally. was glad that the dreaded visit
to Aboyne Court was over.
On the following Monday morning
Sir Clement went to London.
1t was another thorn in his side to
have to make a personal investiga-
ton of the dead mans papers, but
he could put it off no longer, nor did
the instructive knowledge that
Griffin disliked and distrusted him
take from the unpleasantness of the
task.
Griffin was one of those rare ser
wants who was absolutely true to hi
master. He grieved daily yer hi
loss as acutely, in his way, as Elvir;
Delane did in hers, and this love FOL
Pierce Vaughan sharpened his dislike
to Sir Clement, solely because hi
knew the two cousins had not muct
mutual sympathy.
He had no suspicion, as Sir Clemen
sometimes feared; no other caus
for not caring for him. On the con
trary, Sir Clement had done mucl
more for Griffin than Pierce Vaughan
ever did, his nature being far NOR
generous and genial. Griffin, how
ever, decided that he did not care t.
live any longer IN Sir Clement.
bounty; hence he had put an adver
tisement in one of The law papers
and speedily found a situation tina
he thought would suit him for who
requiring a clerk, and knowing augh
of Griflin's devotion to his late mas
ter, would not most gladly engage
him?
Clement Dunraven could not thel
put of the evil day any longer. H
must visit the chambers in tn
Temple, where his cousin had dwell
for some years, and act in his stead
Not only must he act, but ais
inherit. If Pierce Vaughan had lei
a will, Sir Clement was fully awar
that he would not have been tn
recipient of his money. To whoI
would he have left it? He ofte
wondered, since, if he knew, ho'
!, gladly would he hand the whole SUI
!, over to that individual, but failin
that knowledge, he had long sine
resolved that it should go to SON
charity. He looked on it as bloc
money, which, if he touched, mul
r bring trouble to him and his.
, He would see, on looking throug
Y the papers, if there was an
Q expression of Vaughan's wisht
about his money, and then he woul
q decide what he should do; wind u
, the old affair forthwith, and try
forget.
( Would it ever be possible
forget, Notwithstanding that of la
Clement Dunraven had bee
' quieting his conscience with ii
theory that he was guilty, at IL
most, of manslaughter, since Il
act which caused his Cousins deat
a was perfectly unprecedented.
he had not been able tn
occasionally to lull himself into
state of quiescence, very assured