Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-09-01

that far together" suggested the law
yer. THAT is, supposing you can
make all your preparations within
three or four days, as my mission is
Urgent
ut can make no possible difference to
me whether / start a few days earlier
than l had intended, or go a few hun
dreds OF miles out of my way. BE it
as you propose. | shall go with you.
And here, show me where / am to
sign, and let me get this legal business
of nay mlnd!'
Stephen was not slow to take adyant-
age of this sudden accession of resolu-
ton on his brothers part. and secured
the coveted signature duly witnessed
by the landlord with great prompti-
tude. He realized clearly enough that
some disturbing influence, other than
the Winchester verdict, was preying
upon Oscars mind TO the extent OF
causing him TO act rather upon the ca
price Of the Ei0ment than upon any de-
liberately-formed plan; and that. just
as he had so impulsiyely declared his
intention of accompanying him 10 New
York, at almost n moments notice, lie
might as suddenly change his mind be-
fore the hour Of departure arrived.
What this disturbing influence was
cue to he did not know; but he shrewd-
ly ~conjectured that the prospective loss
of the Cheltenham heiress, mentioned
by his mother, was at the bottom of it;
and, II so, the sooner the ocean rolled
between them the better. He, there
fore. resolved TO keep Oscar, upon II
pretext II another, under careful OBJ
~servation until they were afioat.
But, for all his care, Oscar gave him
the slip. merely leaving word that he
had gone to Cheltenham to say good
bye to his mother. What more natural
than that Stephens filial devotion
should lead him to follow suit? He
did so, by the first train he could
catch. and was more Disguised than
surprised to learn that Oscar despite
several hours start had not yet ar
rived at Mrs. Deane's house. Clearly
someone had a prior claim, ana that
someone could be none other than Miss
Danvers. 1t was in no amiable frame
of mind. therefore. that Stephen en-
J deavored TO parry his mothers count
less questions while lie awaited Oscars
advent.
Mrs. Deane expressed herself as ut
terly unable to understand either Os-
ears migration TO Canada, or her
| younger sons business in New York;
and she. not unnaturally, demanded TO
be enlightened.
Il am going simply upon a matter OF
legal business" was Stephens some
| what vague explanation, (which does
not concern you In the least. Oscar is
going with me as far as New York, be-
cause 1t Is on his way toCanada and
we wish to travel together"
But what is he going TO Canada
fort' queried perplexed Mrs. Deane.
surely, he can have no business out
there"
HE Is cut UP about the verdict. and
has made UP his mind To clear out Of
England" said Stephen. That's all L
know about ii, and | think it is about
MI he knows himself. Ask him. If you
like; but, IL you are wise. you won't
try and argue the point. 1t only irri-
tates him. After all, why should he
not go. IL he chooses?"
you must be mad, Stephen, and so
must her she protested, vehemently.
what! With Sir Derek almost at
deaths door, and Oscar heir to the bar
onetcy of Deanshurst. you ask why he
should not bury himself in the wilds OF
Canada! | have no patience with such
~nonsense.'
well. candidly, I am at the end Of
my patience, too. mother. So I'll have
a cigar and take a stroll until he comes
pack. Fight 1t out with him."
Mrs. Deane fairly lost her temper.
IL shall most certainly do my utmost
to make him abandon this wild pro-
ject," she retorted, sharply, (which,
for your W reasons, you wish I'm
to carry out. 1t is useless glaring at
me, Stephen. Remember that / brought
you into this world, that l have studied
your disposition from childhood, and
that | know you almost as well as you
know yourself. You are anxious for
your brothers birthright, and you are
encouraging him TO abandon it in your
fayor-so far as he can abandon ii and
still live"
Stephen WINGED under this home
| thrust, but he affected to treat ii as q
joke. "Pshaw, mother." he exclaimed,
laughing aloud. 'Your Imagination
runs away with you, and respect for
myself debars me from taking you Sc
riously. How on earth can a voyage
to Canada affect Oscars sbirthright,'
as you call it? Candidly, / think he's
n FOOL 10 go, just 10 escape club title
tattle and comment on that stupid YER
diet. Certainly, | would not bulge an
inch on that account. But then, he
and l are different"
"Yes. Stephen" she assented, still re-
sentfully, you and he are different.
You always We're"
Later on Oscar made his appearance,
looking even more harassed and .wor-
ried than usual. Miss Danyers was not
in Ch~eltenhan, and only after a great
many inquiries had he ascertained that
| she was in the South of France with
her parents. Fate, he told himself, had
decided that he must go without the
ordeal of n last farewell. Well, best
so. perhaps, for both.
Very gently, but very firmly, he set
aside all his mothers arguments
against his proposed voyage. And
when, as n last recourse, she referred
TO his love for Clare Danvers, and The
certainty of obtaining her fathers con.
sent TO the marriage when he should
succeed TO the baronetcy, he begged
her, almost peremptorily, TO let that
subject drop entirely.
81 came down TO bid you farewell.
mother" he said, with the grave, sad