The midland journal., 1885-08-07

school Without pupllS, anua a1yurOpttnC
establishment without patients. Then
it gave up the battle, and for several
years lays lay void and lethargic-its on
" use in the world being that OF serving
as capital landmark to the Channel
pilots, or warning to spectators who
might fancy that Oversee could be made
any thing Of.
Shortly after Cuthbert Wrey entered
upon his duties ascruate of st. Nlcl0 as.
Barnes Folly took q new start. The
gossip of the p ace sud that q rich w1e.ow,
how the owner Of the Ceserted mansion,
had made up her nind to reside IN It,
1t is not clear how Mrs Blatchford be-
came possessed of such undesirable pro-
Derty probably it vas by wag of mort
gage: but it had been hers for several
Years, and her intentions were as gossip
asserted The shuttered windows were
once more opened; painters, plasterers,
and paperhangers spent busy and pro-
titlble three months in the house van
loads of furniture arrived, and Barnes
Folly was again inhabited.
AS no one save an eccentric person
would have lived from choice in such
house, the Oversee folk wero not sur
plised at finding that Mrs. Blatchford
was eccentric. She was widow of
about tifty-tive-without, so far as peo-
pie knew, son. daughter, or near rela-
tive. Sho was naughty as Spanlard.
proud as Lucifer, aud cold as The east
wind. She lived III dreary solitude In
the big housey neithergoing into society
nor entertaining company. That she
was rich, was self-evident but no one
knew the true extent OF her wealth. 10
those of her own station with whom
chance brought her into contact, she
was repcllently polite to her interiors,
she was rigidly just She subscribed to
the v;.ri us local charities in severe,
business like, but substantial manner;
and although living alone, her establish
ment was conducted on IL liberal sea- e.
most comforting to the Oversrl trates-
men. She drove about iii her great
carriage, stately, solitary lady ; and
with the exception of CuthberC Wrey,
no one in the neighborlopd could be
said to stand on terms of friendship W tl
her.
Crlriously enough, between Mrs.
Bla.chford and tire curate something
very much like friendship had for so.I4e
years existed As Ill duty bound, he
had called upon her shortly after her
a rival it may be, his natural manner
and pleasant words made an impression
upon htr-any way, he had not found
her so stern and repellent as she APP
peared to her other visitors. A little
While afterward, he hal been able to
render her tritiing service, or so it APP
peared but which had i'll all probablll-
ty saved her house from becoming the
prey of burglars. Since then, the
solitary had shown him decided marks
of her favor CJlthbert was q gentle
man, and if very poor one, perfect
indep ndent-far too much so to let the
rich lady imagine she was Ill any way
condescending by showing him friend
ship. Moreover, he was Il clever, ear
headed mau, such as woman likes to
consul when any difficulties arise III
her business affairs. So Mrs. Blatchtord
found not only his society entertaining
but on occasions, his help ana advice
valuable. Thus it was that he was the
one person she seemed glad to see; and
for long time he had been, If not the
only visitor, the only welcome visitor at
The Folly,
On his side, when he had penetrated
the veil of reserve with which she COW
cred herself Cuthbert found her an
intellectual, we'll Informed woman.
From chance remarks, he decided That
her nature had been spoiled and her lie
soured by some great gl1et and he
soon found that she possessed an non
will, and determination TO Lave her own
way at any cost. Yet she was not exact
Ing or unreasonable and tohim, whose
interests could i'll no wise clash Wlth her
own, she appeared sincere, if some
what undemonstratlve friend. 1t can
scarcely be said that he loved her-hef
nature was not lovable ne-perhala
1t was good natured pity for her loneIl-
ness that induced him to visit her 50 Oh
ten, and to trouble himself about her
affairs. Certainly it WAS wlthno thought
OF personal advantage, unless 1t Were
for the use of her well-stocked library !;
although malicious people-chletiy DIS
senters, whoknew not Cuthbert-7waSged
ill-natured tongues, and prophesled that
one day the strangely assorted palr OF
friends would forget the disparity o1
their years. :,
During the last few months it had
been the mans turn to want an ad-
wiser. His doubts as to his fitness for
the profession he had chosen needed 10
be ventilated. Each day the feel1ng
that he must no longer remain III the
Church grew stronger and stronger yet
he dreaded taking the final step. Mrs.
Blatchford had given him good counsel,
and advised him 10 act as honesty OF
purpose impelled him. Only the day
before she " as taken i'll, she had sald,
with more feeling than he had ever
known her exhibit:
"Mr. Wrey, you are my friend-pre-
haps my only friend. L can see you are
troubled Make an end OF this, ana be
yourself once more. / am as fond OF
you as L am of any one IN the world. l.