The morning call., 1892-01-22
Rem a..
CHAPTER l.

50 never ItlI more fiNfohCN IL ny AL4C'
she exclaimed, shaking her heal in her yeX-
alton tiil the little gray curls on either side
Of her still pretty and blooming cheeks
bobUel up and down. Ny brother did all
sorts of eccentric things from bis youth up
ward and tails is the climax
"Dan'tspeak IN Of the dead, my dear old
friend" exclaimed the vicar, who sat on the
other side Of the Learthrug, a sympathiztng
auditor of her troubles. Let US hope that
Mr.. FravIe meant we'll in wording bis will
as he has done. May / know what there IS
III 1t that proyokes you?'
Mrs. Froyle picked mp a legal-loOking en-
yelope frum tie small Jauauese table that
held her glasses, her knitting basket and
Tiny silver gong
cot course, ought to J. ave explained to
vou but my ttmper-tle FToyle temper
got The better Of me. on know already
that when J4Iyas died at his hermitage-lt
was nothing better-ln Brittany, he gave
directions that lis Will was not to he opened
for twelve months.
Sir. Bourne nodded.
81 remember and the term has just eX-
pired" .-,-,
me q copy. Passing ne over altO gctheT-
which by the by, DIES not signify, fer am
content with what Ih3ve'-aul tie old lady
cast around her glance Of satisfaction
"he makes cur great-nIcCe, Rena HurSley-
by the by. YOU know ieua-Y
81 have seen heT-a tall. energetic, dark
eyed girl, who, since the sudden decease Of
her father las added TO her stepmotheT's IN
come 0y her earnings as an artist
quite right. Strange 10 say, Mrs. Hurs-
lev thinks Eeua's tolls degrade them, al
though ii keeps the foolish woman out Of
debt and edueateS her Younger children
"Aud TO this young lady Mr.. Jeryas
Froyle bellealhs ms property. congratU-
late her.
''S,1p, stop, You have not heard all. Jer-
vas has Two lrEateeS, Reua, and her second
cOus D. Hubert Dert0n. No, you have not
seen him YET. Tin within these last few
months he has been something or other on
the staff # an Australia paper. aud IS only
in England 10 work up some articles or
commercial difficulty. Don't ask me 10 eX-
plain, for 1 dom understand anything
about Il. But lnad1 his aCquall tauCe when
I went to town last May, and Ike HIM
much He is shrewd and sensible, which is
more than one can say Of young men in gen
eraL'
vide the property? Surely there Is nothing
very absurd IN that
" Ny dear Mt. Bourne, why viii You be
Sc INPATIENT II YOU would but let me TN
ish my eXpl nation l should be able TO tell
Won the state If the case"
But She put up her mittened hands when
ht began 10 Apologize, crying:
NO. 10, 10, play don't say word; 10 Is
I Who am di>c0UTteOuS 70 nv best friend
and adviser Bur now do let me- tell you
the rest Jervas beqgPaths all he had 10
leave. except lew small leg3Cies, 10 these
his descendants; but Il Is on the condition
that they marry. If they refuse to carry
cut that condition church IS to be built
and endowed somewhere 10 Africa with the
maEey.'
Are there any reasons why the young
people should not maTry?' inquired Mr.
Not one They are Of suitable age; he
is gent .emanIy she IS beautiful; he sings
We'll. she paints cAarmingiy, and both are
above tie average as regards intellect
Then, ny dear madam what is the OBJ
staCle 10 the union that would make them
the joint p0sse>Sors Of fire estate in Sar6p-
shire. q good house at the NesteHd and an
IGcoma 4 something like eight Thousand per
aUnUWt
Tie obstacle? Why. there are dozen,
and pride Will be at the bottom OF them all.
R-na is poor; her widowed mother partially
dependent upOu her eXcTtl0ns; but DO You
think she would sto0p TO marry money!
Hubert is a struggling man, who must
strive for years b fore he can climb 10 the
top Of the tree; out 80 you think lie would
marry Tor money! Both Of them have al
ready written to the lawyers, declining to
avail themselves Of a legacy preferred on
such terms, and my foolish brothers prop
erty will be handed over 20 the builders and
the blacks. If anything could make me
cross, I'm sure l might be excused for
losing nv temper n0W9
II certainly is a complication; but IL the
young people have already made their de-
clsion and will not wed. what is to be
doue"
Nothing. I suppose" replied Mrs.
FTOyle, ruetuly. And yet it greves me-
it worries NE to see good fortune within
their grasp, only to be Teiected'
DO they know each other? Is there any
personal dIsllke?'
They met at my lodgings several times,
and got on together famOusly; that is. they
soon found OUT that their opinions differed
on several points, over Which they quar-
relied repeatedly"
"QuaTreled!'
Yes. people possessed of character and
spirit always do. OF course they made it
~ again, and respected each other all the
more for such fTaukness and honesty. But
an attack Of bronchitis drove me home, and
now This ridiculous viii has spoiled every
thing"
You are sure that neither Of them had
prior attachments"
'Almost-nay, quite" Mrs. Fcoyle as
serted, after a little reflection. They liked
me- and told me ali their secrets, poor young
things. It's horrid for them to be tantalIzed
with the prospect Of a fortune which they
fancy they cannot hon0Taby accept"
But f they like each other why should
not they be wedded?" the vicar persisted.
son, Mr.. Bourne, MI. Bourne, can't You
see that We cannot make a couple II proud,
passionate young things take a common
sense view Of the AFFAIR."" cried Mrs FrOyIe,
shaking the gray cuTls at him. "If they
had been engaged before the VIII was read
all would have been we'll; now Jerva's
money is like wall between them, and l
don't see how it's to be pulled down"
"IuVita them here aud uea Vour pavguq-
slve powers" the vicar suggested.
"a good thought / viii write at once
and get you to slip my notes IN the pillar
box as you pass the end Of the village. You
have gwen me an Idea, and l will see
what can be made Of IT,"
Mt. Bourne brought the old lady her
desk, and, in the neat. angular caligraphy
on which SIZE pIlded herself, she penned the
following:
My Brave Little Rena: Messrs. Velum have
acquainted me with your decision. You have
acted precisely as l thought you would, but |
shall not feel quite satisfied about YOU ill ] have
feeu you. Come 70 NE Tor week or two.
shall take 20 denial but send the carriage to
every train tomorrow mi you arrive.
''She will be glad TO get away from home
TIL her stepmOther has forgiven her" said
Mrs FrOye, as she sealed her note. Now
for Hubert. III ! say that | have heard he
is about to return 10 Australia, and beg for
visit on the plea that at my age it is not
probable that we shall meet again, he viii
not refuse 10 come"
And when you have them both here, my
dear lady. what neXt?"
Mrs. FrOyle folded her hands demuraiv
and her still bright eyes twinked as She re-
piled:
My dear Mr. Bourne, I dare not tell you.
for am meditating a sin, and you would be
shocked; but you shall hep me TO repent it
il il is not a successful one"
The vicar looked puzzled, but be laughed.
for she was a warm-bearted woman. and
none knew better than he how many CHART
able acts she performed for her poorer
neighb0rs. Willingly did he carry away
with him the missives that were TO bring
the two rebellious legatees to Fairthorn
Cottage, as Mrs. Froyle's charming little
BeIkshire villa was designated. and natianLlv