Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-09-24
a cigar, placed hi..diy hsni GA th'

q cigar, placed q ki.:diy hand Ga the
young mans shoulder.
"Philip," he said, with some emo
ton, 81 have noye- yet heal you u
hasty judgment You have prudence
far beyond your years. 1t seems TO
me, speaking with all the reverenl, CT
q man I'm face of the DEGREES Of PrOvi-
dence, that God has already provided
terrible Punishment for Lazy Louisa
Morland. What Is the name Of her
son?'
~ do not know. forgot to ask"
II have wide experience OF the
jeunesse doree Of London. Hardly 4
week passed during many years OF my
life that one Of his type did not ap-
pear before me In the dock. What Is
he-a roue, gambler, probably a
irunkarJY
"All these. gathered from the So
licitors."
"And If your mother were living.
what would she say to Lady Nor
landY
"She would pity her from the depths
of her heart. Yes, Abingdon, you are
right. My uncie's wife has chosen her
own path. Size must follow it, let 1t
lead where it will. / will write to
Messrs. Sharpe & Smith now. But
step into my dressing room with ME
for moment, will your
In q corner of the spacious apart
ment TO which he led his guest stood Il
large safe. Philip opened It. Within
were Il number of books and docu-
ments, but in large compartment at
the bottom stood Il peculiar object for
such u rcpository-an ordinary leather
portmanteau. He lifted 1t 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 I
sorrowful smile. "It has not been IL
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 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 packet of soiled let
tiers. 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 perseyered to the end.
81 wanted a model for brief com
murication to Messrs. Sharpe 4
Smith," he said bitterly. II think the
general purport of their correspond
ence will serve my needs admirably"
As. he closed the Gladstone bag bis
stern mood vanished.
DO you know" he said, "that this
odd looking portmanteau. always lock
ed and always repOsing in safe, mas
puzzled my Wallets considerably? One
man got it out and tried to open 1t.
caught him in the act. honestly be-
lieye both he and the others were un
der the impression that kept my dia
monds in it,"
by the way, that reminds me Of
| request from Isaacstein. AS all the
smaller diamonds have now been dis
posed of and there remain only the
large stones, he thinks that some OF
them might be cut into sections. They
are unmarketable ut present"
every well. Let us appoint da!
next week and overhaul the entire col
lection. intend to keep the big ones
| to form the center ornaments Of
tiara, a necklace and gewgaws of that
sort"
~ am glad to hear It."
"My dear fellow, suppose there vii
be a Mrs. Arson some day, but have
not found her yet.
"Whoccr she be,
| That not impossible she.
| That shall command my heart and me.
And ri"n!n Of laughter chased
away tie IL t shadows from his face.
| f-n RE cGTTINCrD.l