The Eddy current., 1896-10-03

CNJFhN1 Ing the time Nhile
! held myself aloof
from him ! passad
through many stages OF sorrow, but !
believe tay anger was greater than ny
grief. was but nineteen years al age,
but fancy that my thoughts and ideas
were In advance OF my years. The
curious, almost solitary, llfc which !
had led for 20 many years at Herstal
Abbey no doubt conduced to make me
older than really was. TIL the time
came for me 10 20 10 Oxford, saw little
Of any one save my supposed father,
ny tutor, and the servants Of the house.
But latterly all he'd changed for the
better. had been two terms a. the
university. / had made many friends.
Life was just opening TO me; new,
fresh life. full of pleasure and excite
ment. found myself fairly popular
with my fellows. ! was wsll supplied
with money. ] was looked upon as an
only son. ana heir to ine property. In
short my lot seemed 10 be one In ten
thousand.
And that moment Mr. Lorraine had
chosen 10 reveal 10 me the secret OF my
lowly birth. To daEh me from tlp
pedestal upon which he had placed me.
To show me that had nc claim upon
hm-that instead OF being young Mr..
Lorraine OF Hcrstal Abbey. was no one,
remember how. shortly before he
told mo the tale OF the fhlpwreck.
had been dlscouralng In a somewhat
arrogant. self-satlsned and Glib man
ner as 10 the duties incumbent on old
families and landed gentry; asserting
that the existence OF the ariatOeracy
was an unmitigated blessing TO the
land. In fact. ! was giving my sup
posed father a hash-up Of a speech
which I had heard at the Union.
thought my sentiments gave him fatis-
faction lie smiled and looked amused
No doubt he was amused. so amused
that the demon 0f sarcasm rose Within
him. and hurried on the revelation
which he may or may not have intended
should be made. Tho temptation 10
prick the bladder inflated by my youth
tui arrogance must have been irrc-
sislible to Mr. Lorraine. From a ohild
had noted this cruel trait In his char
acter. had noticed Il with servants
such acqualntances as he had, and with
myself The way OF listening, OF even
leading one on 10 talk, and then sud.
denly. by a biting piece OF sarcasm
crushing the unlueky speaker. II WIZ
from this and kindred actions that
even while | thought him my fathe.,
did not love the man.
Nor aid he love me. Had he loves m,
ever so little. he would have keft IN,
secret. and spared me my proselt hu'
initiation SO. in spite OF All hs had
done for me, my anger rose and burned
against Julian Lorraine.
may have been wrong; bN. as viii
be soon discovered, ! was inll OF faults
Perhaps the very assooiatiul. more OF
less, during twelve years wlth a mar
OF Mr.. Loraines stamp n.ust deyeloI
faults
There Let me write ro more TO hil
detriment. He worked me evil. anC
he worked me good. 10 Is dead. As
raise my eyes from my naper ans
glance through iny NiSdow, ! can al
most see his grave.
In the afternoon ! cent In search o
him; found him reading IN th'
library. He nodded as ! entered, thei
returned TO his bcSk and finished th'
paragraph.
"woll. Jullan?" he said, as a sigma
that he was al ny service
II have been thinking over what yoi
told me last night. Mr.. Lorraine"
lie raised his dark eyebrows as h
heard me adde's him this wise. TIL
now ! had generally used the old
fashioned SIR" sometimes, not often
father"
Il hate changes. Julian" he said
"As you know, the ola landed gentr
are rooted q old customs.
Even al that moment he could no
forego his naFcasm Ny cheek flushed
"see hos you have changed life 70
meg said hotly.
"Ahl yes; greatly, no doubt.
wonder what you would have bee
noef"
Tell me what am now"
80 faf az know, a young man Of II
thoroughly we'll educated. good-looa
ing. full OF church and state principles
Why, the rector stopped me yesterday
and assured me you wero one Of th
nnest young fellows he ever knew
quite a credit 10 the county"
THIS banter seemed 10 stab mi
''Tell me. sir" said, ought % than
you for what you have done for met
Personally, hate expressions Z
gratitude; bat n II gives you any aatil
faction. thank me by All means"
"No; ! do no. thanR you. Had 20
placed ne IN some humble poailio
suited 10 my birth. and let me max
my way IN the world, / could hay
thanked you. But for years 70 let nj
BE- called your som why did you do
alrfu