The sun., 1894-02-15
CHAPTER. 1.

| IaSQe DONeIree uuu Te(uHuSu W 1AS
home OF his fathers, and was about to
take possession of the estates Wmch
had devolved to him.
The heir wore no more vestlge or
mourning, for a period of more than
wear had elapsed since his fathers spir-
it had slipped life's cable, and taken
moorings in another world.
Sir Basil Dovetree leant back in his
open carriage with an air of naughty
| languor, scarcely condescending to ac-
| knowledge the Salutations of those who
had assembled to receive with becom-
| ing honour their future landlord, the
| new master of RavensmarSh.
The bells of RavensmarSh Church
were merrily pealing; gay flags We're
| flying out of every cottage WINDOW;
! the peasants were all attired in their
! holiday clothes; Il band Of music was
! playing on the village green; and, last
| ", there was a fox to be chased that
day.
But the almost blase Sir Basil heed
| ed not the harmonious chimes that
| were ringing through the air, nor the
| floating flags and streamerS, nor MS
| tenants Sunday suits, nor the dlscord-
| ant musicians, who played neither In
| time nor in tune; no, he still lOunged
! back in his softly-cuShioned carriage,
/ listlessly talking to the companion at
his side.
Sir Basils companion was a swarthy
! creole, a man handsome, fashionably
attired, and diStinguished-loOking but
the features of Pelham Warrington
(such was the name of the young Baro-
nets friend) Notwithstanding that
! they were regular and beautifully
formed, could wear at times sinister
and cruel expression, when his nostrils
would curl disdainfully, his black
eyes flash with terrible splen-
| dour, and his white, cleaning
teeth maliciously display themselves.
: No one knew his antecedentS, nor
whence he came, nor by what means
he lived; but, as he dressed in richly
embroidered suits, wore rutties of the
finest Mechlin lace, used gold snuff
box studded with large diamonds and
emeralds, carried his sword with man.
ly ease and grace, drank deeply, swOre
loudly, and risked large sums at cards
and dice, he passed for one of gentle
/ birth and breeding, and was according
! ly received as Such-and Sir Basil had
chosen him for his companionand most
particular friend.
i A dangerous companion for one rich,
vacillating, and weak, was this Pei
ham Warrington; but having gauged
the young heirs shallow understand
ing, the creole, like a leech, at once
fastened on him, resolving never to let
go his hold until compelled to do so.
| Sir Basil was easy in disposition, and
wholly unsuspicious, while Pelham
Warrington was willy and clever in all
respects.
! Sir Basil yawned, as his carriage
passed slowly along the village street;
the cheering shouts around him, greet
ing him at every advancing step, awak-
ened in him no pleasurable emotion,
] but, on the contrary, seemed rather to
! to weary and annoy him.
81 wish to heaven had stolen into
Ravensmarsh under the cover of
night" he said pettishly. II hate all
this sort Of demonstration-it's so
troublesome to respond tor
The creole slightly elevated his shoul-
ders.
what dull, humdrum kind of place
this Rayensmarsh is-eh, Warrington"
continued the young baronet. Il would
not be induced to live here ever for an
earldom. No, nothing on earth could
bride me to bury myself at Ravens
marsh
Il should think not, indeedr' the
creole returned, with another of his
shrugs.
mo, no; give me London-London,
with all its many charms and de-
lights-eh, Warrington? Hang Ravens
marsh, and all it's stupid inhabitants,
say l."
Il agree with you, Sir BASIL"
1 was a mere boy" proceeded the bar
queer old place; and 1 dare say time
has not improved its appearance"
Your late sire lived there all his life,
did he not?" asked Pelham.
He vegetated there during the
! greater portion of his existence;
so will not I. He cooped himself
up within it's gloomy walls, and let his
large fortune grow larger and larger
which example I shall not follow, be.
Ieve me-"
Warrington laughed softly, and rub.
bed his gloved hands together.
BY st. George" exclaimed Sir Ba
! sill, abruptedly starting forward with
suddenly-awakened interest. What q
pair of eyes! What nair-what lips
and complexion like alabasterr'
what in the name of wonder stirs
you thus?" inquired the creole
"A divinity, Warrington-a perfect
divinity! Look at her!
"At whomY
"At her. A girl standing under yon
der cottage porch"
''By the side Of an aged man?"
"Ay!' replied the young Baronet
"Confound the fellow, how fast he /.
! driving us!' he went on in a complain
ing tone. us she not beautiful, War
ringtOnW
Truly so. Who is she?'
NAY, how should I know, who am
stranger here? But before am day
older, I VOW that I will tell you al
about her."
Bravo! So 1T seems that we shall
have something to enliven us during
our stay here, Basil?"
"Us? The bird is mine to pursue!"
And to bag, if you can. Assurdl!
it is"
'"The sport may serve to render Raw
ensmarsh somewhat endurable to III
for the time that we may stay in 1t,
Sir Basil remarked, in a calculatin,
tone.
, 'T9 be sure" agreed the creole
, blandly.
, Sir Basil Dovetree's languor hat
| radiant with eager animation anC
pleasure. No longer did he lolr bacl
amongst the carriage cushions, lookin;
weary and annoyed; he had bow ant
and smile for all AROUND him now.
Pelham Warrington marked, tn
change in his companions demeanour
as he did so a dark frown contractet
his features, and his glistening teetl
gnawed his lips with fretful impa
hence.
Sir Basil entered his ancestral dwell
ing unmindful Of it's ancient structure
, his thoughts were all absorbed by tn
recollection Of tho beautiful girl he ha,
Just seen In the village,
And there was another under tn
roof of Ravensmarsh whose thought
were similarly engaged. That othe
was the swarthy creole.
Evening was fiinging its gray man
tie over the landscape, when Sir Bas
Dovatrnn startnd I'm from the rich des