Show I The Hidden Hand J By Mrs E E. E D. D E. E N. N Southworth I a FI t Yesterday Morning While th they tImy still Mill al at tho time table tIle iho attorney Mr tl J L- L Sa Sauter l with Dra Dis Williams mid and Dawson arrived an and wove were shown into tho the library And Ant very ery soon after the tIme le dessert was put iUt upon tho the table tho the family left heft ler It I allt and accompanied by Colonel Lc Le Noir Noll adjourned to the tho library After ter the tho casual salutations thC they arranged themselves along each sl side e or of an nn extension ox ex tension table at the time head hend of which the attorney placed himself In Iii the time midst of at a 1 profound silence the will vill wi was ol opened and red read It I was dated throe three years cars before The lun bulk o of his nis estate after aCor the pR paying of ur u a few legacies Icicles was left lel to his esteemed law In Gabriel Iel Lc Lo Nob oh In tru trust t for rOe his only laughter daughter Clara Day until the latter should at attain attain at- at tain lain the ago age of twenty one one at nt which period she h g was to come Into IO possession ol oP of the tIme property Then followed the lie distribution of the thin legacies Among Amon then heit the sum of or a n thousand dollars left to his young youn friend Traverse Hoel Roche c and another thousand to tu his esteemed nel neighbor Roche Gabriel LeNoir Le Lo Noir Noh was ivas appointed sole executor of the tho will wi Ill trustee of the property and guardian of lh the heiress At t the thc conclusion of the time rea reading ln Mr Mi I Santer ful folded ed the time document and laid it I upon the time table Colonel Lc Le Noir ol arose nrose and aid said The Th will wi of or the time late Dr Da Day has been rend mead In iii your presence I presume presume pre pre- sume yon ou Oti all al heard It I it and that there comm can be no mistake as to its Us purport purport All 11 Al that remains m now Is to act upon it I. I I shall claim th the usual privilege of twelve months before administer administer- lag Ing ng upon the tue estate or 0 lJ paying ln the lie Ic lega n cies cles ces In Iii the lie meantime I shall a assume sume the charge charse of m my wards ward's person an ancon and con convey her lint to my own oin residence known as lh time the Hidden Iou House e Mrs Irs locke h him he said ll turning toward owen the lie latter your om presence and anti that of your our oung young charge charse Is no tic longer cr required I here LIe Be so good ns as to prepare MI Miss Jays Days tn traveling Hn trunks R. R as wo we set on out I from flom Lb this is place tomorrow If morning Mrs Mis I IS Roche Hocke stat looked wistfully In n the time face of or the time speaker and seeIng see see- log Ing ng that he lie was in mined d earn earn- est cst turned net ui-net her hel appealing glances to toward to- to ward vard Traverse I c and anti Dr DI WI Williams ii As m for fO Clara lint her face ace previous blanehe with wih grief gref was as now hushed lusht S S S S wih In Indignation su sudden en tress ress and perplexity she know not a anee at once nee what to do whether to littel a n to protest or 01 0 continue silent silent whether to leave cave the lie room or ot remain Her leI embar erbar- erbar was as relieved by Traverse who vho stooping whispered to t her Item Be lie calm love Jo e nil all ni shall hall hol be well weB Dr 01 Williams arose arose- and said saIl I have Colonel Le Noir Noh to Indor in In- In dor c a dying ins messa message o from Dr Da Day to m my young oung friend here tobe tole to be le jc delivered to you OU to th the effect that that tha it t was as his last desire anti and request that his us laughter daughter Miss Clara Clar Day should be a permitted t to reside during the thie term term enn of her hel minority in this her patrimonial patri Patti home under unter the time care cre of he her resent nt matronly friend Mrs Irs locke Rocke Dr ir Rocke Roche an and amid myself are me here hem to bear beam testimony to these the la last t wishes o or of orthe the ic departed which wishes I believe also al Iso o express the time desires of his hehe heiress Oh yes es yes es said sall Clara Clam earnestly I I do O very cr much desire lesire to remain ii In eH 11 t mU I Jil l' l suited ule my may comfort anti and happiness 8 when ho he left ler the these instructions There e can 1 be therefore no 10 l reason why Miss Da Day should be disturbed In fn her hel present home said Traverse Travet Colonel Lc Le Noir smiled grimly sayI sayIng saying say say- I ing rig I f r am sorry sony DI Dr Williams Iams to differ with wih you 01 or to distress s Miss 15 Da Day But If If as she he says lint her lamented father consulted her pl pleasure asUe I in Iii those last In Instructions Instructions In- In he certainly consulted noth nothing othi- othi In ing else not I not e-not not the proprieties of or conventionalism con con- the opinion of or tIie the dl world no nor the tue future welfare of oC his daugh daugh- ter tot Therefore as a man of Dr Day hl high bight h position and anc character in his franc samie moments never ne er could have made such mch a singular arrangement I am forced to the time conclusion that he lie could not hOt nl nt the tho time LitTle of giving those in instructions in- in have been In his ills rl right ht mind Consequently I can not venture ven ven- ture turc to act upon any ammy verbal In Instructions true true- ions tons however well wel attested but shall be guided In every e respect by the time will wi executed while hile yet ct the time testator was in soun sound body an and mind Dr Rodeo an and mn myself el arc bOt both bott l Jh physicians competent to certify that that at the time of or lea in leaving these directions dime dime- tom our respected friend perfectly per per- soun sound hound In iii mind min at least said al alDr Dr Williams sir h I repeat repeal I contest And AmI upon the thc authority of o the time will wi I I shall proceed to take char charge e of m mard my ward ard as us well wel as ns of or her e estate tale And Amid n as s I think this house under all al the thin a cr very improper place for or her to remain I shall shah con e convey her imer deja delay ela to tu m my may own home Mrs locke I 1 believe T J requested you ou to see to o the packing of or Miss Days Day's trunks Oh Heven Heaven shall this wrong be ejaculated Marah Mrs Irs Rocie eT Twill 1 not go so unless forced to o do o so ob by a decree of f r the lie court court I shall get Dr Williams Williamso iJams to o make maJe an appeal for fot me mite to lo the Orphans Orphans' court said saith Clara Clala by bya a way of f encouraging her lint friend My I dear Miss Ils Iss Da Day I hope will wI ill not be required Colonel Le Nolt Nult acts els un under er a ml misapprehension of the thc tance Wy Wo 0 mu must t enter into more explanations with wih him In Iii the Meantime my mr heal dear youn young lad lady It f Ih Is better that you jou ou should obey ibe him for forlie th he lie present at least so HO far n as retiring from flom rom the thin room said vald al Dr DI Williams ilams Clara immediately immediately- mu o an and amid re- re rl- rl Sirs Mrs Irs Roche o to lo accompany met er withdrew from ron time the library Dr DI Williams then said mid I a advised time the retirement of thin the ym ing lu lady havin having a a. communication to o make malic tho the hearing of which In a r J l company might have hoc cost heran her hur hurn an n l blush But first I would ask sk au u ou Colonel Le Noir Xoi what are those hose circumstances to which you allude al- al lude ulc which render Miss Is Days Day's thence enCl enco here In her patrimonial manion man- man ion flun with whim wih her old olt and faithful friends so o Improper r Inquired Dr DI Williams The growing Intimacy sir between herself and u 1 very objectionable patty this this young Oln man Rocke Roche replied Colonel Le Lc Ah anti and Is IR that all al It it I itIs Is Js enough sir t-Ir l' l said al Colonel Le 01 loftily oi Then ihen suppose 1 should inform you ou sir Ir r that this young oun man maim Dr DI Roche was as brought up 11 and amI c educated at Drays Dr Days ay's j Da cost and lUd under his own dl diate late e eye Then sir sir you ou would woul only nl Inform mo inn 10 that an eccentric gi of or forin fo for for- tun in had hat done what eccentric gentlemen gentle gentle- enle- enle men nen of or fortune will wi sometimes do do- do ue u- u e educated a pauper At t this opprobrious epithet Traverse r with wih lu flushed hed face ace started to his feet feet Sit down n. 10 my ny ho boy sit down dowl leave lea no inn mf to with wih this man nian akl salti hl Dr r forcing g Traverse o back Int Into hi bis hil is SLut I Then tinning to Colonel h Le Lc LeNoir Leoh Noir oh ho lie saId paid But suppose e sir that such was thC estimation in which Dr Jr Jr hay Day a held hell Ow lii moral and Intellectual worth worth o of hii hi- hi young that he actually gave ga ga e him his daughter I I I 1 cannot an impossibility Dr DI Williams replied Colonel Lo Le Noir oi haughtily ly I j Then hen sir I T have ha hatho tho thin pleasure of I startling you OU a Illo by a n prodigy that i you yott ou denominate an Impossibility Clara Day an and amid Traverse averse e were betrothed be- be with ul till full knowledge ge and anti cordial cordial cor- cor dial lal approbation of tho time young la lad ladys lady's M father Cather Impo impossible Preposterous I 1 shall I countenance no such ridiculous absurdity absurdity ab ab- ab- ab l sal said Colonel Lo Noir growing grow grow- hug ing red led in the face InS ret Miss Da Day Dr Rocke Roche Sirs Mrs Rocke Roche and myself arc c witnesses to that fact Time The young lady lally and nui the thin young oune man manare are arc the lie parties Immediately concerned they they cannot be received receive as witnesses cs II In their own case Mrs Rocke Roche la is I too I much In their Inter Interest st for her evidence Ir I consider the thin to be he taken you sir con iter dupe of oC these thee cunning conspirators conspirators- I j mother and amid ant son replied Colonel Le Lo LeNoir Noir firmly I Tut Tot said si Dr Dl Williams almost out of or patience I do o not depend upon lie tho words wortH of or Miss Day and amid her friends although I hold holl their veracity to be Je above e queston question I 1 had Dr DI Days Day's dying words to the lie same ane effect An And he lie mentioned men mon toned the existing betrothal as thin the very ery reason why Clara Clma should remain here In the care caro of or her future mother mother- rother- rother in I Then sir that hint the thin doctor should have spoken anti and acted thus Is only another and a stronger reason for tor believing be- be Moving lieving hIm him to have been deranged in his lila la last t moments You need give iv yourself yourself no further trouble I shall act upon the authority of this in instrument ment merit which I hold holl In my hand han re replied re- re plied pled Colonel Le NoIr haughtily or of the dy dying dy- dy Th Then n as the depository l- l lug ing mans man's last wl wishes and as ns the next friend of or his injured daughter laughter I shall make nn an appeal to the orphans' orphans court said Dr Williams lams colel coldly You can do O as you plea please e about that hint but hut In the meanwhile upon time the authority of the will wi I shall tomorrow morning set out with my ward for my own home There Theme may be time to arrest arest that journey journe said ai Dr Williams arising an and taking his hat to go bOO In the passage ho Ito met Mrs Rocke Roche Dear Dr Williams fal said Mrs earnestly pray IHU come up Uli to poor Claras Clara's room and antI speak to her it if It you OU can possibly say anything to comfort her hot she is weeping herself Into a lit lt of ur ln illness at nt the tue barn bare thou thought ht of heln being so o soon after her he t dreadful latHul bereavement turned awa away from flom her hel home and friends Fut Tut tut no Ito use In weeping AI All Al will wi yet be be right right You have nv persuaded that man to permit her to remain here then said saul all Mai-all arh gladly Persua Persuaded ed him No o nor not even un undertaken UI- UI un- un to do so I J never ne e. saw him beCore before be be- fore Core to today ay yet T r would venture venture to sa say from flom what I have now seen of oC him that he lie never was persua persuaded ed by an any agent except his own passions nn and interests in interests in in- to any act whatever 0 No I have t ha endeavored tu to show simoi him that we have haye law as as ns Justice on our side an and even e now no noI I am afraid I shall I ilave to toLk tuk t ill r l' Li Lk mL lJ b role ore I 1 c. c 1 Rr 0 I f purposes removing Clara tomorrow morning I will wi en endeavor cavor to see the time judge of the thc Orphans' Orphans court tonight tal take e out a habeas habas corpus or ordering L Le LeNoIt to bring his war ward Into court and n serve sene it on him as he pa passes s through Staunton on his way vay home But lint Is t there heie no wa vay of preventing him him from Com taking Clara away from the house tomorrow morning No lo good gooel a way No Xo ma madam am It I Is best that thai all al things things should be bc done lone de decently lc- lc de- de and in order Older I a advise you ou as I Ishall shall advise my young oung friends llen s Traverse Tra verse and Clara Chira not miot to injure their own cause by unwise Impatience or ot opposition We 0 should go 0 before the aspect Orphans Orphans' court court with wih th the very ery West Come then and talk to Clara Clam She ant has imas the most mot painful antipathy to tu the theman tle man mami who claims the custody of or her person as well weB as m the thin most distressing reluctance to leaving lea her ol old hone home and amid friends and amI all nI this In a ad addition ad- ad diLlon to her recent heavy y hc affliction almost overwhelms o the poor ioor child said mid Mrs Irs Rocke Roche weeping I I will go at once mid do what I 1 Ian Ican an can to wI soothe her hel said ai Dr Di Williams to following Claras Clara's Mrs s. room Rocket Rooke who 11 Je led him him up tip They found roun her prostrate upon her bed Deel crushed with wih grief gIld Come conic come conI m my dear dar girl gim this Isoo is isOO too oo ba bad It I Is Is pot ot like hike the thin usual nobl fortitude e of out our Clara said ald the oIlman oil ol man kindly l taking her hand hand Oh doctor octor forgive or forgive forgive-forgive forgive me but m my courage courage must have ha been el small smal for I fear tear it i is all al gone gonei one But lint then indeed everything er comes conies on im mt at once My I Icar dear deai car dear ear fathers father's s death then hen the approaching departure ami and am expected long absence of or Traverse 1 All Al that wa was grievous ous enough to lo bear ear and nt now low to be torn a away ay from the home or It f m my childhood timid from flom tho the friend that has always be been n a mother to me mae and amid b by a n man mann from whom every ery e true good Instinct of m my nature teaches me mc meo me t to o shrink T J e always ah had full lb In Iii the lie house of m my mn dear deat Ca' Ca father to be forced against my iny will wi b by this man a as if it I were his slave exclaimed Clara Clar bur bursting into fresh tears of oC In Iii In- lol I Clam Cla m my dear deam dear deat- lear Sh girl this Impatience Im Im- patience an and rebellion is so mo n e your our gentle ente nature that I can scarcely Garcel re recognize re- re cognize you OU for the mild mid an and tl ni- ni lied led fee lau daughter of m my old oit friend frien Clara Clata if f the time tints saints in lii heaven could grieve nt Ht an anything I should think your youit 01 dear deal deara a I her would be he grieved ed lo to t. t s ee you jou thus bus sal said the thin ul old man mati |