IT WAS A LOVE MATCH.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 6094, 10 March 1891, Page 4

IT WAS A LOVE MATCH.

CHAPTER XXI. A CBASH. On the evening of the arrival of Endora and the departure of Ann Selfcr, Alexander Gompton and Caspar eat together in the lower chamber, with an empty punch-bowl between them. They had been conversing upon an important matter, and both showed signs of uneasiness. "It -won't answer." said Alexander. "We must have this thing settled up. How long do these probate judges and public administrators intend to put "They cannot do it much longer," returned Caspar. " The whole case is clear, and we have only (o bo patient." " But what is their excuse for this present delay ?" ' Caspar was forced to acknowledge tljat he could not exactly tell. Hβ had not troubled the probate officers lately, cot caring to appear too much interested. " It cannot be for a settlement of claims upon any ordinary basis," said Alexander ; " for that has all been done. There must be some new hitch. I wish you would find out." " I will see the judge himself to-morrow. So let us hold up until then. Can you stand another bowl of punch ?" Alexander nodded, and his son proceeded to brew the soothing beverage. : During the forenoon of the following day Caspar Hugo called upon the judge of probate, and asked for information concerning the settlement of tho Brooliside estate—not that he had any interest in the matter, but the heir, Mr. Compton, was anxious to know how much longer he would be detained in Boston. ' His honor was stiff and moro«o. He could tell nothing about the matter. The business was in the hands of the administrator, to whom application for information might be made. Casper left the judge, feeling rather unpleasant ; but he sought to keep up a stout heart, and, since ho had set out for information, he was bound to follow up the eearch. He at length found the administrator, and appealed to him. The administrator was very gentlemanly, and seemed rather pleased than otherwise to afford any help in bis power—too much pleased, Caspar might have thought had his wirs been clear and keen.

" My dear Hugo," said the public functionary, tappinghis visitor familiarly upon the shoulder, " I know there has been a good deal of delay ; but I have matters about clear now. A lawyer—a certain jEtalph Appleton—perhaps you know him ?" Caspar said he had heard of him. •" Mr Appleton," pursued the administrator, " acting for Christine St. Clair, put in a 'bill for services performed by that yountr lady in Rachel's family." "Let the bill be-allowed, by all means," " There is no need," answered the other. •'• The girl does not appear, and her attorney withdraws the claim. I saw him last evening, and he gave me information to that effect." "Then," ventured Caspar, "the business may be soon settled ? " " Very soon. We may hold an informal meeting to-morrow; and if we do, your presence, with that of Mr Corapton, will be MXjuisite. I think we may present a clear claim to-morrow." " Saall I consider myself officially notified?" "No," said the administrator, with a Etnile. " That would be hardly legal. I ■will drop yt>u a note this evening. I must Bee the judge, and fix upon an hour." And Caspar went away vowing within himself that the public administrator was a gentleman, and that his business was safe. That evening, on his way home, Caspar

Hugo took from the post-office a missive from the administrator. It was a doable jiote —coataining in the same envelope a notification for himself and one for

Alexander Compton; and the purport of of the notification was to the following effect •

There was to be a meeting of those interested in the estate of the late Rachel Bt. Clair on the next day, at two o'clock in the afternoon, at No. C street; and the presence of the recipient was necessary to a proper arrangement of affairs. A postscript added that, though the meeting was to be informal, yet it was called by authority of the judge of probate, who was anxious to arrive at an early settlement ; -and it was coufi ieutly expected that, since only one legitimate heir had appeared, said settlement would bo easily consummated. Caspar hastened homo to his chambers, and shared his icformaiioQ with his father.

'It would seem from this," said Ales.-

ander, after they had consulted awhile, " that we are to expect no more trouble. They must have given tip the search for the girl-" "I don't think there's been any search, replied Caspar. "I have kept my eyes upon the movements at police headquarters, and I know that no effort has been called for there. Her few friends were blinded by my letter. They believe she's run off of her own accord; and since young Waybrook is down bo flat, I don't know of a single human being that has any particular interest in bringing her back. No—we're all safe in that quarter." " 1 hope so," responded the father, with a dubious note in his speech. "I know it," cried Caspar, snapping his fingers. And without further remark he proceeded to brew a punch. Later in the evening Caspar called the new keeper down from the upper chamber, and questioned her concerning the disposition of her charge. He had put great faith in Endora, and she had promised him that ehe would make Christine understand that further opposition on her part would be worse than useless.

" Surely, sir," said the woman, with solemn seriousness, " I am convinced that the girl will submit resignedly to the fate in store for her. She knows now to a certainty what a rig Paul Waybrook is run ning, and she has more than half promised jne that she will accept the situation which seb'.tns to have been designed for her from the first. Upon my life, sir, I don't think you ■will have any more trouble with her. Of course she is still a girl, and will have her whims ; and you had better humor her until you are able by right to command." Caspar nooded, and coincided ; and he was very gracious, too. He promised the new keeper that, if matters turned out as he expected, he jyould enricil her beyond her wildest hopes. On the following day, at noon, Caspar ■called Endora down again, and informed her that both he and Mr Compton were going out, and that they might be gone until"evening. She was to keep the outer doors securely locked and the shutters closed. The woman listened, and nodded, and returned to her post. *At two o'clock, precisely, Alexander Compton and Caspar were at at the door of jf o _ C street. The door was of solid rosewood, acd the portico above it was of brown-stone, and elaborately sculptured ; and upon the broad silver plate they read the name :

" I doubt if Mr Leffiugton will be here, replied the administrator. "I saw him tliis forenoon, and he was not feeling well. He thinks the atmosphere here doesn't agree with him. But I papers, so his absence will not matter." The company were seated, and a silence ensued. His "Honor, the Judge, sat at the head of tho room, near the great pierglasje. Upon his right, down the side, sat .Alexander Compton and Caspar. Upon his left sat Appleton aud Lefevre, while near the centre of the apartment, at a table upon which were writing materials, sat the administrator.

The silence was becoming oppressiveoppressive, at least, to Alexander and Caspar, to whom there was something peculiarly ominous in it. They trembled in their seats. Under the shadow of this silence their dark sins grew heavy and sore But the break came. The administrator, sitting, noddea to the Judge, and then to the others, and taid : " Gentlemen, as this meeting is entirely informal, nnd as our businesM is all plain before us, I propose that wo expedite it with all possible dispatch." Those who sut around nodded imseut. '•First, then," puwucd tv» aumiiustratrator, " I will read the attested copy of this last will and testament of . wtor at. Clan-." ' . He read Urn document, nnd lit us close remarked :

•'Thus, xve sl'O there aro five s.-tliont propositions isi this will. First: Victor St. Ulair beqneathd everything to hi.-, wire Kaohel. SuojuA :He provides that said Rauhel may, of her own pleasure, btqueath the estate.in turn. Third: In the event ol the said Rachel's dying inte.-tate the property falls to his child Pauline or her heirs. Fourth : In event of there being no heirs of said Victor's own body, then, upon Rachel s dying intestate, tho "property goes to the heirs of the bister of Victor St. Clair. And, fifth, failing all these, _ the ; city of New Orleans becomes the devisee." There was a pause after the admimstiator had laid down the will, and Caspar ventured at length to remark : " In the absence of Mr Leffington 1 may say that Alexander Compton's claim to heirship is established beyond a doubt." "The positive proofs on his side," smilingly answered tne officer, " are good enough ; but the negative proofs are not substantiated."

" Sir!" "I mean, my dear Mr Hugo, that Alexander Compton, as a descendant of Victor St. Glair's sister, must give place to the descendants or! Victor St. Ciair's own seif."

"Certainly, sir—but—but —" " I will explain very quickly," interrupted the administrator, with a wave of the hand. " All present, of course, wish simply to see justice done ; and for the purpose of pointing out clearly to those most interested the course strict justice must take, I have called you together. I will summon a witness who has not yet appeared publicly in this case." Thus speaking, he touched a srasill silver bell at his elbow, and directly afterward a door upon the judge's leffwas opened, and Dr. Arkwright entered, leading by the hand the aged woman whom we have known "Endora!" burst in a startled whisper from Caspar's lips. .

ITO BE CONTINUED .1

Appleton

The previous twain stood still upon the •white granite steps, and were wondering why the meeting had been called at this place, when some one came up behind them. They turned and beheld the administrator. "Ah ! Good day, gentlemen," said the latter, bowing and smiling. "Iβ this the place of meeting?" asked Caspar, blankly. '• Yes," replied the adrniniHtrafcor, smiling again. "We had planned first to meet at the probate office, but two other meetings had been notified for that place this afternoon. As for my place, it is farther away than this. Appleton offered us his house, and as we desired his presence, wo yucepted." this time a servant had opened tbe door, and father and son were ushered into the haiJ before thoy had time to spoak further, the administrator following close behind them.

From the h*ll they were ushered into a rear parlor—a spacious, vaulted apartment, furnished not gaudily, but heavily and grandly. And here they inbt his honor, the judge, and Doctor Arkwright; and they were also introduced to the host, Mr Ralph Appleton, a tall, handsome man of fifty, or thereabouts.

>'This," eaid Mr Appleton, in turn, .pointijig to a gentleman who had arisen upon his .right hand, "is my friend Lefevre. He is stopping with me for a few , days, and as he is a lawj'er, I thought I would call him in." Alexander and Caspar shook hands with Mr Lefevre. He wat a man of sixty, at leant, with eyes like the ayes of an eagle ; and though he emiled when he shook them by the hand, they were not easy. Thoy remembered that there had heen a Jjefevro i" -New Orleans who had maraged matters for Madame Rachel. Alexander remembered that there had been a father and son. Hubert Lefeyre had died very old, and had been dead some years. But— this could not be the son ? Pshaw ! "Mr L'ifliiiffton has not arrived.?' said Caapar, interrogatively.