The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-03-31
CHAPTER XXXIII.

DeppingnamS leaving LONDON
once more, but this time not on
a voyage into the mysterious
south seas. They no longer were In
terested In the island Of Japat, except
as "Reminiscences. nor were they con-
cerned In the vagaries of Taswell
Skaggs' will.
The estate was settled-closedl
Two months have passed since the
Deppinghams departed from Japat
"for good and ALL" Many events have
come to pass since that memorable
day, not the least of which was the
exchanging of 100000, less attorneys
and executors fees. Lady Depping'
ham and Robert Browne divided that
amount of money and passed into
legal history as the ''late claimants to
the estate Of Taswell Skaggs."
1t was Sir John Brodney's enter
prise. He saw the way out of the
difficulty, and he acted as pathfinder
to the other and less perceiving coun,
sellers, all of whom had looked for
ward to an endless controversy.
The business of the Japat company
and all that 1t entailed was trans
ferred by agreement to q syndicate.
Never before was there such a stu
pendous deal in futures.
The grandchildren Of the testators
were ready to accept the best settle
ment that could be obtained. Theirs
was a rather forlorn hope to begin
with. When 1t was proposed that
Agnes Deppingham and Robert
Browne should accept ESQ., 900 apiece
In lieu of all claims. moral or legal
against the estate, they leaped at the
chance.
They had seen but little of each 9TH
er since landing in England, except as
they were thrown together at the con-
ferences. Lady Agnes went In for
every diversion imaginable. For a
wonder, she dragged Deppingham with
her on all occasions. 1t was a most
unexpected Transformation. Their
friends were puzzled. The rumor went
about town that she was In love with
her husband.
AS for Bobby Browne, he was devo.
ton itself to Drusilla. They sailed fol
New York within three days after the
settlement was effected, ignoring the
enticements Of London season. The
Brownies were rich. He could now be.
come a fashionable specialist. They
were worth nearly million and a
quarter In American dollars. They
now had nothing In common with Tas-
well Skaggs. Skaggs is not pretty
name.
Mr.. Britt afterward spent three
weeks of incessant travel on the con-
tinent and an additional seven days at
sea. In Baden-Baden he happened
upon Lord and Lady Deppingham. 1t
will be recalled that in Japat they
had always professed an unholy aver
sion for Mr.. Britt. Is 1t cause for
wonder. then. that they declined his
Invitation to dine in Baden-B Baden? BE
even proposed to invite their entire
party, which included few dukes and
duchesses who were leisurely on their
way to attend the long talked Of nup
tails In Thorberg at the end of June.
In Vienna the Deppinghams were
joined by the Duchess Of N. ths
Warehouses of 3. and other fash
ionables. In a week all Of them would
be In the castle at Thorberg for the
ceremony that now occupied the at.
tention of social and royal Europe.
"And to think" said the duchess
"she might have died happily on thai
miserable island. am sure we did all
we could to bring 1t about by steamine
away from the place with the plague
chasing us. Dear me. how diabolically
those wretches lied to the marquis
They said that every one In the cha
teau was dead, Lady Deppingham. and
buried, II am not mistaken. 1t would
be much better for poor Geneva Il
she were to be buried instead of mar
ried next week." lamented the Ouch
ess.
'Other women have married princes
and got on very WELL" said Prince
Lichtenstein.
"Oh. come now, prince put In Lord
Deppingham; you know the sort OF
chap Brabetx Is. There are princes
and princes. by Jove."
Hes positively viler' exclaimed the
duchess, who would not mince words.
"She's entering upon q hell Of al
mean a life Of hell" exploded tbs
duke, banging the table with his fist
That fellow Brabetz Is the rottenest
thing In Europe. He's gone from bad
to worse SO swiftly that public opin-
lon Is still months behind him"
mice way to talk Of the groom. y
said the host genially. II quite agret
with you, however. cannot under
stand the grand duke permitting II to
go on unless. Of course, it's too late to
interfere"
poor dearl She'll never know whal