The Evening critic., 1884-04-07

Harold, with all his smiling surface, was
bitterly Jealous of him.
"But won't spin it out longer than can
help. Three months ago Arthur came
home from college, and he camo homo in
debt. lie had been wild and extravagant.
Sir John paid his debts and gave him lee
ture. Arthur knew that some one had
lecture badly. After that no asked his
lordship to buy him commission in reg
iment which had just been ordered TO In-
dia. Sir John didn't fatty refuse nor did he
give his assent, but he gave another lecture
which the lad took with very ill-gracc, aud
he took IL thus because he knew that her
ladyship was at the bottom Of It,"
From all of which," said Jason, 81 infer
that her son Harold aims at being the heir,
and in order to accomplish this he must
get rid of his rival ?"
you are right, Jason"
But" said Jason, eagerly, don't you
mean TO do something? Isn't there some
way in which you can lend the young man
helping hapa2"
"Be sure tlxI6 is, Jason. He has friends
on the watch. Well open Sir Johns eyes
soon enough"
"And l should say the sooner you opened
them the better"
1--WE must have something positive, you
know, to work upon. We old servants
have to work carefully"
"Aye,-there's the rubl" cried Smart,
starting up from his seat "While you arc
working carefully, the holder ones will come
in with strong horses and win the race
But come,-Id like to look through the old
park. We can talk as VIC walk"
The lodge-keeper arose, and led tho way
out into the broad avenue, and when his
companion had surveyed the familiar scenes
about the gate, they turned toward the
mansion, taking one Of the foot-paths. They
had gone but short distance when Peter
pulled his companion by the sleeve, aud
drew him behind the shrubbery.
"IIold back, Jason! Now you'll see a
sight. Don't move, but look sharp"
As the keeper thus spoke man and wo-
man came in sight. The man was of me-
dunn height, broad and heavy Of frame, and
inclined TO obesity. His head was small
and the face was lowering and sinister. His
age might have been anywhere from five
and-thirty to forty.
The woman was older, and though she
bore some features in common with her COM
panion, especial about tho eyes and mouth,
yet she was what tho world might call
handsome-that is, handsome for one who
had passed the meridian of life.
What do you think of that woman ~
asked tho keeper, after the twain had
passed on.
~ don't know about the woman l amt q
Judge of the sex. But should say the man
was villain. Who is he?"
"He calls himself the Honorable Harold
Berwick"
"And the woman is his mothcrP"
yes; she is the present Lady Birch
NEAR
"And can't you see by tho looks of that
mans face and by the way he whispers what
he's got to say that he's concoctng some
sort of villainy?"
"If he isn't, he's out of his regular line"
81 should say so. And SHE don't look
like saint. See how eager she is. l tell
you, Peter, il there's villainy afoot, she's
got as much interest in 1t as he has. Mark
my words"
When Lady Birchmear and her son had
passed from sight, the keeper and his COM
panion came out INTO the path aud pursued
their way toward the mansion.
And now, while the two old servants are
viewing familiar objects, We will follow
Lady Birchmcar and her sou. They had
entered upon secluded spot, away from
the principal paths, where they had stopped,
and where they pursued the conversation
in which they had been engaged-pursued
IL to point upon which they had not
centurod while in more exposed part of
the grounds. =
'My mother" said Harold, in voice
scarcely raised above whisper, what we
do must be done quickly. 1t is very evil
dent that Sir John still cherishes linger-
ing love for Arthur, in spite Of his dissipa-
tions."
al think he does, Harold" returned her
ladyship, meditatively.
81 know he does" asserted her son. "He
cherishes for the boy an instinct Of love
above me, just as he remembers the boy
mother with warmer feeling than he be.
slows upon my mother"
Lady Birchmear clutched her hands, and
breathed quickly
"You need not mention that, Harold.
know his lordship's heart and he may be-
stow its treasures of empty remembrance
where he will, so that bend his outward
acts to my purpose. In all things but this
| he is my abjoct slave"
81 know" said Harold, with an evil
smile, "that you have entire control of all
| that can affect your individual interests
| and now 1t only remains for us to gain con
| troll of the rest. Shall we let Arthur gair
| commission in the Army?"
| mol" answered the lady, emphatically
| "You, my son, must be heir of Birchmear
and that you will never be If Arthur leaves
us and enters the Army"
| you speak as though you had full as
surance, my mother"
| "Aye, Harold, and have full assurance
knew Arthurs father, and had he lived
one poor month longer he would have beer
general Of brigade. His son is like him
Let Arthur 60 out to India with commits
sion and he will make record of which ST
John will be proud, and the old an'sslum
bering love for him will be rekindled."
81 understand you" said the son, will
an uncomfortable look upon his face.
He could not deny the premises, aud ye
1t was cutting to be brought thus face T.
face with his youthful rivals excellencies
And, furthermore" pursued her lady
ship, II have undertaken work, aud
-shall not shrink from any ordinary mean
necessary to its accomplishment. You know
that / have sought to poison his lordship'
mind against the youth, and have so FL
succeeded that if we can bring about some
thing that shall fall crushingly upon him
We may get him out of tho way. And thi
you must do. You know how anythin
like contention or open strife jars upon 81
Johns nerves Now, can you not fasten
quarrel upon Arthur? ] think his pecu
liar temperament is more open TO tina
means of attack than TO any other Mar
me: If Arthur inherits Birchmear-"
He shall never do It'll" interrupte
Harold, with an oath. II have set m
heart upon the prize and / will win it, oil
at all events, the son of the first wife shal
not win it from me. You spoke of en-
gaging him in quarrel. That idea open
tho way to a new mine. plan alread
begins to shape itself in my mind. Let m
think"