The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-02-13
SIR ANTHONY's HEIR.

SIR ANTHONY's HEIR.
Yesterday Basil Cowan was o young
man with brilliant prospects; but to.
day the telegram he holds in his hand
informs him that his expectations are
at an end--his uncle's wife, twelve
years after their marriage, having pre-.
sented Sir Anthony with q SON and
heir.
Sir Anthony and his wife have been
abroad, and this is the first time tina.
Basil has heard Of the event which will
make such wonderful alteration In
his prospects. He looks pale and anx.
ious, as he broods over the news. he
was at breakfast In his comfortable
chambers when the telegram came;
but the news has deprived him Of ali
desire to continue the meal.
What would Laura Balfour, his If.
fanced wife, ssyp She has been very
sweet and amiable during their en-.
'gagemeut, and 1t seems strange that q
doubt Of her truth and loyalty should
arise at that moment. He opens a
locket and looks at the pictured face
within. II is pretty face with laugh.
ing eyes, and q tangle of yellow
hair over the babyish brow. The
mouth Is exquisite; but Basil looks at
1t with dissatisfaction for the first time
In his life. Will she be strong enough
to stand such testp he asks himself
as he takes his hat to 20 out He
means to know his fate without delay,
for suspense is unbearable.
Laura and her widowed mother live
in . little villa near Regents Park.
Mrs. Balfour is very handsome wo-
man, and it Is said will shortly throw
off her weeds and contract q second
marriage, which, perhaps. accounts for
her anxiety 10 see her pretty daughter
comfortably settled In life. Basil
slowly mounts the steps and rings the
bell with trembling hand. In an
other moment he will stand in the
presence of -his- iudy-iovo, 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 may
deprive him Of all future happiness.
II 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, 1t Is, indeed. folly to
be wise. Laura looks up eagerly when
Basil IL announced by the trim parlor-
maid. Her pink and white face II
wreathed In smiles as she rises 10 meet
him, holding out her two delicate little
hands.
II am SO pleased to see you." she
says with swift. smiling, upward glance
that changes to one Of concern when
she secs how pale and grave he looks.
"Why, what Is the matters" she
says.
Basil does not beat about the bush.
He tells her the truth at once, and ss
she listens slight shade crosses over
the pretty face. She cares for BAIL
as much as she could ever care for
anyone-more, perhaps. But Laura
feels that she cannot marry Q poor
man. The thought Of love In . cot
tage has no charm for hor. She knows
he has enough to keep her in comfort;
but she loves life and gaiety-balls,
picnics, races, tho opera, and all the
pleasures she would have to deny her,
self II she married Basil. MOI Il can
never be. She loves him. and would
have been happy as his wife, II only
1t was very hard that 1t should have
made its appearance after oil these
years, during which poor Basil had re-
garded himself as Sir Anthory's heir.
II was In o very differs position
when I asked you to be my wife, T"
Basil says in conclusion, watching her
keenly as he speaks. "And IL 10, there.
fore, right that you should have your
freedom again. OF course, would
not ask You to fulfill your promise IN.
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.
EFF he had only seen mamma first"
she thinks, trying to transfer the 70.
sponsibility to Mrs. Balfour's motheriy
shoulders.
at is better-is it notP" he says,
finding she does not speak, and then
using lovers privilege for the last
time-he feels Il Is the last time--he
takes her pretty Aower-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 been
lavished on worthless object. And
yet II he might only have gone on be-
ing deceived! The girl Is sorry to lose
her handsome, distinguished-loo
lover, and cries little In pretty. be-
coming way. She would not spoil her
eyes or redden her nose for the world.
That would be foolish, indeed. since
her face is her fortune. That evening
Basil got properly-worded letter from
Mrs. Balfour, which he reads aud then
tears up into hundred pieces. He
knew how 1t would DO long before the
delicately- missive came. II
was o disagreeable letter to write; but
Mrs. Balfour has performed the deli
cate task we'll, and sugared the bitter
nil to the very best Of her ability, for
she likes Basil, and Is sorry for him.
He never liked Mrs. Balfour at any
time, and almost hates her now, for II
Ia through her teaching that Laura ID
so worldly wise.
He is sitting In hiss chamber when
some one noisily knocks at the door,
beating regular tattoo on the panels.
Come Il" he cries rather impa.
tiently, without turning his head. He
knows who his visitor Is. and would
gladly avoid bis company II lie could.
Tom Eden Is the last person he wishes
to sec in his present mood. They were
schooifellows, and Tom Is one OF bis
best friends; but when we arein trouble
even our best friends seem In. the way.
"How goes II, old fellowP" asked
Tom, putting his hand on Basil'l
shoulder and looking ut him with ques'
tioning eyes. sIis manner Is In singu
| lar contrast to the noisy fashion OF BIZ
| antranca. But lie sees something II