The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-11-12


Moreton, in D-shire. Sir George has
got two sons. have never seen him or
his sons, but don't mean the eldest to
have them. He is .spendthrift. They
are all for Ralph, who is steady fell
low, and going to marry nice girl-at
least suppose she Is a nice girl. Girls
who are going to be married always are
nice. Those jewels will sweeten matri-
mony for Mrs. Ralph, and if she is like
other women it will need sweetening
There, now you have got them ard that
is what you have got to do with them
There is the address written on this
card. With my compliments, you per-
ceive. He! he! l don't suppose they will
remember who l am"
"Have you no relations?" l asked, for
1 am always strongly of opinion that
property should be bequeathed to rela-
tives, especially near relatives, rather
than to entire strangers.
'None," he replied, mot even poor re-
lations. have no deserving nephew or
Scotch cousin. If L had they would be
hece at this moment, smoothing the pill
low of the departing saint and wonder
ing how much they would get. You
may make your mind easy on that score"
''Then, who is this Ralph whom you
have never seen and to whom you are
leaving SO much?' I asked, with ly
usual desire for information.
He glared at me for moment, and
then he turned his face away.
ON it! What does it matter, now
Pm dying?' he said. And then he added,
hoarsely, II knew his mother"
could not speak, but involuntarily I
put out my hand and took his leaden
one and held it. He scowled at me, and
then the words came out, as if in spite of
himself:
''She-if she had married me who
knows what might But she mar
ried Danvers She called her second
son Ralph. My first name is Ralph"
Then, with a. sudden change Of tone,
pulling away his hand, ''There! now
you know all about it! Edifying, isn't
it? These deathbed scenes always have
an element of interest, haven't they?
Good vening"-ringing the bell at his
elbow-'I can't say 1 hope we shall
meet again; it would be impolite. No,
don't let me keep you. Good-by again"
"Good-by, Sir john" said, taking
his impatient hand and shaking it gently;
"God bless you"
"Thankee," grinned the old man with
sardonic chuckle. eff anything could
do me good that will, I'm sure Good
by"
AS | breakfasted next morning previ-
orlsly to my departure could not help
rejecting on the different position in
which was now returning to England
as a colonel on long leave-to that in
which had left it many, do not care
to think how many, years ago, the
youngest ensign in the regiment.
1t was curious to remember that in my
youth had always been considered the
fool of the family; most unjustly so con-
sidered, when | look back at my quick
promotion owing to casualties, and at
my long and prosperous career in India,
which cannot but regard as the result
of high principles and abilities, to say the
least of it, of not the meanest order. On
the point of returning to England the
trust Sir John had, with his usual shrewd-
ness, reposed in me was an additional
proof, if proof were needed, of the conf
dence I had inspired in nina conf
dence which seemed to have ripened
suddenly at the end of his life, after
many years of hardly concealed mockery
and derision. Just as I was finishing
nv reflections and my breakfast Dickson,