Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-15

dignity, something like an ancient statue
in her pose, which l marveled much to see.
1t was perfectly wonderful how the con-
seriousness of being Rupert Glendonwyn's
wife upheld her all through that night.
Mr.. McCrosty seated himself on the far
side OF a kind Of table, crossed his legs and
pursed his lips as II he was going to
whistle.
"Mr. Glendonwyn is very seriously Ill.,
he began, with a curious little whistle IN
his voice at the end OF every sentence or
so, the effect Of which was truly remark
able, contrasting as it did with the dignity
OF his manner and the gravity Of his com
munications. 1 learned afterward that in
his youth Mr.. McCrosty had been a great
stammerer and had cured himself by always
whistling a bar Of Duncan Grey" or some
other Scots ditty as often as he came to a
standstill. Having been summoned, there
fore, to the bedside Of my ancient friend
and patron, and consulted as to what was
his best course in these painful circum-
| stances, / took II upon me to remind him
| that Justice was a condition Of repentance,
and that reparation and honest dealing mis-
became no man. II he were satisfied that
his son Rupert had left lawful issue, the
matter should not be left hanging in the
wind one single moment. Having. more
over, been informed by Mr.. John Glendon-
wyn (who did me the honor to make me
his confdant in the matter some time ago)
that the young lady's father had destroyed
an important. though, happily, not indis-
pensable document, l advised Mr.. John
Glendonwyn to apply directly to one Of the
two witnesses Of the marriage still alive
and accessible-that is, to Miss Fairlie
Glendenning-which he did.
1t is not necessary to continue Mr..
McCrosty's somewhat lo~ng-winded state
ment, which indeed amounted to little more
than that Mr.. Gregory Glendonwyn desired
to own his sons child publicly as the heir
to his estates, and that in this he was
being heartily supported by his surviving
son, Mr.. John.
The lawyer having finished, we were
forthwith ushered upstairs into a great,
dimly lighted room, in which was Mr..
I Gregory Glendonwyn, looking pale and worn,
his nostrils so thin as almost to be trans
parent and his eyes cavernous and dark.
He was lying at full length on a bed,
propped up with pillows. He had about
him a loose dressing gown OF some fine
wool Of a %brownish hue, while DR.. Warner,
looking like a sallow specter, thin, erect
and eolorless as bleached bone, stood a
lite apart. gazing at him with those sinister
eyes Of his.
Another man Of lawyer-like appearance,
the same Mr.. ingalls, who had formerly
made himself so prominent In the e~eclesi-
astical affairs Of the parish, sat at a desk
with a second sheaf OF papers before him.
Mr., Glendonwyn nodded to us as We came
in-opening his eyes indeed at sight OF
Veronica. but, like his son, taking no objec-
tion TO her presence, and indeed making no
remark upon 1t.
Mr.. MoCrosty nodded over to his brother
lawyer as much as TO intimate: "All set
let us proceed"
Whereupon Mr.. Ingalls, rose and said:
'It is the wish OF Mr.. Glendonwyn that
the marriage Of his late son Rupert Glen
.donwyn, TO Catherine or Kate Glendenning
should be put beyond possible dispute. I
have, therefore. drawn up a paper embody-
ing a statement OF the facts, which will be
attested by one Of the two witnesses. DR..
Herold Warner Of Kilgour. This document
I will now proceed to read"
This. when he had finished It, proved
to be a brief but perfectly exact state
ment Of what had occurred In connection
with the marriage OF my sister. to which
was subjoined a medical record Of DR..
Warmers several visits TO Inch Jonet and
OF the birth OF Babe Rupert There were
also included In the budget several letters
from the late Rupert GlendonWyn to his
friend Warner. in which specific and re-
peated references were made both TO the