THE STORY-TELLER. DR. LANE'S DILEMMA.

Te Aroha News, Issue 6, 14 July 1883, Page 4

THE STORY- TELLER. DR. LANE'S DILEMMA.

(Contimed.) * No doubt you aro right,' said tbo doctor, turning over the leaves of bis diary. ' Yes ! here is the entry. Thursday, the 16th of April, at 11 a.m. This fact alone, of course, proves the accusatien to be groundless. It is evident the man was mistaken.' 1 1 ignored liis first letter altogether,' resumed Miss Overtoil, apparently relieved by Dr, Lane's ready testimony. * However, as he has written again, I wish to take precautions to prevent him worrying papa. I would send the man the money directly, to secure papa from annoyance, only I know that i 6 would be a ■weak thing to do.' * It would be fatal — it is not to be thought of, 1 said Dr. Lane decidedly. ' I know, but 1 must do something/ said Miss Overtoil, with an air of ■desperation. ' Papa has so much to worry him that I must save him this annoyance at all hazards. I thought, perhaps, you would not mind writing to the man to say you saw me iv London ' on the 16th, and thus put an end to the matter.' 1 1 am afraid I must decline doing that, 1 said Dr. Lane, after a pause. * Not,' ho hastened to add, * from any unwillingness to oblige you, Miss Overton,' but because this man must not be let off so easily. This is an impudent attempt to extort money, and .my advice to you is to hand the letter to your father «ud leave him to deal with the man. 1 * Oh, that is out of the question !' exclaimed Miss Overton, with sudden energy. 'You don't know, Dr. Lane, how my father lets little things worry him. Such an unpleasant matter would ireally make him seriously ill.' Nonsense, my dear young lady. In fact/ said the doctor, rising from his seat and speaking with decision, ' unless you will promise me to hand your father the letter immediately, I shall feel it my \ duty to speak to him.' Miss Overton looked disconcerted, And seemed to maditate making an attempt to dissuade him from his purpose. But apparently, upon second thoughts, she changed her intentions, for after a moment's reflection, she said rather coldly : — * You need not trouble to do that, Dr. Lane. I—lI — I feel your advice is right, and unwilling as I am to cause my father annoyance I will hand the letter over to him. In that case you need not mention to him that I consulted you about the matter first.' 1 Certainly not ; but mind, you promise?' said Dr. Lane playfully, as the young lady took leave of him. The fact was that the doctor's chivalrous feelings were thoroughly aroused by the discovery that an unscrupulous scoundrel was seeking to impose upon and intimidate a young and innocent girl. The intelligence filled him with honest indignation, the more especially as Miss Overton seemed disposed to yield to the man's demand. Her eagerness to conceal tlae matter from her father evidently arose from mingled sensitiveness and reluctance to make a scene, coupled with filial solicituds. But Dr. Lane was strongly of opinion that Mr Overton ought not to be kept in ignorance of the attempted extortion, and he resolved to take an early opportunity of calling upon him to ascertain if the young lady had fulfilled her promise. A week passed before he could find time to carry oat his intention, when one evening he received a pressing note from Mr Overton, asking him as a particular favour to step round to his house immediately. He did so, and iras conducted by the footman across the hall to the library. Just as he reached the library-door a maid-servant came out of the room looking so white and scared that she at once attracted his attention. '"Who are you?' he inquired almost involuntarily, struck by a sudden recollection of her face. * I am Miss Overtons maid/ she said in a low roice as she hurried past him. Dr. Lane stared after her with a puzzled expression, but before he had time to compose hia thoughts he was ushered into the library, where he found JMr Overton engaged in an animated and rather angry discussion with a grave elderly gentleman, who was presently introduced to him as Mr Brooks, ' ' I don't say the servant-girl is not the truth/ the lawyer was

saying when he entered. ' Her nervousness and agitation may bo quite natural. But it would never do to rely upon her evidence.' 'Well, here is Dr. Lane,' said Mr Overtoil, hastily performing the ceremony of introduction. l You will now hear what he says. You may recollect, Dr. Lane, that when you called und saw my daughter a month or two back, I mentioned to you that we had had a disagreement.' 'Perfectly,' said the doctor, wondering what was coming. ' It was about a foreign scamp of a singing master, whom she fancied herself in love with, and who has since turned out to be a married man with a family,' said Mr Overton, who was evidently labouring under strong excitement. 'He accepted a bribe to leave the country and go to America. I brought my daughter \o town this season to get her out of the way till he had started, and the poor girl is now accused of having gone to Liverpool to see the rascal off.' 1 The question under discussion is,' interposed the lawyer, whose cool matter-of-fact tone contrasted strangely with his client's excitement, 'whether it would be expedient to prosecute a man named Downs for attempting to extort money from Miss Overton by threatening to disclose to her father the alleged fact that the young lady was at Liverpool on the day the singing-master sailed for America.' ' Certainly he shall be prosecuted and punished with the utmost rigor of the law !' cried Mr. Overton, starting from his seat and striding about the I room. lAs I said before, my dear sir,' said Mr Brooks testily, ' we must first consider what evidence we have to disprove the man's story. It would be most unwise to prosecute him and create a scandal unless we can show conclusively that there is no foundation for his allegations. You could get a conviction no doubt, but that is a very small matter compared with your daughter's reputation. The maid-servant's evidence would be worse than useless.' ' Well, Dr. Lane, you can settle the point at all events,' said Mr Overton anxiously. i You can swear to having seen my daughter in her own room upstairs on the morning of the IGth of April ?' Dr. Lane did not answer immediately for it suddenly occurred to him that he was placed in a very awkward dilemma. A few moments ago he could have given an affirmative reply in perfect good faith, but the appearance, tone, and manner of the servant-maid whom he had met outside the door hail so vividly recalled to his mind his first impression of Miss Overton that his suspicions were aroused. In fact, during the foregoing conversation the conviction had gradually dawned upon him that the lady's-maid had personated her young mistress when he was called in, and when he recollected Miss Overtoil's embarrassment upon his addressing her at Lady Swansdown's and her conduct at their subesequent interview, it was impossible for him to doubt that she was guilty of the escapade of which she was accused. The good doctor was a very truthful conscientious man, and natural impulse ■ was to give expression to his real con- I victions. But he was generous and kind-hearted almost to the point of weakness, and he shrank from causing pain to a devoted father and from exposing a young end inpetuous girl to the grave consequences of a thoughtless indiscretion. ( I certainly saw Miss Overton in her room that day,' he replied with hesitation. 1 Are you certain of her identity ?' suggested the lawyer suspiciously. ' I renewed my acquaintance with the young lady a few nights ago at Lady Swansdown's,' he replied «vasively> turning to Mr Overton. 'To be sure She told me she met you,' exclaimed her father, looking triumphantly at the lawyer. i What do yon say now, Mr Brooks?' ! f Dr. Lane's evidence would be most valuable — conclusive, in fact,' said the lawyer drily. 'At the same time, I would not advise a prosecution. I've seen the man, and he is thoroughly frightened. He will consent to sign a written statement admitting that he was mistaken, and apologising for what he has done. To avoid publicity and annoyance to your daughter, I think you had better leave me to settle the matter on this basis.'

« I think Mr. Brooks is right, if he will excuse my saying so/ interposed tie doctor eagerly. ' A public trial would be. a most painful ordeal to the young lady notwithstanding her innocence.' Dr. Lane glanced defiantly at the lawyer as he uttered the last words, though he was conscious of a tell-tale flush upon his cheeks. Mr Brooks gave him a quick look of intelligence and approbation while Mr Overtoil, whose wrath was eridently mollified by the doctor's convincing testimony, said innocently :—: — ' Very well. Perhaps you are both right. I don't wish to be hard on the man, and therefore, Mr. Brooks, I authorise you to settle the matter as you suggest.'