The Sunday herald., 1886-11-07
az shonld ba vary sorrp to aiaoleu xon

~ should be very sorry to disobey you,
father, began Tom, gravely, "but-"
"I,ook here, my boy" interrupted the old
gentleman, quickly, speaking with unnatu-
raj calmness, "let us understand each other.
| forbid this foolish engagement, aud order |
you to break II of instantly. That is my |
bark. Now for my bite. You leave my |
house within an hour, and unless you inform |
me within the conrse Of week lat the az |
fair Is at an end | stop supplies. lfyou |
persist in marrying the girl, then, by |
Heaven | will alter my will and leave every |
farthing | possess to your cousin Ted-in
fact, will make him my heir ana discard
you altogether"
have carried out this serious threat, for he
was fond of his son, and proud of him in a
way, but he looked very determined when
he uttered 1t, and Tom was evidently i'm
pressed. The lad dropped his eyes before
his fathers irate glance, and the ruddy
color left his cheeks for an instant.
"You know, Tom," he added, noticing
the wholesome effect Of his words, "you are
entirely dependent upon me- and unless you
took to poaching don't see how You could
possibly earn crust. Besides, you are up
TO your ears in debt"
81 don't owe much," said Tom, quickly,
WIN tell-tAle OluSD.
"You will find out that you owe good
deal when your creditors learn that / have
made your cousin Ted my heir" said the
old man, enigmatically.
Tom was evidently seriously Disconnected
by this remark. He turned on his heel,
muttering something about catching the
next train to town, leaving his father master
| Of the situation. The old man considered
he had gained a signal victory. and was.
therefore, not the least perturbed when his
| son started of to the station with his lug.
gage, In literal accordance with his ipjunc-
tion. He did not doubt that Master Tom
would see the folly Of his ways; and, sure
enough, two days aftarward the young man
reappeared, looking decidedly sheepish, and
rendered his submission. He even brought
Young lady, which Mr.. Molyneux thought a
little too curt and matter Of fact, II ans
fault was to be found with It. However, he
was not inclined 10 be hypercrtical in this
respect, and he heartily applauded Toms
action.
'I'm going away for bit, guv'nor," said
the lad, who had WINGED little at his
fathers boisterous good humor, and seemed
half ashamed Of his conduct. "Webster and
some other fellows have hired q yacht, and
sail for Madeira tomorrow"
"By all means, my boy" cried Mr.. Molly
neux, secretly delighted that his son should
leave England for while at this juncture
"apd look here, Tom, while you are away |
will settle matters with these friends OF
yours"
lie produced rather a formidable list OF
names and figures as he spoke, and Tom
started with surprise, as we'll he might, at
perceiving how full aud accurate was hi,
fathers knowledge Of his pecuniary embar.
rassments. The old man cnt short his sons
confused protestation Of gratitude aud apology
by saying good humoredly:
"Well, we'll, yon must turn over new
leaf, my boy. Reasonable economy must
henceforth be the order of the day, and
hope, on your return, that you will settle
down and reside permanently in the coun
try"
He had it on the tip of his tongue to hint
that he must bs prepared to marry Lady
Florence, but he wisely refrained. Never
thele's, he was as full of the project as ever
J and after Toms departure he spoke to Lord
Laburnum more plainly than he had hith
erto done. His Lordship, without pledgiug
himself, gave him an encouraging reply
, and he resolved to bring matters to crisi,
Immediately upon his sons return. TIL,
consequence was that the task of settling
with Toms creditors proved quite an agree
able relaxation, and did not cause him mo
nent's i'll .humor.
: But he was very much startled and dis
, gusted on hearing that his solicitor had beel
asked to accept service Of a writ on Tom
behalf in action for damages for breach q
promise of marriage brought by Miss Fabial
Z against her faithless lover. The news upse
him considerably, for such scandal woul
I set all the papers gossiping about his ante
, cedents, while Tom could hardly fail to cut
ridicnlouI figure in the witness- box. OIL
, Mr.. Molyneux soon arrived at the conclusion
that the action must he compromised at an
cost, for the sake of his own dignity, not
mention the projected alliance with the La
hurnums. He rushed up town in quite
. frantic state, and. disregarding the adviC
l and protestations Of his solicitor. insiste
I. that Miss Fabian's claim should he settle
t forthwith at any sacrifice, in order to ave.
9 the danger of the affair finding it's way int
l the papers.
r He was successful in his main object bu
rich man as he was, he almost groaned whe
:. he sat down to write the check that Miss Fl
1 bian's advisers demanded. The amonnt ws
: represented by no less than five figures, an
:, the worst of 1t WAS that he got no sympath
whatever from his solicitor, who declare
d that by going to trial, or even by holdin
k out, he might have saved the greater part
y the money.
l. In spite of his great relief that the thrsa
y ened scandal had been averted, old NJ
Molyneux soon began to regret the sacrii,
10 he had made, and to fret about his enormo,
i loss. He was not by any means penuriol
Z man, but, like all parvenus, he keenly a
4 preciated the value of money. He did n
a. mind what he spent so long as he had SON
:. thing to show for his outlay, but in this i
n stance tha result attained was entirely neg
,r tive. Every one is inclined to underrate
Of danger when II has passed, and Mr.. Mol
ie neux could not help suspecting that he hi
p been too easily frightened. This uncomfC
a table reflection worried him a good dei
particularly when he learned that In
?. Labnrnum had made arrangements to tai
n his family to the sonth Of France for Il
winter. This did not look as II his Lorash
:" was very anxious about his daughters ma
Is riage with Tom, and old Mr.. Molyneux W
seized with an ominous foreboding when
sb heard the news.
ad Tom returned after an absence of three
four months, and was evidently not lit
OF apprehsnsive Of the reception he wonld m,
n, with. He had received some angry lett,
from his father, referring to the damages
N. had to pay, and he therefore appeared NJ
r. vous and embarrassed at their first msetii
IN But the old man, delighted at seeing h
ID hSutus nuukuS w put Hitu Nv caSo ny bn
ing:
~ "Pm not going to alude to what has hs
ed pehsd, my boyi I'm willing to let by-goi
IN be by.gones."
Of "You are very good, father, but-but-
ol- "What Ia the matter % inquired old
X Molynsux, as Tom paused in confusion.
al ~ still cling to the hope that Won "
consent to my marriage with Miss Fabian
az said Tom, desperately.
by "Wha. !" roared his father, with q gr
Dm start.
m, "You sse, guv'nor," proceeded ia
In "Im In much better position than I :
to before went away. Then, az yOn jus
m pointed out, I was in debt, had no capt
re-. aud was altogether dependent upon y
lily But my debts ara now paid, and as
on capital"
d. swell, sir, what about capital ?" ini
,p- rupted the old man, too much amazed to
angry.
ry, "Thsre Is the money you paid to NJ
IN, Fabian" said Tom. with a festing sm
ce. "Ths interest ON II would keep rs Il
YER starving, and at least II Ia spopgh to buy