The Washington herald., 1910-11-02
CHAPTER v.
The Lady In the Marriage Certih-
pate.

The Lady In the Marriage Certin-
cate.
In his London office Mr.. Dacre seemed
TO have put aside the twinkle in his
shrewd eyes, and they became, instead
the alert, businesslike eyes OF the man OF
law. This morning he was rubbing his
hands before his Office fire and glancing
from time TO time at document that
lay on the deck before ham.
'Humph." he muttered at length. ''SC
far as I can see the will old Ralph
Savage made has defeated its own ends
and now this scamp, Stephen Usher. has
had the cheek 10 recover from his attack
OF double pneumonia and actually marry
Poor old Douglas! 1t is a nasty smack
in the face. and as Lady Mallaby won't
allow me 10 ask for a compromise from
her scamp of a nephew, I'm afraid the
prospects OF Luck House are very black
indeed! Poor Mallaby, what life tc
livew
He pulled himself up sharply as a knock
at the door heralded the entrance of a
clerk. followed by Sir Douglas Mallaby
whose handsome face showed signs OF
worry.
The two men shook hands warmly, and
when the door closed Sir Douglas lit a
cigarette and began 10 smoke.
Hes gone!' he said abruptly.
Gone" Dacre repeated do you
mean that your cousin and his bride have
not even stayed few weeks in London
Where have they gone? Stephen Usher
d, Int tell me he was leaving London
when he wrote"
When we arrived from Cornwall yes
terday / went straight to the address h'
gave you in his letter, and found the
place shut up" Sir Douglas answered
Personally, i am not sorry he added
bitterly 81 was not particularly keen or
meeting him. we have only spoken Il
each other about twice in our lives, and
then as small boysr'
7 cant understand" Dacre said slow
~, why Lady Mallaby wouldn't consent
10 an arrangement. Usher offered 10 pas
a lump sum for the whole OF the Luck
estate, and as II is going TO ruin, I can't
see what good she does by refusing the
terms. After all, the man is her OWL
nephew"
Twice removed" Sir Douglas smiled
Personally, I should have done so, but
longs 10 me, / have no voice I'm the mat
ter; though / don't know II l would 90
against her wishes in a matter on which
she feels so strongly as that OF Luck
House, The place seems 10 Sbe a kind OF
altar 70 her" he went on drearily. at
which she offers up her prayers every
dayl'
"And also at which she offers up her
son as a sacrtdcer' Dacre retorted. "Oh
my dear chap. / know what you fee
about it, especially in the present circum-
stances. but there's no getting away from
the fact that your life is being spoiled by
this keeping on az a place where you are
played out. What's the good OF titles II
you can't keep them up, Better 10 sell
the place TO Stephen Usher and letshim
spend some of your uncle's money on it,
Sir Douglas took one or two steps w
and down the room. I'd like nothing
better than TO ship before the mast." he
said nercely; I'm sick OF the whole
thing. Dacre. and heartily wish I had
never come back 10 England from Ameri-
ca. where I was doing decently as plain
Douglas MaLlby. Ny poor old mother
insisted on my coming home 10 wait for
dead mems shoes. and. 10 my everlasting
shame, I did so. and the result is a
couple or years wasted uIut.
Il can't understand" Mr.. Dacre began
slowly. why Ralph Savage made such a
mad will as 10 leave his money 70 which
ever OF his TWO uephews married first
before the end Of the year and 10 insist
upon a poor girl as the wife II seems
such a mad idea, with no method in IT,
When Usher was taken i'll I'm afraid my
JOY was not unconcealed. I never credited
him with the idea Of marrying, III OF
not"
I don't blame Usher" SIR Douglas
said: he stood 10 win or lose and 1 hope
he will be happy in the money. l am
sorry I could not fulfill my share of The
conditions; but the first attempt showed
me that T was not built that way"
Dacre smiled. IF I recollect rightly,
the only poor deserving girl at Barton
Telford is the worthy Keziahl It's a
pity" he added. that Miss Ffrench did
not appear on the scene a little earlier.
She would have been easy 20 fall in love
with, I should think"
Sir Douglas flushed, then frowned.
IT'S hardly a laughing matter, Dacre,
is il? I couldn't make a convenience of
a girl to suit my own plans, not for a
million OF money"
Your cousin seems TO have done so. -
the solicitor remarked. dryly; let me
see. what IS the name Of the lady on the
marriage certificate?''
He picked the document from off the
table and Sir Douglas stared modify out
of the window upon the passers-by.
November the tenth" Dacre read
aloud; stephen Usher, bachelor, aged
IS, father, a gentleman. 10 Rosemary
Fenchester. spinster. aged 10, father, a
gentleman Humph. Rosemary Fenches-
ter! It's a pretty name."
Sir Douglas nodded. His thoughts had
flown to another girl, whose name was
just Rose" and who was occupying his
thoughts TO a small degree. He thrilled
al the thought that, had they met earlier,
he might have obeyed his eccentric old
uncle's conditions without any loss TO
his pride and self-respect.
Where did the marriage take place
In what part Of London" Sir Douglas
said.
In the same district as that mentioned
-----------------