The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-13
SIR ANTHONY'S HEIR.

y III d
Yesterday Basil Cowan was a voun.
man with brilliant prospects,; but to
day the telegram he hol. in his hanC
informs him that his expectations ar,
at an end his uncle's wife. twelv,
years after their marriage, having pre-
sented Sir Anthony with a son anC
heir.
Sir Anthony and his wife have beer
abroad, and this Is the first time tha
Basil has heard of the event which vii
make such a wonderful alteration il
his prospects. He looks pale and anx
ious. as he broods over the news. II,
was at breakfast in his comfortable
chambers when the telegram came
but the news has deprived him of al
desire to continue the meal.
What would Laura Balfour. his af
tianced wife, say? She has been very
sweet and amiable during their en-
/ gagement, and it seems strange that g
| doubt Of her truth and LOYALTY should
/ arise at that moment. He opens q
] locket and looks at the pictured face
| within. Ii IS a pretty face with laugh
/ ing eyes, and a tangle of yellow
| hair over the babyish brow The
mouth is exquisite; but Basil looks at
it with dissatisfaction for the first time
| in his life. VIII she be strong enough
| to stand such a test? he asks himself
as he takes his hat to 90 out. He
| means to know his fate without DELAY.
/ for suspense is unbearable.
Laura and her widowed mother live
| in a little villa near Regents Park.
/ Mrs. Balfour Is very handsome wo-
man, and it is said viii shortly throw
off her weeds and contract a second
| marriage, which, perhaps, accounts for
| her anxiety to see her pretty daughter
| comfortably settled in life. Basil
| slowly mounts the steps and rings the
| bell with a trembling hand In an
other moment he viii stand in the
! presence of his lady-love, with her
sweet blue eyes and her pretty irreso-
/ lutte mouth.
just then he hates the life that has
robbed him of his inheritance, and NAV
deprive him Of all future happiness
1t is a good opportunity to sound his
sweetheart's affection; but he does not
want to try her, lest she should be
found wanting. He feels that where
ignorance is bliss, it is, indeed, folly to
be wise. Laura looks up eagerly when
Basil is announced by the trim parlor-
maid. Her pink and white face is
wreathed in smiles as she rises TO meet
him. holding out her two delicate little
hands.
Il am so pleased to see you" she
says with a swift, smiling. upward glance
that changes to one of concern when
she sees how pale and grave he looks.
why, what is the matter?' she
SAYS.
Basil does not beat about the bush.
He tells her the truth at once, and as
she listens slight shade crosses over
the pretty face. She cares for Basil
as much as she could ever care for
anyone-more, perhaps. But Laura
feels that she cannot marry a poor
man. The thought of love in q cot
tage has no charm for her. She knows
he hiss enough to keep her in comfort;
but she loves life and gaiety-balls,
picnics, races, the.opera, and all the
! pleasures she would have to deny her.
self if she married Basil No, it can
never be. She loves him, and would
have been happy as his wife, if only
that stupid baby had never been born
| 1t was very hard that it should have
made its appearance after all these
| years, during which poor Basil had re-
! garded himself as Sir Anthony's heir.
Il was in a very different position
when l asked you to be my wife, .
/ Basil says in conclusion, watching her
/ keenly as he speaks. "And it is, there
/ fore. right that you should have your
| freedom again. OF course, | would
not ask YOU to fulfill your promise un-
/ der the altered circumstances.
Poor fellow. how eagerly he waited
for Laura to break the silence, for he
hoped against hope. The girl sits with
| downcast eyes, while the color comes
and goes in her mantling checks. She
| loves Basil, but she loves ease and lux
ury more.
IF he had only seen mamma first, .
| she thinks, trying to transfer the re-
sponsibility to Mrs, Balfour's motherly
1 shoulders.
1T is better-is it not?" he says,
findingshe does not speak, and ther
using a lovers privilege for the last
time-he feels it is the last time--he
takes her pretty fiower-like face be
tween his strong, brown hands and
looks down at her with longing eyes.
His idol has feet of clay. The deep,
tender love of his manhood has beer
| lavished on worthless object. And
vet if he might only have gone on be
ing deceived. The girl is sorry to lose
| her handsome, distinguished-lookin
lover, and cries little in a pretty. be
| coming way. She would not spoil hel
| eyes or redden her nose for the world
| That would be foolish, indeed, since
her face is her fortune. That evening
| Basil got a properly -worded letter from
Mrs Balfour, which he reads and theI
tears up into a hundred pieces. II,
knew how it would be long before the
| delicately-scented missiye came. L
was a disagreeable letter to write; bu
Mrs. Balfour has performed the deli
cate task well. and sugared the bitter
| pill to the very best of her ability, fol
She likes Basil, and IS sorry for him
He never liked Mrs. Balfour at any
time, and almost hates her now, for i
is through her teaching that Laura i
so worldly wise.
He is sitting in his7 chamber wher
| some one noisily knocks at the door
beating regular tattoo on the panels
ssCome in he cries rather impa
tientlv. without turning his head. HI
knows who his visitor is, and woul,
| gladly avoid his company if he could
Tom Eden is the last person he wishe
to see in his present mood They wer
| sehoolfellows, and Tom is one of hi
best friends; but when we are in troubl
| even our best friends seem in the way.
..How goes it. old fellow?' askel
Tom. putting his hand on Basil
shoulder and looking at him with ques
tioning eyes. His manner is in singu
lar contrast to the noisy fashion of hi
| entrance But he sees something i
Basirs attitude that tells him that a
is not well with his friend. and his SYM
pathies are aroused in moment
..Do | look so disconsolate then?
saws Basil, pulling himself together
and laughing little as he glances a
Toms short, stout figure and sunburn
face.
..You look better now," returns hi
friend. reassured by Basil's Laughter
4 thought you might have had ba
; news. Sir Anthony is
rejoicing at the birth of son an
heir. = says Basil quietly. Il am hor
estly glad of it, Tom, or, at least.
: shall be presently; but the disappoin
} menu Is new YOU hHOm. aAh nAs
Just had another to add to it. Mis
Balfour has
Not thrown you over?" cries Ton
| interrupting him. with flush tbs
| shows through the bronze of his skin.
Basil mods his head. and for m.
: ment there is silence between then
When Tom does sneak it Is not to r