Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-05

her lawyer and herself given her delicious
sense of happy strength.
"Ah-hm, rasped out Mr.. wsstbrook, seat.
ing himself in the heavy oak chair that stood
him, see that boy is not here; but he 10 Of
no consequence whatever, 20 We need not wait
As 1t IL very evident my late respected aunt"
(his tone implied capital letters 70 her honor,
now he had como into her money! has died
her heir" (honor requested for himself this
time) 81 take natural possession Of her entire
property. I feel it IL my right, % shall not
make any bones about doing II. A intend
shutting the house up for the summer, the
@,.. thing thing 70 n DO IN 70 :s rid Of the ''rvan
Bond, appearing in answer, was desired 10
fetch up all the domestics. Seven fling in,
headed by the gray-haired housekeeper, every
one Of them was summarily dismissed with the
noble douceur Of q months wages. Bond had
years; the housekeeper but little less; the rest
were no strangers in the place. Each one Miss
Pleasance had seemed to care for. Upon each
this sudden ordering out Of what had been a
good home, without civil word to soften IL,
came roughly.
Olive flushed with modification. Hot tears
Of shame sprang to her eyes, as without
word, but with Keen disappointment on every
face, the little band accepted their notice and
withdrew. For the life of her she could not
help secretly applauding the kitchen-maid- "a
newcomer Of only two years standing-who,
corners Of her good-humored mouth and tossed
her head contemptuously.
''Oh! indeed, said the gentleman, 90 this
young person disappeared, "You called me
Mean wretch did you, Miss Country-impu-
dence! I'll see IL that can't be remembered
when you're wanting q character"
Olive looked ct him wonderingly. Indeed I
don't think Jane said q single word, T" she ex-
claimed.
Nonsense, Miss Ferrers. Don't undertake
excusing servants a. well az your brother. The
boy will be handful enough for you! The girl
didn't you, Mr.. Foster2"
81 am afraid some one did" confessed that
gentleman, reluctantly, '.but who"
ooh, that brazen-faced girl" retorted Mr..
Westbrook, 'and that's enough about 1t. Now
to proceed. The tenants Of INV farms Mr.. Fos-
ter, must have notice to quit al Miohaelmas or
renew their leases ct higher rents"
but, sir, rents are falling about here; three
OF your tenants have been on the land, father
to son, for generations. They are good farm
ers, and am afraid they would look ON such
notices as rather unfair"
the new landlord. II dare say Won and they
find it pleasant to work the property between
you. You tickle me, Toby III tickle YOU style
OF thing, eh? But I'm neither fool nor
woman. I shall put the screw on where I
choose. You can be my man, if you like, Mr..
Crowchester, suppose"
There are, sir, and you'd better select one, /"
said the young man, quietly. my father and
grandfather before him managed this property
to the satisfaction Of that gentleman. ;" indicat-
ing the blue-coated squire left of the fireplace,
"and OF his daughter for three-quarters of Q
century, but for myself I now beg to resign the
office Of your solicitor" And-ridiculous fancy,
to be sure-the pig-tailed portrait positively
seemed to nod approval of this resignation.
well done" cried Mr.. Westbrook, sharply.
II don't know which of you young ladies re-
but allow me to say while you are eating the
bread of charity under my roof, consider the
words an impertinence."
81 never said Well done,'" exclaimed Olive,
turning scarlet.
Nor l." said Helen, timidly.
"lf I'd time to waste on the matter" said
Mr.. Westbrook, incredulously, ~ should insist
on your Withdrawing the words; but I've not.
l merely beg to inform you now that the fifty
pounds year offered you is not to be looked
upon in the light Of pension. 1t is purely a
matter of charity, which continue or suspend,
as circumstances direct. I must request that
you be ready to leave the Grange on Saturday
next. As for your brother, on reconsideration,
l decline to have anything to do with him.
You, or"-sneering-"Mr. Foster, perhaps,
Iuust LOOK ABOUT ana ma MIN nome"
much obliged, sir, but he has got one" said
voice that seemed to issue from the back OF
Mr.. Westbrook's chair.
'What the devil is that?" cried the gentle.
man, starting up, and Toots, who had got in
as the servants went out, and had been un.
easily smelling about in all directions, now
bookcase.
1T was Squirrel speaking, cried Helen.
"But he's not here, I" exclaimed Olive,
eyes, he is" returned the semi-ghostly tone
quite cheerfully, and the long piece Of oal
panelling on which hung old Geoffrey West.
brooks portrait swung slowly forward, dis.
closing the soot-smirched countenance Of
Master Cyril, holding in his arms a black tin
case, marked with Miss Pleasance Westbrook's
name in white letters.
''It's her WILL" he cried, exultingly. 81 went
up the chimney yesterday to get out Of Mr.:
fouAd it all by chance. And I knew Aunt
Pleasance could not have got up the chimney,
so came up again to-day and brought some
matches with me. and found this little door
out. Auntie knew about it. of course, and hid
the old parchment up here, suppose. Take
it, please, Mr.. Foster I've read it all through.
MIR. Westbrook's got the family plate, because
she wished it to 60 with the name, and we've
got all the rest. Thank you, Mr.. Westbrook,
for locking me up yesterday. I'm very much
obliged to you. We should never have found
Aunt rien Will II you nadnt been 90 savage
with me for nothing!''
That sting ranked in Mr.. Westbrooks men,
DRY for many day, but he made a rapid re-
treat after his unexpected rout, taking himself
disgustedly off to bis own wealthy home before
that same night set in.
Abbot's Grange and all appertaining thereto
came to what kind old Miss Pleasance used to
call her limitation grandchildren" The SER
wants got their legacies and kept their places
pretty Olive got in honest John Foster bet.
ter husband than she might ever have CHANGED
on had she been known mistress of her hand.
some fortune. Toots is living into tenderly
cherished old age, and Squirrel, now q smar,
young officer in the royal engineers, gives him.
self a congratulatory pat upon the back when.
ever he recalls that May-day's exploration and
its wonderful results.-LOndOn Society.
The Priests Prevented Bloodshed.
DESPERATE STRUGGLE BETWEEN EvICToRs AMI