Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-09-26
CHAPTER XVII.
0t.s,-;
CIarice.

was not without fair reason. He hau
plenty of ability of its kind, and since
he had undertaken TO win fortune by
means of his daughters beauty ne haa
been eminently successful.
The reading of his late sou-in-law's
viii had carried delight and triumph 10
his heart. In his eyes 1t had but n
fault. The clause which had given re-
newed hope to Kate Martin carried
dismay into Mowbray's mind. and the
possibility that Clarice might lose the
magnificent fortune and position thaf
his perseverance had won for her, by
bestowfng her hand on this e~ternally-
troublesome Austin, doomed up like q
gigantic shadow OF evil in the near tu-
ture.
He deter mined to prevent 1t, and
after giving his whole mine to the
subject hour after hour and day after
day., he at last fixed on a plan OF
action. He determined that no letter
from Shirley should reach Clarice. and
that no meeting, accidental or other-
wise. should tai place between them:
so that Shirley, believing himself for
gotten, as well as forsakeE, would at
est leave the city forever and cross
her path no more.
Mr.. Mowbray began with making
frierds OF such of the servants as he
thought most likely to favor his and
their own interests, and, being a fair
Judge Of faces, he attempted no bribery
with Carl, the valct-who was soon to
leave the establishment, anyway-nor
with Leonce, whom he soon found to
be devoted heart and soul to her mis-
tress; nor with the cook or coachman.
But he carefully studied Susan, and
concluded to make Ter g little present
now and then; and, as he expected,
Susan seemed grateful. and quite un-
derstood his directions-that all letters
coming to the house for Mrs. Grayson
were to be brought to him first, in or.
der that he might be able TO save his
dear daughter any ssary annoy
ances.
Notwithstanding which, on the next
day Susan, who was on the watch for
the mail carrier, received a very heavy
letter for Mrs .Grayson-the envelope
of which was sealed with black wax
the girl considered with herself wheth-
err or no she ought to let that letter
pass through Mr.. Mowbray's hands
first.
Susan felt almost sure that she re.
cognized Mrs. Martins handwriting.
and it was, perhaps, we'll worth while
to remain faithful to an old friend,
even at the expense of losing a new
one.
She was on the point of slipping the
letter into her pocket until n "
lent moment to give it to Mrs. Gray
son., when she felt a playful tap on her
ST oulder and saw Mr.. Mowbray's hand
held out before her.
Il will take that letter to Mrs. Gray
son, Susan" he said. II think this is
one she a been waiting for"
And before Susan had recovered her
wits or her breath, the letter was safe
in Mr.. Mcwbray's pocket, and he was
ascending the stairs, softly whistling.
He did not go toward Clare's sitting
room, however; but, as soon as he
was out of Susan's view, FASTENED to-
ward his own apartment, which he en-
tered. locking the oor after him.
A single glance at the letter told
him from whom 1t came, as it was not
the first letter of Mrs. Martins that he
had intercepted, and his eyes sparkled
with malicious triumph.
II thought SOL" he burst out, from
the black wax! What an Internal
nuisance! Why the devil didn't the
woman merely seal 1t as usual? I can
not take the chance of breaking ii
open, for 1T may contain something in
regard to those law papers my over
generous daughter insists upon hav-
ing drawn up: and it will never do to
let Clarice know that I intercepted her
letters. Neither is it possible to let
this one pass on to her until 1 know it's
contents. But a seal, wen of wax, is
not going to scare me-" he concluded,
with a sneering laugh, as he lighted the
gas and, with infinite care and trouble,
melted the seal in such a way that he
could easily reseal the letter again, in
case 1T was necessary TO give it to Mrs.
Grayson.
The next momen the written pages
were open before him and his eyes were
eagerly devourirg them; and, had Mrs.
Martin been there to see, she must at
least have been gratifed with the in
terest with which her correspondence
was read.
so, so!' exclaimed Mowbray. having
read to the last syllable. "A very pref
~ little story, indeed, Mrs. Martin, and
well calculated to make your little
game; but / think I rave the card that
wins this trick" and without a mo-
ment's hesitation he held the letter ana
the envelope in the flame of the gas Jet
until they were burned to a cinder.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha! That's disposed Of,
but how on earth did that woman find
out this romantic story? Has she in
vented it? No; 1t bears the stamp of
truth! Then she must know where
Austin has been in hiding all this
while. She has entered into a compact
with the devil, / truly believe; and 1
will need all my wits to keep ahead OF
her. Austin will be here at any mo-
ment. The wonder is that he has not
come before. I must see Clarice!'
Mrs. Grayson YES alone in her bou-
doir. as Leonce always called 1t. It
was a small but luxuriously fitted sit
ting room. on the furnishing of which
Philip Grayson had spent what would
have been a small fortune to Clarice
Mowbray, n had exercised to the
fullest extent his own very good taste
in the selection of everything 1t con-
tanned. On a blue satin lounge was
spread out the superb trousseau on