The St. Cloud journal., 1870-12-22


when it is said that family pride was
tho chief flaw in .Kenelm's nature there
need be little wonder that his senti-,
meots towards Bennett. though ourbed
in their expression, were those >ot, zin-
tense honesty. The young map, as we
have already intimated, had approach
ed the ivy-mahtled keep in the rear
aud was. intending to>make his way to-
Bennett, who, with his son and an &C.
quain.auce Or two, stood watching the
.laborers iu front, when he was arrest
ed by the mention of his late fathers
name.
The speaker was Marmaduke Ben
nett, a would.be swell of four.and-twen-
ty whom, during his 6rst year at Cam
bridge, Kenelm had avoided. both
from: dislike to him personally and dis
trust Of his father. Marmaduke had
left the University to contract an ear
ly marriage With the daughter of rich
button.maker, and was already parent
of two years standing. Kenelm had
certainly good reasons for his dislike of
Marmaduke, who was sneak with the
powerful, a bully with the weak, and an
affected preteuder with everybody.
Such was the person who, iu converse
tion with one or two townsmen Of Gor.
ton, was now endeavoriug to gloss
over hi: fathers cruelty to the deceased
Mr.. Gore BY libelling the character of
the latter. .--
"a weak, improvideut,. and un,scru.
pulous old man, my dear Skelton," said
he, "whom nobody could save froro
ruin. OF course the feelings Of the
mob always go with the unfortunate !;
but, if the obligations Of old Gore to
my father and the foroearance granted
to him were fully known, there would
be an end to this sentimental railing" "
Kenelm, who had been Intercepted
from the speakers view by scafolding
and mound of bricks, nowadarted for
ward.
"Marmaduke Bennett, ne said,
while the reoedine flush on his cheek
revealed the restraint put upon bis
emotion, "for the first time, I deign to
handy words with you. If my poor
father was lured by yours ioto; speoula-
tions which placed-him at. the mercy
. of, a seeming friend If that friend was
pitilcss and showed that his sole object
was to grasp the dwindled inheritance
Of an old family, as if he could change
his nature with his abode, and succeed
to honors as easily as to acres and
bricks, there was still in all this: nc
such wrong as the law takes cognisance
of or as I could wisely resent. But
when you speak Of your fathers iodul-
eence to mine, you make . statement
which is humiliating to me If true
shameful to yourself if false. l., will
give you and Mr.: Bennett three days t
prove to Mr.. Shelton aud myself, BY
any document in your possession, tha'
my father ever received any indulgence
from yours or incurred any debt whict
was not dearly repaid. Ifyou produces
no such proof l denounce you asa COW
ard who stsnders the dead because HI
thinks himself safe from an answer"
It was an unfortunate position 70,
| Mr.. Marmaduke Bennett. Had he
been alone with Kenelm he would hav'
tried to sootb but the terms which
the latter had used in the presence o
Shelton were such as man pretcndin!
to the least spirit was bound to repel
Two courses We're open-either quietly
to promise Kenelm the proof which
ho had required and subsequently !: de
mand an apology, or to refuse the proof
. 4
and, if possible, to silence his opponent
by bluster. Unfortunately for Marina
duke, trusting. tosthe help Of his father
and driven; as: be; thought, to assert hi
courage before Skelton, ho chose tn
latter course. ~. .:.....>..: =. .:... =.
II have neither proof nor answer 4
give to bully" he said, in a quick ye
wavering tone, which betrayed at onc'
passion and apprehension. ut is to-
much to be browbeaten by fellow be
cause one speaks the truth as to tn
} reckless and dishonest extravaganza o
. his father"
"Dishonest!" calculated Kenelm
and as the words passed his lips sud
den blow laid the slanderer pros
trate. The blood rushed to the with
cred cheek of the elder Bennett a
he growled forth an inprccatio1
But there was a dander in the quie
J sternness of the young mars lool
which neither father nor son was ca
ger to brave. Tho latter, indeed, AZ h
rose slowly from the heavy fall, elare,