Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-03-28
Ills pet name for Mr.. Barker, Mary's

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quiet glance at him; land from what
have heard of his appearance, the gen
eral points of resemblance would be
near enough to account for the mistake
on the child's part"
Permit me to feel battered. | have
heard of him from Mr.. Hyde, and al
most feel inclined to make his acquaint-
ance. suppose l ought to be grateful
to him for such favorable introduce
ton to Arthur's boy"
Looking up, he saw Margaret re-
garding him with curious light of in
terrogation in her eyes. He answered
her with smile, and, without word
being spoken, they seemed TO under
stand each other.
When Mr.. Hyde came in, haitian
hour later, he found Master Arthur
playing on the floor withUncle Mchael's
watch-chain and seals, and handful
of gold and silver which he had uncere-
moniously fshed mp out Of the old gen
tleman's wastcoat pocket. The little
fellow had made friends with his grand
ma, but did not care much for his Aunt
Victoria. Passionately fond of him as
Miss Allenby could have been, she had
unconsciously manner that repealed
children. She did not like to have
fold of lace tumbled, or a tress of hair
set awry; and the boy, finding that he
was only expected to sit still and be
kissed, declined his share of the bar
gain, and struggled down. Infant as
he was, she resented it. Mrs. Allenby
could not satisfy the fierce hunger Of
7 her love for Arthur's boy; every time
she looked at him she longed to have
him all her own. The bitterest thing
in her mind at present was that in an
hour or two he would have to leave her
and go back to that girl who was only
his mother. To be only his mother
counted very little with the lady Of Or
thorpe Square when her own son was
the father. No one could have fought
more resolutely for her maternal rights,
and no one would have been less willing
to give them to another.
II see he makes himself at home"
Mr.. Hyde said, taking him from the
floor upside down, and swinging him as
high as the chandelier What do
you think Of him. Uncle Michael?'
"IIe is Arthur over again. George;
everything | would desire. BE careful
of him.
There is no danger" laughed George.
"He would make his fortune as an
acrobat" and he took the baby round
the room astride on his shoulders. Did
he make friends easilyr"
That was very curious said Mrs.
Allenby; she ran straight past Victoria
and me, and went straight TO Mr.. AL
lenby. Anyone would have thought
they had met before"
Depend upon it, Master Arthur is
wise in his generation" said George.
lie has weakness for elderly gentle
man who carry large gold watches and
plenty of sovereigns and silver for
him topay with. Mr.. Barkerhas spoiled
him for the society of ladies. He as
sociates elderly gentleman with cargo
of toys, and grey hair and eyeglasses
with unlimited sweetmcats, including
preserved ginger.
"Unky Bake, said the boy, patting
Michael's cheek.
Well said George, gravely; "if
Uncle Michael had the govt very badly,
wore blue spectacles, and was generally
slovenly and brusque, he might pass at a
distance for Unky Bake, as you call
him; at present, young man. you are
not SO complimentary as you intend to
be. Unky Bake certainly did not win
your love by the beauty of his personal
appearance"
But he must be nice old gentle
man, Margaret said, ''or Mary would
no be so fond of him."
He is Just as have described him,
Maggie, but | suspect he found his way
to her heart through the boy"
"Or being very rich and very old,
said Mrs. Allenby, lit may be worth
her white to be fond of him. invalid old
gentlemen in the hands of designing
people have made strange wills before
this"
George laughed outright.
That never occurred to me, he said,
but perhaps you have hit it, After all,
why should she not look out for the
main chance, and we have to remember
| that the poor girl has no expectations;
she has not relative in the world ex-
cept by marriage, and whatever may be
done for her boy would scarcely be ex-
| tended to her"
Your remark is very sensible, said
Mrs. Allenby.
1T is very cruel" said Margaret,
| warmly, land am ashamed of George;
| how could any of us, or anyone be kind
| to the child, make him rich if we had
| the means, and neglect his mother?'
In legal matters, my dear" observed
Uncle Michael, 1.-The mother in such a
case as we are supposing, does not en-
| ter into the contract; the boys natural
| guardians are chosen as the trustees OF
his money till he is of age, and mean
| time small but sufficient allowance is
made to her. No other way would do;
| for instance the mother may be young
widow who might marry, take the
money right out of the family, and leave
| the boy pauper.'
| Mary would not do that said Mar
| garet.
| I'VE will give her credit for being
everything that is good, my dear; but
suppose, for instance, had a quarter
OF a million to leave this boy instead of
a of-a-ahem-few hundred pounds.
And | 50 devised it that she had the in
terest till he attained his majority. Have
you any idea what his income would be,
at say from four to five per cent?
From ten to thirteen thousand a
year" said Victoria, quickly.
~ had not the slightest idea" said
Margaret
mo, my dear" observed the old gen
tleman, shaking his head. You are
sadly remiss in matters of business.
Victoria would be fortune to pro-
fessional man; she would look after his
interest and her own; but do You think
any man in his senses would leave the
control of from ten to thirteen thou
sand a-year to II girl who would be rich
twice over ON as many shillings?'
Certainly not, D." said Mrs. Allenby
promptly.
Il do not know" Margaret said, hel
heart swelling with Indignation. Il dc
not know what any man in his senses
Il. \