The Lamar register., 1899-11-15

eoc. FsIsoHdLlC1 OF MS cousin, MISE
Branscombe-w wonderful Likeness at al
times-fair hair. slight fsure-like
girl's-no hair on face-no wonder yol
were taken in''-meaning 'Lady's
maid in the plot, supplied all the rig
out, ETC.. and gave TIE tip into the bar.
gain. Unconmonly we'll managed
Astonishing how the young fellow gEts
over the woinen-they're all ready t.
go down on their knees and to sell thei
souls for him-every one Of them. A;
for this one
''Woodward? ! CALCULATED, beginning
to recover from my sturefaction, and
to see daylight through the whole
thing.
Yes" returned the ex-groom, with
wink. Young woman soft on the
sex generally, you see-didn't want
much courting to LEI the whole cat cut
of the bag-as much as she knew
Knows nothing about the Will; she be-
lieved Mr.. RraEscombe only wanted 10
| look at it. she says. He told her so,
| and she thought it hard lines that he
I was not allowed to go to the house
or to be at his uncle's funeral She
| hold OF the will altogether. And row
| what we've got to do is TO make him
hand it over But'-breaking OF in his
rapid explanation-'T told you all this
in the letter / gave you this evening
Didn't you read it2 Bless my soul,
| You haven't dropped it?"-as / rum
| mayed fruitIessly in one pocket after
another. 'You haven't lost it?"
Its not here. No. did not read it
Ssay--I may have left it in the draw
1 ing-room: wait here whilst l see, / viii
be back directly"
Mrs Heathcote and Miss Elmslie had
not yet retired. Lights were full on in
| the drawing-room. contrary to the vir.
tuous early habits of the household
/ and the two ladies were seated side by
side on a couch by the fire, discussing
over AID over again the wonderful sur
| prise OF the evening.
What is it?'' asked Mrs. Heathcote
| rising to assist my search. "a letter:
| No, there is no letter here. Eliza must
have seen 1t IL 1t had been left on the
| tea-table. and she never takes letters
| or papers away-the Rector has
! trained her too well for that. No, 1t Is
certainly not here. hope it was not
important. But you will be sure to
| find it upstairs or in the study. Have
you looked there?'
| Widdrington was awaiting me impa-
tiently when returned.
1T is gone / admitted ruefully. u
came straight from the garden to the
drawing-room, and from there here. ]
must have dropped IT.
| Then the whole things. blown
ruined" cried the man. clapping on his
hat, and making for the door. There's
not minute to be lost"
My letter was gone-shere was nc
doubt about 1t. second and calmer
] search through my pockets confirmed
the fact. l had entirely forgotten the
paper, attaching no Importance to it at
the moment, regarding 1t as simply a
ruse on the detectives part to attract
my attention; and subsequent events
had entirely driven the whole circum
stance out Of my mind. had doubt
| less dropped the missive-with all its
important revelation-in the garden or
hall
- opened the window of my bed
room. which looked over the lawn ard
garden path by which l had returned
to the house. A mans figure-Wid'
drington's-was just vanishing through
the gate. He had evidently been
searching over the ground, so that nc
efforts of mine were needed. I won
dered what success he had had. Proba-
bly, he found the missing letter, and all
fear of miscarriage to his plans was
over.
sat up late into the night, writing
and reading. Sleep. in the tumult OF
my mind, was out Of the question. ]
had to think over and realize the won,
derful and blissful change which had
come into my life. Mona, my peerless
treasure, was mine-my own. And this
| cloud which had overshadowed her
even in my most loyal thought-had
dimmed the rapturous joy of my be-
| trothal.
had almost forgotten Widdrington
in the fioodtide of my happiness, but
when l descended to the breakfast
room the next morning, l was abruptly
recalled to the subject of last nights
interview On my plate lay note
marked-"Delivered by hand" 1t
| n,,I,, tbaun