The Portland daily press., 1898-10-14
Chapter II.
A REGGAR ON HORSEBACK.

he had leen a confirmed invalid, and in
the morning the two renowned doctors
who had been telegraphed for from Lon
don had declared his recovery impossible.
The Court fne old pile with grey time
worn walls half hidden by ivy, stood in
its spacious park about mile from Strait
field Mortimer on the hill between that
village and Burghtield.
AS the rays of crimson sunset slanted in
through th5 one unshaded window there
was a profound stiffness in the siokroom.
At the bedside stood four solemn faced
men, patiently watching for the end.
The spark of life fiickered on, and now
and then the dying man uttered words
low and indistinct. Two OF the men
were doctors the third Richard Harrison,
of the firm of Harrison and James, solicit
tors, of Bedford Row, and the fourth
George Stratfeld, the Baronet's youn ger
son.
The haggard man had spoken once or
twice leaving certain instructions to his
solicitor, but at last there was long
silence. unbroken save by the rustling of
the stiff grey gown of the nurse, who en-
tered for an instant, then left again in
silence.
The eccentric old man, whose reputation
through out Berkshire was that OF. a tyran-
nical landlord, bigoted magistrate and
a miserly father, at last opened his dull.
filmy eyes. The white bony finger lying
on the coverlet twitched uneasily. as,
eIanoing at his son, he beckoned him for
ward.
Obediently the young man approached.
"Promise me one thing, George" " the
diving man exclaimed with an effort, in
a voice so low as to be almost indisttn-
o uisha BILE. "Promise me that you will
n ever marry that woman"
..Why, fatherf Why are you so bitterly
prejudiced against Lianef"
s'I have my reasons" was the answer.
"But love her," the young man urged
81. can marry no one else.
aThen go abroad, forget her, and re-
main a bachelor. Erie Brokers daughter
shall never become Stratield,'' was the
harsh reply, uttered with considerable
difficulty.
George. q tall, well-built young fellow,
with fair hair, a fair moustache and blue
eyes, was typical specimen of the Eng
Iish gentleman, still in his well.w rid
ing breeches and tweed coat. fer that
morning before the arr ival of the doctors,
he had, in order to get prescription
made np. ridden hard into Reading. He
made no reply to his fathers words. He
did not wish to offend the Baronet. yet he
could not give pledge which he Intended
"Wiil you not promisea" Sir John
again demanded, strange look over
spreading his haggard ashen features.
Again deep silence fell.
"No." answered his son at last.
cannot promise to give up L1ane, for l
.Lovel Bah. I tell you that woman
shall never be your wife. II John were
dia. he would fully endorse every word l
say. Brokers girl shall never enter our
family
ssWhat do you know against her?" the
son asked, dismayed. Why, you have
never set your eyes upon either father r
QaU "a QTr rOn
Der mus have been telling you of our
llandestine meetings, and this has an
noyed you"
II am aware of more than you imag-
ine,'' the dying man answered. VIII
you, or will you not, promise to obey my
wish?"
There was look of firm determination
in the old mans countenance; look
which the son did not fail to notice.
''No, father he answered. "Once for
all, decline"
sIhen if such be your decision you must
take the consequences. You are an un-
worthy son.
''In the matter of my marriage shall
follow my own inclinations entirely" the
young man said calmly.
Very well," the BaroneJ answered, and
making sign to his solicitor, Harrison.
Commanded his son to leave the room.
At first George demurred but in ao-
cordance with the suggestion of the doc
tors that the wishes of their patient
should be respected at that crisis-time.
he went out, and passing down stairs to
the library threw himself back in one OF
the roomy leather chairs to think.
Yes, he loved Liane. With her yivac-
ious half English, haIf-French manner
isms, her sweet musical accent, her dark
beauty and grey trusting. eyes. she was
unlike any other woman he had ever be-
held. They had met by chance on Morti-
k,afN nNo
morning, while riding towards Ufton, he
had found her at the roadside endeavor-
ing to read just her cycle, which had met
with slight accident. His proffered
services were gratefully accepted. and
from that moment their friendship had
ripsned into passionate and devoted love.
Almost daily they took long walks and
rides together, but SO secret had been
their meetings that until half an hour
ago he had no idea that his father was
aware of the truth. He had purposely
kept the matter from Sir John because of
his severe illnsss, yet someone, whom ne
knew not, must have watched him and
gone to the Raronet with some foul, libel
1ous story.
AS be lay back in his chair, his gathered
legs crossed, his sun-browned hands
clasped behind his head. gazing up to the
old panelled ceiling. he reflected that in
o few hours the Court would no longer
be his home. His elder brother, Major
Stratfield. who for the past five years had
been In India with his regiment, the East
Surrey, had been telegraphed for, and in a
few weeks would arrive and become Sir
John Stratfeld, while he. dogged by the
misfortune attendant on being younger
son, would go forth from the old place
with an income the extent of which he
could not know until after the will had
been read.
Georges life had certainly not been a
happy one. Since his mothers death a
few months after his birth, his father had
become hard man, irritable and misan
thropic He kept no company, begrudged
every penny his son cost him at college. |
and appeared to take a delight in obtain |
ing the ill-wilI of all his neighbors. He |
knew that scacrely perso in the parish |
would regret his decease, and used tre- |
quently to comment with dissatisfaction
upon the unenviable reputation ho had |
gained. This was merely eccentricity,
people said; but for George 1t was decid-
edly unpleasant, for while he was well
coined in every house, his father was
never invited. Sometimes this fact i'm
for III IL