The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-06

i
Con ON Wit, the Story
CHAPTER III
1t was my father who broke .ho
silence.
"Goaford.s he said what
scheme were you and Marshal.
aboutgv
you may wonder, SIR" replied
the Englishnan, continuing to
write his notes; II shall not tsll
YOU
But i will tell you," said the
hoy Ny father thought that the
states IN this republic could not
hold together very much longer.
He believed that the country
would divide, aud the South set
up separate government He
hoped this might come about
with out q war. He was, in horror
of a war. he had travelled; he had
seen nations and read their his
tory and he knew what they were
talking when they urged war"
He paused and looked at Cos
ford.
My father was convinced that
the South would finally set up. an
independent government, but ho
hoped q war might not follow,
He believed that it this new gov.
ornment were Immediately rec
ognized by Great Britain, the
North would accept the inevitable
and there would be no hloodshedi
My father Went to ENGLAND with
this scheme: He met Mr.. Gosford
somewhere on the ship, i think.
And Mr.. Gosfprd succeeded In
convincing my father mat II he
had sum OF money no could
win over certain powerful per-
SONS in the English Government.
and SO pave the way to- an inn
mediate recognition OF the South
ern Republic by Great Britain.
He followed my father home and
hung about him., and SO finally
got his Will My father was care
iul; he wrote. nothing: Mr.. Cos
ford wrote nothing; there is no
evidence Of. this plan, but my
father told me, and It Is true"
Wy father stopped by the table
md lifted his great shoulders.
And soD9he said, ':Peyton Mar
shall Imagined o plan like that.
md left its execution to a Mr..
Sosfordi
Tie EngIishman put down his
pen and addressed my father.
u would advise you, sir, to re-
uuire d little proof for your con.
ciusionss This Is a very pretty
story. but &c is prefaced by an ad-
mission DINO evidence. and 1t
ONES IS d specta lpleading for u
criminal act. Now, sir, II chose,
il the beauest required 1t, could
give a further explanation, with
more substance; of moneys borrow.
cd by the decedent in his 'travel3
and to be returned to me. But the
viii. sir, stands for itself, as Ar.
Lewis will assure you"
Ny father seemed brorNht in n
cul-de.sac. His face was tense and
disturbed. He stood by the table:
aud now, as by accident, he put out
his hand and took mp the Japanese
crystal supported BY the pecks OF
The three bronze storks. He APP
reared unconscious OF the act. for
he WAS Ia deep reflection. Thon Us
though the weight In his hand drew
his attention, no glanced at the
Thing Something about It struck
him, Tor his manner changed. He
pread tlte win. out on the table and
began 10 move the crystal owe:
lt, his face clossto the glass .'res.
utiy Iii ftas5s atap2s3, aud he
stood stooned over, staring int) the
Oriental crystal, like those prac.
licefs Of black art who predicts
eventa tronis what they pretend 10
SEQ 81 sfaes spheres OF glass.
Nh Gostord, sitting at his ease,
M victory regarded my father wish
4 supercitlous, ironical smile.
Sir tieSs said, ARE you, b?
Nance fortune teller?'
A INTERCHANGEABLE replied m7
lather hissface still held above tho
crystal. u see here a misfortune
10 Mr.. Anthony Gosford. ! predict
from what i see, that he will re
lease this beupest OF moneys ,
Peyton MafshaIlls son"
SIT said the Englishman, now
provoked into q temper, do yo1
enjoy this toolery?''
You IRE not interested In crya-
sal-gaziig, Mr.. Gosford," replied my
father III atranqull voice well, /
find Il most diyerting. Permit ma
10 piece out yoar fortune, or rather
your mistortune, Mr.. Go9eord! BY
chance yon(fell ii with this dream
or MarshaIls wormed into his conf.
dence, pretended a relation TO great
men in England; followed and pc.
suaded him init, In his ill.health
you got this win. You saw II writ,
len two years ago, When Marsha
fell III, you hurried here, learned
IRON the dying man that the vii
remained and where It was You
maze sure by pretending to writ
letters IN THIS room, bringing you
portfolio With ink and pen ana a
pad Of PAPER Then, at MARSHALL
death, you inquired Of Lewis TO-
legal measnres to discover the dead