The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-19

who was that we passed just now. uncle?'
cried Lady Melita. "A stranger, wasn't IT.!
''Lita declared he must be begging phil
anthropist, and 1 bet Lila he was a gentle
man farmer sort of fellow, for he'd crops and
fat cattle written In every line of his face
and figure. Violet said he might be a doc
tor-a quack doctor, she thought, and looked
if she feared he might have already sue
ceeded in administering his favorite nostrum
to you," laughed Mr.. Warrington, a good
tempered, fine-looking young fellow, who, in
Lady Melita's eyes, however much she might
tease and find fault with him, perfect.
'Then you were all wrong and very wrong"
returned Lord Forester. The gentleman
you met Mr. Stevens, a very we'll known
London solicitor. He is down here busi-
ness-not on my business, 1 am thankful to
say" he added, seeing a anxious look on
Violet's face; but on poor March's. He has
died intestate, after all"
What! the old mser whose picturesque
abode you pointed out to us fortnight ago:'
said Lady Melita, with great interest.
Yes, my dear; and"
And who is the happy next-of-kin?" asKec
Mr.. Warrington, whilst Violet flushed, and
then turned pale.
Our old friend, Brian Beresford said Lord
Forester, looking tenderly at his daughter.
March has left quite large fortune, L hear,
though he tried to make people believe he
was, and lived as if he were, very man.
Stevens came to ask me for Beresford's ad-
dress that he might cable to him to come
home"
why. that is the Brian Beresford 1 re-
member so we'll when we were children, and
with whom l was so desperately in love in
those faraway days. cried Lady Melita. rs
he coming home soon ?-Shall 1 see him?
declare the idea is quite agitating! Take
care, Reggie! If he is, you will have real
cause for showing that deVOuring jealousy
which is one of your principal characteristics,
at last. l remember l used to be violently
jealous of his affection for vi in the old days.
Wasn't l, vi? Oh, she has gone in. She
ccn't TO lxn into in
Mr.. Brian Beresford now, at any rate"
Lord Forester smiled He knew his
daughter loved Brian, and how much she
had suffered since he left England, although
she had hidden her trouble and borne it so
bravely that few suspected it, and only his
keen eyes had perceived it.
He knew she had left them that she might
not betray her emotions at the news of his
coming return and altered fortunes, and, at
ter a few more words with his niece and her
intended, he followed her into the house.
He found her, as he had expected, in a
pretty little room, looking out on to the rose
garden, which had been the schoolroom in her
early days, and which she now called her
parlor. The look in her eyes she raised
her head at his entrance told him how agi-
tated she was. and how she was longing TO
hear all he had to tell her about Brian and
his affairs.
well. Violet, my 1Iove,p he said, taking her
In his arms and kissing her. you see the
poet spoke truly when he said, The longest
day will have end My dearest, for your
sake, as well as for Beresford's, l rejoice
thoroughly at the turn affairs have taken.
Poor old March! do not mean to say any
thing unkind of him, but-well, you under
stand me, dear. l rejoice that your sore trial,
the trial you have borne so patiently and
uncomplainingly, is at an end, Violet-that
you will be rewarded, my dear, at last
"You-you will be content if-if Brian still
wishes-still cares for me, father?" she fall
tered.
Content More than content-delighted
You know surely, vi, that had it been possi-
BILE 1 would have given my consent two
years ago. And as to if he cares, you don't
doubt it, surely?"
"I-oh! no. could never doubt Brian,
father" she answered, firmly, though with
a deep blush. When do you think he will
be here?'
stevens will cable this very day. A fort
night should see him with u.s. replied Lord
Forester; that is if he has not much busi-
ems tells me old March has left a large for
tune-sX thousand year. 1 shall see my
child comfortable and happy yet before I
die
And he kissed Violet lovingly.
Six thousand a yeari Violet was struck
dumb with astonishment for an instant
And he half starved himself and poor old
Carter" she said, at length, wonderingly;
'and let his beautiful old house go. to ruin.
father, and-and Brian, he never helped him
never gave him a farthing. Poor Brian! How
could he bear to send him away when
when But he is dead, we must try to for
get all that, l suppose
HE doubt eccentric-mad on the
subject of money, and really lived in ground
less fear of becoming a bankrupt" replied
Lord Forester. We'll, my darling, I hope
your trouble is all over now, and that in fu-
ture all will go well with you. A fortnight
will soon pass, and then Brian will be with
us once again.
She smiled into her fathers face
Yes" she said; lit is all coming right at