Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-10-12
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE QUEST.


THE QUEST.
IT took no one into my confidence. !
merely told Mr.. Cutting and the doctor
that I was not at liberty to divide the
fortune which had been left me, and
then wnited to see II the will would be
contested. expected it would be, but
only one or two adventurers put in
claims, and these were SO manifestly
fraudulent that the matter was never
carried Into court. When I felt myself
firmly settled in my position and rec
ognized as the legal possessor Of these
millions l quickly left Cleveland and
went to New York. Taking rooms In
the most retired hotel J. could find
began the search delegated to me. !
went. first, to the directory and took
the addresses of all the families by the
name of Rogers that were to be found
there; then where their position war.
ranted 1t visited these families, and
where it did not l learned through
such persons as thought it safe to en-
ploy, whether there was Jenny
among the daughters, and If there was
l contrived to see the girl, often finding
one glimpse to be enough to satisfy me
as to her ineligibility.
''The child of Abram Rogers was the
first one that struck me favorably.
Not that l was satisfied even with her
beauty. but l had seen so many bold
and uncultlvated girls among my wan.
derings among the poorer classes,
where l naturally went first. that
could not but be struck by her limo.
cent naivete of expression and the in
herent goodness to be discerned In her
sweet face. But when had made up
my mind to know her better, and, with
this purpose in view. called Mt the
house where she lived, was shocked
to hear that sickness and death had
been before me, and that the fair
young girl had passed forever from my
reach and from that Of the money with
which l had contemplated endowing
her.
Thrown off my balance by this incl
dent next visited the various schools,
and though I did Iot find a scholar to
suit me. heard of young teacher
who was said to possess every personal
and mental attractio which one could
she praised that became assured even
before seeing her that my task was at
an end, and could hardly contain my
impatience while waiting for the letter
of introduction which had sought for
and obtained from member of the
school board In whom was happy to
recognize an old friend
"And when | went into this girls
humble home and noted it's ncatness
and the marks of good taste which
everywhere abounded, l did not need
the sight OF her winning yet intelligent
face to recognize the presence of one
Of those domestic angels who grace
any home and nobly fill the most clc.
waited stations. l talked with her, and
my liking and admiration grew. Had
she not risen to her feet, as she pres.
emily did. and thereby betrayed Sc.
rious lameness, which robbed her of
that indisputablc claim to beauty upon
which Mr.. Delaney had laid such stress
should doubtless have committed my.
self irretrievably. for my sympathy
and interest had both been awakened,
and more than this was unnecessary at
the time. so weary had l become of
my task and so hopeless was l of find.
ing any worthy prototype Of the noble
and beautiful being who had been so
much beloved by Mr.. Delaney.
"But this physical disability Of hers
at once marked her as unfit for the po-
sition for which l sC.ght her. / dared
not give Mr.. Delancy's money to one
conspicuous for defect when he had
bddcn me choose absolute beauty, at
least not till had sought further and
found beyond all dispute that the city
held no one of her name at once more
charming and more worthy. So re.
commenced my search, and this time
went the round Of the private schools.
And here l want to say that. what
ever consequences may have followed
my undoubtedly mysterious actions,
am conscious Of having done nothing
that would in any way lay me open to
the charge even of ungentlemanly con-
duct. tried to make my inquiries and
take all necessary observations myself,
which was, perhaps, mistake, but
never wilfully led any girl to think
took a personal interest in her. nor did
ever breathe word or give glance
that could be wrongly misconstrued
without the aid of the girls own van
ity. / say this now, because, accord
ing to Mr.. Gryce, events for which
am not in any way responsible fol-
fowed my discovery of very pretty
Miss Rogers in Miss Hadden's school,
She received letter inviting her to an
interview in the Jersey depot. But
never wrote that letter. I simply
paused when she and her companion
passed by me on their way to church
or concert looking at her most certain
ly, but not with impertinence. or even
with any extraordinary interest, for
soon saw that she possessed nothing
beside rather ordinary prettiness to
recommend her to my regard, and mere