The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1907-09-20

moor wild ponies, came to town las
week to visit the British museum. I'm
happily he heard something about his
stepson which disturbed his researches
| There was row."
"Why do you say 'unhappilyY
Because l am dragged Into the
| wretched business on account OF 1T
After a lapse of more than twenty-five
wears he remembered his sister, went
| to his solicitors, made fearful hub
bub when he heard of letters received
from her and answered without his
knowledge and ascertained that she
was dead and had a son living At any
cost, they must find that son. They
have guessed at my identity for some
time. Now they want to make sure OF
it."
"And what did you sayT
IT told them I would think over the
situation and communicate with them
further"
"Were they satisfedr'
"By no means. They are exceeding
ly anxious to placate the old man.
They probably control a good deal of
his money"
"Umw
"Of course! You see the delicacy of
their position. After playing into the
hands of Lady Louisa for nearly a
quarter Of a century they suddenly find
the whole situation changed by the
baronet's belated discovery that he
once had sister"
you have not told me all this with
out a purpose. Do you want my adj
vicep'
Philips face was clouded, his eyes
downcast.
"You understand" he said after a
long pause, "that some one, either the
man or the woman-the woman,
Thinks morally responsible for my
mothers death. She was poor-wretch-
edly, horribly poor-the poverty of thin
clothing and insufficient food. She was
i'll, confined to q miserable howell for
weary months and was so utterly I'M
provided with the barest necessities
that the parish doctor was on the point
of compelling her to go to the work
house infirmary when death came.
Am 1 to be the instrument Of Gods
vengeance on this woman"
Mr.. Abingdon, who had risen to light
a cigar, placed kindly hand on the
young mans shoulder.
"Philip," he said, with some emo
ton, Il have never yet heard you utter
a hasty judgment. You have prudence
far beyond your years. 1t seems to
me, speaking with all the reverence of
a man in face Of the DEGREES of Provi-
dence, that God has already provided
terrible punishment for Lady Louisa
Morland. What is the name of her
SOM?
II do not know forgot to ask"
Il have a wide experience of the
jeunesse doree of London. Hardly q
week passed during many years of my
life that one of his type did not APP
pear before me in the dock What is
he-a roue, a gambler, probably a
"All these, l gathered from the So
licitors."
"And if your mother were living,
what would she say to Lady Nor
land?'
"She would pity her from the depths
of her heart. Yes, Abingdon, you are
right My uncles wife has chosen her
bwn path. She must follow it, let 1t
lead where it WILL 1 will write to
Messrs. Sharpe & Smith now. But
step into my dressing room with me
for moment, will your
In corner of the spacious apart
ment to which he led his guest stood a
large safe. Philip opened it. Within
were a number of books and docu-
ments, but in large compartment at
the bottom stood peculiar object for
such n repository-an ordinary leather
He lifted It on to a couch
and took key from a drawer In the
safe.
"This Is one Of my treasures which
you have never seen," he said, with a
sorrowful smile. ut has not been IN
the light for many years.
He revealed to his friends wonder
ing eyes the tattered suit, the slipshod
boots, the ragged shirt and cap, the
rusty doorkey, associated with that
wonderful month of March of a decade
earlier. He reverently unfolded some
Of his mothers garments, and his eyes
were misty as he surveyed them.
But from the pocket Of the portman-
teau he produced a packet of soiled let
ters. One by one he read them aloud,
though he WINGED at the remembrance
Of the agony his mother must have
endured as she experienced each rebuff
from Lady Morland and her husbands
solicitors.
Yet he persevered to the end,
II wanted model for brief COM
to Messrs. Sharpe &
Smith," he said bitterly. 81 think the
general purport Of their correspond
ence will serve my needs admirably"
AS he closed the Gladstone bag his
stern mood vanished.
"Do you know" he said, "that this
odd looking portmanteau, always lock-
III and always reposing in safe, has
puzzled my Wallets considerably? One
nan got IL out and tried to open 1t.
paught him I'm the act. / honestly be-
ieve both he and the others were I'M
\