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

THE \
willingness or the unwillingness of the
alleged Godfrey to come forward. II,
after a decent interval, Mr.. Bradwin
should return and inform him that his
client thought it better not to present
himself, no matter how good his ex-
cuse might be for this decision, the
viscount felt that he would have rea-
SON to think lightly of his claim.
If, ron the other hand, the young
man should present himself in answer
to his challenge, matters would begin
to look serious. And there was some
thing disquieting in the appearance, OF
Mr.. Baldwin himself. He did not ap-
pear to belong to the seedy small fry
of the law among whom an 1mpostor
would seek an advocate.
On the whole, it was with some dis
quietude that the viscount waited
in the little smoking-room, looking
out at the grass-grown street without
seeing much of the scene in front of
hopes began to grow high. AT least,
| the alleged Godfrey needed a good
/ deal of persuasion to induce him to
come forward. Then there was step
outside the door-only one. surely!
And it was Mr.. Bradwin who came in.
Lord Catherington turned briskly to
meet him; but even as he did so he
saw, standing in the shadow of the
passage, another man, very young,
very. awkward, very retiring, man
whom he guessed at once to be the
claimant himself.
Mr.. Bradwin held open the door. {.
Come in, come in he said, rather
impatiently. Don't be too modest"
Thus adjured, the young man en-
/ tered the room, and presented for in
Espection a fairly good figure spoilt by
a slight stoop, a young face of which
/ the originally fair complexion had
been burned to rather sallow hue, a
pair Of hands that had evidently done
rough work, and face which, as Lord
Catherington saw, with a slight start,
bore an unmistakable resemblance to
some of the family pictures at Stone
court.
$50 your name Is Godfrey Gather
lngton - said he, by way of greeting,
as he surveyed from head to foot the
shy young man, who showed a marked
disposition to retreat by the way he
had come.
YES said he, quickly, "that is my
name, Godfrey Catherington."
And how is it I've heard nothing
, about you before?" said the viscount
abruptly. There were plenty of in
quiries made, and advertisements is
, sued, for any person bearing that
name: How was it you didn't answer
; them?" r..
IT never saw Them" said the youns
, man bluntly. IT was out in the bush
5 You don't see as many adVertlsements
there as you do on the walls of English
l railway stations. - .,s
His manner was a little sullen, a lit.
2 tie defiant, a little shy. But 1t was
unfortunately for Lord Catherington'!
= hopes, not q manner which inspired
= incredulity.
''The bush, Ell? And what were 20,
doing there?"
e "All sorts Of things. Anything tina
e was a rolling stone. suppose.
e And who was your father?
: The stranger Redeemed, and drew
|, himself up before he answered. Blu
when he did, he shot out the words de
= family, in louder voice than before
"Geoffrey Catherington, your eide
=, brother"
Having thus given the challenge
which Lord Catherington receive
=. with perfect outward calmneSs, tn
e. young man appeared to acquire a lit
~ tie more confidence.
g "Then you claim to be my nephew?
:, yes"
, well. 7 suppose I do. If I'm tn
O son of your elder brother, I ought t
- be Lord Catherington, so they say.
~ Il see. Then you claim to be Wis
r countFCatheringto instead of me?
"a The young man looked up, redden
ing still more.
making such a claim" he said, bluntl1
,s ''if things had gone we'll with me. d
I look like lord? Should feel com
is Portable among the gentry? I've mad
little education; down at Sydney
is went to school, and my father woul
w universities if I'd been ready to g
But I wasn't. 1 liked to roam abou
So I cut away and led my own life
nv own way, and it wasn't till yea
after it happened that l even learne
ID of my fathers death, and Of the deaf
lg of my grandfather close upon that
ID THAT is to say, you learned the
IS. that YOU had claim to the title?'
se The voung man nodded in an OF
: hand manner.
If Yes, I knew it. My chum used
chaff me about it. What was the goo
of a title to me? I certainly new
tn thought Of putting in claim to IT, N
t to the money, nor to anything else.
IS had my fathers money, what the
vi. was of it, and off I went up cou1
-. trv again. And at first did fair
It's we'll and had a, high old time, tradin
or sheep rearing, sort Of roughng II
n. the time, but enjoying myself IN n
:. own way :,
er And what made you leave the II
Ia. you liked SO much?
I'd II fell i'll, and had to go back to Sy
= new. Then they said a voyage wou
U.s. put me right, so I came to Englan
as THAT'S how I'm here; it wasn't any n
lte ton of claims or anything of that sc
that brought me-" he ended, simply.
liS Lord Catherington stared at NJ
no from the table, the corner of whi
% % he had seated himself. The you
mans speech was as simple d
;nss straightforward as his looks. In
III III nause that followed he took out
~ large, shabby pocketbook, and pass
. it over to the viscount.
- Look" said he. That was
,,,a fathers. See if there's anything
,ant there that'n help you to know
cit. me-
ht. The viscount's hand was scarce
" steady as he took the pocketbook
turned the contents out on the tan
+1- Old letters were there, notes, scribbl
on drawings bills, odds and ends of
the sorts, some fresh, some very Q
3ut There was a lock of child's hair, a
ing Lord Catherington's eyes grew 81
ore denly dim when he read his own ma
he and recognized his mothers handWl
ON inc. on the ha1fsheet of notePaPer,
in low with time, which contained
en- .saI1, little Fluke. Cut from his NJ