In Luck at Last

s to me as if there was a prison-van and a police-court at the end.

was the morning after his visit to Clara

I know it by heart. Do you think anybody in the world wi

have nothing more to do with the business at all. I'll give it to a gi

mmed her fingers on the table.

id, "since we c

ole game, all the world over, lying and deceit? Honest! you might as well go on the boards without faking up your face, as try to live hon

space. She was cowed and afraid. Presently she

cheerfully, too, if it will do you any good. What is a woman

loved him. The case is not rare by any means, so that there is hope for all of us

everything, and is ready to fall on your neck and cry over you for joy. As for doubt or suspicion, not a word. I don't think there wi

n. I am Iris-I am any

mily who brought you up. You're grateful, mind. Nothing can be more lively than your gratitude. We've been brother and sister, you and me, and I've got a wife and young family and a rising practice at home in the State of Maine, and I am only com

ally going away

eet any. If there is any, we are surprised and sorry. We don't come to the lady with a lawyer or a blunderbuss; we come as friends, an

think we shall ge

nd pounds and a small estate in the country. Don't let us trouble about

e a hundred thousand pounds a

've got two hundred of

few weeks before the old lady transfers the money-I don't quite know where it is, but in stocks or something-to your name. As soon as it is in your name I've got a plan. We'll remember that you've g

h it and heighten the effect, and now having succeeded in getting the false

a terrible great sum of money. Good gracious

what to do wi

u declared that it is

hed to me by my own cousin. But she didn't know it.

he saw a man in blue she trembled; and she knew perfectly well that, if the plot failed, it was she herself, in all probability, and not her husband at all, who would be put in the dock. She did not believe a word about the cousi

ut you won't come back here for a good spell. In fact, I think I shall have to g

quiet, and behave

e when you were serving in the music shop. No loud l

asking for the money to be-wha

onths, until there can't be the shadow of a doubt that you are the old woman's cousin. You are to make much of her, flatter her, cocker her up, find out all the family secrets, and get

t, like a quiet serving-girl behind a counter. "So, is that modest enough, Joe? And as f

and sang to her own accompaniment, with a swee

ty! That's the kind of thing the swells like. As for me, give me t

rown stuff, with a bonnet to match. She put on her best gloves and boots, having herself felt the inferiority of the shop-girl to the lady in those

y?" said Joe, when at la

in the evening as a Quakeress. Come along. Oh, Joe, it will be awful dull! Don't forget to

by anybody; to be sure, she herself had been trained, as ladies in shops generally are, to mistrust all mankind, and she could not understand at all the kind of confidence which comes of having the very thing presented to you which

the fringe,"

her husband had taught her, "I am Iris Deseret

Clara with enthusiasm, "come t

hen she held her by both hands

any children. But you are welcome, after all-very welcome. You are in your own house, remember, my

, she had actually been taken on h

of your father's. But I dare say I shall find resemblance presently. And indeed, you

e," said Joe, softly. "No doubt she got it fro

ernaturally solemn, and he looked as if he was e

ys were gentle and d

at times-were playing and larking about, Iris would be just sittin' out like a cat

say I shall find a likeness presently. But just

off, Clara looked at her ag

, and bright; very good eyes, my dear, but they are not limpid. His mouth was flexible and mobile, but yours is firm. Your hair, however, reminds me somewhat of his, which was muc

ld you-and my wife and children; and the sooner I get back the better, now that I can leave Iris with her friends, safe and comfortable. Stay," he adde

ith me, my dear, won't you? You need not be afraid, sir; I assure you that her interests will not in any way suffer. Tell her to write and let you know exactly what is done

nown a girl all her life, one is naturally anxious a

o be most grateful to you. As for the money you ha

his hand m

done that. You trusted me without asking me who or what I was, or doubting my word. I assure you, madam, I felt that kindness, and that trust, very much indeed, and in return, I have brought you Iris herself. After all expense

t before it in Clara's heart (which there was not), it would vani

love to all of them at home-Tom, and Dick, and Harry, and Harriet, and Prissy, and all of them"-Joe really was carrying the thing through splendidly

th admiration, and ashamed of her skeptical sp

without coming again to say farewell. Will you not d

eave Iris alone with you. The sooner she learns your

away for Liverpool at once? You

t perhaps he might stay a week

oney, Joe?" asked the

glance of infin

that I should like to buy a

id everything was mine. No, Joe, I won't hear a word about repayment, as if a little thing like fifty

resolving that in his next visit-his last visit-there should be another check. But he had made one mistake; he had parted with the

down and let us talk. Arnold is coming to lu

ost affectionate terms with the newly-arrived Iris Deseret. She was walking about the room

hope you will both be great friends; Iris

er they are mine or not; only don't bother me with questions, because I don't remember anything, and I don't know a

y" for "lady," and "paipper" for "paper," like a cockney. Alas

lady. She was handsome, certainly, but how could Claude Deseret's daughter have grown into so common a type of beauty

Queen Pocahontas, who has come over to conquer England and to win all our h

Maine was still the hunting

y rough and unpolished people. But he had no doubt, any more than Clara herself, as to the identity of the girl. Nobody ever doubts a claimant. Every impostor, from Demetrius downward, h

ly showed a noble appetite, but to Arnold's astonis

said impertinently, "only

d that she had

d, "when the doctor tells me.

ing considerable skill with her accompaniment, and singing a simple song in good taste and with a sweet voice. Arnold observed, however, that there was some weakness about

Cousin Arnold

because he is going to be married, I am sorry to say, and to be marri

a good-looking chap, too, though rather too finicking for my taste. I like a man who looks as if he could

o that, considering the ruin of his worldly prospects, it was, perhaps, as well that he had parted, for a

other Iris had just come from America

very strange

same time, each having a daughter named Iris, and

e slowly, and

s more than strange. Do y

e moment clothe his

one has brought th

g American physician, one of the fam

e-the young Ame

not se

g, and ask your cousin if this photogr

oung fellow, with strongly marked fea

ally suspect anythi

the papers. Perhaps the same

cted with-But then those papers must be-oh, it cannot be! For then Ir

are lost, they are lost. Say nothing to her yet; but go-go, and find out if that photograph rese