The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-04-09
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A QUEER STORY.

croft was an event in that little Doltshire
village. The captain was the nephew of
Squire Fairfax, of Ravenscroft Hall. The
early death of both his parents had left
his uncle his guardian, and 1t must be
confessed that the behavior of the young
man did not make that office sinecure.
In fact, both before and after he entered
the army, young Freelance was as dissl-
pated and reckless boy as one could well
imagine Squire Fairfax could prophesy
no very brilliant future for him, and was
reioiced when his coming of age released
him from the painful duties Of guardian
ship. Soon after he attained majority,
young Freelancc's regiment was ordered
abroad, and it was now after five years
service in India that the scapegrace re
turned for time to his uncle's roof.
One can guess with what feelings Squire
Fairfax awaited his nephews, arrival.
What sort of a man had the dissipated
bow turned out? Was he wilder than
ever. or had he become, as wild boys often
do, an unusually steady and sober man ?
Would he come back aged and broken ut
y, or young, strong and handsome, as he
should be? The accounts Of his behavior
in India which reached Squire Fairfaxs
ears assisted him nothing in trying to
answer these questions. Some had de
scribed him as Il warning to young men,
Others as a model.
When, then, Captain Freelance was
ushered into the study where Squire Fair
fax and his only child, Emma, were await
ing his arrival, it was with i'll concealed
anxiety that the former rose to greet his
guest. But in a moment his anxiety dis
appeared. Captain Freelance was no
longer the worn and dissipated youth his
uncle had remembered him. As he stood
there. tall and erect, with his broad
shoulders, resolute face and gallant bear
ing, the squire thought him the very beau
ideal of a soldier; there was not a trace In
face or manner of debauched habits or an
abandoned life.
If his nephew's reformation brought JOY
to Squire Fairfax, there was another person
in the village to whom it was extremely
unwelcome. Strange to say, he who re-
gretted the young mans desertion Of evil
ways was the rector of the parish, Rev.
DIR. Blair. for reasons of his own, did not
rejoice over the return of the prodigal
nephew. He saw in it the possible defeat
and confusion of all the plans and hopes
of his life.
DIR. Blair had an only son, who had not
long returned from the university, where
he had distinguished himself. He was as
unlike his dark browed, bitter, energetic
father as possible Pale and fair, with a
delicate, girlish face and a quiet, gentle
manner, George Blair was the delight and
darling of all the ladies, old and young,
for miles around He was in every way
worthy of their esteem. His father had
made him his curate, and the thoroughness
with which he performed his duties, and
the kindness and thoughtfulness he dis
played in dealing with the parish poor
won for him respect and admiration from
severe critics than his femael friends.
DIR. Blair loved his son with warmth and
tenderness surprising in a man so cold and
stern as he. Perhaps this affection was
the one soft spot usually to be found in the
hardest natures, or perhaps it was a sur
yiyal from a better self. 1t was said that
he saw in the boy delicate face and gentle
manner reflex and reproduction of the
wife whom the rector in his youth had
loved with an exceeding passion, and
whose early death had darkened and EN-
bittered his life.
For his son the doctor was ambitious
While George was still boy his father
had planned a bright future for him, and
every step he afterward took was adopted
with due regard for that plan. The lad
was to 90 to the university; from it he was
to return to Ravenscroft. There he
would be his fathers curate, and, in proper
time. would become the husband Of the
heiress of Squire Fairfax, and succeed
alike to Ravenscroft estate and Ravens
croft living. That George was scarcely a
fit mate for Miss Emma Fairfax, and that
the Squire might suggest the governess,
little Miss Ivyleaf, as a more suitable part
ner for him, never entered the doctors
head. If it had, he would probably have
secuted it as absurd. In his estimation,
no woman and no future were too good fol
his handsome, clever boy.
All went well for long time. George
Blair went to Oxford, and took there a
good degree. During his course he spent
his vacations at Ravenscrolt, and was a
constant guest at the hall, where he was a
great favorite with the squire and a
greater with Emma. When he became
his fathers curate, the interest and esteem
with which he was regarded at the hall
did not diminish. He was there every
day, and spent much of his time in giving
Emma lessons and in walking with her and
her youthful governess, Miss Ivyleaf.
Everything seemed prospering, and the
rector was only waiting till Emma attain
ed her nineteenth year in order to come to
an understanding with the squire when the
approaching arrival of Captain Freelance
was announced. For the first time feaI
occurred to DR.. Blair that after all, his
plans might rot work out as harmoniously
as he had expected.
His alarm was fully justified. No
sooner had Captain Freelance arrived than
he showed symptoms of being attracted by
his pretty little cousin. To the doctors
confusion, Emma showed still stronger
symptoms of being attracted by him
She began to neglect Georges lessons. and
he frequently found himself left to take
| -. IL. .,..th M;ss Trylaaf alnna Emma