The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-09

intelligent. But by degrees he ceased tc think of the woman and considered only the client. What was the real truth O. all this? Was 1t possible that she should be so much distressed because an attor- ney had found some old papers and gone with them to Groby Park? Could 1t De possible that she, soft, beautiful, grace full as she now was, all but girl as she had been then, could have sat down in the middle of the night with her dying husband on one side and her baby on the other, to forge that codicil, and done It with a skill that had withstood the fierce test of the famous trial? How terrible 1t would be if 1t were so-and how wonderfull
 In Sir Peregrine Orme Lady Mason found champion of quite another sort The stately, kind-hearted old baronet was filled with Indignation at the villainy of Mason of Groby Park.
 q will not desert you, Lady Mason, said he; "of that you may be sure You have no occasion to frighten yourself. What documents can Dockwrath have found that can possibly harm you? lg- nore the whole thing. Lady Mason, unless you get some legal notice which requires answering"
 Dear friend,p murmured Lady Mason, and Sir Peregrine, like Furnival, thought Nt@NO~-~---N-'-S pretty she was.
 Dear, persecuted creature thought the baronet as he sat alone after the in- terview. And then. after awhile, as he unused, he said aloud to himself: Why should I not? Why should I not?'
 The news of the discovery of documents bearing on the great Orley Farm case that might cause Lady Mason to be in- dicted was spread broadcast by Dock oil To ia or of lit- tie else. Lucius Mason confidently and angrily commanded his mother to 'leave all that sort of thing to him" He was her natural protector and would prose- cute for islander the first man he caught repeating the story. Mir. Furnival? Sir Peregrine? What had they to do with the matter? He, Lucius, was the only person to be consulted in matter of this kind.
 It took Lady Mason, MT Furnival and Sir Peregrine combined to induce Lucus to subside, and when he did so he did 1t with surly and superior air, thinking that the elder people were fools and he a practical person who might settle the matter out of hand.
 Lucius was in love, as much as his cold nature would allow him to be. with Sophia Furnival daughter of his moth CTS attorney, and Miss Sophia, pfu-
 
 as warmly as was consistent with her desire to choose a husband discreetly. As she had an offer from Judge Stay eley's son Augustus. Sophia had decided to temporize until the final possession of Orley Farm was decided.
 That hearty young fellow. Peregrine Orme meanwhile had fallen over head and ears in love with Judge Staveey' s daughter Madeline. But Madeline, not possessing the practical qualities of Miss Furnival, had gone and fallen in love with somebody else, which somebody was brlefess barrister, one Felix Graham.
 "Oh, dear,'' said Lady Staveley to the Judge, why can't she love Peregrine !? The Cleeve is such nice property and lies so near our own. And Felix Gra- ham has no money and no business. Oh. dear!'
 well, my love-" replied the Judge. neither had I when you married me-"
 "Oh, that was quite different" retort- ed Lady Staveey. And she thought the learnsd Judge was rather stupid to make such comparison.
 well, my dear" said the Judge Sooth- ingly. perhaps we had better let Made line choose for herself" But Lady 5tave- lev said to young Peregrine: Do not give up hope. my dear boy. Go away now and come back later and try again. And she set date when he was to come back for a second attempt on the heart of Madeline. Peregrine was straight forward youth and did not like this waiting and trying again. but he obeyed.
 Soon 1t became certain that Lady Ma son would be indicted and forced to stand trial for perjury. They had elected to try her on that charge rather than forg- cry which would have been harder to prove. Sir Peregrine's answer to this was to say to Mrs Orme: My dear we ought to be especially good to Lady Ma son In her great trouble. The counte-