Nelson Chronicle, Colne Observer, and Clitheroe Division News. — 1895-01-25 (Nelson, Lancashire, England)

CHAPTER XVI.  THOSE MEASURES TOOK THE FORM OF MURDER , Effie Toulmin was naturally a shy and bashful girl, mole especially when in the presence of her elders ; but that was only when she had no duty to perform, or high purpose to carry out. Her love for Dick, and her apprehensions concerning his safety, gave her sufficient courage upon the present occasion to say and do almost anything. She derived considerable comfort and confidence from perceiving the sorrowful and grieved expression of Mr. Timson's face, because she believed that it was remorse at the manner in which he had treated his son which caused it ; wherefore it seemed to promise a successful issue to her pleadings on Dick's behalf. Had she been aware that the sadness and disappointment imprinted upon his features were the result of his suddenly becoming acquainted with some of Master Charlie's disgraceful peccadilloes, she might have felt equally hopeful of gaining her point with him, but she did not know that where affection is deep and intense the object thereof is loved more deeply when he or she errs than when he or ehe is apparently faultless. Mr. Timson received her kindly and courteously, though 'twits evident from his manner that her visit considerably disconcerted him. Having worked herself up to carry the matter through at whatever cost to her own feelings, Effie dashed into the sahject which she was there to discuss at once. "Mr. Timson," she said, "you and my father want to marry me to Charlie Seaton, chiefly in order, it seems to we, to weld two already large fortunes into one enormous one, but I consider such a thing needless, and in the present instance most unjust, a d so I have called upon you this morning to try to make terms with you." "If so, dear Effie, I shall be most pleased, at all events, to liaten to you," replied Mr. Timson, blandly. "Thank you; though as a gentleman you could not do less. Well, then, to-morrow, I come of age, and if you wish it I'll marry Charlie, and thus bestow upon him nip large fortune, but on the sole condition that you buy Dick's discharge from the army within the passing hour, recall him home, give him, at the very least, his dead mother's money, and permit him to marry Nolly Kay, who is the sweetest, pureet, dearest girl that ever lived, and thereafter that you treat her as tenderly as though she was your own daughter, as well as your son's wife." " My dear Effie, you must really allow your father and my humble self to know and to decide as to what is the best for all parties concerued," stammered Mr. Timson, fairly taken aback by his visitor's remarkably plain speaking. " Ah," retorted Miss Toulmin, hurriedly following up the advantage which she fancied that she had already won, " but that is exactly what I'm determined not to do. I therefore beg to remind you that te-morrow I'm of age and become the absolute mistress of my own person and of my great-uncle's wealth, so that if you want two fortunes in your family, it is I, and not my father, whom you have to make terms with, and I have just informed you of the price at which I am to be bought." She looked HO beautiful in her earnestness that Mr. Timson, dissppointed, stdl angry with Charlie Seaton, and not yet at all disposed to forgive Dick for what he considered his rebellious disobedience, thought to himself— "l am not so very old. I am still accounted handsome, and as this beautiful yonog girl has made up her mind to sacrifice herself for my worthle-s boy's sake, why shouldn't she give herself to me instead of to Charlie? Egad, she would be a considerable gainer by the exchange, if there is any truth in the proverb that 'tie better to be an old man's darling than a young man's slave, for I would love her with all my heart aad soul, and she shouldn't entertain a single wisn or deeire that I would leave ungratified. Charlie doesn't in the least deserve so rare a prize, no, I'll be shot if he does, and he wouldn't adequately value it if won. I don't believe that the lad cares a single rap even for me, his benefactor, and so—" At this point Mr. Timson ceased to OHHHHHHI with himself, and to Miss Tonlmin's intense