The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-28

law for some time. He stayed away from her sedulously for another reason-be- cause now that she was rich widow, as he thought, she was far out of the reach of a man of simple honor who had noth- ing and who scorned to live on his wife.
 Soon sfterward the free and independ- ent electors threw eggs and other missiles at Mir. Brooke. This determined his wa vering mind to waver away from politics, and in a few days he informed Ladislaw that he had sold his paper.
 "rhey want to get rid of me-" thought poor Will.
 He was preparing to go, when he learned the truth about the codicil to Mr Casabon's testament What foul in- suit to her and to mel" thought he.
 There was chasm between them now that could never be crossed. and he hast ened his preparations. But before he went the ehasm was to be deepened. A tiashy, dissolute fellow, who. it was being whispered in the town. had been black mailing the leading banker, Bulstrode, for some time, told Will the truth about his mothers family. "A little in what you may call the respectable thieying line, sir the high style of receiving house-none of your holes and corners. but slap-up shop, high profits and no mistake. Your mother, Sarah, was dashing young woman-fine boarding school, you know didn't know anything about 1t. When she found 1t out she ran away from the whole concern"
 The fellow tried to tell him more, but Ladisaw broke away and walked off, his head reeling. The story was honorable to his mother, but if Dorothea s friends knew tiff the Chettams were. to hear it-they would have fine new ground for thinking him unfit to come near her. Let them suspect what they please he muttered through his clinched teeth. "They shall find themselves wrong They shall find that my blood is as free from the taint of meanness as theirs is.
 The next day MT. Bulstrode wrote to him, begging him to call. The prosperous man was much shattered Hesitatingly. he told Will that he had laid the founda- ton of his fortune as partner in the banking house owned by Ladislaw's grandparents. When your grandfather died' said he, T married your grand mother, your mothers mother, and when she died everything passed to me She had searched in vain for her daughter; but l had found her and kept the knowl- edge secret l entreat your patience with q man bowed down. l have tried to con- done my evil acts by sincere repentance and by penefactions. You have no legal claim on me but you have moral one. Had your grandmother been able to find you, you would have been supplied ade-s quately. I wish to bind myself to pay you s5O0 year for life
 Will arose. Before I answer you" said he, 'I wish to ask you if the business with which you were connected was not a thoroughly dishonorable one, dealing with thieves and rogues?"
 Int banker reddened with anger He had prepared himself for reimbursement. bat not for this. Tt Is not for you to in- stitute an inquiry of this kind" said he.
 .'Yes it is.'' said Will. Tt is my busi- ness when have to decide if 1 shall take money from such source. You may keep your ill-gotten money. Goodnight, sir"
 It was some months after Ladislaw's disappearance from the town that the storm broke around Bulstrodes head, when the blackmailer let out enough of the truth during spree to fill Middle march with gossip. It was gossip that was both delighted and boundless, for Bull strode, like most philanthropists of his kind who are given to philanthropy as a bribe to heaven rather than through good will to men. became the more dibliked the more he did for the town.
 Even while the gossip was 4preading. and before Bulstrode suspected that his secrets were out the blackmail4r died in his house, whither Buistrode hkd taken him to nurse him through an Attack of delirium tremcns The mans death was due co&rly to his disease. Dr. Lydgate had attcpded