Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-09-10

a cigar with him.
Bellingham, I said, as stood on
his hearth rug, did it ever happen
that you received a letter written on
ball programme?
His eyes and mouth opened IN pure
astonishment'
"What do you know about that?
he CALCULATED.
a ought not to have known any
thing about it, but I plead guilty to
having read the address l posted
the programme to you one night on
my way from ball.
Ny friend sprung up and wrung
nv hand as if he would wiring it off.
NY dear fellow" he cried, Il am
infinitely obliged to you for your
tact and kindness on that occasion.
If you had not posted that note 1t
would have meant ruin to me.
Maud told me how awfully good you
were about it.
Maud? ? Do YOU mean
"Maud, my sister-the girl who
slipped the note into your hand.
"Is she your sister,
Certainly she is. It's rather an
uncommon story. Shall l tell it to
you?"
IF you don't mind. I confess l
am burning with curiosity.
The fact is, then, that some three
years ago my poor mother, who was
a widow, did what turned out to be a
very foolish thing-she married
again, and married without making
proper inquiries Ny stepfather, Mr..
Maddox, turned out to be a very
bad egg. Ny mother lost the greater
part of her fortune when she married
him, and we were for time practic-
ally dependent on my mothers uncle,
an eccentric old gentleman, rather
fond Of money, called Hodgkinson.
"Maddock is neither more nor less
than an adventurer, and for a long
time it was the main business Of his
life to exploit my great uncle. At
last he nearly succeeded. Maddox
and some friends of his got hold Of
a bit of land in South Africa, which
they wanted to sell as gold mine.
| don't believe there was an ounce OF
gold on the premises But my great
uncle said that he would buy it at
the high figure they asked for it if l
would 90 out and see it, and send
him a private telegram advising him
that the gold was there IN paying
quantities.
"Of course, l was ready to 90, and
l was to have sailed the very morn
inc after the night of the ball that
YOU and Maud attended.
"Well, Maud happened to be in
the conservatory attached to the
ballroom, when she heard two men
talking rather indi,creetly. She was
standing behind some towering shrubs
and heard every word they said
"The two men were Mr.. Maddox
and one of his associates, and she
heard enough to make her understand
that the thing was fraud, and that
l was to be made the means Of their
swindling Uncle Jonas on a large
scale. ! believe the plan was that
they should send false telegram to
the old man in my name, days before
l could even see the pretended mine
One thing l know-if the thing had
come of. Uncle Jonas would never
have forgiven me He would have
believed to his dying day that | had
been squared. You may imagine
what a state Maude was in. She
The door opened, and Maud her
self walked into the room.
1t seemed that her stspfather treat
ed her so harshly on account Of hel
having spoiled his scheme that she
had been forced to leave hi, house and
take refuge with her brother.
For some time the old man refused
to believe that the reason Arthur
gave for not going to South Africa
was the true reason, but in time h
came round, and both brother snc
sister are now a good deal at hi
house. I 90 there occasionally my
self, which Is not surprising, as Mauc
and have been engaged for the las
SIX weeks
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