The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-08

/ lafde WoodcocE. NhV -" sydney OTOHe
OF abruptly and whistled softly.
What is tue matter"
"Nothingr'f
''She is a most admirable and estimsble
lady in every respect, and the marriage is
a most desirable one. Woodcocks mines
adjOin my own, and the union Of the two
families would mean good deal OF money
saved TO US"
when does thu wedding take placer
! about Christmas l understand. Fred
eric has made very good mstch, and
mean to mark the affair by making his
bride handsome wedding present"
''IndeedF'
Yes. / shall give her the whole of your
mothers jewels, which are certainly worth
ten or twelve thousand pounds"
| Sydney CarslRnd bit his lips till the blood
| came, but be said nothing What his father
had told him had aroused all thai was evil
in his nature, and he was cursing In his
throat father and brother and the prospects
i've bride Of the latter.
For this anger on his part there was, he
thought, ample grounds. Three years ago
he and Miss Woodco3k had seen a good
deal Of each other. Her beauty and wealth
had affected both his head and heart, he
had pursued her with the certainty that she
| was to be had for the wooinR; she had shown
him every encouragement; they had walked
and talked together on summer days
had flirted and made love TO each other
In the delightful evenings; and, then, when
be had laid bis heart and hand at her feet,
she had coolly dismissed him, saying that
she bad never cared for him, and desired
their ACQUAINTANCE to terminate.
Now his iil-favored half-brother was to
marry the rich and besuteous girl his hand
some self had failed TO win. Moreover, the
woman who had cruelty cast him away
was to have his dead mothers jewels pre-
sented to her.
hat hat
stained. and that his heart aud brain were
charged with bitterest pain and thought.
Before the evening was over the half
brothers met The eldest showed not the
faintest trace of surprise or ill-feeling as he
held out his cold hand, saying:
~ am pleased to see You home again.
Sydney"
ideally; is that quite true, Frederick
he asked icily, as he touched the others
fingers for a moment, and then dropped
them like hot coal.
Certainly; why should you think other
wiser -
"Your letter was scarcely as warm as
your welcome here--I am sure you will for
give me if am wrong, butt was scarcely
the letter one brother might expect from
another"
81 could do nothing. Father is really Of
Tended with you this time, and IN spite of
all could urge, and did urge, he refused to
do anything
ri had an impression, Frederic, that you
had possibly used youT influence with MIN
IN the other direction" was Sydney's tart
rejoinder
"You doubt my word, then-think, sug-
gest that am lIsr!" the elder son replied
hotly. lat all events, my word is as good
as yoursm
"But even if my fatherrefused to aid me,
you could have done something
II couldn't do much. My allowance is
small enough, heaven knows; and in view
Of my approaching marriage have moth
ing to spsre.n
Father told me that you were engaged
to Miss Woudcock. ! suppose 1t is So"
"Yes. We are to be married In Deem
ber"
81 wish you JOY. I was once fool enough
Co think that the same lady cared for me-"
"She told me all about il. 1t was mere
fancy, ON your part, as you learned when
she declined Your offer"
II discovered my mistake then, but |
was stupid enough to imagine that had l
| been the elder son instead OF the younger,
the always-do- IN place of the scape-
grace and neer-do-well, the answer would
/ have been different - ~. b..
DO you mean to insult MAJ Have you
come here to quarrel Y = -. ,.
For moment the half-brothars glarsd at
one another in silence. They dishked each
! OIO6T dou al bOelF lives Ddu
striven to disguise their enmty. The elder
was freckled. ilI-featured and ungainly of
| figure. The younger was uncommony
handsome of face and gracefully built. 1t
| was wonderful that any woman of parts
would select as lover and husband the
former. This thought ran through sgd
ney's mind, but he did not care to xpress
himself then. He could not afford to quar-
rel with one who possessed so much innu-
ence over Sir Nicholas. So, assembling
hia hot wrath and crushing back his I'M
brotherly thoughts, he cried with apparent
warmth and contrition:
Pm fool, Frederic. Forgive me for
being so hasty Shake hands.
His outstretched hand was grasped,
warmly shaken, and then the unfraternal
brothers parted for the Light, each to brood
over his own schemes
Several weeks went by after Sydney
Carsand's strange homecoming, without
| anything OF Importance happening. Several
days after bis arrival Sir Nicholas had come
| to him as be lounged about the lawn in
| front of the house, and as he walked along
side him had remarked
| 81 got letter from a Mrs Edwards OF
London, with whom You lodged it appears.
'indeedt She cent her account, | sup
pose'7 :.s.
Sir Nicholas eruntsd out An assent.
Then send thepoor devil check for the
! amount. ] GU won't miss 1t, and she neeqs
it very much. Itis,only matter of few
pounds
Tie cLeck was sent, and sydney con-
trived ia borrow a few pounds from bis
father On his own account. 10 order to rig
himself out i'll a respectable manner.
= r Nicholas CarSland was very busy at
this period. being engaged III negotiations
with his nelghbor, Squire Woodcock. with
a view to the amslgamation of their re-
spective collieries The barouet was salts
fed 20 have his younger at home with
him. thinking he was out of mischief's way
there. and as Frederic went down to the
colliery Office every day Sydney vas left
very much TO his own devices.
He had the free run Of the house the best
of food, wine and cigars we're at his CONS
mand there were fair horses in the stables
so that all he was short of was ready cash.
Cantering along the country lane in the
direction Of Thurstanley. mining hamlet
a couple Of miles to the south Of Thorrell
Mtor where the Woodcocks lived, he en-
countered HIS old flame, Miss Adelaide. on
horseback attended by groom.
On recognizing her in the distance he
slackened pace, intending to speak to the
lady, but when they met face to face
her curt nod drove him on. Miss
Woodcock looked more attractive than
|