The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1902-01-17
MnY worst fears realized" l muir

]. on my DredktdSl tdDle, my letters
(, Eva fell out. Her influence over NJ
: Hall is not great enough to cause hi
: to overlook my presumption"
. took up Eva's letter:
/, My Dearest Cecil have told uncle Q
our engagement, but am afraid that W
shall never gain his consent. He behave
so wildly that l am really afraid OF hin
II have never before seen him so angry
: He vowed that he would never agree {
orr marriage, and ordered me to sen
back all your letters and presents, AM
. insisted ON seeing me do it. SO | all
;. writing this at his study table, and | d.
not even know whether he will not insis
on reading my letter. but | promise you
dearest Cecil that, il you are willing I,
wait for two years, l will marry you Al
soon as l am OF age and the law allow,
me to be my own mistress.
A sigh escaped me. Two years APP
pears lifetime to young man OF 1--WE
andtwenty. And If Mr.. Hall were in
long two years. Whilst l was turnins
over the letters Eva had sent back
came upon sheet that had evidently
been put in by mistake IL was so brief
that | read the words before | had
realized that the note was not mean,
for me. There was no address or date:
Morgan has gone TO Barton-on-Sea for
week, and | am free. Perhaps Friday
would suit you? Yours faithfully,
W. CARRUTHERS.
l placed this note In my pocket. in
tending to return ii to Mr.. Hall, al.
though 1t did not seem TO be OF any Sc
rious Importance.
One OF the remaining letters ON the
table was from that gentleman himself
In no gentle language he rated me for
the impertiuence OF aspiring TO the
hand OF his niece" delieately limiting
that 'beggarly bank clerk on one hun
dred and tfty pounds year would be
making tirst-class Investment by
marrying lady who might possess at
some future date handsome fortune.
He apologized with irritating irony for
delaying 80 satisfactory a financial ar
rangernent." reminded me that his word
was law for another two years. and
that even when Eva attained her ma
jority she would have to depend on him
for a dowry
When | had finished reading this
pleasant letter | decided To walt until
! had returned from the bank and had
more leisure Then | could answer his
letter as it deserved, and at the same I
time return the note that had been In
inclosed In Eva's parcel.
At the bank 1t was difficult to keep
my thoughts from wandering. My fell 1
low clerks rallied me on my nnwonted /
yloominess.
1t was about IL when a young man,
whom / knew very well by sight, step
ped into the bank and approached one
IF the cashiers.
'.Good-morning." he said pleasantly.
I've got rather a larger check than
Usual. | don't know what the old man
wants 1t for, but he told me to take
'ab and draw out the money in gold-I
uppose the banks all rightY
Yes, the banks right enough the
ASHER answered. with laugh, "and
Ion't think that even four thousand
POUNDS win break us"
Having nothing at that moment to !
%. idly looked over Freeman's shout /
err and read the check
1t was drawn for four thousand
ounds to bearer and was signed II. Il. I
one of our largest customers ,
he name struck me as being one /,
ad seen in writing very recently. I
Whilst Freeman had gone to the man q
ger I worried my brains to think Of the
onnection in which had last seen the Q
anne.
Eureka / exclaimed, and with y
awning from the view of the young {
an, who was patiently waiting for his I
bid, pulled out the paper which had e
sen accidentally incIosed In Eva's let
r. Sure enough, the name Of the gem a
sman who had gone to Barton on Sea ii
as Morgan. A curious coincidence. k
.rhaps, but not very uncommon one. 81
svertheless, remembering how the n
ayfair and South Eastern Counties Il
ink had been swindled less than n
DHtH ago, my HiiHu couceiFeu II little OIL
ubt as to the genuineness OF the h.
eek.
What is your Manner / inquired.
king a piece Of paper as though / n.
ere going to write. r,
TO my surprise the man quietly re-
ed: III
Walter Carruthers.r I'll
1t this moment Freeman came back. sf
It's all right" he said, with nod
the other. ITS be ready for you in 81
few minutes" he
Then he was going on to discuss the ca
ather with Carruthers, but, to his m
dent establishment, I came forward tn
ain.
L. AZ Afosreenx, aA hama y, askod