University of South Carolina Libraries
N a flood of yel low r u n s h i n o stood A 1) b o t ’ s Grange early one May afternoon, looking the very picture of Gmil- ing case ami com- fort; spring flow- er;»- fcl« aljout its sloping lawnM, bud ding woods thick with briglrt blue hya-' cintha sheltering it carefully from northeast winds, ami a soft sweep of "edm c*ropjK*d, hawthorn* 1 hedg- etl valley nest ling. os it were, imder ‘ tl»e pro- t«*t i n g shadow “of its gray gables 1 tylf T rOTlf', TTTtT' T »» \\f T rxrrrxrt Hut its s^'s'iiiiiig .jtr.ttude was c.Vtty ©ut it quite correctly—brick d^ep. witliin the quaint old" room!j of the dwelling a vt*i«y |peculiar turmoil was going on; a terrible upsetting of things M they had Itrsm: nma»*d subinissiou to things ns they uow opj^ansl to l»e; din- inay and Man!; drea*l of what might yet be coming.* Por In the last wt'ek <»f chill, tickle April, M iss Pit i as*nice We»»tl*rook. iqHn- •ter mistress of Abh«»t*s Oraigp, luul su«liU!uU--j^iii|iK.l control f*f nil l»cr wofldly posscssioiis. A nipping night fiwisf, and a firm refusal to have u fire in l»rr bedroom ixvause the right dato fi>r inch luxuries was past Iry five days, bad |m>red too much for the lady of f«nir xcore. A swift nttaek «*f limnchHI* nffordiHl Iut a rapid and nlnw*st painless exit from mortal srem-.. but tho unex pected sumnmns creousi stringc disturb ance among sur^-tvor* that Isxrnn nlnmst oa soon ms the la«t“Atncu" wua wndover Iter grave. Tlion. n*«moof the carriages lurncsl out of the churchyard gate, sahl Mr. Wt-sthrook. of High Courts, Oloucrs- Icnhirc. tho rich mercHtini ncplrcw of the denartc<1 hdr. to Iwr aoliciior, John Poster: * *'I Btippaso thubj y *H»ng connl’ctious of mine cotne in for.pretty near every thing of tho old luly’s, don't tlicy? !>•* y ou l»api icq to know if stferi* paid me ftie compliment of a iVlamond ri ig «*r a ell- srer ooup ladkf Of coiuto you're got her willT ••Really.** was the answer, “1 can give you no * information «t present. !Iy father l»ad entire management of the AMmU' s Orange im-'inc-A .and ho died •oine rix month.i ago.” “But you stopped into hisslioe*, didn’t youc** “Only partly. Mi-o Wcsthrool; t x>kol on me aj comparatively juvenile, I fancy, th-vigh 1 liavn Ihnci in the linn the last five years. She never honored me with an* confidential communica tions, and enln took all private pai»ers from our ofiice, the will ra >;-t likely among them.** “Ah, thejvthat elder girl yonder will know its whereabouts. Site's rather a good looking young party. Ou*;!it to marry well if idie’s got a thir 1 of the old ^juajd's hoard. Got imy cajjagcuteut, do you know?” io, Mr, F«*ster-did not know. IVr- sistev and young brother wej;o tryixig to comfort her. “It seemed horrible to bo troubling about money,so soon after**—— And then she broke off, her «;ul eyes full of tears, and the young lawyer felt bow vivid was the contrast between her bearing and Mr. Westbrook’s, and how l>cr present pathos .suited the girl oven better than the bright manner which had rather turned bis head when lately ho had paid professional visits fo th6 Grange. But though It went against the grain with him to vex her, ho'explained clearly and forcibly how needful it was to try and- lind ibis will “Had Miss Westbrook never tohl her where she had put it? Never mentioned its details to her? Naturally Mr. West brook would like to know them before ho Olivo colored, * Something hi the ear nestness of lias last words modo her treiiir ble. She vy;w afraid of relying on him Uo much, and yet, in this trouble, por- Impa sho might take hi^ help for a little while. Those smoky funnels at the Grange were none of your screwed up,"beflued modern contrivances, but ample, gener ous n«~passagf s running boldly up from IjO (ihoost rs. but I think,I would rather die thurf touch a penny-ii'pm Mr. Wt*st- brobk.” ' ' ' r ' m- Buf, my dear—dear Mis* Fewem, I thinWestbrook intends setilihg hirement to r-K>f. Gyril knew all about i what is to bo done? Whom The only response to this was that Olivo was certain Aunt. •Pleasaneo. bad never mentioned the matter in any way. Some things she never liked to sjicnk of. This must liave been one. Perhaps she luul not made a will at all. “But. my dear young lady.” cried tho rector, “that’s inqiossible! It would leave you without avfaitlungl Mias West brook would never have done it.” ■* 1 “1 know slie wouldii'tr^Tvut In Glivc’s young sister Helen, a dciuvite girl of | 15. “if hbe could help it. But jiuntk* was ill only suclt a little Hmc. Xhry 1 likely who may have forgotten it.” “Forgotten It!” repeated tho clergy- ; man In dismay. “Mv prir.dcar child. • don’t suggest such a chance.*’ “Or. 1 tell you ivluffsaid the young est of the adopted trio, n btlic. clever t facisl l*oy of Id. emerging fnmi a win- j dow curtain. wJicpj lie had lMH»n trying to hide, a t nr Vtaimul or,iiiU:::;::i,« | "poor old aitiitie jmt ft otT tOi*> long, jht- h:q»#. Y'ni know 1 wns wnth her the— | |Ir» last morning. ju*t when she turned t wi»rse. and she whispered. ‘I want to j tell Olive’— frv 1 fetched Olive, hut then ’ ountlo r-eoriMxl to have forgmt* , n every- j thing. She could »*nly h>»k nt us 1 rlcil iiko, and—and never s]>oUc any ' m«m\'* m Tlien the lad hurroWvd l»Q<*k nmon^the i eurtnitm. IWng much asliarncil to be ' caught crying. And tho rector and law- | yer left thu room la tho utmost |>er|>lcx- f Ity. Fv«-ry likely place was ransacked within the next hour. Every servant j qu« >ti<**M'd. The coachman remem- [ l*'rcil driving hi* mi arcus fr*n:i tho I lato Mr poster’s ofllce. stune time laA | 01111101*1.10 Uarnhy’sbank, and tliey t*n>k a tin box In tliu carriage with tkciu. OH to Hamby’s Innk went tho coachman i now again, returning with tlm raid de- : positary, which the late Mr. F»wter’s soti I searched through with the d.^jv.-Jt anx- lety. Hoads were thereof railways, mid ; canals, mul gas comiiaules. u in**rfgage, ] stock of half a do:.'it kinds, hut nlusl no I will., Mr. Westbrook telegraphed to Ids | b»»mc that be >-b<mld nut lie kick until further notice. “It is desirable that 1 rciiciin to m o | *.his through,” Iw said, and ordered the' • Killer to have a room prepared for him i'nt r.u indefinite it ay. Too butler oar- ! riixl the c'oinuiand to the housekeeper in { high affront. “11' sp >ak* t > me na if I was a bdy In bpttuttf.” .said he. “You and roo ain't j u a-d to such masterful wars, Mrs. W-tcks.** 1 .Bat as or • dav after nnotbor. nn<l thru a whole week, went by, and still no will \va* forthcoming. Mr. Westbrook felt a grown: right to indulgi'* .in as much masterfulness as he pleamxl, which was a tpxxl dval. ftrbr to what is to lie done this nftcvrnoon," site said, nervously; “afterwards 1 may lx?— glad to ask your advice. I am most unxiorc abr/.o Cyril. I ani afraid Mr. Wy^tbrook does not ifruoli like” Olive's half uttered opinion war. unexpectedly emphasized from without, Through tho door, standing ajar, came , ^^■'VVjiafiiroak.’g viuoa.—tiatfiag w-i th anger: • “Cyril! "What are you up to there? Kick that beast down stiiira this moment.” "Toots i,s<loing no harm, sir,” answered tho boy’s cl<»ar* voice. “Aunt Pleasance high up aloft, always let tu play hido ami seek on tbo gallery. ” “ Your A11 ntTleasanco. as you call her? could do as she liked. Now I order what l choose. That clumsy brute will smash those eases of 'birds. Send him down this moment; do you hear, you }oung rascal?*’ Cyril’stci«ix*r. frank ami pliant enough under ikxH-nt cdvility, b;ul l ten brusbeil them. lie had personally fnspcctiHl tho interior of one w hen worknu n had U cn n>pairing the many cornered stacks above, and bad safely worked bis w*oy 't'wvn to Olive's own bedroom. Now if elai* have you tofurn to?" “No one, nothing, or next to nothing. But, Mr. Foster, Cyril has something; nearly two hundred pounds, 1 think, a godmother left him. Now surely 1 he could only voyage upward from thej can send him to soum-tciiooi with that, library, cat like range the tiles, and de scend again by tbo old route, what a - capital juku .it would-.-U^-•— thought Cyril 6tcp|X‘d on the stout bars of the grate and cautiously inserted head and shoulders . up the inky entrance. Hurrah! lie could see a bit of blue sky Ni i able as bis ituincsake ho lx‘gan the ascent, A brick jutting conveniently hero ami there lent friend ly help. Ho had to grope along with dosed eye's, for bits of mortar mul little nests of disturbed s«>ot came ptqqx'ring about him. Careful and crab like he hauled himself safely up till nigh tho level of the library ceiling. Tlien he nearly came to grief. He seemed to have got beautiful foot- j in cut) |i»K>.ibl,> vimmj dmvfhm by Mr,—ludd <m a brick or fw**, when be sudden f wait a imum’Tjt and I know when he’s 7 a little older he wnl wo.!: 'ike a man to helpline and 8ix>ty one.) “As for me, I will find route school where they will let me teach and Helen can live there for my pay. It’n only for her sake I—feel—It—•hard," ' Mr. Fostx'r seemed to walk up mid down in agitation, then shut tho library door and halted. ' ( ' ^ *,. ■ “Mis; IVriers, yqu^-fhtfT your deter mination are wortlijrjof you. But -one thing fails you. Your brother’s money cannot. I know, be touched till he Is of age.” "Then—oli what shall we do?" “This: let mo advance u couple of hundred, lend it, give it to you. Oh li‘t irie tell VoU wlfar V, csibriM^k during ihcse i.ist few davs.' Now- it suddt*n!y bristled up like a hedge liog’s prickles. “Fin no more a rascal than )*ou are, sir! Olive said. Toots and 1 could w’ait here till k*i**M done tlK>se obi |vij*.rs, so I shall not come dow n ti’l sho calls me.” Here OMvo turned Into the hall. Mr. WestlwooL, purple )#i!l» rage, was storm ing up ut Cyril, who, with flaming cheeks and bright eye*. sUxhI defiantly :U tbo top of the farotul <'M slairr. Toots, a kauwledgeable Imio lax- V-t-^j -fitf-iu Um lud l?)qubdtivelv jinked 1 vief, si iff ling exHtcdly IsirwTvn the iolus- j trades, us if «vily waiting the word of t oonomand to make fee ihoir mutual en- 1 emy’s ealwes. **l*n put a brkk round that eur’a neck ’ and have him dropped In tho nearest * pond,” cried the irate gentleman; “while, as for your sister, she’s p,Tfixilv &#are, • or ougiit to Ik?, tlut nho'a no more rtglrt to give onlersi in this h ki>o than the j •rtillerv maid." (John Foster Ihto made a •pdek Mep forward. Olive silenced hij indigration with an cntroaflng i •dance.) “1 nrn master here. Now come j doavai, or 1 \ow FU borsk'wdiin vou.” to catch me first, sir,* •but I’ll do os Olivo * taps iho qucstio.t struck bir;i i« un a- ttOvrlde, •eotm<)g-Uu> ruuiutw a*'4<-r iln*’ •— “Tiul proliability is. he said 1 K'r\iw where half tho village h: d Ik cii crying over the bus «>f their kind, Jf ec centric, old friend, Anyhow, the yoimg lawyer gazed studiously out of the ear- | riagjb window ns they wound slow !y up | tho hill, nnd turned conversatuvi to tho j itcauty of ;;o:uo no!do oaks that skirted tbo road right and left. “Aid ha! good timber tint,” comment ed Mr. Wesihr x>k critically. “1M have it down if it was mine ;Vn 1 turn it into capital that fetched 20 per cent. Can’t | seo the good of trees standing sucking up tho land any more then lazy horses Kiting their heads o.‘f in the stable. My i father, you knYw—brother of t lie old lady yonder,” w’ith a m>l towards the church, “only got ns much as his sister when his fat h r dropped. But ho w as wise. Married into trade. My mother’s people were in'Eist India shipping. Jlo made a mint of money, an l tornedlligh Courts, that be bought cheap, »lnto a regular show pkiee^ I’vo stuck to tho same Hue, and,” with a knowing expression, “haven’t lost money, you bet. I got a little extra nous from my mother.” “And a little something else.” thought John Foster, but aloud lie sai l: “Miss Westbrook's cousin, the grand mother of those young people die adopt ed, married intd somo county family, uid she not?” Mr. Westbrook laughed. “Exactly so. Country gentleman in Norfolk, of the good old style. Lived up to tho knocker, and left about half wdiat lx? began with. Then his son must needs go bond for a friend, and l«>Kt even that. ‘Whoso hatoth suretyship,’ say I—that’s bow these young Ferrer» cosno to be pau pers.’* “XIiss Westbrook was greatly attached •to them, sir." “Ah! 8o I suppose, jlbo was a senH- cnental did conser?*ative. And thHr grandmother had Ixsen brought up with her like an own sister, I’ve hoard. S*> in stead of letting them urog for them selves, ns I recommended her to do ten years ago, the Inst timo I saw her, she took them ia and did for them. Oh, lx*re “You'll li\\u sai l Cyril cx.lly tell* me. of course." “Y'Ki shall l»c locked up till you humble pie," cried Mr. Westbrook, ad- ianciug furi**u.!* ooCyid, but rapidly retreating as T(x>ti rushed to the fore with .a vicious snaji. “Mi-vi FiTrers, 1 ! ptesums jo«i Invu some control over your brotlwt I nxpdro him to stay j alone In t!u> library jnu ler till he comra , to hi i senses nnd apologizes to me. Will you dcrire him to go Into that n» »m, or I mu;.t he bo taken t!i«'r>» by furoeF* “My brother never di*|Kifi** a wish of mine, Mr. Wcstbrnolb.” aaUl Olive, juin- | | fully cxciieil, yit wonderfully sidf con- j troll d. “Squirrel, dear, not bccausa I ^ ootudJer you reipiire jumLIting, but for 1 j jvaco sake, pkyso g» in tlie Ifiira^r. | When I have rqxjkcn to Mr. iVestbruok ; i>rew*ntly 1 w ill come for you.” She stooped r.nd l:;i J her clu'ck on the j lad’s curly bead a moment. Then off be 1 ^talked with a lump ia bis thro.it to the littb room at the i. ft of tho ha!L Mr. [ I Wt.dbnxik triumphantlr turned the key I j upon him with, “Stop there, sir, till I let you out.” John Foster walked forth among tlieli- : lacs and syringas to kc»*p bimsi'lf from i • making tin professional remarks, and j Olivo iled> njr^taim to frr,-tt ht-r-forced - calm to a ginid cry lK-fore ix'eounting thii fresh uiisadventiiru to l»cr young ( Ki:-t» r Helen. Luncheo*i that day was an excessively , I gloomy ntfnfr; the InvyiT rucked his . hniips for conversation, but for once J could find none. I * “411 trouble yon H tho drawing room, ! I Miss Ferrers, for a few minutes.” uiid Mr. j Wotbioek. wi'. n, lwing tluislu'd, he ! got tip and pushed Ins 'dinir from him; j and o • tho two went thither, IT. Icn fol- w ing her sister wjrh anxious oyes, ; )hn Foster longing to l>c by her. per haps nil four felt little ensi'.'r than the lonely young culprit locked up in the librarv. HiipTK*;L Down went one l«*g. tiiit not down tlu> chlumey, down tho other Hide somehow. Freserving hts Udnnco with ditUculiy, Fvpiirnd rubU'd his dusty ryes with his grimy hand and peered a lion t him. Only faint murky light struggled to Id.* uid. but be could ^ast di:x*ern kojuc*- , thljig remarkably imI'J. An ojM>nliig [ there was on the left side of thecl»lm-| ncy, not more tlran two fevt square, nnd j the cavity lieyond must Is.* of m»*im* size. '■ i<*g«r ttlssit. It came in contact with m* otfhT'! wall. Whatever could this place' Ur? A ' Isieked up cuniMKird js rhaj».s, r* hiding hole for cavaliers, priest*. JatobiU*. . what not? Oyril’s* fq*rrlt of adventure n*** witldn hint. In for a penny. In for a |'•^nntl | He'd through that liolo and |sosIWy | ferret isst tho secret* of centurks ! ttinsig’i lie went. f*u| fori*- ! most thh time, and e.unfy cnongh, { for whst felt like brirli steps sa tiated hfs descent into a spare which, by fain?*?*t light and much patting around, he <Hsr«»ren«l to he a small chamber matching it) sise Aunt Bk'iis- e.u :e s tamctuui tlic otb* r side of tbo tiro lacn ~rw as— - uo ono on earth t.hotdd uu«i. you’d Iss'ii rich and pri*s|s*rotH Hevn vou no often, and so tuucl n<» m«nv .itown If ! hitra , 1 could I !*•!;> loving y ou tbau I ctKild j ! help livtTfg! " I do'i’t know a!>out t family, and anci-ston*, and so forth; 1 only know niy. father’* nunio has ls*en ; an hoJM»rc'l tjec for fifty years, and, ! pleoai* thsl. I’ll do nothing to sully it. ; nnd if you’ll share it with iuo, your j br«alw r and your sGtcr hIiuII Ik* mine, j ; and you sliall never know a cure that 1 i »-cnn rln ld you frum! NMtat. whnt will | you Wyr t^ril Cirild h*xir Olive sotddng. lie j very nearly c<aiimltt4«l Itlmself by an aiiuRJVfkiutri'iniumnL (“John Foster, j yini’re a Trujon,** aali) lie softly. Vlf Oilvc will have you. i’ll give y»m T*sits i for a wctlding iweaciit; but, mm then, harkf) “I can’t. I can t say tered; “it wcu’id bo wi ’Yea,* ” Olivt :ked of mo." tho .Gringo party and John Foster as sembling fa tho appointed room, Mr. .Westbrook swelling « ith arrogant im* portance, which Olive might have found bad tq boar, had ,not n glance between her lawyer and herself given her n de licious sense of happy strength. * “Ah—h’in,” rsvqx'd out Mr. West-, brook, seating bimself In tho heavy oak chair that stood ut one end of t 1 c old, turkey hearth rug. “Ah—h’m, I sec that l)oy Is not here; but lie Is of no coin sequence whatever, o wo need nut wait. Ah it is very evident my late resperted aunt” (his tone bn plied capital letters m. 4TrTti^libi‘ l , > now lie had conic into her money; “has died intestate, I fwl lUr time has eoirimvtmr, as ht^heir” (honor requested for himself this time) “1 uiko natural i>ossessiun of her entire property. I feel it is my right, «<> I shall not make any bones about doing it. As 1 intend shutting tlm house up for the Rummer, the first thing to dp is to get rid of the servants. Miss Helen, ring ihcvhell." Ikjnd. :ipp<*;iri;ig in answer, was de sired to fetch up all l be domestics. Seven filing in, headed by tbo gray'' Tutired iMHifk'ki'i'js r. every oi»<*of them was sum marily dismissed with tho noble douceur of;; month's wane*. Botid hnd I*vn eerv- 11.1.- j r. .*i • Fi ; t WtJ-' ■‘Now tn |i>« • -»dd We..tbun»k. •‘The tenants of^r.iy fitnus, Mr. Foster, | miiKt have notnx> lo<|Uit nt Mlclimdiuaii or renew their Waxia ut higtHT rent*." “But, hlr. rents* arc failing uUmt hero. three of your tJhruit* lukvo tA.i-!» «hi tlie J land. fatJwr to k**u. ft*r general loim. I Tliey are ^ood-fannera uial I am afraid (hoy woe.Jd look on such notJci.**:iH ratiier unfair." “JVm, l< t 'ettvuml I© Ih*u;^4 toAui." cried tl*e and I hey find It idcoumt to Work tho pr«»perty Ulwri':* yi*u. ’You fictile iuo, T**by. lil tickle you.’ i4ylo nf tiling, oh? IV.it I’m neitlwr a fno| nor a woman. I shull put the H»*rew on wheru 1 cImnnio; you can ho my luau if you like, Mr, Footer; If ikiI then* are other lawyers In unt to the W(Mtl>ro‘ >k* nigh f»»rly •nt- hoti <i - k(X'|s‘r but little l< sa; t no »;tranger.; in tho place. r i.least, i * know it d! How rn to 1 old aitntin#ronl>I havu I I(ow Ollre W(»uld ha vo liked it j if they had been Mopping at tlw Grange. As for that surly Mr. We*tlHro»*k. tltongh. heshonld nmor bear of tin* romantic! den. Cyril qply winlied it might hu full j of gho is that would como out and scare | him if ever ho.lived at tlie place. Flnt j gliootR iti It weru neither tangible nor. risible now. After ever to long of | Rtcutthy creeping and fci-ling tlir«Kighont I iU length and Iweadth, Cyril could find nothing but nneS *nt cJwrtds* and layer- of dust nnd dehri*, i wvxshit is>m**thitq(. narrow table or shelf. a lock of fastening, i and—— * At that point of investigatbm the Uit j was startled by sounds that ap;**‘arc;| • strangriy rUw**. b. ing. in f;»ct, as he noon rmiicmlicrcd. in t!u» adjui'iit library. Homo ono .*>p.)ko. It wa i that nice fellow Foster, nnd h!* words were: “Now, Cyril, my lad. if youTl ju.*t sav to Mr. Westbrook—wlty, how'.* t!iie 1 can’t see him. C’vril! NVTiere’s ho van ished to?” “JumjH'tl out of tho window, I"! war 1 rant,” fo.tli auotlM-r it dec (the I ■* ‘kV- tad i «f i^» 1 did not (^it humble pi ', nnd, by G«'orge. j lie* tdioulj have it, too, if Fd tny way." ! (Cyril, tiaglcil wit!* wrath to tho tipj of i his loo:u ’ " t Jo!in Fo tor. who was tliero every day, conducting a rigorous search tlirough every room, “my de-v.-v^vi aunt came to her ftcti*es ut I lie last. We had a few word.; nltout these* young Ferrers last ticac I saw her. I told her plump aud plain they’d no rig!it torn penny from her. She was n spirity old party, thougU, and oald sh.' should do what she chose with her own, for 1 and uly children had plenty without I s ing her heirs. After that there was a coolness lietween us, but she’d plenty of sense, and no doubt sho saw I was in 1 be right, nnd so du'<T1ntestatt* |*urjH>sely that l should stop in and take mv due. Till anything els,* i; proved. Rlr. Foster, I shall act on i that supposition.” Morliiiwd iliat he could not gainsay ! tliis arrogant gentleman, yet deeply cx- citod on purely personal ground*. John Foster eould only acquiesce in this un- | lucky inference. Miss Westbrook must i have died without a will. “I’m driven to that conclusion uniyill- i iugly enougli,” ho said to juloOlivo Fer rers ono morning, when, after hours of crow that went sorely against Squirrel’s turning over half a century’s collection | grain. . Tliodcorwr.s fast, no question about | decision iti’ Hio morning, that, lie broke bi»-pon knife in a futile noon." lie. to till the truth,*>vas not particn- larly to be pitied. Having firm faith in his sister, ho resigned all tljopght of the future tohor. ami, with tho wisdom of hia few years, was now exercising him self on tho hunting topic of the moment, i. c., how to give his jailer tho slip! “There you Rtoptiil I lot you out,’* Mr. Westbrook had saivl. A boastful cock- | of old letters and worthless savings, they Stood .together in the littered drawing room, each feeling blankly that no more ! was to lx* done; “most grievously unjust ! as she has been to you"— But Olive stop ped him. _ “You are not to say that even ttraue, I please. Mr. Foster; wo owe too much to 1 Aunt Fleasance. Now, as we have no , one else in tho world, tve must try nnd j make our own way.” ; “But. good heavens! how?” exclaimed ; Jho young man almost impatiently. j “My dear, Miss Ferrer*, you can’t cal- {, culate the dffilculfieH that lie liefore you. Surely Mr. Westbrook' - — But—(here John Foster had to end abruptly. What wonld be tho u.*o of his holding out I hojx'R alxvut a division of property, of any liU>rnlity whatever on Mr. West-, brook’s part, when ho very well know ho had not p?t a generous spark in him. from tho crown of hb l»ead to tho solo of bU footl Truly, w!kii owncrahip had finit »p- “I don’t see how ho could jump out hen.' without hurting himself,” was ilic j nii\Ions answer Kick from the w indow j wav'. “I do li<q*e -tho*boy i-> safe. Ilii* ! 8istt , l’ , -*“- 7 ; “There, there,” snarled tho other grn- ; tlcman. “Don't troublo yourself to! make a fu-8 over tho young sneak’— I (Cyril cbmehed his dirty liUb* fist nnd I almost wished he had not startc*! on thi? [ ehimnoy expedition yr-“the men a'.xiut the grounds must look out for him, and I'll rate him soundly when we catch him. Now I’m going to look over, h’m—h’m— my farms. I wish you gtkxl day, Mr. Fos ter. If you will make it convenient to be hero by Iflb to-morrow we’ll meet in tin* room and can begin to wi*id up mat ters.” “Then, MtRSjfFerrers" Appears,” with a grunt, “to desire perfect^ iudciHUulence, sir. Sho can have it if she chooses. Bo much the Ik t- trr for .my pocket. Sho gives her final Good after- -/can't, tea “Ah, you don't c; me pnv.u m | ituous.” “1‘n'sumptu M»<»! l*ienraiux* alway* k: good Ur lie ju**t all “And you. you ym» - “1 silked y un alt. (“TIi«Kight ns fnmTi rcL “Ijbo alwayj col you man came.”) “But,” rapturously. J up ;I.hT wiic ,n vou c .npur- i that r love but be i voi t* it • • v d it* issue ek of Ut. Westbrook'• cliair. • wit i* tbatr cried the thn: m>. and T« t* ui)l!in d wit) tie h ufiotit in nil yelps of joy d r wTitcTi •xtremo 0!i\u pri'sentlV, in you uiuf never us, out of pity. •re arc at the house again. My train goc» ^P^ired possible, the gcntlcnian luid from Crowcbceter at 4, iliarp. So now i vaguely droj*!**! hinta alwit allowing for the wifi” . |Ir. Wcatbrook uilgiit say, “Now for eke willf To every one's profound as tonish moot 00 will whatever was forth* coming. Oli to Ferrers, a graceful, dark eyed girt of ooe-and^wenty. row in oore grief at InoKig ti** lo ring guardian of her orphaned year*. Imew uothhqf of tha all important d" iine&t. “Did it matter murk." she wtU. wr*> /fly, vketi the rrrter am) John Fewer m the Ubrary, wbnra her tho young people a few tltouflando, iart an time went on ami uo will was un cart lied anoUier o.vMiai meniiun of this douceur had diiamb4»«J it to a few bun* deeds. Vt'liat ulumote point of contrac- uoa it might reach the young man fcgml to think. Ru )m checked him*-If with ambamranumt. and coukl only wind «p with *ouv* ruher tnodwrent mu xk about arranffraowui bring nsnde for Mira Ferrara* vomimrx, and if them wx» any- thing he conld do—a; attempt to slip ihe lock, and then gave it up. Naturally tho window suggested Itself ns the next lust means of exit, unfortunately that was full nine feet from the ground, tho Grange front ’oeing well raised over a lino of collars, and, although the drop was nothing to a l*oy of In’s weight, an anti-burglarious row of posts with Yrtple well spiked chains offered serious objections to this manner of escape. What wa* to Ixv done? Squirrel planted himself in the middle of bis prison aud eyed bis surrounding.! in- torrogativoly. In front was that Im practicable window; lx*hind him every inch of wall except tho door space was lined "4th close packed shelves of Ixxiks —the same with the whole wall on his right hand. Opposite this was tl>e wide, quaint tilcaheurth under tho shal low, high shouldered chimney piece; one side of the tironlaoe a small door opened into a tiny book room, which Aunt Pleasaiitx* tt«cd to call her candutxY; on ' dm other aide stool a Itookcaoe of four fact high, above wldch I mug a pkturvof U»« i.wt Hffuirt* Wmhrook in a ptgtail and bright Uuc coat. As Iim quirk glance took all in, hia , aatt looked perfectly troobound, and J ^qairraTa heartasx.fc wkhm him. Mart •! he after all raqi tliero I duo a rat in a trap, but fee he 1-4 out Itf that oiLhom. orao* « ianrieg romurfer. Mr. Wrothmok? \Va» thiTj *ta rkiak !w* c %11 edge Himwlf «Alt hr. in- i.aup!«JlA hr««iU wpj^lr thrwujl t«s! pj' rttrra we-! Uh, hqpy*.At td A heavy step left tho librarv, crossed tho- hall and skimmed tbo front (hx?r. Every sound echoed in Cyril’s drum like ivlit-ut. . , Jo'.ui Foster Rcemed to lx> staying l>e- liind. Cyril heard liiqi give a sigh that was half a groan, llo was a regular good chap. Tho U?y had half a mind to tap on tho thin panel which divided them, and tell him so, but another en trance clicckcd him. ft was Olivo this time. “Oh, Mr. Foster,” slio began, “did Cyril—where is he. please? lias Mr. Westlirook lot bint out?” “No, Uo let himself out, I fancy, by the window,” was tho response. “I’ll hunt him u:> befiiro I leave. We slut It find him nil right. But, Miss Ferrers—can you? Will you'look on me *jiist as yojjr m:»’t of Iwrincss, cs if I \vero my father, in fact? Will you tell mo what Sir. West brook has offered In lieu Of what every ono expected you and your brother and sister would havof’ Cyril strained hto cars. 0!lve npj»cared to liesitato, tlicu broke out (lassionatoljr; . ‘ # A71 tat ho Ivw offiivd! A j»H4ance, Mr. F*wtcr, tiiat uiiglit. I auppone, just k»*p in from atarring. but whtclt I must verily begin to rtarvo before I would ac- a*pi on hia terms! beg L* 4*audv.;. anJ ’ “I- think I—c;i “Olive, try (U'firl (Then i.nsued ' on Cyril jv'chjvety bti are utterly prep sh rous youth ) 4 ‘lhrt now,” sahl ‘•nclt a Hianged voice, fed yon me, 1 ».! You must l»e very certain of your own mind l*efore you tie yourself tons penni less j ice pie.” “1 can never be more certain than now, mv Olive.” , “A!)! but you shall have time to think about it. If only you will send Cyril somewhere, that much I will freely take of you. You shall pay your self by and by. But for one yea’r I mean, to work for Helen as 1 said. Then if you still want me”— From that jiart of her project she wa< immovable. So, whli satisfaction enough in Ilia, heart to tide him over even a puried from his new gained love. Cyril had to blush again in the dark over the lovers’farewells, and then when hiu solitude vfcts silent once more, he ret alxrut thinking how to get out of cen linemCnt. For‘reasons of his own a twenty-foot higher climb was not dcallable. There- foro with extreme care he regained the aperture by which he had entered, slowly lowered himself to the bars of the grate, squatted there like an imp, taking off hU tell tale slices, listened to find tho coast clear, tlien warily slipped off to his own room, bolted himself in nnd Bi>cnt an hour to such purpose that when at last ho made his way down stairs no tracoof his sweep's exploit was left upon him. Tho two girls’ anxious questions as to his inode of exit from Ids prison Cyril contrived to parry. 51 r, Westbrook’s high and mighty scowls at tho dinner table hi boro wtth exemplary meekness. When hU sinters Loth implored lum to behave discreetly at tha next moniing’s eouclavo in- tho library, to which Mr. Wenbrcok all but ordered the trio, he promised faithfuHy to kei'p hia temper, come what miglit, and ^•dulou..1y |nttcd TooU' deck head to conceal the in in Lie otto,” oai.l from I lie I “What goutu uac i,.id',7*nn had Uvn direct low timuids t! • It wa fi “But In “Ym. h fon<*, qrit • >f oak {jaueliug on which hiinu old itTrey 5Vi*f4br60k*s |>ortrait swunf' forward, disclosing tin* 8.^*1 d countenance of Master Cyril, in his arms a black tin case. Ullt , no In* fi fqutmi RpraUug,** cried Helen *’h not In-re,” exhilnivd Olive, e (•."returned tho rcntl-gbostlj •e.li'x ifidly,and the long pl* ie I slowly smirch Inddin marked with Miss Blcasanco Westbrook’s name in white letters. •It’s her will,” he cried exultingly. “1 The Way It fMatr on th« Lnk«.' A party of yachtsmen were becalmed out on Lake Ontario Sunday afterhe and whilo waiting for a breeze the wan occupied in spinning yarns, were two or three old salts on add they (ftl all the spinning, while younger and l^ss exjierienced taw and. smoked and listened. Finally of the old salts took his pipe from tw-'cn his teeth long enough to breath, aud said: • ^ “Yon fellow* give me a pa!n talking about big storms. Why, 1 was out in * jBtoPttia lha. gunmet, that was no_ much bigger than any that yoo have ever seen -that they are like cat’s paws compared to it.” — Then he st<#pped and began oualy to draw upon hia pii»o again. . * “Tell U* alxjut it.” sqid the young fel lows in chords. v “It was Im tho month of July In tha year IbOD, nud 1 was out on tho lake in it yacht of uuuo,” ho said, aft* r pausing long enpugh to fill his pljio afresh and light it, “mid the wiud began to get pretty fresh. I i»uid but little attention to it. but it kept blowing fresher and fresher, and ono of my crew asked ft wo had not bettor shorten sail. 1 thought that there was uo d/tuger and said that there wjui time enough. All of a .»«idden the wind U gun to blow harder than 1 ever it in this latitude, aud wo oil begun to get l>udly itcurud. “1 gave orders to take hi sail, but be* fore the men could lay hands-on a rope a big pulf came and away went the sails Into ribbons. There wo were out 1u the middle of the lake with uo sails, aud the situation began to look desperate. How we wert> golug to get iu 1 did not know, but the very *torm itself furiilshed us a ra^^md^wu^Ju^ofeLrtcusla^^^^ “ilow did you get luT asked th* ^ youngest sailor of tho lot. “Why," said tho old salt, “tho wind blow so hard that It blow the ropes out* flat and they served for soils. "—Rochester Democrat i • A Wrm/imbls Ckrlstmss T»lnt*«r. Ihe minery eudurod during tbqao four months of Ikwuer lake iu oar little d^rk cabins under tho snow would fUi jsigeo and make tho coldest heart ache. Christ- ium was near, but to tbo starring its memory guvo no comfort. It cams and pasaod without. oUarvoncs, but my nmthcr bail ftetonninod weeks before that iter cinl Iran should have a treat on this one day rtho bad laid away a few dried apphs. antue bmm, a bit of tripe, and a small piece of bacon. When mis hoarded store was brought out the dnligtit of tbo little once knew no b’tindo. Tbo c«ioking waa watched rarv/ully. and when we sat down to our (Jbitstwao dinner mother laid, "Chil dren. rat dowly, for this one day you con have all you wish.” So bitter was «* the uiixerv rel.ovod by that one bright day, tliat 1 have never since Ml down to a Christinas dinner without tny thoughts going buck l*> U’uuer lake. Tbo Htonits often wonld lost ten day* at a thne. »nd wo wouhl have to cut chips from the lup» inaido which formed our cabin in order to start a Are. Wo could sean-ely walk, nnd tlie me a had hardly strengtli to prumru wood. Wo would drag ourselves through tho mow frofn ono caliin to *another, and some mornings snow wonld have to be shov eled out of the fireplace before a fire j could Im made. Poor little children were crying with hunger, and mothers were j cry ing l<ccau*e they bail so little to give tiidr children. We seldom thought of bread. w»* hnJ liecn without it ao long. Four motrfliR of such suffering would fill s k MW'wcF 11 • * i r t 4 Willi > i» f f* —^ — J _ rflfW' ‘WNMPHi 9*W*mWmr . ?r . • Century. •* - 11 A Victim »f ilclcncs. The frog bos lx*t'ii called “tlw victim of ftdeuco” bucattto ho l« always being diverted for the porpooe of toeing how , he «<ia get ulong without his most essen tial organs, how his blood circulates and bow hi* noivous system acta. He is so- l. ctod for such imdsnot, ns is commonly im.igined. becaiwo his structure is at all humanlike, bnt for the reason that he will endnro being chopped up to such a remarkable extent and still retain Ufa Yon can remove his brain and he will get along fairly weU without it, swaUow- ing whatever is put info UU mouth, and otherwise behaving os usual, though in an automatic fashion. In fact the ani mal will live indefinitely under such conditions, as experiment has shown. If you cut out his lungs ho will not dio „ for a long time, because he can breathe very Well through his skin. Human beings breathe through the skin all over the body in a small degree, tho blood in the superficial vessel taking up a certain amount of oxygen, but the function is exercised more satisfactorily by tho frog. Besides, his nervous system affords an interesting study under ingenious torture by the anatomist, aud the corpuscles in bit blood .being remarkably largo, that fluid serves admirably for tho instruction of the seeker after medical knowlodge.— Interview in Washington Star. ■ rmsf i rm to make Cyril in Ith ry* wW u Olivo added, as herald wy’ye gotnll the feib Tlianl a«*ni Ihctwperhaps, only ' of great glad uJu.jr: j . U f " yr *’ K jr rn . lc J'l iU Brt Mo. «o«alBT;. : •Tar ffihenarWN™V«M "0» iLaSrd / prrosp#. he will plara with oas of lus paruacra at I .rutcl And to Il«4m and me he offers fifty puoods a year, enough, he says, for us letter tbo^ they will sound, dear Squir rel" Tenoiiutk tho next motaing found “If* her will." wont up tho chimney yesterday, to get out of Mr. Westbrook’s dutches, and slipped iu hero and found it all Jby cliancc. And i knew Aunt PleasaT'ct' could not have got up tho chimney, so 1 enmo up aguiti today nnd brought some matches with me, nnd found this little door out Auntie knew about it, of courso, and hid the old parchment up here I suppose. Take it, please, Mr Foster. I've rend ft all tbnmgh Mr. WeKlUook’s gotthefamily plate. K'Crjuic ►liO wuJied it tp go >ut!i tlie name, and Thank you, Mr. p-yrttordar. j you. Vfo will if you liadr.H Uvn so salads aith- me fur uuthm^T The TVheci It Thousands of Team Old. The earliest mention of wheels in the Bible is in Exodus xiv, 15, when the chariot wheels (>f the Egyptians were taken off by the Lord; but chariots are mentioned iu Genesis sii, 43. But there were* older nations than the Egyptiaaa. The Chaldeans used chariots*; the Greeks —Homer’s )>oems date from about 000 B C.—had chariots -at tlie siege of Troy, 1,500 B CX Probably In reality tlie wlosel is about aa early a piece of machinery aa any now exiatfngc Of course it has boon developed, bat the bicycle wheel of today Is a lineal de scendant of tho section of a fog of wood used by the agricultural people* thoQ* sands of years aga—New York Son. w Mr. Clews* Caetlj UatlirwM Henry Clfors, of New York, a great deal of time and tifying UL houec. He well pleased with any a ivsiru to go' first rooms he ia Up i ^