The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1885-10-30
SILWOOD GRANGE.

In y private room OF the "Swai
Inn Hamersham, two gentlemen
were engaged in Il pleasant CONVEX
Satiou.
81 am sorry" remarked one, ad
dressing the other, considerably
bis junior, who was pacing the
apartment; shut as necessity has
no law, | must have the twenty
pounds tomorrow, OBJ
"Or what % demanded the sec.
ond, turning quickly towards him.
81 shall be compelled to place in
John Oxley's hand the check |
hold, forged by his adopted SON.
The tair countenance of the lat.
ter grew dark with rage; his hands
clinched; but evidently aware low
useless was such ebullition of feel.
ing, he restrained himself, and
slowly said /: "If you do that, Tom
Chester, You will spoil your game,
and ruin me-"
"Iou bring your ruin on your
own head, my dear fellow. Ger.
talnly you / cool. You first pay
me IA just debt with IA forged check
which Unfortunately tor you-dis.
cover before presenting it to be re.
Jected. l overlook that, and now
you want Inc to forego twenty
pounds more. " by don't yoc ask
John Oxley? You told me once
he could refuse You nothing"
"Once !" repeated the other sui.
lenly. That Time has long passed."
81 SUPPOSE" laughed Chester,
"yOu we're too generous in asking.n
'Far more so than he in giving
replied Gilbert Burt. 81 tell YOU,
my adopted father is as great Il
miser as ever trod in shoe leather.
He loves to hoard his money, to
lock at; and count it. | am to
inherit all at his death; until
which must not exceed my allow.
ance.p
aboard, lodging and tvs hun,
dred a year pocket money. Not
bad to one who has no other claim
on him but that being the sou OF
the woman he loved. | fancy the
nephew he diSinherited for yonr
sake, Burt, would be glad OF YOUR
place"
"And tell you what" calculated
the other, re%soluteIy, "say no more.
He'll get it. How, | cannot imag.
inc, but some of my dolngs must
have reached John Oxley's ears.
lie often %converseS on the subject.
aud expresses opinions | feel are
levelled at me. And besides his
manner is different
"More reason, my dear fellow,
for you at once to pay tins twenty.
Pm not rich cant afford to lose
and John Oxley might alter his
Gilbert BurtS face changed at
suggestion. He walked thought
+ulIy TO the window.
John OXley, the owner OF Sill.
wood Grange, was sixty-fve and a
bachelor. In his youth he had low
ID devotedly, but the object OF his
Election having bestowed her
lePrt elsewhere, he made a vow of
perpetual crlibacy-a resolution
~ no means opposed by his rela. !
ions.
leu years later, however, the :
who had won bis heart died q
a few days of her husband, a
their only child, Gilbert, u
orphan. On the intelligence :
aaching John Oxley he adopted t
ne boy, and brought him up as :
is oWn. 1
When, however the lad grew TO n
.anhood he was idle aud dissolute G.
an extent which III. acaOrded with r.
'~ster-father's notions, and greatly .
him from one who, for y
$ mothers sake, he would have N
laped to bis own purpose. D
But ONley was forced to the con IL
uslOn that Gilbert Burt took more Ia
ter bis father than his mother. III
ne disappointment grievpd him a
ore than he cared to say. Never. N
hoping tor amendment IS
Ien the wildneSs OF youth was 81
sSed, he retained him in favor. eS
eping a secret watch on his pro- 10
edings, which brought anything ca
{ a satisfactory result. pm
Then a difference arose between
EN-, aud Gilbert Burt was aSsur.
itever John Oxlcy knew of The "
'ged check his ruin was certain. .
He thought of this as he stood no
the window, aud conned over y"
IN CheSter's words. He shud. !'o
red at the idea. Never bad it IL,
forcibly presented itself to him ~
seemed so probable. He leaned ou
hot forehead against the glass .tt
POWDERED. th'
Come, Burt, | want your an. !"
err broke in his friend, who no,
rted at the haggard counte. nm,
ice abruptly turned upon hlm. III,
Meet me here at II tomorrow
! YOU shall have the mOney,n r
Gilbert, and without another ho,
be left the room. ~"
On quitting the inn he struck in. vii
he quiet lanes of HamerSLam. bar
1