The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-04-24

not have borne to owe riches to my
wife. No woman wants any other
charm than beauty and youth, and
grace like Jane Grand's."
But her want of birth-her want,
rather, Of all knowledge Of her parents
and of her surviving relations-galled
Clifford much more than he chose to
acknowledge. 1t would have delighted
him to find out, either upon her faith
er's or mothers side, some one pros
porous relation, some tndisputably re-
spectacle name, that could be held in
reserve as a sort Of piece de resistance
against the most stubborn inquiries of
Intimate friends. And the blank reti-
cence, both of Miss Lynch and the
vicar, whenever the subject Of James
family was mentioned, had already, in
the first week of his engagement, be-
come an actual and abiding thorn in
Clifford Mohun's flesh.
"It is a very natural feeling Of Gift
ford's," said James soft voice. '1t
often seems strange to myself that
should be actually without relation
in the world, and 1 can't wonder that
he should like to hear a little more
about my parents. Auntie, are you
quite sure that you have told us all
that there is to hear about them both?
What was mammals maiden name? 1
have never even heard that; and I am
twenty years Of age"
She was sitting with Miss Lynch and
the vicar in the darkening bay window
of their little parlor-Gifford having
left them after tea to attend to some
business that required his presense at
the house of one of his tenant farmers.
'Don't think am inquisitive, auntie,
or that I wish to hear word more
than you like to tell me. l only feel
Clifford would like it better if we spoke
little more freely about papa and
mamma"
And she stole her hand, in her gentle,
child-like way, round her old friends
neck
"Janev and Miss Lynch's voice
sounded so harsh that Jane drew away
in an instant. "Jane, no one will ever
be contented in this life with what is
best for them to know-and you and
Mr.. Mohun are like the rest! 'Tis part
of the inheritance of our fallen nature,
child of our fallen nature! But fer
Ewes curiosity, you and 1 would not be
the poor, sinful, miserable creatures
we are now"
Ewes curiosity made her transgress
nd
do no wrong in wishing to know-what
all people of our age should know-the
history of my own dead father and
mother, and the names of my living re-
lations, if have any"
you believe you would be happier,
knowing this?"
Il don't think it is question Of hap
piness, auntie-I think it due to Clifford
that he should be told.''
''That is the right way of looking at
it, Jane" said the vicar. "It is due to
Mohun. l have been saying so to Miss
Lynch for some days past. There must
be-there can be-no further conceal
ment from him; above all, he must
; have nothing new to learn when you
are his wife"
"And thinking this" stammered
poor Miss Lynch, nervously.
Thinking this" the vicar repeated,
in his quiet voice, eve have written to
your guardian, dear Jane, your joint
guardian with Miss Lynch, Mr..
Clithero, telling him of your engage
ment to Mohun-''
i "And he says?" broke in Jane, eag-
cry.
"He says, Jane, that it was your late
fathers wish"-the words seemed to
come unwillingly from the wears lips
your fathers wish that, on attain
ing the age of twenty-one, or on your
marrying, whichever event should first
happen, you should hear-hear of sub
| jects connected with your parents
| lives from his, Mr. Clithero's, own
/ mouth
/ "Well?
eve have appointed that you should
| do so. We have fixed that l should
| take you up to London tomorrow
and that you shall see Mr.. Clithero."
Jane was quite silent for moment
! then she broke into a laugh-a low
| merry, but that fell like lead on both OF
| her listeners hearts.
| "Shall tell you what think of you
! yes, of you, Miss Lynch, and you, Mr.
FOllett; you are taking all this up q
| great deal more seriously than Clifford
and l will ever do. l can quite guess
! this great secret. l am not a lady by
/ birth. l said so-to-day to Clifford, and
! he told ME he would not mind, because
! because he cares for me for myself
! you see, and nothing of that sort, or,
/ indeed, anything, would ever change
I him to me. He said all he wished to
know was the truth, so that he might,
at least, have an answer to give when
ever any of his family asked him about
I my relations; and if he found my
father had only been an honest village
, miller, like Mr.. Gillet, he should think
my parentage a great deal higher than
, the Miss Tenants. Clifford is too
noble to be ashamed of anything not
dishonorable in Itself"
She made this little speech with
flushing cheeks, and with a pride and
confidence in MOhun that smote the
Wears heart with a sharp pain. His
thoughts went back to time, fifteen
long years before, when he too had
built with the same pride, the same
confidence. on a like foundation of
sand.
"Mohun is very young, my dear Jane;
his judgments are one sided"
But all on the side of what is right
and high minded, Mr.. Foliett."
1T is difficult for a young man to
know exactly what is right. Whatever
their own faults may be. very young
people are always uncharitable in their
C"ude judgments upon others. Mohun