Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-05
level Of the library ceiling. Then he nearly

ne seemed 70 nave got beautiful fo0thold on
e brick or two; when he suddenly slipped.
Down went one leg, but not down the chimney.
down the other side somehow. Preserving his
balance with difficulty, Squirrel rubbed his
dusty eyes with his grimy hand and peered
about him.
Only faint murky light struggled to his aid,
but he could just discern something remark
ably odd. An opening there was on the left
side OF the chimney, not more than feet
square, and the cavity beyond must be Of some
size. for as the lad inquisitively poked his leg
about 1t came IN contact with no other WALL
Whatever could this place be? bricked-up
cupboard perhaps; q hiding-hole for cavaliers,
priests, Jacobites, what not?
Cyrils spirit OF adventure rose within him.
In for penny, in for pound He'd through
that hole and possibly ferret out the secrets Of
centuries. So through he went, feet foremost
this time, and easily enough, for what felt like
brick steps assisted his dissent into q space
which, BY faintest light and much patting
around, he discovered to be a small chamber
matching in size Aunt Pleasance's sanctum the
other side Of the fireplace.
Here was an exciting fndl How pleased old
Auntie would have been to know it. How
Olive would have liked it II they had been
stopping at the Grange. As for that surly Mr..
Westbrook, though, he should never hear Of
be full Of ghosts that would come out and
scare him If ever he lived at the place. But
ghosts in it were neither tangible nor visible
now. After ever so long of stealthy creeping
and feeling throughout its length and breadth,
Cyril could find nothing but ancient cobwebs
and layers Of dust and debris, wooden some
thing, narrow table or shelf, lock or fasten-
ing. and
At that point Of investigation the boy was
startled by sounds that appeared strangely
close, being, in fact, as he soon remembered,
in the adjacent library. Some one spoke. It
was that nice fellow Foster, and his words were:
"Now, Cyril, my lad, if you'll just say to Mr..
Westbrook-why, how's this? can't see
him. Cyril! Where's he vanished to2'
Jumped out OF the window, I'll warrant"
rasped forth another voice (the enemysD
ble-pie, and, by George, he should have it.
to the tips Of his toes.)
II don't see how he could Jump out here
without hurting himself" was the anxious an
swer back from the window-way, II do hope
the boy is safe. His sister"
There, there" snarled the other gentleman
"Don't trouble yourself to make fuss over the
young sneak"-(Cyril clenched his dirty little
fist and almost wished he had not started on
this chimney expedition -''the men about the
grounds must look out for him, and III rate
him soundly when we catch him. Now I'm
going to look over, h'm-h'm-my farms. 1
wish you good day, Mr.. Foster. II you will
make it convenient 70 be here by 10 tomorrow
wen meet in this room and can begin to wind
up matters"
'Then, Miss Ferrers-"
Appears" with grunt, 'to desire perfect
independence, sir! She can have it if she
chooses. So much the better for my pocket.
She gives her final decision in the morning.
Good afternoon"
A heavy step left the library, crossed the
sound echoed in Cyril's drum-like retreat.
John Foster seemed to be staying behind
Cyril heard him give q sigh that was half a
groan. He was regular good chap. The boy
had half a mind to tap on the thin panel which
divided them, and tell him SO, but another
entrance checked him. It was Olive this time.
"Oh, Mr.. Foster" she began, ''did Cyril
where is he, please2 Has Mr.. Westbrook let
"No, he let himself out fancy by the win
dow" was the response. "Pll hunt him up
before Ilesve. We shall find him all right.
But Miss Farrers-can you. Will you look on me
Just as your man Of business, as if were my
father, in fact2 Will you tell me what Mr..
Westbrook has offered in lieu of what every
one expected you and your brother and sister
Cyril strained his ears. Olive appeared to
hesitate, then broke out passionately.
What he has offered! A pittance, Mr..
Foster, that might, l suppose, just keep us
from starving, but which must verify begin
to starve before would accept ON his terms! /
| am to make Cyril beg his pardon, and then,
perhaps, only perhaps, he will get him an
office-boy's place with one of his partners at
Bristol. And to Helen and me he offers ESQ a
year; enough, he says, for us to live on in
lodgings, with Cyrils wages to help! Mr..
Foster, beggars must not be choosers, but
think would rather die than touch penny
from Mr.. Westbrook." C'And right you are,
Olive" whispered Cyril in his dungeon)
But my dear-dear Miss Ferries, what is to
be done? Whom else, what else have you to
turn to9"
No
Mr.. Foster, Cyril has something; nearly two
hundred pounds 1 think godmother left him.
Now surely can send him to school with that,
and know when he's little older he will
work like man to help me and Helen"
C.Wont 1 tool" murmured the sooty one. }
will let me teach, and Helen can live there for
hard" ''' '''' '"A' i''
("There now that's horrid; Olives crying, ~
muttered Squirrel, beginning his eyelids with
Mr.. Foster seemed to walk up and down in
agitation; then shut the library door and
halted.
Miss Ferrers, your plan, your determination
are worthy Of you. But one thing fails you.
Your brothers money cannot, I know, be
touched till he is of age"
''Then-oh, what shall we do?"
This; let me advance a couple of hundred,
lend it, give it to you. Oh wait a moment! Let
me tell you what no one on earth should have
known ii you'd been rich and prosperous. l
have seen you so often, and so much, could
no more help loving you than could help liv-
ing! / don't know about family, and ancestors,
and 80 forth, l only know my father name has
been an hOnored one for fifty years, and,
please God, I'll do nothing to sully it, and il
you'll share it with me, your brother and your
sister shall be mine, and you shall never know
care that can shield you from! What, what
will you say?"
Cyril could hear Olive sobbing. He very
nearly committed himself by an audible accom-
paniment C'John Foster, you're Trojan"
said he softly. IF Olive will have you I'll
give you Toots for wedding present, but, now
then, harkrO
81 can't, 1 can't say YES" Olive faltered,
''it would be wicked of me-"
"Ah, you don't care for me! You think me
presumptuous."
"Presumptuous! Mr.. Foster, Aunt Pleasance
always said you were far too good to be just a
lawyer"
And You, you YOURSELF"
"l-lked-yOu always"
C'ThOught eS much!" chuckled Squirrel.
''She always colored up when that young man
came.O
But" rapturously, ''can you ever love me?''
"I-think-I-can."
"Olive, my dearest"
Chen ensued some seconds over which Cyril
positively blushed. Love ecstasies are utterly
preposterous to extreme YOUTH
But now" said Olive presently, in such a
changed voice, ''you must never feel YOU took
me, took us, out Of pity. You must be very
certain Of your own mind before you tie YOUR
self to us penniless people,"
Nov, H.,