Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-07-05

birth over and over again In the family
Bible"
And I have seen the parish register"
answered her husband, triumphantly.
She was born on the first day of Decem-
Der, 1875; consequently, on the first day
OF December, 1895, she will be twenty
years of age"
The Bible says she was born In
1876" persisted the lady.
But If you remember, dear" argued
Mr.. Wylie, in his softest tone, "the Bible
now extant is not the original. When the
fire broke out in Harley street the old
Bible was among the things burned and
Tom Grierson did not replace it until
some two or three years afterward. Con-
stance was then between eleven and
twelve years old. He himself inserted
that and other dates in the new book
from memory; and you know Tom had
not much of head for domestic matters.
Some fancied coincidence probably mis-
led him."
And how came you to discover tnis? Z"
well, the other day 1 was running
back in my memory to trace certain
events, when an association of ideas sud-
denly obtruded the picture of Constance
baby in arms at time that, according
to received data, she could not have been
born. Upon which, traced back the date
of Arabella's marriage, and the time that
elapsed before the child's birth. Finding
all my memories at fault with the afore-
said data, 1 Immediately adopted the sim
plest means of putting the question at rest
by an examination of the registers, in
which l found l was right"
DO you think her uncle knows of
this?"
II do not think so, or he would have
been certain to let it out in some indirect
way-he never can keep anything. No, l
hope to come down upon them with the
news like an avalanche. Constance Grier-
son will certainly not be married to a
man of family by the first of December,
and as certainly will she forfeit her for
tune IL she is not. On the thirtieth of
November, Penrhyddyn will virtually be
ours. On the first of December, the day
afterwards, our share of old Tom Grier-
sons fortune will drop into our mouths.
But you do not seem elated at this glo-
rious news" he said, observing his wife's
somber looks.
Because l cannot reconcile myself to
the villainous means by which it will be
gained" she answered, moodily.
''The whole affair is a pure business
transaction" he said, impatiently. 81
am left by will ten thousand pounds, to
be paid out of the mortgage money of
certain estates; II the mortgage money Is
not paid, have fancy TO Buy up those
estates. Where is the CRIME in that? An
other sum of money is left to me on con-
dition that certain young lady does
not marry by certain age. Is it incum-
bent upon me to see that she does fulfill
these conditions for the sake of not hav-
ing the money? 1 did not make the pro-
visions for the foreclose of the mortgage
1 did not tie the young lady down to
marry such and such kind of person, with
in such and such period. Then, why an
1 not entitled to seize upon the benefit
which others have devised for me?"
'All this is mere sophistry," answered
his wife. "It may satisfy you who have
no time for thought, but it does not sat
isfy me, who sit brooding here the live
long day, with only my own dark
thoughts for companions. During the last
few days l have been depressed with a
gloom l cannot shake off. l feel as
though something terrible were about to
happen. What has become of that wom-
an-Mrs. Castleton" she asked, sudden
ly.
"She was at the Office yesterday, to
draw the fast shilling of her money"
Beware of that woman" she said,
earnestly. Break with her, If you can,
before she works you mischief. l have
never seen her, and never wish to see her;
but from what l have heard from your
lips, l can well understand the dangerous
woman she Is. Let her 60 her ways while
you are safe above all, do not provoke
her vindictiveness, for you can never tell
the lengths to which woman's revenge
will carry her."
"Well, the idiotic folly Of some people
Is past all understanding" he broke out,
suddenly; "they are no more fit to be
trusted with money than infants indeed,
1 think it is meritorious to take it away
from them before they do themselves
mischief with it. Would you believe it?
That girl Constance, after refusing Ar
thur Penrhyddyn. actually wrote, or >caus-
ed to be written, an anonymous letter to
him, saying that If all else failed, he could
obtain the money to pay off the mortgage
by applying to Groom and Fry, in Bed
ford Row."
"If that is the case, you are powerless,"
said his wife.
"Am I?' he exclaimed, snar!ing like a
dog. "The letter is in my hands. Un-
fortunately, young Penrhyddyn has read
It. But whatever extremities I resort to,
that money shall not be forthcoming"
CHAPTER Xxx.
There was illness at Penrhyddyn Cas-
tie. Sir Launce, worn out, prostrated by
anxieties, lay upon sick bed and has
son had been summoned to his side. The
doctors said that there was no immedi-