Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1907-12-30
CHAPTER XIV

icy got Ddck 10 SeVenty-fOurth
street. No one saw her come in.
and she went direct TO her room
and after hasty dinner worked until
late into the night on her book to make
mp for lost time The events of the
afternoon caused her considerable I'M
easiness. She reproached herself for
her weakness and for having yielded
so 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 uncertain? Her con-
science troubled her. and when she
came To reason IL 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 father? The
idea was preposterous, and hard as
the sacrifice would be Jefferson must
lie made to see IL I'm 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
feTson. 1t 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
letter from Stott. He was delighted
to hear the good news regarding her
important discovery. and ne urged her
TO lose no time in securing the letters
and forwarding them to Massapequa.
when be would Immediately 20 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 well as circumstances would
permit and that they were not in the
least worried about her protracted alb
.sence. Her Aunt Nilly had already
returned to Europe, and Eudoxia was
still threatening TO reave daily.
Shirley needed no urging. She quite
realized the Importance of acting
quickly, but 1t was not easy to get
at the letters. The library was usu-
oily kept locked when the great man
was away. and on the few occasions
when access TO it was possible the lynx
eyed Mr.. Bagley was always on guard
Short as had been her stay in the Ry-
der household Shirley already shared
-Jcfferson's antipathy to the English
secretary, whose manner grew more
supercilious and overbearing as he
drew nearer the date when he expect
ed 10 run of with one OF the richest
catches OF the season. He had not
sought the acquaintance of his en-
ployer's biographer since her arrival
md. with the exception of rude stare,
had not deigued to notice her. which
attitude OF naughty indifference was
all the more remarkable in view of the
fact that the Hon. FitZroy usually left
nothing unturned to cultivate a flirta-
tiOus intimacy with every attractive
female he met The truth was that
what with Mr.. Ryders demands upon
his services and his own preparations
for his coming matrimonial venture. I'm
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, ostensibly to see Mrs.
Ryder. and when introduced to Shirley
she had condeScended TO give the lat
ter supercilious nod. Her conversa-
ton was generally OF the silly. vacu-
Gus sort, concerning chiefly new dresses
or bonnets, and Shirley at once read
her Characterization, 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 10 pass the library and
caught sight OF her and Mr.. Bagley
conversing In subdued and eager tones.
IL was very evident that the elopement
scheme was fast maturing. II the