The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-01-16

wife. No woman wants any Othel
charm than beauty and youth, anC
| grace like Jane Grand's"
But her want of birth-her want
rather, of all knowledge of her parents
and of her surviving relations CALLED
Clifford much more than he chose tt
acknowledge 1t would have delighted
him to find out, either upon her faith
er's or mothers side, some one pros
| porous relation, some indisputably re
spectacle name, that could be held in
reserve as a sort of piece de resistance
against the most stubborn inquiries OF
intimate friends. And the blank reti
cence, both of Miss Lynch and the
vicar, whenever the subject of James
family was mentioned, had already, in
| the first week of his engagement, be-
come an actual and abiding thorn in
! Clifford Mohun's flesh.
1T is very natural feeling Of Gift
ford's," said James soft voice. I'll
often seems strange to myself that ]
should be actually without a relation
in the world, and can't wonder that
| he should like to hear a little more
about my parents. Auntie, are you
quite sure that you have told us all
that there is to hear about them both
What was mammals maiden name? !
have never even heard that; and am
twenty years of age"
| She was sitting with Miss Lynch and
the vicar in the darkening bay window
of their little parlor-G Clifford having
left them after tea to attend to some
business that required his presense at
the house of one of his tenant farmers.
Don't think am inquisitive, auntie,
or that wish to hear word more
than you like to tell me- / only feel
| Clifford would like it better if we spoke
little more freely about papa and
| mamma"
And she stole her hand, in her gentle,
child-like way, round her old friends
neck.
"Jane!" and Miss Lynch's voice
sounded so harsh that Jane drew away
in an instant. "Jane, no one will ever
be contented in this life with what is
best for them to know-and you and
Mr.. Mohun are like the rest! IT'S part
of the Inheritance of our fallen nature,
child Of our fallen nature! But for
Ewes curiosity, you and would not be
the poor, sinful, miserable creatures
we are now"
Ewes curiosity made her transgress
commandment, auntie. Clifford and
do no wrong in wishing to know-what
all people Of our age should know-the
history of my own dead father and
mother, and the names of my living re-
lations, if have any"
'You believe you would be happier,
knowing this?'
Il don't think it is a question of hap
piness, auntie-I think it due to Clifford
that he should be told"
"That is the right way of looking at
it, Jane,'' said the vicar at is due to
Mohun. have been saying so to Miss
Lynch for some days past. There must
be-there can beno further conceal
ment from him; above all, he must
have nothing new to learn when you
are his wife"
"And thinking this" stammered
poor Miss Lynch, nervously.
Thinking this" the vicar repeated,
in his quiet voice, 1--WE have written to
your guardian, dear Jane, your joint
guardian with Miss Lynch, Mr..
Clithero, telling him of your engage
ment to Mohun=-"
"And he says?" broke in Jane, Gag
cry.
HE says, Jane, that it was your late
fathers wish"-the words seemed to
come unwillingly from the Wears lips
your fathers wish that, on attain
ing the age of twenty-one, or on your
marrying, whichever event should first
happen, you should hear-hear of sub
jects connected with your parents
lives from his, Mr.. Clitheros, own
mouth
"Well?'
1--WE have appointed that you should
do so. We have fixed that / should
take you up to London tomorrow
and that you shall see Mr.. Clithero."
Jane was quite silent for moment;
then she broke into laugh-a low
laugh like a child's-half fearful, half
merry, but that fell like lead ON both of
her listeners hearts.
''Shall tell you what / think of you
yes. of you, Miss Lynch, and you, Mr..
Follett; you are taking all this up a
great deal more seriously than Clifford
and will ever do. / can quite guess
this great secret. / am not lady by
birth. I said so-to-day to Clifford, and
he told rae he would not mind, because
-becauDe he cares for me for myself,
you see, and nothing Of that sort, or,
indeed, anything, would ever change
him to me. He said all he wished to
know was the truth, so that he might,
at least, have an answer to give when
ever any Of his family asked him about
\ my relations: and if he found my
| father had only been an honest village
miller. like Mr.. Gillet, he should think
my parentage great deal higher than
the Miss Tenants. Clifford is too
noble to be ashamed of anything not
dishonorable in itself"
She made this little speech with
flushing cheeks, and with a pride and
confidence in Mohun that smote the
Wears heart with sharp pain. His
thoughts went back to time, fifteen
long years before, when he too had
built with the same pride, the same
confidence, on like foundation OF
sand.
''Mohun Is very young, my dear Jane;
Il hfr find ufanutG ara one cfdnd y