Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-07-12

bDiOuu ONtl LIb idSOs
Strange to say Horace also fell into
reverie. For some ten minutes tho two
brothers sat facing one another, strok-
ing their boards. II that vulgar wretch
from whose rank mind that feline nick
name first sprung could have seen them
he would, am afraid. have been quite
satisfied that he had chosen an appro-
pirate designation when he named them
the Tables.
They knew without speaking that
their thoughts were running in parallel
lines. They often thought of the same
thing without previous word on the
subject. The similarity of their natures,
no doubt, accounted for tbs
Herbert" said Horace, at last,
you are thinking of what Beatrice
saidp"
Eyes, l am.
$50 am [. 1t seemed a revelation,
but we oughtn't to jump at conclu-
sions "
"No," said Herbert, "but the fact
remains. Some four years ago he had
nothing but his fellowship to live
upon
"You are right, nothing. Beatrice
spoke justly. She may by chance have
struck the mark"
"l am afraid so. Still we must not
be hasty. Yet, whoever sent tn at child
must have fancied it had some claim on
us.
1T is ridiculous to suppose that an
entire stranger would have done such q
thing"
"Quite So" said Herbert.
AL "a a.
at that time have been driven to his
wits end. II is sad affair-let us try
and piece it together.
Then. like couple of old women,
they commenced to construct their new
theory.
we will say" began Horace, "he
was married four years ago."
'let was dishonorable esough to
conceal it; so that he might hold his
fellowship"
"Of course this is all supposition,"
said Horace. he word dishonerable
in connection with one of his own kin
| grated on his ear.
Exactly so. l should suspect that
the wife icd-perhaps recently. per-
haps shortly after the birth OF the
child"
1.-The latter | should think. Frank
makes large income now. and could
~ ord To give up two hundred year. "
"Yes; the wife died ter the birth of
the boy. The older the child got the
more trouble he found it to conceal its
identity. Thereupon he sends it to us,
trusting we may keep it."
"And now, after declining former
invitations, he comes to us himself
The further we pursue the matter the
clearer it becomes"
They were quite in mild state of
excitement That they could draw
| logical inference s we have seen by the
affair of Ann jenkins stockings. The
brothers had both been istressed that
all their spoculations as to little Harry's
origin had fallen to the ground for
want of proper support Now. at last,
was theory which, If it reflected dis
honor on connection of theirs, was at
least tenable. 1t was improbable, but
the whole lair was so monstrous that
it needed an improbability to account
for it. They absolutely argued them
sci es iuto believing they had found the
truth.
'Didcot is the junction for Oxford.
continued Heroert, after pause.
"BesiGes, said Horace, 1--WE cannot
forget that his conduct once was not
what il should have been"
That's the worst of going wrong.
No amount of straight running will
make people cease to look at times
askance. The work of reformation is
chlds play to that of making your
friends believe you have reformed.
Therefore Horace Talherts remark
was clinchcr. Herbert toyed with
the open letter.
"Shall we send this'" he asked.
They fell to stroking their boards
once more, and continued the opera
ton until the natural kindness of their
hearts reasserted itself.
After ALL said Hubert lit is all
purely conjectural.
Completely So"
"He had better come them"
IL think so. Besides, it will give us
an opportunity of seeing him with the
child-surely the instincts of paternity
must show themselves.
They are supposed to be very
strong"
The polite letter was sent. and q
week after the ending of the Trinity
term the young Oxford tutor packed
up his things aud started for Oakbury.
AS there is no occasion to make su-
perhuous mysteries it may at once be
said that Frank Carruthers knew no
more of the existence of the child whom
his amiable uncles had argued them
selves into believing to be in some way
his property, than he knew of-for the
sake of simile say the presence at
Lakewood House of gray-eyed girl
whose beauty would satisfy every de-
mand of his rather fastidious taste.
CHAPTER Y.
THE FRACTIONAL COUSIN.