The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-11-29

Edmund at once, and finding him
alone, told him that I wished to make
his daughter my wife. He was thun.
derstruck by this sudden and Hnex-
pected announcement.
II love your daughter" said, "and
I cannot stay in this house keeping my
passion a secret
Well" he said, with rather rueful
pleasantly, you have lost no time,
Mr.. Thorne, but it would have been a
poor compliment to my daughter had
you failed to perceive her charms
We talked for some time, and Anal.
" he said, with emotion:
II must give up my dear child sooner
or later. Her happiness is dearer to
me than anything; and can wish her
no greater blessing than to find good
and worthy husband
At that moment Edith opened the
door, but, seeing us. she stopped In the
entrance.
Come here, Edith" said Sir Ed
mund; and, taking her hand, he con-
tinued: MIR. Thorne wishes you to
be his wife; is that your wish alsog'
she buried her burning face in her
fathers shoulder; she could neither
say yes nor no.
1T is a question that should not be
decided hastily. the Baronet contin-
ued; take time, my dear. Meanwhile,
/ see no reason for your leaving the
house" he added, addressing me.
ssUnless Z faltered.
unless Edith wishes it, the Bar
onet said, helping me out. True.
Shall you feel more at ease, dear. il
Mr.. Thorne goes awayfo for certain
time? say. Shall he go?''
Still screening her face, Edith shook
her head, and then knew that ! had
won treasure greater than the Hes
per diamond.
In the afternoon Of the 10th Sir Ed
mund said:
= have been looking at your engage
ment, Bernard, from a practical point
Of view, and fact occurs to me that,
at such time as this, would probab-
~ escape you. That agreement Of
yours must be altered. You will see
that, for Edith's sake, what / call the
tontine clausea clause comforting up
on the survivor a deceased partners
share in the Great Hesper-should be
abrogated It entails a risk which she
must not be exposed toyou under
stand me?"
understood what he said perfectly,
and agreed with him that the clause
must be altered.
Consult with your partners" he
said, sas to what change is advisable.
/ expect my lawyer here on the Oath,
and he can then draw up legal agree
ment in accordance with our general
wish"
i took the Judge Into Van Hoeck's
room, and there told him of my en-
gagement to. Miss Lascelles. Van
Hoeck was yisibly alarmed when he
heard this; and when went on to say
that Sir Edmund wished the clause
altered by his lawyer on the Oath, he
said quickly, in a low voice:
1.-THE crafty old fox! What does he
mean by that?'
Ills meaning is obvious enough" I
replied; IF / marry Miss Lascelles,
and die. she will be dispossessed Of
my share Of the diamond. ! can leave
her only legacy Of debt"
Eyes, end thet amt all on it." said
the Judge. dragging his why chin tufts
through his hand and bending lis
brow. ''Thet amt all by a lump.
We're playing with a marked card in
the pack-a card as might tempt eer
a one on us to foul play
What on earth do you mean? Speak
plainly if you can" said Van Hoeck,
10 angry impotence.
"Well, mean this ere. answered
the Judge, with slow impressiveness,
that if one Of my partners wasn't a
gentleman, and t'other wasn't helpless
blind. I'm jiggered if I'D go to bed
without a six-shooter under my piller,
and my finger on the trigger. l don't
allude to one any more'n another, but
wen just take Israels word for gos-
pei, that every one is thief if you
give him chance of thievin'; end, at
any rate. I'm just as likely as not to
murder my two pardners, end git the
whole Of thet diamond to myself. Con-
sequently, you will allow tibet the
Squire has double reason for wantin'
tibet agreement altered; fur it amt
only the money he's got to secure on
TO his daughter, but her husbands life
likewise. Time enough for the young
lady to be wilder in the nat'ral or
der of things in gen'l.'
To be Continued.