Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-09-24

~ knOlD thcm-dn old established fTm
of solicitors"
soul. during her married life held no
further communication with him and
never mentioned him to me by name.
Now, one day ON Exmoor he found a
lady who also was devoted to beetles
at least she knew all that the Encyclo-
paedia Britannica could teach her. She
was poor but handsome widow"
"Ahw
at is delightful to talk with you,
Abingdon. Your monosyllables help
the narrative along. Sir Philip mar
ried the widow. She brought him a
son, aged five. There were ho childreL
born of my uncle's marriages"
"Oh~
"When poverty overlook my dear one
she so far OJliteratcd Il cruel memor,
as to appeal, not once, hut many times.
to the human co!eJpterus Of Exmoor
but she was invariably frozen off either
by Lady Loul'a Morland or by Messrs.
Sharpe & Smith"
did they admit th:s?'
"By no means. a,l telling you the
facts. I am still on top Of the Pyre,
nees."
"1hen how did you arccrtain the
facts?"
II have In my possession ever since
my mothers death Tie letters they
wrote to her. They were fresh in my
memory when you and l first met in
the Clerkenwell police court. That Is
why the name of Philip Morland was
glib on my tongue"
$50 I have only heard historical
eyents-events prior to tie last ten
years?'
Exactly. My uncle Is now sixty
years of are. Lady Louisa ..H"l:3fs
son Is tw'enty-four. Her la-ys...ps
whole aim in life has been to scc::re
him rs the baronet's heir. The title, Of
course, he cannot obtain. But, most
unfortunately, he has no pcnchant for
beetles. Indeed, Lady L.ouisaa re-
searches have long since diminished in
ardor. Her sons interests are divided
between the Sports club and the cory
phees of the latest musical comedy.
Moths are more in his line apparently.
My uncle, who is preparing mono
graph on the fieas which patronize Ex-
moor wild ponies, came 10 town last
week to visit the British museum. Tn
happily he heard something about his
stepson which disturbed his researches.
There was row."
"Why do you say 'unhappilyY"
because l am dragged into tie
wretched business OH account OF 1t.
After lapse OF more than twenty-five
years 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 ascertalned that she
was dead and had 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 say?"
II told them would think over the
situation and communicate with them
further"
"Werc they satisfedr'
BY no means. They are exceeding
ly anxious to placate the old man.
They probably control good deal Of
his money"
"Umr'
"Of course! You see the delicacy Of
their position. After playing into the
hands of Lady Louisa for nearly
quarter Of a century they suddenly find
the whole situation changed by the
baronet's belated discovery that he
once had a sister"
"You have not toll Inc all this with
out n purpose. Do you want my adj
vice1
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, I
Thinks morally responsible for my
mothers death. She was poor-wretch-
edly, horribly poOr-the poverty OF thin
clothing and insufficient food She was
Ill, confined to miserable horel for
weary months and was so utterly I'M
provided with the barest necessities
that the parish doctor was on the poin!
of compelling her to go to the work
house infirmary when death came.
Am l to be the instrument of Gods
vengeance on this womanT
Mr.. Abingdon, who had risen to light