The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-09

1 affect your interests" said the grand l father.
 "i do not care about that, sir, one way or the other" the grandson replied, With sturdy truth.
 "I think I have q right to please my self in this matter" said Sir Peregrlne rather stiffly.
 "Oh, yes, sir. you have the right" was all the reply the young man would make.
 Then he rode over to Orley Farm to see Lueius, and both young men agreed that the marriage must not take place. MT. Furnival heard the news with scarce ly less anger than the two young men. Why, he could not say-or would not ad- mit-even to herself; but he dined at home less than ever. and his lady made things more and more uncomfortable for him when he did His interest in Lady Mason's law business began to wane also.
 The blunderng young Peregrine, while disappearing of his grandfatters mar riage, let out to the old gentleman that he himself had matrimonial intentions in regard to Miss Staveley and that h1s love affairs were not prospering. Sir Peregrine returned good for evil by sym pathlzlng with his grandson, bidding him hope and try again-which was shrewd piece of diplomacy and partially recon ciled the youth to his grandfathers mar riage; for when two lovers get to con fding in each other, though one be 72 and one 22, a strong bond Of sympathy is created between them. But Lady Ma son thought and thought; and the results of her thoughts was a great sacrifice One evening, as Sir Peregrine sat In the library alone in the dusk she came to him and said Sir Peregrlne, 1t Is im- possible that we should be married" And why not?' cried the astonished baronet Have I done anything to of fend your"
 No, mo-" replied Lady Mason, "I do not think that would be possible. But. oh, my dearest and best beloved 1t may not be! Sir Peregrine, l am guilty! Guilty! Guilty of what?" cried he. startled rather than instructed by her words.
 Guilty of all this with which they charge me-" she sobbed. and then she threw herself on the floor and put her arms around his knees. The old map was bewildered. Lady Mason" he said at last, 'let me lead you to the sofa
 She sat there. then, hudded up in corner of the sofa with her face hidden. She was not hysterical. but when she spoke her voice had terrible agony in it. The inner. true, living woman was there at last-that and nothing else. Then bHe cOnleSStu tlldl WiNl tti Onh bp''o she had forged the signatures to the CO., dicil that her child might not be left penniless She had done for Luclus what Rebecca did for Jacob You will tell Edith" said the shaking old man. And -and I fear that this must be over be- tween you and me-
 "Oh. yes," she said. ''it must be all over"
 But 1t was Sir Peregrine who told Mrs. hot a once to Lady Mason's chamber and com forted her and wept with her.
 Sir Peregrine aged rapidlyDhe had never shown his age before-bnt like the gallant gentleman he was he resolved to stand by Lady Mason more stanchly than ever. Orley Farm must be given up to it's rightful owner. that was agreed on but not until after the trial. It was ar ranged that Lady Mason should return to the farm, but that Mrs Orme should accompany her, to show that the great folk of the Cleeve were still her friends.
 The news soon spread abroad that the match between the widow and Sir Pere- grine was broken off-by Lady Mason's own act, 1t was given out. Mir. Furnivals interest In her case revived wonderfully; but the shrewd lawyer guessed a great deal, and the more he examined the mat ter the more he became convinced that 1t would be best to employ the celebrated Mir Chaffanbrass and the no less cele- brated MT. Aram, Old Bailey practitlon- CTS, who made a speciality of restoring criminals to their friends and relatives. Then Lady Mason knew that MT. Furni- val knew but no word of that kind was spoken between them.
 Lucius was astounded He fumed and made long speeches over the enormity of employing such legal help, but his mother was resolute Mrs. Orme, when the two