The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-02-10
LOST TO SAVE.
whats the matter, my boy?"

whats the matter, my boy?"
The question was asked by Lawyer
Maythorpe, who lived in the large red
brick house at the entrance of Silver
weir Hiah Street, and who was reputed
to be las rich as jew"
Certainly far richer than Sir Hugh
Northall, whom all the tewn knew found
it a very hard matter to make, as the
term goes, both ends meet.
At Silverweir, the Northall family had
been known and respected; and though
it was said, and truly, that Lawyer May
thorpe could put down pounds to Sir
Hugh's shillings, and beat him then, the
reverence and respect went for Sir Hugh.
Indeed, the man of law was considered
to have been honored when, by aids and
loans, he had extricated the Baronet
from more than one pecuniary difficulty
shat had threatened the foreclosing Of
the heavy mortgages on the estate, and
Punishment of the Northalls therefrom.
''And so he ought" calculated the
Silverweir-ites, for was it not Sir
Hugh's father who took Lawyer May
thorpes father by the hand when he had
hardly a penny to bless himself with,
and aided him to build the vast fortune
the son now enjoys?"
Matters stood in this position when
his nephew entering the study abruptly,
had caused Lawyer Maythorpeto look up
from his writing and ask what was the
matter.
'Simply, UNCLE" responded the young
man, throwing himself in q chair by
the blazing fret was the first of No
vember, and the atmosphere was dank
and foggy-''that am the happiest and
most miserable man in existence"
"Ah!" remarked the lawyer dryly ;
then you are in love-"
Exactly! Happy because have seen
the only woman I could ever love. Mis-
cradle because have not the slightest
chance of winning her."
"Why not q? You're not bad-looking
You are rich, for you are my heir"
"Ah, uncle, but in some cases some.
thing more is required; birth-posi-
ton"
''Then you have looked too high %
II have, uncle. The lady love is
Miss Ella Northall."
The Baronets daughter? Why, you
arrived at Silverweir only Yesterday
You can have seen her but once?"
love her, and she is beyond my reach"
why? First, because Sir Hugh
would consider her by birth far my
superior; secondly, his name is time
honored in Silverweir. Look at his posi-
tion-look at his estate!'
''As to his position and estate, look at
thatl'
Lawyer Maythorpe drew letter from
among others lying on the table, and
tossed it to his nephew, who read with
amazement as follows:
'Private.
''DEAR MAYTHORPE-I have decided I
can no longer fight against the accumula-
ton of debt that weighs me down. My
difficulties increase instead of lessen.
leave Silverweir with my daughter to-
night for the Continent, entrusting the
whole of my affairs to you. Compound
with my creditors in the best way that
you can. I fear the estate must 60. The
if they find the timber being cut to pay
if you can. My daughter, to whom
have had to tell all, is heart-broken.
Farewell, old friend. I'm sure you'll do
the best you can"
why, UNCLE" calculated the nephew,
''can Sir Hugh's affairs be really in this
state ?"
Really, Sir Hugh, were his creditors
fully paid, would be without shilling.
The fault is not his, but his ancestors,
who left him debt as q legacy. If he had
done twenty years ago what he is now
doing, something might have been
saved"
"And the mortgages"
Would have been foreclosed long
ago had they not been held by-a
friend" said the lawyer.
''How do you mean, uncle?" noting his
peculiar look.
This: that there now is but one mort
gagee. and that is myself. 1t is said in
Silverweir that owe a debt OF gratitude
to Sir Hugh. Well, have bought up
the mortgage-so prevented foreclosure;
have given him a bill of sale on his
furniture-so saved that from fore
closure"
Then"
The estate of Holmbeech, and all it
contains at this moment, is mine; you
may let all Silverweir know it, put in
Lawyer Maythorpe; mine and my
heirs" he laughed. Tomorrow Sir
Highs fight will be known, and to-
morrow I take possession"
Miss Northall, uncle, is, in that case,
no heirsss?"