White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1922-12-01

ny MI. f1eHTy W dHSWcI. copies Vi
my answers A 4, A 5, and A of these
productions. The purport of Mr.
Henrys communications, of which
can find no scroll, may be gathered
from those OF his unnatural brother
ID. A correspondence, original and
scroll. extending over period OF
three years till January of the cur
rent year, between the said Master of
Ballantrae and -, Under Sec
rotary of State; twenty-seven in all
Nota: found among the masters pa
pers."
Weary as | was with watching and
distress of mind, it was impossible
for me to sleep. All night long !
walked in my chamber, revolving
what should be the issue and some
times repenting the temerity of my
inmixture In affairs 50 private; and
with the first peep of the morning,
was at the sick-room door
Madam" began; and then again,
madam; but could make no more
of it. Nor yet did Mrs. Henry come
to my assistance with word. In this
pass | began gathering up the papers
where they lay scattered on the table;
and the first thing that struck me
their bulk appeared to have dimin-
ished. Once ran them through, and
twice; but the correspondence with
the secretary of state, on which !
had reckoned so much against the
future, was nowhere to be found. i
looked in the chimney; amid the smol-
dering enbers, black ashes of paper
fluttered In the draught; and at that
my timidity vanished.
Good Cod madam" cried l, in a
voice not fitting for sick-room, good
God, madam, what have you done with
my papers"
81 have burned them" said Mrs
Henry, turning about. 1T is enough,
it is too much, that you and have
seen them"
This is a fine nights work that
you have done!" cried l. "And all to
save the reputation of a man that opt
bread by the shedding of his com
rades blood as do the shedding
ink"
ITO save the reputation of that fam
lily in which you are servHss,- Mr.
Mackellar," she returned, "and for
which you have already done so
much"
1T is a family l will not serve much
longer" cried, "for I am driven des-
perate. You have stricken the sword
out Of my hands; you have left us all
defenseless. had always these let
ters could shake over his head and
now-what is to do? We are so falsely
situate, we dare not show the man
the door; the country would fly on
fire against us; and | had this one
hold upon him-and now 1t is gone
now he may come back tomorrow, and
we must all sit down with him to din
ner, go for stroll with him on the
terrace, or take a hand at cards, of
all things to divert his leisure! No
madam; God forgive you, if He can
find it in His heart; for cannot find
it in mine"
Il wonder to find you so simple, Mr..
Mackellar," said Mrs. Henry what
does this man value reputation? But
he knows how high we prize it: he
knows we would rather die than make
these letters public; and do you sup
pose he would not trade upon the
knowledge? What you call your
sword, Mr.. Mackellar, and which had
been one indeed against man of
any remnant Of propriety, would have
been but sword of paper against
him. He would smile in your face at
such threat. He stands upon his
degradation, he makes that his
strength; 1t Is in vain to struggle
with such characters" She cried out
this last little desperately, and then
with more quiet: mo, Mr.. Mackellar
have thought upon this matter all
night, and there is no way out of it.
Papers or no papers, the door of this
house stands open for him; he is the
rightful heir, forsooth! If we sought
to exclude him, all would rebound
against poor Henry, and l should see
him stoned again upon the streets.
All! if Henry dies, it is a different
matter! They have broke the entail
for their own good purposes; the es.
tate goes to my daughter; and shall
see who sets foot upon it. But if
Henry lives, my poor Mr.. Mackellar,
and that man returns, we must suf-
fer; only this time it will be to.
gether."
On the whole, | was well pleased
with Mrs. Henry's attitude of mind
nor could l even deny there was some
cogency in that which she advanced
about the papers.
Let us say no more about it," said
l. II can only be sorry l trusted a
lady with the originals, which was an
unbusiness.like proceeding at the
best AS for what ! said of leaving
the service OF the family, it was
spoken with the tongue only; and you
may set your mind at rest. belong