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?-!j^ i jt/-fi-yjss tnj& Tvy. CHAPTER III. UNCLE JOSIAH AS A DOUBTING THOMAS. Miss Rodney had derived a great benefit from her onting She had been freed from the trials of home life, which had always oppressed her more heavily than either her mother or her sister. It was a satisfaction to feel that she could meet her uncle with the thing she had set out to do an accomplished fact. She longed for the very palpable reward of her heroic task which the old man had promised her in the moment of softening which had come upon him Miss Rodney had never failed to con gratulate herself on having made him put it in writing and of securing wit nesses to the important document. Mrs. Rodney and Rose had not been ont very much. The death of the Countess of Carrington had given them an excuse for being a little less in so ciety Mrs. Rodney had not failed to make use of this opportunity. It was something to be able to practice econ omy with a deceased countess as the al leged cause of it. She had wanted to go into mourning, but Uncle Josiah had poohpoohed that with animosity "Why, you hadn't heard from Ma tilda for five years, and now you want to spend money in advertising your re gret for such a dear, devoted sister. Tell 'em she's dead, and that will do as well and cost less So Mrs Rodney had contented her self with wearing black rather more than usual. Whenever there was a good occasion, she managed to convey the impression that the family was in a mourning condition over the death of "my sister, the Countess of Carring- ton," but she had fired off these shots when Uncle Josiah was not around. She knew that she could not count on any support from her sharp tongued brother in this direction. Miss Rodney had taken an early op portunity to talk with her uncle on the sub3ect of his promise in case she should succeed in the attempt to climb the Matterhorn The old gentleman had shown no curiosity on the subject. In fact, he had seemed almost to avoid an occasion for private talk with her. Bat one day Mrs. Rodney and Rose had gone out for the afternoon, and Florence soon after came in where the old gentleman was reading. She seated herself and began "Well, uncle, now that I have shown you that I could do what I said I could, I suppose yon will keep your part of the agreement You lost your wager, you know, she said pleasantly "What wager? What agreement?' he replied snubbily, looking up from his paper as if he did not wish to be disturbed Uncle Josiah'8 apparent forgetfulness concerning the Matterhorn wager fairly amazed his niece "Why, I suppose you know what this paper is," returned Florence, drawing the agreement from her pocket "Yon did not think I could get to the top of the Matterhorn, and you agreed here that if I did within sis months you would give me money 01 stock or something that would yield me an income of $10,000 a year. I have climbed the Matterhorn and in less than four months from the date of this agreement, written by you and wit nessed by Mary and Roberts Now, when are you going to do your part?' "I haven't got the money about me now," replied Uncle Josiah sarcastic ally "We'll talk about it some other time It doesn't say there how soon it must be paid, does it?" "No Of course, you know, I am not insisting on your doing it at once. But it was a gracious impulse, I believe, that led you to promise me this. I only want to know what I am to expect." "Oh I thought you said it was put down what you bad to expect?" said the old man, looking at her "Uncle, there is no use in bandying words about it If you have a spark oi honor, you know that now you owe me this money Your word is concerned. I have done what I said I would, and I want to know when you will do your part," replied his niece firmly "How do I know that you climbed the Matterhorn?" said Uncle Josiah incredulously. "I ehould think my word was proof enough," retorted Miss Rodney, with some spirit "You never knew me to lie in your life." "I know mighty few girls who V7ouldn't tell a little white fib if they aould get $10,000 a year by it,' chuckled Uncle Josiah. "Well, I anticipated some such sub terfuge as that," replied the girl coolly. "I have the affidavit of each of the juides that I made the ascent." "I suppose any of these Swiss guides would make out A paper like that for $50, wouldn't they?' "I don't know These didn't.' "You see thero's no actual proof that you climbed that mountain," said Mr Gardner argumentatively. "You say you did, and you have the papers. But you may be mistaken, and, as I say, I Shink $50 would buy that much hand writing from any of them Was there anybody along but you and the guides?' "Not with meno," replied Miss Rodney, trying to keep cool under the evident desire of her uncle to irritate her. "But I met a young man on the very top of the Matterhorn He could testify to my being there." TTHE "Well, bring him on, and then I'll know *Ie would be a credible witness if his \,fcaracter is good." returned hei uncle "I can't bring him on I don't know where he is I only know his name.' "What was his name?" "StadleyGuy Stadley.' "Sounds like a name out of a novel,' said Uncle Josiah suspiciously as if "How do 1 knoio that you climbed the Matterhorn?" said Uncle Josiah. any young man with such a name could not be trusted to any great extent "Don't you know where he lives?" "No I thought it was London from somethings he said," answered Miss Rodney. "But I do not know his ad dress, and no one there -could tell me anything about him." "Oh I You tried to find him, did you How long had you known him?" "From the time I met him on the Matterhorn until I parted with him on coming back to the Mont Cervin hotel at Zermatt." Miss Rodney replied coldly. "He may have been struck with you, and perhaps he would be willing to tes tify to a little thing like this to accom modate a lady he liked." "Oh Why do you keep up this sort of thing, uncle?" cried Miss Rodney impatiently. "Why don't you be just and do what you promised?" 'Tisn't unjust if I wait untiflfind out Get this young man, and if he seems to be a credible witness I'll be lieve him," said Uncle Josiah, with an air of waiving a point in his niece's fa vor "Then, again, look here I How do I know but that you'll go and take Car rington, after all? You've got six or seven months to consider that point Now, it wouldn't be square for me to make such a handsome provision for you if you were to step into your Aunt Matilda's money 'Twouldn't be right to your sister She wasn't offered this chance You were yonr aunt's favorite and came in for Carrington and all the good things." The old man chuckled at his own sense of humor. Miss Rodney rose to her feet indig nantly. She had lost her temper at last. "Don't mention the name of that miserable creature tome ever again," she cried with indignation. "I will swear to you, if you would like it, that I will never wed theoh, I cannot even speak his odious name 1 I saw him in London, and he insulted me after ward by calling on me. Then he in sulted me further by writing a letter, evidently meaning to disgust me more than ever with himself. He said he was willing to marry me if I wanted him. And you suggest the possibility of such a vile thing to me as that] Have you no decency You may repudiate your own paper and become a thief, uncle," she said violently, "but how is it pos sible for you to fall so far as to men tion the name of any woman relative of yours in the same breath with that cur?" Uncle Josiah was having a great deal of enjoyment over this fiery niece of his. His taste in enjoying such things was unquestionably bad, unworthy an uncle of his years and with a really charming niece, when she was treated with any kind of fitness. But he did enjoy seeing her in a hot. indignant mood. "So you didn't take to Carrington, not even when he said he was willing to marry you He may have wanted to put himself on record as being willing, because if he were to refuse you would get the money. What did you do to him?" he asked quickly. "Told him 'No' in a way that could leave no doubt in his mind," replied Miss Rodney. "Don't talk about it any more. The whole sickening business has made me hate the very name of Carrington But you need not despise him so much. After all, he was within his right, and you are refusing to do what justice and your own honor de mand. There is no use of talking about it any more," she concluded, rising to go. "Well, give me time to make the ar rangement," said Uncle Josiah, with a cajoling air. "You don't expect me to go right down to the bank and get it now 1 Besides, you ought to bring on Strandham, Scanlonwhat was his name?to prove your statement. You could advertise for him in the London Times. Say he will hear of something greatly to your advantage if he comes forward and says that he found you without a chaperon on the Matterhorn." His niece disdained further remarks. She rose and left the room. The next day Uncle Josiah, who had not doubted her word in the least, made arrange- ments for transferring several blocks of gilt edged stock to her. In his odd way he said nothing of this He rather bated to see his plucky niece, whom he secret ly admired very much, become abso lutely independent of him, even though she owed such freedom to himself. Miss Rodney kept her peace and treated her uncle with an unvarying reserve after this It tried him more than she realized. But she felt how mean and unjust his conduct was, and could not or would not make any at tempt to cajole him into doing his duty and redeeming his promise to her One thing she noticed, and Mrs. Rodney also remarked itUncle Josiah did not complain and comment as much on ex penditures where his niece Florence was concerned He seemed to take these more tranquilly than those which con cerned Mrs. Rodney or Rose Florence felt that this showed some sense of what he owed her'on the old man's part She concluded to say nothing un til the year was up. Then the objection which her uncle had urged could not exist, for her aunt's money would go irretrievably to her dissolute stepson CHAPTER IV NEWS OF GUY STADLEY The summer had coma Mrs. Rodney after the usual "time" with her brother had got money to take herself and Rose to Narragansett Pier Florence re mained with her uncle He insisted on one of his two nieces being with him. and they divided this domestic enjoy ment between them. The old man very much preferred having Florence with him, and, as if with the desire to retain her, showed the pleasantest side of him self. When he felt the need of some outlet for his soul, strained with such oontinued sweetness, he would com ment in his caustic, sneering, jocular way on Mrs Rodney or Rose. One day, about a month before the year appointed by the Countess of Car rington in her eccentric will was up, Miss Rodney burst into an exclamation of surprise and her face lit up with pleasure. She had just been reading a letter from Rose. "What is the matter?" inquired Un cle Josiah. "Has Rose got some fool to ask her to marry him?" "No," said Miss Rodney. "Listen to this." She read from the letter "There has been such a lovely Eng lishman here for a week. No one seems to know much about him, but I have heard that he goes with the swellest people in Newport and brought a lot of letters with him. Mamma has felt a little shy about my receiving bis at tentions, because we know so little about his means or family. But he was presented to me at a casino dance, and he certainly is a perfectly lovely waltz er. He seemed to take quite an interest in me. He wanted to know if I had any sisters and then asked if you were younger or older than I. Then he asked me if I knew a Miss Florence He said laughingly that his principal object in coming to America was to discover this Miss Florence. When I wanted to know why he had such a romantic interest in a girl of whom he knew so little" ap parently, he said that last year he met her on the top of the Matterhorn He is so quiet and unenthusiastic you would never think of his climbing such an awful mountain. Well, he did, and on top of the Matterhorn he met this Miss Florence. He said he was never more surprised in his life, for it was a jolly good pull for a mountain prac ticed man Well, I gather that he was' Miss Rodney skipped a few lines here and went on farther down. "When they got back to the hotel in the little ^JVVs' "There!" said Miss Rodney. "Do you hear? There is Ouy Stadley." town where they started from, he bade her good night, expecting to see ber the next morning He didn't, and instead got a telegram saying that his brother was dangerously ill and could not re cover. He had to tear off, but left a note for Miss Florence with one of the men at the hotel, giving his London address, and why he had to go so sud denly, and begging her to let him know when she came to London, as he would then have the ring for her" "Why, was he engaged to the girl already?" asked Uncle Josiah, inter rupting his niece. "Wait and you'll see," said Miss Rodney. Her cheeks were flushed, and she seemed pleasantly excited over her sister's letter She went on reading from it again: "This is another romantio thing in this storywhen they were on top of the Matterhorn, this Florence girl ask ed him to chip off a piece of rock from the very tiptop and said she would like to have it set in a ring and keep it as a souvenir. He knocked off two pieces and begged her to let him have them both put into rings, and then she could have one and he the other. 'She was such a plucky girl, you know,' said he, 'that I would be proud to have Buch an association with her. She was o jolly, and no nonsense about ber. Df course there couldn't be in a girl tvho could climb the Matterhorn.' "But it seems the girl took no notice of his letter, which he thought a little add, because she had appeared so nice PBINCETON UKlOfcWHTJBSDAY, JUNE li 1900. 3F and friendty and wanted the ring so much. But I suppose the air of the Matterhorn made her friendly. It is lonesome enough up there to make the unexpected sight of another climber a grateful thing. "He seemed quite interested in you that is, he wanted to know if you looked like me and what sort of a gin you were. Of course nothing very un usual, only it was different from nn Englishman. But he is a charming man. I wish you could see him He told me that I looked like the girl on the Matterhorn. and when I thought lessly asked if she was pretty he stud quite warmly, 'Oh. more than,' etc. Here Miss Rodney hummed again until she struck something else and went on distinctly "I hope he will be here when you come down, but I'm afraid he won't He said he had to be in New York for some time and would have to leave bie soon. I forget to say his name is Guy Stadley." "There I" said Miss Rodney trium phantly to her uncle "Do you hear? There is Guy Stadley!' "He must have a habit of going up the Matterhorn," retorted Uncle Josiah skeptically "You say he met yon up there, and here is another girl he ran across on the same old peak. I wonder if he uses it as a place of rendezvous "Oh, I am Mies Florence!" replied Miss Rodney, laughing "I started to tell him my name and got as far as 'I am Miss Florence' when the guide in terrupted me. I meant to correct this later on and forgot it Then he went away so suddenly there was no chance I wondered why he left no word, and it never occurred to me till that moment that he had. but to Miss Florence Now I can get his testimony I will write to Rose at once to send his ad dress, and then you can write to him You see. there can be no collusion in this way Will you do it, uncle?' The old man's eyes took on their cun ning twinkle "It looks like a put up job." he said "He has come over here and makes up to Rose and instantly begins to ask about a Miss Florence and tells the lit tle fool this yarn about the Matterhorn so innocently, apropos of nothing Can the rock in the Matterhorn be known as such? And, even if it could, he may have been there There is nothing im possible in that I believe those fool Englishmen think they are enjoying themselves when they risk their lives climbing "What a villain you seem to think I am," replied Miss Rodney, letting her hands fall with a gesture of despair "I shall have to leave you to your own sense of honor But I hope I will see this young man. I want that ring No matter what you do, it will be the glory of my life that I did climb that awful mountain. I have had nightmares over it since, I can assure you." "I think you want to see the young man for his own sake, or rather for your own sake," said Mr Gardner, with a chuckle. "He is the kind of man you would fall in love with. That sort of mountain gymnastics is more than fox hunting, or tennis playing, or any other play work. So you would like to go to Narragansett Pier to meet him would you?" "I should like to get the ring, but 1 would rather go to Newport than to Narragansett Pier." "Well, you can go if you won't stay more than a fortnight," said Uncle Josiah benignantly. He felt his niece deserved some reward for her good na ture and also for her temper He had enjoyed the few ebullitions of temper which he had succeeded in evoking. So he packed Miss Rodney off to Newport, making her promise that she would write to him twice a week. The day after she got there there was a polo game to be played. A man who knew1 Miss Rodney took her to it on the box seat of his coach "I understand that one of the teams has taken on a young Englishman fox the games this afternoon. He has been here only a short time Nobody knows how he will play.'' When the teams came out on their fiery little ponies, Miss Rodney gave a movement of delight and clapped her hands. She recognized Guy Stadley at once. "I know that Englishman," she said. "He is a charming fellow. I don't know how he plays polo, but I'll wager you his side wins." "A dozen gloves to a box of cigars," laughed her friend. "Done." Miss Rodney won her bet Stadley carried the game for his side. His play was as bold as it was full of judgment, and he stuck to his pony like a bar. Nobody seemed to know anything more about him than that he had arrived only a few days ago and had letters oi introduction to the best people "It is odd," said the gentleman "but, although I haven't met him yet, I have seen two or three girls, and they have each remarked on the earnestness with which he inquired if they knew a Miss Florence. They suspect a romance Altogether it is amusing, but there is no doubt about him. I know several of the fellows over there who gave him letters, and they are first class men." "Where is he staying?" asked Miss Rodney. "At the Ocean House." As soon as Miss Rodney got back she sent a note to Guy Stadley, asking him to kindly meet her in the casino grounds at 2 the next day. "And please bring my ring/' she added. She signed the note "R. Florence." The next day she put on her best gown and repaired to the trysting place pretty sharply on time. She wanted to see how prompt Mr. Stadley would be. She had hardly made her way to a seat in a retired spot when she saw him al most running toward her. "Miss Florence," he exclaimed, with great heartiness, "this is an immense pleasure. I have been cursing myself Tor having lost track of you. Quite a contrast this to the Matterhorn 1" He east a glance around on the fresh Eng lish aspect ol the greensward and the casino building. "Why did you not answer my notethe one I left at the hotel at Zermatt? I was called away suddenly by a telegram, and I left a note with my London address and begged you to let me know when you passed through." "I never got the note," said Misc Rodney smilingly. "How beastly stupid of those people! I directed it plainly enough." "Well, I can account for the mis take. It is all my fault, I am a little late in correcting it I had started to give you my full name in return for yours, when the guide interrupted me. You supposed it was Miss Florence 1 meant to correct it later But I forgot it And when I 'came to' I could not find you I was the stupid one, not to think that yon might have left some message for Miss Florence But I am very glad to be able to correct it now I am glad to see you again Have you brought my ring?' "Yes He pulled a little box out ot his pocket and opened it The tiny fragment of the mighty Matterhorn had been imbedded in a plain band of gold "Mine is exactly like it," he said heartily, holding up his band with a like ring on the little finger "Yours may have to be altered a little Let me put it on for you Miss Rodney pulled off her glove and extended her right hand He tried it on each finger, but it fitted none "That is a pity,' he said regret fully "Let me try the other hand. One hand is often smaller than the other Miss Rodney extended the left hand with smiling good nature The ring exactly fitted her third finger "There!" be said with his boyish en thusiasm "It exactly fits.' "Yes But I can't wear it on that finger.' she remarked, with a light iaugh She felt wonderfully at home with the young fellow, he was so frank and straightforward, with a nice sense of dignity withal "Why? Oh. the engagement finger 1' "Never mind I will keep it and ar range about it somehow I am extreme ly obliged to you It makes such an odd. "And please bring my ring," she added. pretty ring, and the association makes it unique. I don't suppose there are another man and woman in the world who have met upon the Matterhorn I don't think anything Would tempt me to try it again She shuddered a lit tle. "Oh, don't say that I have thought several times during these months, when I could not find you, that I would gladly scale it again if I knew you were on the top." Miss Rodney colored with a delight ful sensation of pleasure "That is so flattering that it can hardly be quite true," she said gayly. 'Pon my honor, it is, though," he replied with great earnestness "I never heard of so plucky a woman. There is only one other that I can think of in comparison with you at all Do you know a Miss Rodney?" "There are two Miss Rodneys." she answered smilingly "This is the elder. Her name, I be lieve, is" He stopped short, and a look of the strangest wonder seemed to fix his face Miss Rodney laughed out right at his confusion. "You have not told me your name yet," he stammered"the real name, you know." "FlorenceRodney," she said sim ply, fixing him with her smiling eyes. "Good heavens!" he ejaculated. "Tell me," he inquired eagerly, his eyes large with earnest wonder, "did you, while you were in London, meet the Earl of Carrington?" It was Miss Rodney's turn to be amazed. "Yes," she said quickly. "But in justice to myself I hasten to add that I met him only to conclude as definitely as possible and once for all a matter of which I cannot think even now without a blush of shame. I hope I may never see or hear of him again." I am glad to tell you that you will never see him again," the young Eng lishman replied, with an indescribable air, rather of severity than solemnity. "He is dead." "Dead I" cried Miss Rodney. "When did he die She was startled. "A month ago," he answered simply "How strange it all is!" "This is all strange," Baid Mies Rod ney. "What did the poor wretch die of?" "He had used himself up completely He had had a sort of stroke of an apo plectic character some weeks before he met you. He had another that settled him a month ago." "You do not suppose that I could have helped to precipitate it, do you?" cried Miss Rodney, an expression al most of awe ooming into her face. "No he precipitated it himself," the young fellow replied, with a mournful contempt. "He had only himself to thank for it. Do not let this trouble you for a moment." "But how did you know of this?" asked Miss Rodney "I hope my nam* ^wx^f$r^y^^^4^^^wiw' did not come ont in connection with it Any association of my name with that of Carrington will always be without any fault of mine." "Ob, don't say that, please!" he re?^ plied, with quick protest. "I mean that you are too fair to link a man's vileness with a name that others may have m$ borne honorably and which others again S I may redeem. I know that is what $& you'd mean. But let us drop the sub- JSS$ ject. I did not like the man myself." ed of that page in my history But if will be as long as" He stopped and smiled ingenuously "When do you expect to leave here?' "In a fortnight. I expect to join my mother at Narragansett Pier." "Oh, I met your sister there. It is a delightful place. I shall probably re visit it later." He said this with such a palpable sense that the time would be coincident with that in which Miss Rodney would be there that she smiled, and he lapsed into a short laugh himself. Guy Stadley devoted himself to Miss Rodney with the most earnest and con- "You impatient boy!" she said cajolingly. stant attention. By the end of ten days he had offered her his heart and all that he bad. Miss Rodney accepted it with a beautiful directness. She knew that he was the man she wanted for a hus band. His fine, strong, simple, clean manliness shone out as evidently, as unmistakably as an electric light illu mines a globe with its splender. It was with a sigh of content that he placed upon her finger the ring of the Matterhorn. She passed her hand over it lovingly when it was in position, and then, raising it to her lips, kissed it "Now," said Guy, looking into her beaming face with strong love in his own honest eyes, "I have got to tell you something. First, you love me for myself, do you not? This man," and he struck his chest with bis powerful right hand, "Guy Stadley?" She bent her head and said "Yes' softly, but with intense conviction. "I know you well enough, my dear girl, to feel that you will understand and not be disturbed by what I have to tell you But first I want you to agree to something which I have greatly at heart. Will you do it? I will agree to anything you can ask of me." "Yes," she said, still softly, but with a perfect, glad trust in him which made her glory in submitting blindly to his rrish. "I want that we shall be married in a week,'' he said. "But, Guy 1 It is so soon "You promised I" "And I will if you wish it Why should I care? Only it must be as pri vate a wedding as possible." "It shall be as private as you like," he said. "So long as it is within a week, I care for nothing else. Yon promise that?" "I promise.' He bent forward and kissed her lips with the tenderest love and then re garded her with a proud light in his eyes. "What a woman you are! Now, dear girl, prepare yourself for a little sem blance of a shock. When you marry me, you will marrythe Earl of Carring- ton!" At the hated name she started up, a look of terror on her face. But he took her hands in his and said, with emo- (s "But how did you know this? I hope you were not a friend of his!" "No I was not a friend of hie, and he had no liking for me. But it was my odd fortune to be present once when Carrington, in an excess of drunken rage at the recollection of your treat- fifij ment of him, spoke of it and mentioned your name. Now that this matter is explained, let us forget the man I ad- isas mire you more than ever." "Pray, understand that I am asbam- /^ff A you could have seen the insulting let ter that he wrote me I And I had been insulted grossly enough once before on this man's account I would tell you this only that it seems a little strange to be so confidential with aalmost a etranger." "I shall be glad to hear anything' that concerns you, my dear Miss Rod ney I have something to tell you my self which is confidential, but with W your permission I will defer that "Let us defer it all," she answered "It is too painful, and meeting yon is pleasant. I do not want to have it marred by such an association How long are you going to be in Newport? Is this your first visit to America?" "The first I will tell you frankly, Miss Rodney, that one great thing that drew me here was the hope that I might find the plucky girl I met upon the Matterhorn. Now that I have found her, I confess with equal frank ness that I think my stay in Newport 70 i ,r 4'