Evening star., 1902-03-22
asked again in a stifed voice.
Frankly, / do nOt!"

asked again in a stiled voice.
Frankly, 1 do not!'
'Then SIR" said John, II bid you good
bye. / shall never come willingly into your
presence again. 1 care not whether receive
the parish or not. You yourself have
placed the greatest barrier in the way of
that ever being my lot in life. But, thank
God, l have still my integrity, my youth
and the portion left to me by my mother.
AS to the last. have not claimed it during
the last two years, but shall ask my law
yer to write to yours that the details of
the final settlement may be arranged be-
tween U.s."
John did not say this in the least by way
OF threat. Nothing was further from his
neutrality-suspicious. the change which
these words produced on his fathers coun-
tenance was marvellous. His voice. at first
clear and resonant In denunciation Of his
second son. cold and Icy in the rejection OF
his final appeal. became suddenly hoarse.
'No-no," he cried, ''yOur mothers por-
ton is due to you on the day when you are
presented to the parish Of Cover and set
tied as the ordained minister thereof Till
then principal and interest both remain in
my hands"
Il think not" said John; both NV moth
er's marriage settlement and will make it
perfectly clear that her fortune Is mine
from my twenty-f1rst birthday. I was at
the trouble to obtain copy Of the last
named. and submit 1t to Mr.. McCrosty,
who corrObOrated 1t from the deeds in his
hands with regard to the marriage settle
ment. requested and obtained a copy of
that also In so far as it concerned myself.
"Then you took an Infamous liberty sir -
cried his father furiously.
Mr.. McCrosty did not seem to think so.
SIR said John, now calm with the chill
lighting spirit which came to him at such
times; and when 1 am bidding you what
may be last farewell let me assure you,
sir, that Veronica Caesar and 1 have never
had the least intention Of marrying She
would not marry me on any terms l have
no desire to marry her. So years ago we
mutually agreed that we would remain
friends-nothing morev'
And does DR.. Caesar know ths?" gasped
Gregory. rs your father the only person
left In the dark among all these plots and
stratagems?'
THAT do not know" answered his son.
Veronica and I. in agreeing to be friends.
left each other free to inform the members
of our several houses according as necessity
should arise
Then as these two continued to face each
other in the library the attitude Of Gregory
Glendonwyn toward his son seemed to un-
dergo remarkable change.
The lines OF that hard face quivered. yet
1t did not seem to be with love; rather a
kind OF fear looked out Of the chilly eyes,
A cold sweat had broken over his grayish
face. on which a fleck Of brilliant green
from painted window lay clearly like q
scar. Nevertheless Gregory Glendonwyn
smiled upon his second son and held out his
hand.
John" he said, II do believe you. was
only trying you-perhaps too hard and too
high Why should not you and I be friends?
There are but Rupert you and left of the
Glendonwyns. Why should not the three Of
us keep the peace?"
The lads heart leapt within him, yet not
altogether with trust. He knew his father
for hard but honorable man. But he had
never heard him speak thus before. To the
sensitive ear Of youth there was chord
that did not ring wholly true.
Still. he could not resist that appeal. His
heart was too simple, too eager, too natural.
and he stretched out his hand to meet his
fathers, gladly enough.
II for one am willing" he said. "You
will find me always for peace 1 am glad
that you believe me-"
II do. my boy" said Gregory, "and for
the rest 1 will see DR.. Caesar at once as to
the date Of your induction into the parish
1t Is high time that we had a strong man.
the government When these things are ar
ranged We can have that little settlement
spoke about. AS to what you tell me about
Veronica Caesar, you had better leave me
to deal with the girls father"
His father watched John depart with a
calm countenance. nodding to him pleasant
ly till he closed the door, But Immediately
the door was shut an astonishing change
came over the old mans face.
so" he muttered between his clenched
teeth: "you are working against me, are
you? You are shifting to find out-well, two
can play the game. Rupert has nearly
ruined me. You, my dear, good SON John.
comfort of my old age. stan of my deciin-
ing years-you shall help your old father to
re-estabiish himself-or he will know the
reason why"