El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-08

pressing invitation to come down to
Stoke Moreton that very day, that he and
his son, whose future wife was also stay
ing with them, might have the pleasure
of making the acquaintance of one to
whom they were so much indebted. He
added that his eldest son Charles was also
going down from London by a certain
train that day, and that he had told him
to be on the lookout for me at the sta
ton in case 1 was able to come at such
short notice. made up my mind to go,
sent Sir George telegram to that effect
and proceeded to fish up the jewels out
of the tea caddy.
Jane, who had never ceased for one
instant to comment on the event of the
night, positively shrieked when she saw
me shaking the bag free from tea leaves.
Good gracious! the burglars!' she ex-
claimed. why, they might have taken
them if they had only known"
OF course they had not known, as /
had been particularly secret about them;
but wished all the same that 1 had not
left them there all night, as Jane would
insist, and continue insisting, that they
had been exposed to great danger. l
argued the matter with her at first, but
women, find, are impervious, as rule,
to masculine argument and it is a mis-
take to reason with them. 1t is, in fact,
putting the sexes for the moment on an
equality to which the weaker one is I'M
accustomed and consequently unsuited.
A few hours later 1 was rolling swiftly
toward Stoke Moreton in n comfortable
smoking carriage, only occu ,ied by my
self and Mr.. Charles Danv us, a hand
some young fellow with pile face, and
that peculiar tired MAJ ner which
Though, as soon found, natural to him)
is so often affected by the young men of
the day.
''And so Ralph has come in for
legacy in diamonds" he said, hstlessly,
when we had exchanged the usual civil
ties and had become to certain degree
acquainted. Dear mel how these good,
steady young men prosper in the world.
When last heard from him he had pre-
vailed upon the one perfect woman in
the universe to consent to marry him.
and his aunt (by the way, you will meet
her there, too-Lady Mary Cunning
ham, had murmured something vague
but gratifying about testamentary in
tentions. A week later Providence fills
his trimming cup with legacy of
jewels, estimated at?'- Charles opened
his light, sleepy eyes wide and looked
inquiringly at me. What are they esti-
mated at?' he asked. as I did not an
swer.
/ really had no idea, but / shrugged
my shoulders and looked wise.
Estimated at fabulous sum, -" he said,
closing his eyes again. "Ah! had they
been mine with what joyful alacrity
should | have ascertained their exact
money value. And mine they ought to
have been il the sacred law of primo
geniture chat special providence which
watches over the interests of eldest sons)
had been duly observed. Sir John had
not the pleasure of my acquaintance,
but fear he must have heard some re-
ports-no doubt entirely without founda-
tion-respecting my career, which in
duced him to pass me over in this man
ner. What moral! My father and my
Aunt Mary are always delicately point
ing out the difference between Ralph
and myself. l wish l Were a good young
man, like Ralph. 1t seems to pay best
in the long run; but 1 may as well in
form you, Col. Middleton, of the painful
fact that / am the black sheep of the
family"
"Oh, come. conner / remarked I'M
easily
Il should not have alluded to the sub
ject if you were not likely to become
fully aware of it on your arrival, so i
will be beforehand with my relations. /
was brought up in the way should co.
he continued with the utmost uncon-
Germ, as if commenting on something
that did not affect him in the least, "but
did not walk in it, partly owing to the
uncongenial companionship that it in
volved, especially that of my aunt Mary,
who took mp so much room herself in
the narrow path that she effectually
kept me ont of it. From my earliest
youth, also, / took extreme interest
in the parable of the prodigal, and
as soon as it became possible
exemplified it myself. 1 may even
say that / acted the part in n manner
that did credit to a beginner; but the
wind up was ruined by the lamentable
inability of others, who shall be name
less, to throw themselves into the spirit
of the piece. At various intervals" he
continued, always rs if speaking of some
one else, Il have returned home, but ]
regret to say that on each occasion my
reception was not in any way what /
could have wished. The flavor of fatted
calf is absolutely unknown to me; and
so far from meeting me half way,
have, in extreme cases, when impelled
homeward by urgent pecuniary consid-
erations, found myself obliged to walk
mp from the station"
Dear Inc! I hope it is not far?'' said.
"a mere matter of three miles or so
up hill" he resumed; nothing to a
healthy Christian, though trying to the
trembling legs of the ungodly after a