The record-union., 1891-09-12
MARJORIE'S PRESENT.

0reytOn Cnurcn. w nat q run Cndt was
Tom Lawless, young Masterman and
myself were the only ones to live to the
end of it. Tom offered me then zoe
pounds for Hazard, but I'd have refused
treble the sum. 1 wouldn't part with
him-but there. old fellow, enough of my
| pet weakness; you are only taking hall
an interest to-day. What's up, Philip
"Nothing-that is-everything; but il
will keep. Where did you first lay hands
on Hazard?"
"You remember poor Jimmy Knowles?
Rare good chap he was 1 was with him
| just before the end came, and among
other things he asked me if I'd keep
Hazard, who had then never had the bit
in his mouth. Comes of Merry Venture
stock says poor Jimmy. I was look.
ing forward to having the training of the
young 'un. Tll be bound he'll never
disgrace his parentage; you'd Deed TO go
far before you'd beat old Jess, and she's
given him all her good looks Then he
made me promise to break him in myself
and from that Gay Hazard has never
known another rider. Poor Jimmy! He
was about right in his calculations. Tel
you what, Phil, Pve never raced the little
horse, but l believe he could show nine
out of ten in the whole shire clean pail
of heels. Merry Ventures son is bound
to have speed"
Have you entered him for anything at
your races next week ?''
only for the cup. Pdlike to win that.
| He's in capital training.'
''Stopford was chanting his praises last
night" remarked Phillip, glancing ap-
| provingly at his brothers favorite, land
| Stopford's no mean judge of a horse"
! by the way. have you and he been
| deyotlng your energies to ecarte lately?"
| Philip frowned and changed his posi-
ton uneasily without replying.
"Oh, that's it, is it? Never mind, old
chap; expect we can square matters all
right. Come to my quarters. We've
seen enough of Hazard for this after
! noon."
| After all, it was not till seated over a
| blazing fire, with clouds Of smoke wreath
ing kindly screen between him and his
brothers searching gaze that Philip Stan
sted found courage to own the truth.
| Fact is, I'm in a terrible hole. It's all
up with me this time, and I'll have tc
make a clean break for it. You've helped
| me out often enough before, and Pm
worse than fool to come to smash again
| Well, I'm past help now; it's a case of
| chucking the service and making tracks
| for America or Kamchatka, or some
place where they'll never know anything
about me-"
Nonsense" said Kit. "rll go bail
your affairs are not past mending
| What's the amount?"
Near two thousand"
Kits face fell He was quite accus-
toned to Phil's difficulties, and it was
perfectly true that at some cost to himsel1
he had come to the rescue more than
| once. y Spendthrift younger brother
he thought, was, on the whole, not an
altogether unmixed blessing. However
they were pretty well alone in the world
and would hold by each other. Kit
scarcely confessed to himself his almost
Womanish affection for the handsome lad
Its large order. Tell you what,
| Phil, II you go on at this rate we shall
| both land in Queer street. Pm pretty
near cleaned out myself, and can only
| just keep atioat, but it must be managed
| somehow. How soon do you want it?''
"By the 1st." muttered Philip, gloom
1.-The 1st2 Next week2 Impossible |
In this out-of-the-way hole the thing
can't be done Surely Stopford will wait
bit?"
''Oh, yes, he'd wait, if that was all
But / told you it was hopeless. I've
done all I know and can't raise the
amount anyway. No more can you
though I know you'd do your best, ole
fellow. Great heavens! if 1 could undt
| this last months mischief! [ mind al.
! Z.
1.-The broad-shouldered scapegoat,' -
smiled Kit. Then he continued gravely
But there's more in this than you've
told me yet. Better have it all out a
once.'
He noticed Philips hand tremble as he
mixed himself stiff1sh brandy anc
| seltzer, and the usually boyish facC
looked strangely drawn. There was evi
IDENTIFY something a good deal worse to
confess. The stiffness grew almost pain.
| full, the very dog moved uneasily in his
sleep.
Then little by little, in q voice hoarse
with shame and misery, the story was
told.
Kit listened in absolute silence. He
could not trust himself to speak. and
walked away to the window. 1t was g
quiet night, suggestive of rest and un-
| troubled thought. 4 few stars shone out
here and there, looking placidly down
! from their eternal calm on the sleeping
earth. The solemn majesty of the heav-
ems, the soft soughing of the winds in
| the trees, the lndefinable charm of such q
night penetrating beneath the outer crust
of the human heart, that crust which
| serves as a necessary armor against the
rough usage of daily experience, appealed
! to the emotional hidden depths of Kits
character, and for moment seemed to
change illusion to truth, and the bitter
1 III w hllQCSb I16 RldIlcSu
within. Could that be Philip? That the
| dashing, handsome lad he had been sc
proud of and hoped so much from-or
whose honor he would have staked his
own life? Was it true, all that he had
| just heard Surely not. But Philips
voice dispelled all fancies-it was quite
| true.
you see. Kit, it seemed as if it would
be so easy to pay it back at first. / made
certain of Promoter winning the grand
prize, and never thought ill-luck will
the cards could last so long. The money
was all in nay hands; I've been Secre
| tary for the regimental funds this las
year. Another month and I'd have paiC
! 1t back somehow; but somebody has
called for settling day on the 1st, anc
| 1've to hand in the accounts
Yes, it was perfectly true; he had taken
/ this money for his own miserable follies
A few days hence Philips name woulC
| be banded from one TO another with
shrug of the shoulders, significant look
| an open jeer, a well-meaning "pool
| devil" The disgrace and shame Of i
| CALLED poor Kit beyond endurance. HI
turned back to the window with groan
II knew you were reckless young fool
! but / thought at least you were a gentle
man."
Silence within and without; silent
| misery within, silent beauty without
Il III HSdu Soiih AOWeT Oh lis Out
| stretched arms.
When next Kit spoke it was in an al
tered tone, and he came across to hi:
| brothers side.
''Cheer up, Phil there is still chance
You've tried every way you can think
of?''
Every one."
tits such short notice. Can't you pu
off settling day7'
Impossible"
well, I've been thinking it over, and
Pll get the money for you If possibly
can. There's Hazard. If I enter him fo
the shire hunt Point to- Point on the Goth