The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-06

depended 4, - certain s-.t1.-. OF me
c0minSs and gotags Of servants. At II
dinner en- ramille. the presence of u
ponderous butler AMI solemn lackeys
was dispensed with.
oh. YOU lawysrs.' he cried. That's
nice sort of leading question. But.
marvellous - 1t may seen 10 you,
must answer Yes Ny mothers maid
Gu name was Morl8nd. Her brother
was much older than she. and il APP
pears the dear woman married 10
please herself. thereby MORALLY offend
ing the baroret.'
WHY the 'ofTense?"
because my fathers social position
was not equal To that OF the aristocrat-
ic Norlands Moreover her brother
had an accident in his youth which
rendered Am irritable ard mo-ose.
From being n pleasant sort OF man
which, indeed. he must have been did
he share aught Of my mothers nature
he grew into a naIsanthrope and gave
his life To the Ella ssifeation Of Exmoor
beetles. He treated my mother very
badly, so Wiley that even she. dear
soul. during her married life held 40
further communication with him and
never mentioned him To me by name.
Now. one day on Exmoor lie found a
lady who also was devoted To beetles
at least she knew all chat the Encyclo-
paedia Britannica could teach her. She
was poor but handsome widow"
"Ah"
ut 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 We're no children
born of my uucle's marriage"
OH
when poverty overlook my dear one,
she so far obliterated cruel memory
as to appeal, not once. but many times,
TO the human coleopterus of Exmoor,
but she was Invariably frozen of either
by Lady Louisa Morland or by Messrs.
Sharpe j. Smith"
Did they admit thisg''
by no means. am telling you the
facts. l am stin on top of the Pyre
nees." -...-. s..-....
Then how did you ascertain the
facts;'
my mothers death the letters they
wrote to her. They We're fresh in my
memory when you and I first met In
the Clerkenwell police court. That Is
why the name of Philip Morlaud was
glib on my tongue
$50 I have only heard historical
events--eyents prior to the last ten
years.
Exactly. My uncle Is now sixty
years of age. Lady Louisa Morland's
son is twenty four. Her ladyship's
whole aim in life has been to secure
him as the baronet's heir. The title. of
course, he cannot obtain. But, most
unfortunately, he has no penehant for
beetles. Indeed, Lady Louisa's 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 to town last
week to visit the British museum. I'm
happily he heard something about his
stepson which disturbed his researches.
There was row.
why do you say unhappilyr"
Because ! am dragged into the
wretched business on account OF IL.
After a 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 ascertained that she
was dead and had a 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 sayr'
ST told them I would think over the
situation and communicate with them
| further"
Were they satisfiedT'
by no means. They IRE exceeding
| ~ anxious to placate the old man.
They probably control a good deal Of
his money"
| "Cmr'
"Of course. You see the delicacy Of
their position. After playing into the
hands Of Lady Louisa for nearly a
| quarter Of a century they suddenly fnd
| the whole situation changed by the
| baronets belated discovery that be
once had sister"
| you have not told me all this with
out purpose. Do you want my ad-
! vice."
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,
thinks morally responsible for my
mothers death. She was poor-wretch-
eddy. horribly poor-the poverty of thin
clothing and insufficient food She was
| i'll, confined to a miserable howell for
weary months and was so utterly IN
| provided with the barest necessities
that the parish doctor was on the point
of compelling her to go to the work
house infrnnary when death came.
Am I to be the instrument of Gods
vengeance on this woman"
Mr. Abingdon. who had risen TO light
a cigar, placed a kindly hand on the
young mans shoulder.
Philip" he said, with some emo
ton, Il have never yet heard you utter
a hasty judgment You have prudence
e. 90