The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-30

MINNEAPOLIS JOURl
another man with a better right to
them, I should give way at once. I
have no wish to enjoy what is not
rightfully mine, tho I intend to stick
to it very firmly until I have the full
est proof that it not mine"
VERY fairly spoken, my, lord" put
in Mr.. BradWin, speaking for the first
time since the conversation began.
I'VE could wish for no more than
that"
Lord Catherington turned toward
ference of this third person., and gave
the lawyer such a look that the lat
ter turned away and began to look at
some papers he took from his pocket.
The young claimant looked very un-
easy.
Look here, Lord Catherington,"
said he, earnestly, II don't half like
this, don't indeed. AS said, moth
ing is further from my thoughts than
to interfere with you or with anybody.
1T was only when found myself
stranded in London, without any
friends or any money left, that de-
cided to go to a lawyer and see what
my rights Or claims, or whatever you
call them, are worth. And then, when
=
do something for me. But, indeed, II
you hadn't found us out, L dare say
should have gone back to London and
done nothing. I've no wish to inter-
fere with you, none at all
Lord Catherington looked at him
with frown. The young man seemed
straightforward enough. and genuine
ly ashamed of the trouble he was caus-
| ing. But the viscount knew that, now
| that the matter was in the hands of a
| lawyer, it would have to be threshed
out, and his one wish was to have 1t
| done as quickly as possible
| Mr.. EBradWins seemed to feel that his
| client was ill-advised in speaking so
freely, for he cut in, as soon as he got
the opportunity, with more apologies
/ on his own part. And then he hasten
ed to say that he thought they mad
| better not discuss the matter further,
but had better take Lord Gathering
between himself and the viscount's So
licitors. ri
| Lord Catherington assented thought
fully, and then, with a curt leave-tak-
/ ing, went out. .-.-a Is -%+.s,-7 ....-.
The one thing for him to do was to
communicate at once with his sollc1-
tors and to apprise them that they
must be ready to receive this claimant
to the title, and to examine his claim
He knew that he ought to see them
/ strange reluctance to leave the old
i place, which, now that he was threat
ened with the loss of it, had suddenly
/ become dearer than he had thought
possible. ~
Il regular foutlineS as he tramDed bacl
! over the fields to the old house Wher'
his childhood had been spent, and hi
heart beat faster with vague dis
quietude and dread which mingled
strangely with his new fears.
Such a pleasant peaceful, happy III
t he had fallen into. under the old root
{ with his little child playing half tn
day about his knee and with tina
haunting, beautiful woman's face hoy
ering in the background. Lord Cath
f erington had begun to realize, of late
while missing the companionsh1p Q
the graceful, gentle widow, the sort o
r sentiment with which she had in
spired him. He had begun to recos
nize how feeble were the bonds whic
! bound him to the woman who ha
a gone thru the ceremony OF marrlag
: with him. Even if she was not, as tn
mad artist had said, and as LORD Cain
!, eringtOn believed, bigamiSt frol
whom he, the second husband, was al
ready legally free, she had herself con
q fessed enough to assure him that t
\ break the bonds between her and him
self would be no difficult matter.
= Like most men in like case,
shrank from the publicity, the scanda
. of divorce; and it was not until
found himself seized by strong pas
f sion for woman in whom he fancle
:, he had found all the quallties IN
n other lacked, that he determined
= avail himself Of the means the la
p gave him Of getting free.
T Even if this stranger who claimed NJ
d title should prove to be really Geoffre
e Catherington. the present ,,, pos sses &c
}, would not be beSgar. Ehe estate
+ were in a fiourishing condition, an
n even the portion Of the ousted or
r would be handsome one.
d 1t was, then, with no very deep fee
h ing of depression that Lord Gather
lington approached the old home, an(
n looking up at the windows, saw tn
face of Beatrice, fun of anxiety an
f. excitement, watching him as i
crossed the grass. -
% On entering he sent up for her
ID I.once, and she found him In the lit
er study busy at his desk.
)r WELL, said he, as he placed
/ chair for her, don't look SO frigh
re Iened. I've seen the man at the in
l. and it is not the artist
ly .Oh, I'm so glad. But"
She 7oeSed seare di ely int = h
III lace. IuSutiJ do, VII liic NAiotS,l :
~ bore the new trouble, it had afreae
left traces in the expression Of n
fe face.
But what?"
d. "You look-as If something hs
Id happened
d. Something has happened. 5Goe
o. frey has turned up
TT Beatrice began. to tremble violentl
and the tears sprang to her eyes.
m Don't look so miserable. 1 don
III You said he'd come, you know. "
lg ought to triumph, and to say I to
I'd you so.''
he do you think, can you think,
a should triumph in anything that d
ed you harm ?'' burst out the young wi
ow, with passionate earnestness, r
ny lieved by the seriousness of the sit
in ation from any necessity to hide t
It's Intensity of her feelings Don't Y
know that I'd do anything, give an
'ly thing, to save you from trouble
nd misfortune-you to whom I owe e
le: erything %
ed Lord Catherington was moved Q
ali of himself by the passion in her 10
10: and voice.
nd Heaven bless you!" said he. "Y
Id feel this more than l do
me Suddenly remembering all the 81
It that lay upon. her own soul, hOwev
ell Beatrice lost the bright color VIII