Puck — March 1877 — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

14 interest you, does it not?) Well, my sister here is the one who Can give you all the particulars.” Richard: came close to Florence, as he spoke these words, and’said to her in an undertone: “T think I’ve startled him sufficiently, just raise your veil and see what the effect will be.” “But,” said Florence, hesi ig “Go on, be quick,””inte ichard. Slowly, and with a trembling hand, Florence did as she was bid. Mr. Colcott gave a quick, ken ance tes fates, ae the dim, uncer- sain light. Richard thought his face grew pale, and Jooked to’ see ia oyeroouie with faa But no, Mr, Colcott was apparently unmoved. “What a tremendous nerve the man has!" thought Richard, “Florence, you here?” said Mr. Colcott ina voice that would have rivaled a stone-wall in its exhibition of feeling. Then turning to Richard, ‘‘What is the meaning, sir, of this outrageous impertinence? Do you dare, you, a miserable starveling of a law-clerk, to insult me in my own house? Do you think to play off some black-mailing scheme on me? Come, answer me at once, why did you bring this young lady here?” It must be confessed that Richard was somewhat amazed. But he answered boldly: “Be careful what expressions you make use of to me, Mr. Colcott. I see you know very well how to preserve your com} Ce had no proof, you might Possibly ce me down in such 2 way; but with Miss Kirby by my side as a living witness, you are out in your calculations. What have you to say to excuse your treatment of her?” C PUCK. Here Florerice came’ to him quickly, seized | his arm, and said: ‘‘Oh, Mr. Lane, let us go at | once. I see it all, you have made a terribly | unfortunate mistake.” “A mistake!” gasped Richard. “Yes, Jam not Florence Kirby.” “Not Florence Kirby,” Richard faltered. “No, I am Florence Kingsley, this man’s step-daughter, and Florence Kirby’s cousin. He drove my poor mother into her grave by his cruelty, and he abused me in the most brutal manner until after my poor cousin’s fight, when I left the house and tried to make my own way in the world.” “T shall see, young man, that you are amply punished for your insolence. I shall call on your employers to-morrow; and now leave this jouse at once, or I'll have you kicked into the street. You may be very thankful that I do not hand you over to the police.” “Ohl if there is anything of that sort to be done, Mr, Colcott, I fancy our respective posi- tions, as you regard them, will be reversed,” said Richard, who had quickly recovered from the stupor into which his newly-acquired inform- ation had plunged him. “I have a word to say about that will.” He came close to Mr. Colcott, looked him squarely in the eyes and continued, “It was a forgery, and I am pre- pared to prove it.” Mr. Colcott staggered back, as if some one had struck him violently in the face. His iron composure had forsaken him. “Yes,” continued Richard, observing with delight the effect his words had produced, “1 copied that will, and was struck by the fact that 4 G MANUFACTURERS RIAN BENT Wooo dvawrup, 7808, Broadway, New Jone. == CY, one of the witnesses was an old' friend of mine, who died some six months ago. At first I gave the matter no‘particular thought, but when I became interested in this young lady's cause, I thought the affair well over, and remembered that this friend of mine, at the date when his | name appears on that will, was in China, as letters from him, which I-have in my possession, will very readily show. ow, sir, will you be so kind as to send for the police ?” * * * * . A few words only are necessary to bring our ‘storytoanend. Richard learned from Florence, that she and her cousin, Florence Kirby, had both been named after their grandmother. Florence Kirby’s father had been greatly under the influence of Mr. Colcott, and when dyin; had stated his wish that that individual shoul be his daughter’s guardian. She had for some time betrayed evidences of an unsound mind, but never having been at all violent, had not been considered a fit subject for a lunatic asylum. Mr. Kirby had always said, that Florence Kingsley, his only sister’s child, would be pro- vided for after his death; and when that event occurred, great was the astonishment of every one that he had made no will at all, Florence Kingsley continued to make her home with Mr. Colcott after her mother’s death, on account of her cousin, whose sad condition aroused her sympathy. When that cousin fled from her guardian, terrified by his determination to place her in a lunatic asylum, our Florence de- parted also, for she was unable to endure the man’s brutality. Mr. Colcott had suddenly