The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-09-04
CHAPTER XIV.


ley got back to Seventy-fourth
street. No one saw her come in,
and she went direct to her room
and after a hasty dinner worked until
late into the night on her book to make
up for lost time. The events Of the
afternoon caused her considerable I'M
easiness. She reproached herself for
her weakness and for having yielded
90 readily to the impulse OF the mo-
ment She had said only what was
the truth when she admitted she loved
Jefferson, but what right had she to
dispose Of her future while her fathers
fate was still uncertaln1 Her con-
science troubled her. and when she
came to reason 1t out calmly the more
impossible seemed their union from ev-
cry point OF view. How could she be-
come the daughter-in-law Of the man
who had ruined her own father2 The
idea was preposterous. and hard as
the sacrifice would be Jefferson must
DO made to see 1t in that light. Their
engagement was the greatest folly. 1t
bound each OF them when nothing but
unhappiness could possibly come OF It,
She was sure now that she loved JEFF
ferson. It would be hard to give him
up, but there are times and circum-
stances when duty and principle must
prevail over all other considerations,
and this she felt was one Of them.
The following morning she received
a letter from Stott. BE was delighted
70 hear the good news regarding her
important discovery and he urged her
TO lose no time In securing the letters
and forwarding them to Massapequa,
when he would Immediately go to
Washington and lay them before the
senate. Documentary evidence Of that
conclusive nature. he went on to say,
would prove Of the very highest value
IN clearing her fathers name. He
added that the judge and her mother
were as we'll as circumstances would
permit and that they were not in the
least worried about her prOtracted alb
sence. Her Aunt Milly had already
returned to Europe and Eudoxia was
still threatening TO leave daily
Shirley needed no urging. She quite
realized the importance of acting
quickly. but it was not easy to get
at the letters The library was usu-
ally kept locked when the great man
was away, and on the few occasions
when access to it was possible the lynx
eyed Mir Bagley was always on guard.
Short as had been her stay in the Ry-
der household Shirley already shared
Jefferson's antipathy to Ae English
secretary, whose manner grew more
superciious and Overbearing as he
drew nearer the date when he expect
ed TO run Off with one of the richest
catches OF the season. He had not
sought the acquaintance of his EN-
ployers biOgrapheT since her arrival
and, with the exception of rude stare,
had not delgned to notice her, which
attitude Of naughty Indifference was
all the more remarkable I'm view of the
fact that the Hon. FitzrOy usually left
nothing unturned 10 cultivate a fiirta-
tious intimacy with every attractive
female he met The truth was that
what with Mr. Ryder's demands upon
his services and his own preparations
for his coming matrimonial venture. In
which he had SO much at stake, he had
neither time nor inclination to indulge
his customary amOrOus diversions.
Miss Roberts had called at the house
several times, Ostenslbly to see Mrs.
Ryder, and when introduced to Shirley
she had cOndescended to give the lat
ter a superclliOus nod. Her converse
ton was generally OF the silly, vacu-
GUS sort, concerning chiefly new dresses
or bonnets, and Shirley at once read
her character-frlyOlOus, amusement
loving, empty headed. Irresponsible
Just the kind OF girl to do something
foolish without Weighing the conse-
Quences. After chatting a few mo-
ments with Mrs Ryder she would usu-
ally vanish, and one day after one OF
these mysterious disappearance Shir-
ley happened to pass the library and
caught sight of her and Mr.. Bagley
conversing IN subdued and eager tones.
1t was very evident that the elopement
scheme was fast maturing. II the
scandal was to be prevented, Jefferson
ought to see his father and acqualnt
him with the facts without delay. 1t
was pTODdDl0 ludl at Nu6 sumo llulc no
would make an effort to secure the let
tiers. Meantime she must be patient
Too much hurry might spoil every
thing.
So the days passed, Shirley devoting
almost all her time to the history she
had undertaken. She saw nothing Of
Ryder senior. but a good deal Of his
wife, to whom she soon became much
attached. She found her an amiable,
good natured woman, entirely free
from that offensive arrogance and pat
ronizing COndescensiOn which usually
mark the 'parvenu as distinct from
the thoroughbred. Mrs. Ryder had no
claims TO distinguished lineage; on the
contrary, she was the daughter Of
-+rx grocer when the then rising oil
-her, and Of educational
~ad- little or none.
hat she was
lman In the
kved the nrea-