Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1905-06-09


manned silent.
II must tell you," he went on, that
before this girl was brought home 1 was
regarded as my uncle's heir. But he
became infatuated with this silly doll,
and left everything to her, except a pal
try annuity. Well, the girls intellect
was always weak, and as she grew older,
this weakness merged almost into idiocy.
One night she disappeared, no one knew
whittier My uncle was almost frantic
Rewards were offered the rural police
put upon the search; ponds, rivers,
streams dragged far and near; but, as
you will anticipate, without any sue
cess. As time passed on l did all l
possibly could to instill into his mind
that she must be dead. to which belief
l really inclined; but he obstinately
chung to the idea that she still lived, and
that he should find her some day. In
the meantime, l kept on the best of
terms with him. If she never turned
up, felt pretty confident that the bulk,
at least, of the old mans fortune would
fall to my share. Years went on, and
began to feel quite certain that Clara
would never again be heard of; when,
fancy my CONSERVATION upon one day
receiving a letter from the old man,
which informed me that he was in the
city, consequent on having obtained some
trace of his lost granddaughter. He
lent some tramp money upon a suit of
clothes, and out of one of the pockets
had dropped a miniature of Clara. This
tramp fellow had told him that he was
going to the city, and thither my uncle
had set off at once to endeavor to gain
some tidings of him. He had not been
in town many days before he CHANGED to
see a picture of his own cottage i'll a
print sellers window He bought it, and
found the name of Clara in the corner.
That l might check any further search
upon his part, undertook to send round
to every picture dealer to make inquiries.
called at a number Of shops myself,
and sent you to others; you know
with what result"
But 1 did discover her, after all, in
terrupted Montgomery, although in
quite another way; and had not stay
ed at Bury so late into the Monday, you
would have known of it. However, moth
ing could be neater than the way we
managed it. Luckily you had such a
snug place to take her to-"
Eyes; l have found the house useful
more than once An old maiden arnt,
who used to reside there, left it to me
as a legacy. Fortunately, it had only
been recently vacated. AS soon as
had secured my fair cousin began to
consider what was the best thing to do
with her. After a mature consideration,
l came to the conclusion that marriage
was the best solution Of the difficulty.
By making her my wife l should seal her
lips regarding the past, and secure my
uncle's fortune in the future. To my
surprise, she received all my advances
with the utmost repugnance. The cause
of that, 1 have discovered, is a connec-
ton she has formed with some low fell
low, who actually turns out to be Judith
Stokes husband. By the bye, how came
you to think of introducing those peo-
pie at my house? You must have been
made to have entrusted my secret in
the hands of a woman who has a spite
against mef"
"a spite against your echoed Mcnt-
gomery. This is the first l have heard
of it. Now, l was deeply interested
in getting him back into Judith's hands
l bethought me of the house that l had
taken the young lady to the night before
1uGES must NC pleulS VI squire IOOllS
there, thought; and as Judith ana Mr.
Rodwell are old and confidential friends,
l don't see that he can possibly object
to oblige her so far"
"And do you not think such an act
was piece of impudence upon your
partY'
mot at ALL" answered Montgomery.
coolly. II had my own private interests
to serve in the matter-vital interests.
l thought of myself first, as you did
of yourself when, years ago, you enticed
away from me the girl who was making
my living. Tit for tatr'
Rodwen glared at him fierceIy. IF
that is your mode of dealing with me"
he said, show do l know that you may
not one fine morning call upon Mr.. Jona-
than Rodwell and blow the whole thing
to him."
"No, 1 shall not do that" answered
the other, quietly; ''honor among thieves.
If the plot succeeds, know that
shall get more out of you than possibly
could out of him. Besides there is a
stronger bond even than interest that
binds me to you-revengew
upon whomT'
upon Silas Carston."
''ln that case, think we can work to-
gether better than l suspected; but as
you have greatly complicated my diff
culties by introducing Judith into the
same house, it is but fair that you should
be the more ready to help me in any way
out Of them"
'What do you meanT'
'In the first place, my marriage with
Clara would have to be brought about
Immediately; and as she is not likely to
consent, and as the days Of enforced
marriages are all gone by, it is more than
probable that the whole plot viii have
to be abandoned. / am convinced that
Judith fully intends to betray me- Her
evil disposition would never let such an
opportunity Of revenge escape. Such a
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