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not standm with «town and um: wort “la quwu o Lou's Illuom Iu-umh ; a lawn ml! “at. and um pt. her. For 1010 u he: runs. 0 My clreuod tor the tuition wle um". waiting without. I. whom no sin sud no can in, Y0 a kingdom. no doubt. on think 0! tho port you on playing. .yon swim with thst lair drooping head - Fm. mrzuguu through your little bnuu “saying wm nivo more uuuid ? I wild in i ml ll swooping through cioudlund ; :ho lire-hum glows invent. sud red; pwhiw bum» in weaving u shroud-band Fox hours that on dud. o joy-balls rim: out through tho night-Mr; flag 0] I Kim: . 1 Winter draw: new ; 18h. glow and tho gleam oi the light than “n , _.-I_,....- um: hunr, ”I. bud crowned with ban-let; mm [now ozoudod with doubt; II. “ye than. no redder than cherries. Too putt, to pout. In that are owutrr than laughter. mu. mo M the Christina King's birth; I lhu shadows and unmwsoumo at." Our lesson of llama. now of! mono grove Ihoughtn. mu. fairy; live kiwi-nah and smile: {or w-nlghn no: can so a ou'ro clury. Loo on with delight. ore hearts that may ocho some hereafter Iho lustre that lives in your eyes, tho zed llpo that break into laughter, 0r tumble mm sight. 5 the Spa!) 0! the young yours that him] you [such d and holy and sure: we lezn a you, I would we might and you, 80 gonna sud pine. - n,,),l,. ,ltrnnge Story or (hrislmne ( Firclighl. (London Society.) CHAPTER 1. me relaxer. 'Is‘e getting derk. ien't it? Won‘t you It the cendiee, Berbare? eurely you can’t I. to reed any longer." “ 0. yes. I can eee for enother belt hour ; not ‘ blind men'e holidey ’ yet. I wish it , in one eenee; I wieh that you could get lidey. poor old deer! " p“ All right ; I‘ll teke one tmmorrow, be j it would be herd it I could not knock ‘ on Christmee dayâ€"but I'm bound to ‘ hthie heeket tonight; tomorrow we rent and enjoy ouuelvee, come whet “ 0 yes. oi eonree; but I meen I wieh you uld. get a reel holiday. one thet would meke n independent of this herd menuel lebor. idea. it will never bring in enough to keep going, pertieulerly when we here houee t to pey. in eddition to our other ex- e3. " I don‘t mind the work, Berby â€"l rether o it; it I liedn‘t. I shouldn't heve leerned eo thoroughly ; Neture elweye intended me r e hendicreltemen rather then e lewyer ; eerpenter end joiner. probebly ; en the rk tits the men-but I do wieh it would e litzle better. ee you eey. I don‘t quite my way to keeping things going by it, t what «lee em I to do ? Whet also can 1 l haw no literery ebility. I em eireid; see, out of ell thoee articles I heve die ted, end you heve written. during the leet months. only two heve been pted. end only (one peid forâ€"end I: pay! Why, beeket work is better then -Im‘k. elter ell, ien't it? ‘ Never mind ; p up your pluck. Bryen Weetl ’ thet'e In I say, and thet'e whet 1 mid to myeell ‘ my greet pinch ceme, end it pretty big '0 it wee. too. Goon with the book. Derby ; here, Jammy, hend up thet bundle of thee there, thet one in the corner;" end wicker-worker. who. sitting with e helt niebed basket between hie kneel. wee thue ttinu with hie wife. took the bundle which ieir~heirod mite of three gave him. end he for e minute into in. salt. pleuent hietle no he went on with hie work. _ Ithink 1 mey ee well begin my etory here mywimo elee. end though much hee to eeid concerning it which happened long we reach the eeene now before my mind'e , the h-mily picture it preeente in lo pleev nt e nne thet I like my curtain to rise pen it. Whet i can is thin: There in‘n long, low. old ieehioned, oek- ‘ '~ L-â€"- â€"xâ€"AAâ€" -O ' IIIU ll‘.!llll.w I""'"" -_ a” _ int a one that I like my curtein to rise pen it. What i rec is this: There ie‘» long. low. old fashioned. oak- anelied parlor. having a big bow window at no end, with a scrap of garden and country dgh-rosd for an outlook ; but, as the ground lancer-ohm. my attention centres upon the nterior. It is a humble but not a mean bode; one or two pieces of the turniture, ndeed. have been handsome in their day. ind. though that day is long pest. they are tone the worse for that. being solid. quaint ind picturesque. Yet they. with many other lppointmente ol the roomâ€"o neat writ- ng-tehle covered with books and papers. to witâ€"hardly seem to be the sort oi surroundings we should lxpect at firet sight for its inmates. for the whole space oi the window-bay is occupied m strewn by the litter and materials of the ketmekrr'e trade. This gives partially 1 the look of a workshop to what otherwise 1 wouldbeaanuggery. Yet. again. there is I not the air of a common workshop about it ‘ either. nor have the men. women end child the air at common peopleâ€"tar from it. Still. once more. the dcit and rapid way in which the workman uses hie fingers would indicate the skilled craltemau. so that altogether [here is on incongruity in the scene. which the progress of my story must needs account tor. She. for instance. sitting there upon the window-seat. with book in hand. upheld to catch the last rays of 'the short. test- ‘Iadlng winter twilight, is clearly n delicate-nurtured lady. whilst the tiny boy, who has toddled hack to her knee after doing hie iather‘s behest. notwithstand- ‘ing hie rough and over-worn little black suit. is evidently a well-born child. . And then the man himself: there is no mistaking him for anything but a gentleman. {Every movement proclaims it. Though he :hae to bend. oi course. over his work. he does :ao'without siouching. and he holds hie head Eons“ that at first you would think he is new!) n. "DB‘SQ’QFL‘ king at something across the room. until. ondering how his bands can work so nimbly . and with such certainty. without the guid- iance of his eyes. you suddenly discover that, though they are open. yet " their sense is shut." And his hands. tool Hardened and thick end as they have become by constant toil. It hae yet tailed to obliterate timt refinement ct outline and preportion. seldom seen save where the breed has some nobility ot aha-aster. it not of birth. to boast -e rimm- the cold weather. he aha-um. i! no‘ .1. Downs “1° nu cum-u um. mun. w..- a ______ an welcome you hear: -L¢.mdun Society. bu “ripped to his shirt» slam in o rogulu workwllko lumen ; but. por- hops 3 mm to oounuroor the chill, ha ha drown bin “00! Iomowbn out of tho window Ipooo towudl the opon old-tuhionod gnu. whoreon onouldorl a huge blllot 0! wood. “ Welt," he prountly sou an. utter hll wllo had been radius to him ogoin tor n few Inimml. " i! you won‘t list“ up. Barby, 001110 and give thin log n stir; rouse it into n blue. M [our we won't “int ouroelvu in luol. whilo we remain under the temporary rool Mr. Biohord Holland bu so nobly provided _,__x‘_ n-nlu In. a Mt. nwuuu ‘OVOUWU- ..-- _- n for us : it wee e greet concession truly for e men with £8,000 a year I It is all he will ever dolor us. so we will meke the most of it,especlelly as its Christmes time; 1 sm eetistlsd. it he is." " Well. you are e iorglving. heppy spirited old derllng, Brynn. oerteinly," seys the wile. es she stirs the logrnto e blaze. "I heve not hell the petlenee with Richerd Heleteed thet you here. Old es the story is. end oiten es we talk shoot it. my feeling never modifies towards him; I think you might search the world through. end herdly heer iol colder or more heertless conduct then his to you." . " It's ell thet. Berbere. end e good deel more. it you like.” answers the husbend. “ end I knowâ€"" he wee going on. end then pnuud. She finishes the sentence tor him. " Yes, you know 0! more reasons to condemn him than I do, you were going to eny. Ah. Bryan, I wonder what it. is you do know." -- u 7 , _:_: um. u I... .nvn - H wn Inn't nyllll' u. uvuuv- ".._- -- -_ a 7 V “ Never mind that." he nya; " we won't cloud our minds and dull our dnya by «lull- in on it. particulurly these days. At this reason. it we oon't feel good-will towards all menâ€"and I admit it would bohardly natural (or us to feel my towards himâ€"we con at least not go out of our way to any hard things of him. and I apologise (or my ur- caom about his noble grnerouity. Now go on tending again ; Squire Braoebridgo at Brno:- bridgo Hall is a plosnntar figure to think of 1 than Richard Halatnd. yhorovgr be any be.” Â¥L:‘AI..- _ CHAPTER 11. Till PAST. Bryen West hen not been blind from birth. end I! this eketoh of him by his fireside hae been reelized. neither had he, it will te gaetsad. been brought up to the trade of nuket making. Up to the ego of eight-end. twentyâ€"he was now eix-and-Ihiztyâ€"he had etudied and iollowed the luv, and he bed every reason to believe thet hie future. inde- pendently of his profession. would be Well provided lor. So that when. seven or eight yeare helore we now see him. the terrible ‘efliietion oi gradually-inereeeing blindneee tall upon him, and he was compelled to ebendon hie profession, he wee It least free But I must hark back to etill younger daye in hie hie. He had no recollection of his parents. He heard that they had died when he was a baby. The woman's lace which he earliest remembered was that of hie aunt. by whom he had been brought up, and whose house he called home until her death. He knew her name to be Marrell. Mire Margaret Marrell, when he flrat came to understand that people had names. He knew also. an hie intelligence increased. that she was rich, and that Averley Bower, the house in which ehe lived. wan every beautiful one. and that it wee not everybody who had such a fine house. standing in a grand perhwith large trees and bright flowere entrounding it. “UL. 0-..-.. A, Hum qu unbu- uv n-.- __.-__ A dim memory. too. had the little Brynn of 3 second woman'n face. not nenrly no beauti- ful as his aunt Morgaret’l. and which he did not like much. though he knew it was thnt oi on aunt linoâ€"aunt June; aha. howo'nr, seldom troubled barrel! about him. being. or it seemed, too old uni ill to play with him. Ind by degree: he law her face lean and in: often. until at last it diuppoared entirely. nnd he nlmont lorgot over having «on it nll. He was a very hnppy ohlld Ind very fond of hm Aunt Mar- . L- L-!.._ 8......nonldn pnl'. ”'PI’, uuuu unu- .-.', --._._. -, , gust. she and he being inlopnnblo. Par- ticularly fond was he of mo days when they med to wonder. those No. far away from the big house. through ,tho puk to a smaller 2.... --II..,I u 'l‘hn nnunan." flvunw. 'lllvu-flâ€" . - ”I __v u , house on its boundary celled “ Tho Cottege." This was locked up end unoccupied at times; but Aunt Morguet hed the key. end they need to go into a long. low room. with n he,- window looking out on e smell patch 01 neglected garden and it high road, where in bed wsether he used to romp end pley to his heert'e content. whilst she sometimes used to sit end write or work; (or this room wee psrtly lurniehed end eppenred to the little ‘lellow e perfect clyeium. because .he wee Iellowsd to clemher _ebout over the cheire ,4 __..-L ..-r-- .. ind able: vI-I-vv- 3nd «mixâ€"0"“ much noise ho llkod. n no. o '03: old house. not] bod bun tho on. fir» bulk upon the «an. no“! no origins! owner h“ grown rich enough to on“ the mun-ion all omongu ‘ho tun were in tho middlo of the pork. and call it Avoxloy Bower. Am“ and nephew spam msny hoppy hour. u we Uotnge. and up to the time 0! his going to school oven n ma III"). a (Home haunt 0! “Me Bryan's. WI' Il'I’l I l-vvns'v u-â€"â€"v V Just before this event in the boyhi liie happened. howewr, there came upon the scene a gentleman who, alter it little while. took to living in his annt‘e house. and whom he was then told to call uncle ; and he began to understand that he hsd married her and giVen her hie name. and that she had become Mrs. Heletead. By and by it baby appeared. a little oouain, who would grow up to be a boy and play with him some day. he was told. But it seemed a long while belore this could be. {or there was a matter oi eight yesre between the ages of the cousins. and when little Biohsrd Heletead became old enough to have been a companion. the two §boye did not get on well together. The younger wen inclined to domineer. and used to say that the house and park. and all the rest of it. belonged to his pups. and would be his some day; and though Bryan West was too kindly and good-natured to recent in any decided msnner these aflronts which the precocious little imp early began to put upon him. he felt them keenly. Nor were matters mended by the sudden death of Mr. Heleteed. which, hsppening when Richard me just nine years old, seemed to invest that young gentleman with n vaet amount of extra importance and insolence of bearing. But. ngsin. the difference in age kept the cousins sufficiently apart to obviate any- uvu-Iuw uuâ€"v--â€"-v‘ .' thing like an open rupture, and you may be sure that Mu. Hulntead. in her double capacity of Aunt And mother, strove her utmost to keep the pages: 7 A m--A ‘\----‘nn HUI unuvv- 'v u--r 80 time went on. and Bryan West became a barrieter-at-lau. and had even obtained his first brief, whilat Richard Halatead was still at cozlege. making duck: and drakee of hie mother's money. When ahe finally became tired of the repeated drains upon her purse. and insisted that he should either go stradily in for honors or leave the university. be com placently adopted the latter course. returning to the maternal roof. and openly expreseing his determination, as hie education was com- plated. to work no more. but to lead the life of a gentleman. as he called it, henceforth. So he established himself at Averley Bower. hunting and shooting with the best of the country. spending a good deal 0! time in London during the esaaon, and in no wise ‘ ballting himself in his wilful will. u A ‘L:- _‘.._ In“. aka-1‘ UHI‘II-lu lllluvvl. .â€" â€"-' Things hsd remsined at this pass (or about 15 yesr. when the first symptoms of Bryan's sfllwtion obliged him also to return home. and unbappily obliged him. so it would seem, to remain more [or an indefinite period. 1 vrAIsL_-3 Iv l‘ulfllu .uv-v uv- â€"- -â€" " Tell me, mother." said Richard Heletead one morning. noon aher this fact had become evident. "‘ do I understand that you are going to keepBryen at home here, (or ever and eye, doing nothing 7" .u- 1 9A L-AA-_ ‘Dl‘L--.I H nun...â€" wn the answer. “ But I thou-3'13 the doctor uld he never would be better.” “ Well, end if nnheppily he never is, this must. be hie home. of course." “ Then il won't be mine very long. let me tell you. I can’t stand e fellow tumbling about all over the place. and getting into my wey at every turn ; it will be an intolerable nuisance.” 7- . n- c 1 “ Whet e cruel. heartless Ipeech. Richard. for you to make I But. else. I ought not to be surprised; it is. whet I might have ex- pected lrom your usual conduct." “ 0. my ueuel conduct be hanged !' it it not dnfierent from the couduet 01 other young Mlowe with my proepeete out! poeiti‘on." *SAL lvlsuwu vIlvâ€" -l r-v'r ,,,,,,, " Prospecte l" interposed hia mother. with a sudden air of determination quite unusual in her; “ what are your prospects, pray? Surely. it you ever think about them me. must know that they depend entirely on you. 1 Is it not enough that I have foolishly in- ‘ dulged you in all things to the top of your bent. but that you must take this oppor. tunity. when your poor cousin is struck down bya terrible calamity. to object to any ersngements I may choose to makein my own house for his comfort? And then to talk to me about your ‘prospects ’l I think you had better know at once that it it really turns ‘ out unhappiiy that Poor Bryan Will never be able to resume his prolesaion, or earn his own living. I shall be obliged to provide very much more handsomely for him than I had intended; and therefore you will be obliged Inuuuuu; Ill“ Inclvnvnv Jvâ€" "u- â€"' ""u-â€" to restrain your extravagant propensities a little ; your :quanduing will have to come to on end." “ Indeed I" said Richard; “ tmt'a the wny the wind as“. is in I: is as well I have elisitod that much. at any ram ;" and an ominous “owl Mole over his handIome bus dinianed-lookianice. A9,,,A.j AL- _-ALA- “II-lv-vv‘. .v 'â€"._ "Quite on well," continued the mother. " You are perlectlyeware thet this property wu mine whenl married your father. and thet he hed it settled upon me like the high- minded gentleman that he was. For the eeke of your own selfish Interests. therefore. you had better conform as graciously as you can to ‘my views regarding Bryan." ___ _-_ -Lnn. 6n ma‘tn JV“ van- vw â€" The recalcitrant aon waa about to make some oflenaive reply. when the object of their ccnvereation was here heard tapping hia way with his atiok on the gravel path juet outaide the open window of the breaklaat-rocm. within which mother and eon were eitting. The likelihood of being overheard, perhaps, reatrained Richard's tongue ; but it so. he was too late, for the latter part of the con- vereaticn had distinctly reached Bryan‘s care. as he had walked unheard upon the lawn to- warda the window. and only when he lound that he was the cause of the angry worde did he make an effort to reach the gravel path and no escape from his involuntary eavea- dropping. What he had heard, however. i could not tail to throw some light on luture levente. " 7 _-A,a -l U'Uuun Another year or two paucdin a tort of armed neutrality between the cousin. and toward: the latter part of this period, Bryan. by wey of quinine I break in the We at ,, I-.. _-...- Quinnâ€".L. mlOI- An U, "-1 ------- D _V , , Averley. went away {or some months with an attendant to tho coast of Norfolk. where he learned that, fishing-not and blanket-making which was to ba of such vital use to him hereafter. and where he also learned how very thin a line it in that separates pity from love. 119 wrote to his aunt. wondering whether a blind man wal justified in marrying a woman without a penny; for the and was. that tho daughter oi the clergyman in the reahoard pariah where he stayed took to ‘reading to him. and alter arriving at a duo avrreoiation oi the nude and dimonltioa his ail iotlon entailed upon him. Barbara Morris took to loving him. and naturally be to loving hot. It”. Inland. to whom he: mp. how's nonblo bud onduud him not. than over. when oh. «mo to know the pufloulnn concerning Bubnn Moms. quite apptoyud o! 31:. id“. n,,_ n -L- -VlI-. ‘II-v- “rt-v V__ .. “Anything In the world. dear Bry." ahe wrote. “ which will alleviate your afllio- tion will be hailed with gratitude by me. I} have before now told you what my intention: 1 are towarda you ; and I may aa well farther tell you now that I have recently aeoured their carrying out in the event oi anything happening to me ; thereiore the queetion oi money need not interfere with your view. In short. I have made a trash will einoe you have been away. and by it have provided. as I hope you will think. amply ior your oom- iortable maintenance. for 1 am quite aura we may aay. 'God duea ' not ' exact day-labor. light denied.’ That the oompanionehip and tender care of a wile would be invaluable to you. every one must ieel ; therefore by all meana marry. it you think .you have found the right pereonâ€" and it you pleaae. at once. I ehould like to have aeen your Barbara. flret. but my health will not allow me to think of a journey into Notiolk. and the idea other being brought to , A_LI- Devi-v.-. â€"â€"â€" v..- ._i_ me tor approval would be too detestable. And so. an I have great confidence in your. common sense and judgment, and ii the pre- liminary arrangements will admit 0! it. bring her home here no your wile. It would bee great happiness to me it I thought that you end she could be happy here. and make the “ Bower " your home. The house has alwaya been {or larger than I needed; and there will be ample room tor you and your wile. espe- cially as Richard now seldom honors me with hie company. I do not know what he doeu : with himself ; and though I cannot hope that ‘he in much eteadier than of yore, I hear oi I lower debts." vavg uvuv Within three month: alter the receipt of these encouraging words. Mr. and Ma. Went were comfortably established in a suite of rooml set apart' for them at Averley Bower. and all, for n time, went, I may any, as merrily as did the marriagwholl which peeled lrom the tower of that little Norfolk church by the sec. on the morning when Bryan and Burbcra became man and wile. Richard Helstecd did not trouble the family with more then one visit during this. per- haps. the brightest period in Bryan's life ; end it was only utter the expirstion of another two or three yeus, when Mrs. Hel- stead’s heclth entirely gave way. that her son's appearance at the Bower became more frequent. Meanwhile a little West bed come into the world. and though Mr. Richard be- haved with distant civility to the ' interlop- ers.’ es he called his cousin and his wife, he did not isil to agitate his mother, when alone with her. by strong expressions 0! dis- gust at her household errsngemsnts. 74â€"..- _-...- -_A But. et lent. the open ruptute came, end came the mate distreeetully. eince it happen ed in the midst of the sorrow in which Bryan was eunk by the Intel termination of his deer and beloved ennt‘e illnele. Upon his venturing a mild remonetrunoe egainet the unseemly heete with which Richard Heleteed was pushing on the {uneml obaequiee of hie mother. he turned upon Bryan fiercely. . mvvu-n â€"- -_-_-_ _ " I will brook no {Elfin}: ”interlerenoa from you, Bryon." he sold. “ I have Mood it long enough. and _I will have 329 to know that l , -_I_ L_..- Vuvuau‘ â€"â€"_ â€" n... ._.V am mutu- ‘heré noi; ' You are only here upon snfiennoo, remember. just u long as I plugs 92d 119% a moment longer." 2,._ _ 4: _____ I-.. ...:n. flu-av sueâ€"w â€"vv _ â€"_ “Iwillnot enter into 3 discussion with you," answered Brynn. “at this moment. Yon-may be quite sure that I shsllkn‘ow when and how to relieve you from my “TE-v}; that won't rest with you." said Richard, lnaolently. “I shall “and upon my rights I: heir to this estate. and my rlgmn will soon put you to the right about, no you had belles not oppose me." A L -1; _ j:--..-..:.u. preagnoe.” “Vania-3.713;; i sâ€"vlll 'x‘xoi hold a discussion with you now; only you will have to re- member that I have rights. too, so well as you."_ s v,,_ I AL ...... “I Lnnn In Jun-I “ Hove you. by Jove ! then you‘ll have to prove them. my lriend.I can tell you. and that may be more diflicnlt than you expect." added the angry Richard; 3nd as Bryan turncdtoleave the room then last words leemadto him to have a malicious signifi- onnoenn them. 7 Vluvw an I " More diflioult than I expect." he mused when he was alone. " Whn does the fol low mean 7 There can be no dimouny. My dear aunt's own wrinen words will establish my rights." he went on, in his oogitntion. but not wimonnoormn tooling of anxiety creep. tug over him. . . ‘ c4 _11_ --L I-|-.. 8.. lu V w v- us.â€" a e That night he and his wife sat later in their room than usual, spanking much 0! the dear one just gone. but not touching even upon the possibility oi any change being necessary in their future domestic arrange- ments. Such a likelihood never seemed to cross Barbara‘s mind, nor would it Bryan's. but {or the few words that had passed between him and his cousin that morning. He kept his thoughts to himseli, however. whatever they were, and finally his wiie, retiring to rest, leit him still musing. Now it being the month of June. and the weather hot, with open windows. rather than tires. prevailing throughout the house. Bryan was somewhat startled about hell an hour aiter Barbara had gone to bed to discover a smell of burning. He rose instinctively and walkcd out on to the landing. Keen oi scent as a {ox-hound. he proceeded down the corridor whence the odor came. 0! course it was nothing to him that the house was in dark. ,, -IAL- _-_ -II Aun- uvouaub Iv u-â€" vâ€"â€". 7â€".7 nan ; he knew every atop o! the way all over 1 it. better than many perhaps with their eyes. He atopped at the door of a room adjoining that of his aunt's bed-ohamber.wheroehe now lay in her last sleep. and which she had need as her boudoir. He was about to put his hand on the latch in some anxiety. ior it was here that the smell was strongest. when the sound of some one moving about within arrested him. and a ahort low cough. which be well know. told him it was his cousin. Keen of hearing as of smell. he dietin- guiehed at the same inctlnt the orinkiing and tearing of paper as well u its burning. Primed no he had been into a vague Mute oi distrust by Heleteod'e words of the morning, the discovery oi him here in this- place, than occupied in ghe dead 01 nighi wiih whai must “-1..-A- --â€"n-‘ L-hfillnl‘ n Uuuupwu us nu. u-.._ __ _, be his mother’s privete papers. uroused a. strong suspicion of foul ploy. Bryan‘s first impulse wee to burst into the room; but be checked himseli by e remembrance of all the surrounding circumstances. the presence oi death, the terms upon which he was with his cousin. his helpless insbility to verily by actual observstion what was going on. the possible disturbance oi the household st this hour. and the scandal which would sriee thereupon He wsvered ior s moment at the door. but then. creeping back to his own epsrtments, lay down to sleep in o more perturbed stste of mind thou be hot! over known. “To sloop." did I fly? "Naluro'o not: nun.” roluwd to smooth bl. plllov lb» ulghl. The pro-pool of llllniloblo oolomlly opened like u ludoouo wuhug vinlou boloto hln. and held him spellbound. noting n ll ln hlu duknou. throughout the wool" houu till morning come. do our to plainly whot in coming In it he had been glued wllh doublo night, inuud of pouoomg none In I“ ; and sums what. by a pramouislon. was than M. vuled to him come lo pm. and I will loll you whnl it won. inland or following step by no}; the lnlrlonoleo of in development. ' , l_’l_ He eew Biehurd Heleteed in entire indie- putehle poeeeeelon ol the whole of hie eunt’e property, and himsell. with wile and child. thrown ue beggere upon the world. Be fore- nw that there would be no will lorthcomlng to juttily his claim to the portion ehe bed uften promised him. end ecpecielly in thet letter ehe wrote to him ebout hie merriege. That will. he lelt convinced, hie coueln had destroyed. though he dere not eccueo him at it. no he would never be able to prove the not. Bicherd'e worde, in their urrogent confidence. pointed in thet direction. and the discovery Brynn had mede that night. of the con deellng with the mother'e privete pepere, euggeeted when ‘ end how the deed wee done. Mre. Heleteed. would be shown to hcve died inteetete. end thet therelore her only eon. her next of kin. neturelly would inherit ell. There might be much protecting. much dieputing; but the law on the mutter would be uumietakeble. The intention of the deceeeed might be quoted end euch writinge ee were extent to ehow what these were might be produced, but the one writing neceeeery to confirm them all would be wanting. Borne eppeel. might he made to the heir‘e generosity. but who would mete it? Not he. Brynn. And. yetâ€"end yetâ€"he end hie could not etcrve: and he would be pennileee. utterly pennileee. ehorn ol hie eunt'e provision let him and dterly incapable of earning his own liveli- hood. much leee a living (or three. _ " You are hexe now upon sufiaranee." Halatssd had said to him that morning, and it would be true. What eufisrsnoe could he look for lrom such a men. even oonld he subject himself to the indignity of remaining dependent on his cousin's bounty 1 Yet. short of this. he might be turned out like a dog to starve! For himsell in such a all. he had no thought; but for her and that little one! Well, their necessity would induce him to submit to much. Yes. he would appeal to Richard’s feelings tor them, i! not [or himself; it the worst came to the worst. he must do so. whatever it might cost him. and the appeal eould not be made in vain. __â€" -_- __..r _V,, Then this hideous nightmare aalloped, with poor Bryan on it: back. through and! a labyrinth of terrible contingencies. that when his wife woke in the morning Ibo found him in a state so feverish and excited that he had much difficulty in aliasing her anxiety, and in persuading her that nothing wan amiss. “ For after all," he said to him- Ielf when he arose. and the cheery hopeful element in his nature again asserted itulf. “ these fancies are but the result of a favored imagination and extreme nervous depreuion. and it Would be unfair to let my dear wife share auoh visionary tr011blea_with me.” But, eler, as Iheve hinted. the trouble! were not vieionery; each and all 0! them turned out almost identically as the blind mg: had but too eurely foreseen. Indeed. as they began actually to develop, and he behold the terrible enticipntione ol thet night fulfilled etep by step. hie bright hopelnl spirit wee eo clouded, that he had no heart to mnke nny firm ehoy _of reeietence. True, he ucertained from the family ecli- citor that that gentleman had executed the will Mre. Haletead had referred to in the letter to her nephew before quoted; “but." added the man.of law. “I left it with Mre. Haletead at her requeet, and I saw her de- posit it amonnet other pepere in the dawn- port in her boudoir.” True. Bryan Welt Inetltnted at his coucin’e requeet the moat rigid eearch for that will. every facility being given him for having it found; but it never was found. of course. and Bryan knew It never would be. What won the use. there- fore. of protecting. or contacting the righte o! the next of kin. particularly he he lost no op- portunity of etatiog he wee determined to [stand upon them 2 Within three weeks after the tunnel. end when Bryan knew there wee nothing [or it but to accept the summon. Richard Eel-tend. mid. in his usually offensive, arrogant manner, " I am going to sell Averley Bower. Brynn. just an it atnnda, furniture and all. so you'll have to clear out like the test of In baton Ohriatmu." ' “ I have been expecting to hear something to this effect." mam-red Brynn. " and I should be glnd to know what you propou doing with_regard to me and_mino." _v-â€"" n “Who'tilâ€"fir'opou? O. I have nothingto propose; you are your own master, 1 pm uumo; lam not your keeper; you are not depegdom upon _me 1 " _ " Then on whom else em I dependent?" eaid Bryan, bhing his lip. and turning his blank eyeein mu direction where eat bu: wife and Ohlld ; “ to whom else have they to look ? " " Nay my," and Barban. " do not appeal in thn key ; it the war“ comes to the wont. we on jog along somehow." " You. of course you can." cried Richard. with a kind of sarcastic imitation of hot hopulul (one; “spoken like a womon of spirit. by Jove. You. of course you can! You can turn the basket and not making to to- count now, and I intend that you shall; Ind you might write. tooâ€"write bookl. you know. and that sort of thing." "Doubtlen." said Bryan. making n strong eflort to control his indignation. "we shot! be able to maintain ourselvaa alter a laahton; but, Iticbnrd, surely you must Ieo. in oom- mon justice, that you are bound in a certain manure to rectlly the unhappy consequence- to me arising from my dear aunt's dying in- teat-to." A. _ n... I 1 A_._m!‘._4 “ I unbound I" returned Richard, angrily; " upon my word. I like than I” and than, checking himself. he went on more calmly, " Now. see here, Bryan West. I am bound to do nothing but win» I choose, and what I do not choose is to maintain you and your tomily ; we won't discuss the matter, to underatond that dinuncuy. I am not going to be lived upon any longer; you will has ‘0 provide for youraefl for the future." “ But your dear mother‘s inteuflone were for diflerem, you must know.'f “ Whu 1?; mower'l intentions were it is impognflblo or an! mun to tell." - ---Al_._-.l 1').-.- Il -- IerDIII-lv -â€" "But we know." confirmed Bryan. "we hue oorroborumo antimony of what they won; her letterâ€"Mr. anley. the soliouor who drew up her will. know: vb» in con-