The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-23
%rtt,A,pTEt, S1n1.

& Z
II 1ioi, FOR Deverill.
Ills uncle dead, lie was looked upon
& Nv everybody MS the rightful successor
not only TO the baronetcy but 10 the
possessions or Sir Wllfred, whose inter.
lions towards him had .een 50 wei
n known that 1t had been custonar! ~
n consult the nephew as well as tite uhc -,
MS IL their interests hnd been uen.'ca.,
Tho old butler nddrcsscd him at once
as "Sr Robert aud the other servants
followed slit, asking for his orders as u
matter Of course, and treating nm rs
acknowledged heal e1ot only OIL INC
house, but OF the household.
&i M vas to him that they looked Tor
4 paymcnt5 or their wages:it was upon ms
pleasure that their further omploymehc'
Y depended. Aud il came nome 70 'ho
Z young man, with startling force NM ~. nv
had missed by an acc something. IKE y
great nosition Of which this domestic
experience was typical,
$ After n little consideration, he decided
Il 10 accent the position forced upon nm
X ny these attentions, and to MAINTAIN II
until the reading of tho will should Gust
him from his high place
i In tho meantime he might be able 20 %
! make himself useful, land at any rhto II
mas his office to see that Ill matters
connected with his tllncle's funeral were
properly carried out.
The guests left the house early. with
condolences TO tho nephew of their late
host all hut claudia and Magic. 70
whom Deverill sent q message very soon
after his unclcs death. begging them
TO stay until he was able to see them.
When he did meet them In the morning
room. soon after breakfast mt which
z meal he was not present he found them
hudded together. both Very pale anu
+ quiet Maggie, in particular, seemed to
be overwhelmed by tho extent of the
misfortunes she had brought upon the
man she loved.
He nut his arms round her very gravey
and solemnly, and looking down earnestly
ii in her face. said:
"a Don't give way, my child. 4 nave
duties TO attend to here, before can
take YOU away. In tho meantime It Is
better that nobody should know anything,
either about my real position or yours.
3 But I should like you to stay here, It IT,.
Is not too painful TO you, till after the
< funeral I will be q sort OF introduction
to the truth which must come out soon
I want you, Miss Claudia, to telegraph
Sto your father so that he may stay here,
too
Claudia could mot but acknowledge
that he was doing the very best thing
for them all, in thus giving them
standing In the eyes OF the world as
long as he could.
@ "Thank YOU, said she gratefully,
you're doing the kindest ;thing you
can"
Maggie looked doubtful.
Poor papa!' said she dolefuly. Tie
will be so disappointed! Couldn't you
say something in The telegram, Claudia,
8 to warn him that-that"
Deverlll put his hand caressingly on
i 1,nr 4.cbo 1ynS
affection which she had always showed
to her not immaculate father. Maggie
looked UP at him through fearful eyes.
Poor old papa is sure to think" she
whispers irgenously, when he hears
that Sir Wlfred's dead, that 1t will be
all right, and that-that-"
She blushed, and looked down biting
her lip Deverlll and Claudia could not
refrain from exchanging Il smile over
her downcast head.
Perhaps suggested Deverill, Tho will
be consoled to find himself the father OF
Lady Deverill even If her ladyship hasn't
all the dignity and luxury which ought
TO belong to her exalted position"
Papa likes you so much, Mr.. Dew
GRILL" said Claudia earnestly. that I
don't think he will gricve as much as
Maggie expects"
So 1t was finally decided to word
the telegram to the Major In the follow
ing manner:
Very bad news Sir Wilrred died
suddenly last night Please come at
once"
When the Major arrived, as he did in
an amazingly short space of time. he
was at once put in possession of the
two important facts OF the case the
secret marriage OF his daughter and the
burning of the WILL lie took the news
better than Maggie had expected, and
persisted in hoping against hope that
things would mot be quite so bad as
they seemed.
AS a matter of fact, tho Major found
himself so comfortable In these quarters
he appreciated so fully the splendid
home. the excellent cooking the attend
ance Of train OF well-traincd servants
that with MS usual happy -so-iuckS
philosophy, he was inclined TO ENJOY me
good things OF the moment without nucn
looking beyond, IT seemed to this genial
rogue, who was ut heart something hke
great perVerse chllo' that an t''i' SUN =