The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-03-15

unsayable and unbiddable beyond
everything. He ran away from all
schools. He was sent to sea and de-
serted his ship. Customs and fashions
he despised and disobeyed. In fact,
he was a gypsy, and not an English
gentleman. When he was eighteen
he was allowed to travel wherever his
fancy led him. Your father hoped to
weary out his rowing temper; on the
contrary, it confirmed it. He came
back with the wild life Of California
and Colorado and Texas in the middle
of his heart. There was no life worth
living but that of on Indian or a COW
boy. He talked to the squire until
even he sometimes felt as if he must
sell Mowbray and so with his boy to
the prairies. But the wish was only
in the squire's imagination; and twas
his sons blood. I'll say this-thelad
could not help it. 1t was his nature.
And at last his father understood that
he could no more make an English
squire out of Thomas Mowbray than
he could make a plow horse out of
red deer. They did not quarrel or
angrify about it. They talked the
case sensibly over in my presence,
and the young man was glad to take
five thousand pounds as his portion
and 90 off with it to the West to make
his own life and be his own master"
Apainful silence followed this story.
The lawyer breathed with difficulty,
and had been obliged to rest frequent
ly during it's recital. Richard sat with
a troubled face. He needed no one to
point out to him the unfortunate in
huence this position would have on his
relations with Katherine. The laird
would very justly refuse to sanction an
alliance while his social standing was
so undetermined. He looked anxious
ly into the lawyers face, and asked:
"Was not this agreement formally
authenticated?"
"Certainly. I put it down myself
in black and white, and your brother
signed it. ;,
aThat is, he relinquished all claims
on Mowbray for five thousand pounds"
eyes"
"Then my title to Mowbray is clear
enough"
N"Your father thought so until just
before his death, when was going
through his papers with him. Then
the real condition of the agreement
struck him: Thomas Mowbray was
not of age when be signed it. A minor
could not ALLEVIATE his rights. The
transaction had been concluded three
days too soon."
"Aud you did not know this?"
"Certainly did not. Whether your
father had mistaken the date of his
sons birth or whether he overlooked
the condition altogether I do not
know. confess that it never occur
red to me to question the majority OF
Thomas Mowbray, for travel had given
him very mature appearance.
"Had you not known him all his
life?"
"By no means. Until your birth
Squire Mowbray scarcely ever lived in
Mowbray. His son Thomas was never
here, to my knowledge, button the one
occasion when he freely resigned hia
right in the property for five thousand
pounds. I doubt if the villagers knew
of his existence. The action was in
accord with his own urgent desire, and
there was nothing but affection in your
fathers willingness to accede to it.
he went with his son to Liverpool and
watched him sail away forever from
his sight. Andhe took on deal about
his going-he did that! Then he met
your mother, and was comforted by
her love and by your birth"
"Did not Thomas Mowbray write tc
father from American"
cat first he did. Letters came at
intervals from California, Arkansas,
Mexico and Texas, and soon after
your mothers death-when you were
ten years old-he sent an announce
ment of his marriage. This letter
was dated La Guadalupe, and was
mailed from San Antonio. The squire
wrote him long reply and sent him
picture of your mother and yourself.
Since that time there has never been
another word from him."
"And Thomas Mowbray might come
back and lawfully claim an elder
brothers right?"
"That is the case in its absolute
possibility. But 7 do not believe
Thomas Mowbray would do such
thing. Your father had the greatest
confidence in his honor. He was op-
posed to my making any formal MEM
orandum of the agreement; he said it
looked like doubt of his sons word.
When Thomas signed the paper he
got up and went to the window and
looked at nothing rather than see him
dol He always thought for other
peoples feelings that way, did your
father"
"And, after all, the agreement is
valueless?"
"Quite So"
"What would you advise me to
do?"