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> man to whom I feel not only under deep obli-
~ phind he is!” ain
‘ frosts would nip its leaves and hlossoms—it
“my friendship has opened to him a career which
sion to the subject--‘‘to thank you for your
great kindness to. my poor boy,.Harry. ‘Ife is
a good lad—a very good lad—but——”
Tere the speaker, paused, as if embarrassed
how to proceed. , :
“But what? Pray, contioue,, Mr, Ashton,” |
said Sir William. ‘* Your nephew is a young
gation, but greatly attached. .
“ There it is!” said the farmér; ‘ there is the
danger!” :
“Danger!” , ae te
“(Pray forgive me, Sir William!” continued
the old man. “You know. how I love and
honor the name of Mowbray—and with good
right. . My forefathers have lived upon their
lands for more than. two hundred years—and
never did the crops fail, or.murrain. strike, the
cattle, but they found them kind and consider-
ate landlords.’ att
‘* But this is not to the purpose,” observed
the baronet. pas
“I am coming to it, Sir William,”, said his
visitor—‘‘I am coming to it. If I were to take
a young, hardy field-plant, and place it in your
houor's hot-house, what would be.the conse-
quence?” : .
. ‘That it would thrive, I should’ suppose?”.
replied his landlord. rast .
»*t Ay, for awhile it might! But suppose, Sir
William, that, after a short time, it was. trans-
planted back again to the fields?) The morning
would die!”
_ At the last words which concluded the hon-
est farmer's simiie, his voice faltered—for his.
thoughts were of: his nephew. - .
“T think I understand you,” said the recluse,
“‘but, trust. me, your, fears are. groundless.
Were the interest I take in Heury.to end with
the courtesy of my table—with merely receiving
him as a guest.at Carrow—I feel. that I shoul
indeed be transplanting him as you describe.
But my intentions toward ,him end. not. here;
tellects began,to be bewild
HARRY ASHTON: -
Ihave done my duty!” he added, rising, from
“I have remembered it, Mr. Ashton!” ex-
Matthew groaned... ‘ : Boe
*Jteis’ ‘all over,” he thought; “Harry will
never forgive me!’
“ And Ellen’s for him!”
“Mad!” muttered the farmer, ‘‘ quite mad!” -
“More,” continued the speaker; ‘‘I approve
their love! Could anything, increase my satis-
faction at the prospect of their union, it is” the
noble integrity you have shown to-day, Your
nephew’s conduct has been worthy of you; for, ,
no sooner was he-aware of the nature of his!
feelings toward my niece, than, he,made. me
acquainted with them.” :
“Did he?” exclaimed “Matthew. Ashton.
‘God bless him for. it! What an old,fool I
have been, to suppose my Harry could’ do
wrong—he'd’ die first!
jesting .with me?” he added, fixing his eyes
upon. the, baronet.
the. oldest name in the county—bestow. his.
njece upon the grandson of one of his tenants?
Impossible! .
But perhaps you are
“Sir William, Mowbray—
S
“Why not,” replied the recluse, “if. the
grandson of that tenant has proved worthy of
her? -I repeat it, my consent is given, but, for
many reasons, I do not wish the engagement to
be publicly known till your nephew’s return
from his travels.” i
_{* Travels!” repeated his visitor, whose. in-
ildered, tae ive
‘©You will, therefore, let this, conversation
remain a secret between us,”
‘From Henry?” demanded the uncle.
‘Not from your nephew,” added the. bar-
onet, “but from.all but him—especially your’
~ will enable him to maintain, by his energies and | wife!
} have not foreseen!’
Harry, is young.
» might look higher up than the servants at. Car-
.
~man, with a mingled feeling of. reverence and,
talents, the position he has assumed.”
The farmer shook his head,
“Do you doubt me?” 5
“Not your heart, Sir William,” replied his
tenant, humbly, ‘‘but your judgment. There
is a danger, which, with all your learning, you
“And what may that be?’ demanded ‘the
baronet, with an air of. surprise. .
: This was the perplexing point witb the worthy
farmer;.he scarcely knew how to express him-
self without giving offense. ” He trusted to. the
natural integrity of his heart, and the impulse
did not deceive him. . Bresette cabal (
‘You forget, Sir William,” he said, ‘that
He has learned Greek, anda
power of things, just as if he.had been one of
yourselves~of your. own rank,:I mean!» Sup-
pose the poor, boy—I only say suppose—should
meet any one at: the abbey of his own, age, and, |
forgeiting the differeuce between them, place
his affections on them, what would be the con-
sequence? . Disappointment. and . misery—his.
heart would be broken, and mine ‘and my old.
dame’s with. it.;, thoby .
There!” thought Matthew Ashton, witha
sigh. “I.have. done ‘my. duty—acted. like an_
honest man—if Harry blames me I: can’t help
iy ye * : uve '
: Sir William, Mowbray looked upon. the old
surprise, . Ellen had informed him of.the visit
to the farm, and. the. evident, satisfaction , of.
Matthew and his. wife... He knew, too, how,
‘dearly he loved his nephew, and could appre-
ciate the effort it must have cost, him jto.,dis-)
charge what he considered his duty. .,.
The. females of, my; household,” observed
the baronet, ‘willing to try him further, ‘are all
of a mature age.” , : . |
“Lord help him!” thought the farmer, ‘‘ how
‘There can be no: danger from them,” con-
tinued the speaker. : :
‘From. them!) repeated Matthew ‘Ashton.
“T should think not, Sir William! . Harry
row! - Lawyer Impey’s daughter, though they
do drive a pair of horses, and put their cow-boy
in livery, would give her ears for him! The
“Where then?” .: ‘
“ “With your niece, Sir William!” replied the
farmer... ‘‘ Mark me, I do not say that they
love already, but they may do, for youth thinks
. little of the distinctions which gray hairs prize!
face, just to sober.me!” >, :
of surprise—for be received
Farmer Ashton. became suddenly convinced
that Sir William Mowbray was not half as mad
as he had imagined. Of course, it is not to be
supposed that his caution respecting the worthy
dame had changed bis opinion of his sanity,
He bad sought the abbey with a heavy heart—
he left it with ove as light.ds the consciousness
of having discharged bi
man could make it., How the old man longed,
as he retraced his way toward the farm, to grasp
his nephew by the hand—to ask forgiveness for
the wrong he had done him. in his thoughts—to
see him and Ellen together!
is duty like an honest
_ ‘He'll not. be proud!” he muttered to himself;
“‘he will come and see me aud the.dame at the
farm—I am sure he will!,; He’ll love us just.the
same, for bis heart. is in, the right place!
haps I shall live to.dance‘his children on’ my,
knee—to—I am so happy,” he added, ; dashin
aside a.tear, ‘that I’m afraid it can’t: be real! ,
wish some one would throw a misfortune in my
Per-
The honest farmer little imagined as he, made
this inconsiderate wish, how, soon it would‘ be
gratified— but we must not anticipate.’ |”,
wane tay Tes! atts tyvafe
)CHAPTER-XXXT00 7).
Impatience dries the blood sooner than age
Or sorrow, alte Ped is vet las
5 ro4 vat mk Tice Creon.
-\W1ILL SIDELER, the warrener, was seated in.
his hut, carefully cleaning his gun... He was a
wiry, strong built: fellow, about fifty
age, possessed of zreat determiration of charac-
ter, and, that. sullen. humor, which .broods for
years over its resolution before putting them in
practice,
forgiven the baronet for haviag dismissed him
from his establishment,. although the appoint-
ment as warréner—which was in Sir. William’s
gift, as Jord of the manor—had kept his resent:
ment within bounds,
ears. of
As we before stated, he ad. never
Events, he felt, were working toward the ac-
complishment of his long-cherished schemes of
revenge. IIe had no definite idea how it was
to be achieved; but he saw it, like an ill-omened
star, dimly in the future,- As he pursued his
giv occupation, there was an air of briskness and
danger does not lic in that quarter!” satisfaction in his manner, which was the reflec-
tion of his dark, evil thoughts, ° ‘ -
Ife was disturbed by a knocking at the door
of the cottage; he raised his bead, with a look
but few visitors, :
It was repeated.’ : . :
his seat; ‘‘ perliaps broken my poor boy’s heart |
—but it was my duty—it is time, for you, Sir
William, to remember yours!”
|
claimed the baronet, shaking him by the hand. |
“Tam not.so blind as you imagine! I have
long perceived your nephew’s affection for my
niece!” ves ay
-| upon the world to see:
.,| Said the steward. . ‘If
‘And what would be the result? Misery! misery!|\ “‘ Come’ in!” he exclaimed impatiently, 0.
The latch was raised, and Mr, Johnstone, the
steward of the manor, made his appearance;
Will Sideler knew that the’ old gentleman wag :
no friend to Lim; in fact, his unsocial, savage
mauner had Jeft him but few. He erected him,
therefore, with alowering scowl. ‘Although big-
visitor did not apprehend any positive danger
from his violence, still, as his errand was ap uy.
pleasant one, he-had taken the‘ precaution of
being accompanied by two of the underkeepers
—for he was a prudent man, © : /
~“T-come, Will, by the command of Sir Wilk
iam Mowbray,” he said, as he seated himself
on the rough, oaken settle—the ‘must consider.
able article of furniture in the places: "i.
“And what does‘the mad fool want. with
me?” demanded the rufflan, sullenly:”. “* Does
he ‘imagine that bis runaway’ wife’ is ‘hidden
here: or his lost heir? He will Jook long,” he:
added, with a malicious smile, ‘' before he dig.’
covers them, ‘I reckon!"* HM a
-\*T’should think, Will,” said the steward,
calmly, ‘that your conscience would tell you
why’I am sent.” ~ tee ETE ate y
: The warrener began to whistle.! -\' ‘
"Tt. is,” continued ‘the steward, doubly ‘pro.’
yoked: by his manner, and the coarse allusion
he had made to.the misfortunes of ‘the baronet,
“to tell'you that you are no longer warrener,”
‘Will Sideler’s first impulse was to spring from
the table, on which he was seated, and raise the
butt-end of the weapon which he held-in hig
hands above his head.’ His visitor drew back,’
and ‘secretly congratulated himself on the pre.
caution’ he had: taken: but: the danger, if aby
existed; vanished’ in a moment—for, ‘with.
violent ‘effort,’ the’ warrencr mastered his pas.
sion, and replied only, by a bitter laugh." -
‘No longer. warrener!” he repeated} “ well,
I suppose there is bread to be had for a’strong
arm and a willing heart elsewhere! © Sir William
is lord of the manor—the land is his, the treeg
and conies—even the slaves who: till it,” he
added, witha glance of contempt; ‘there ig
no ‘gainsaying his will, even though he drove
me forth to starve!” tats ria Sac
«The fault is not his,” observed the steward,
** Of course not!” Ve hai i
“Or mine,” > oe ee
“Yours!” exclaimed the ruffian; “Oh no!
You have always been my friend— were sure to
put in a good word for me, when others spoke
against me! I know eractly what I owe yout
Tam ‘an honest'man, Mr, Johnstone, and she’
one day pay my debt [2 (0 00. oo tees
“Come, come,’ Will!” said one of the keepers
—an active, strong-limbed fellow;' * that arn't
no way to talk!» 'To see your black looks, and
hear your big words,one- would imagine you
wor a goin’ to commit murder!” Get
At the word murder, Sideler turned from the
flash of anger’to extreme ‘paleness, and for a
moment he‘seemed to, be struggling with the
Er |
abt
fierce passions of his natures’ ©" Mons
“It’s'a hard thing,” he’ observed, at last, ina
subdued tone, at my time ‘of life, to Le cast
‘my bread!" ores
‘So it is!”-replied:the keeper—who began to
feel».for. him—*' so it is} but: Mr. Johnstone
can’t help itl: os eos eee dp
«Will answered .only by an.ineredulous smile,
of He has only to thank bis own imprudence,”
he. will make the.war.
rener’s hut-a place of ‘rendezvous for those-who
onets family, against his wishes——” :
« “How did you know. that?”.demanded Side.
ler; eyeing himisuspiciously.: ‘* But why do I
ask? eaves-dropping,: no doubt! Would that
I bad caught you, that’s ‘all—would that I had
caught your fer ae ae ee a
« For once the speaker: was wrong iti his sup:
position: it was from:old i Martin, the groom—
who, as our readers will recollect, Jeatned the
fact from Joe Beans—that Sid: William. became
acquainted with it. ee TMC Uae ee
From ;the moment. he was informed of the
reason: of his. dismissal. by the steward, Will
Sideler . uttered. neither réproach: nor , threat,
There'was a slight drawing down of the corners
of his mouth, as if he. were endeavoring to re-
press a smile. Mr, Johnstone, without know:
ing why, repented that.he had told him. .
“And when am Ito go?” demanded the war:
rener. ‘But why do I ask? Isuppose I ain
to be driven from my hut like a wild fox from
its hole—half ‘the. sport would. be: ‘lost else!
‘Well, I’m ready!” . '
“Not so,”. said his visitor—who was a timid
as well as a considerate: man, and wished to do
.| are: Plotting against the. happiness of the bar-
y; 3
something to propitiate him: ‘you are at liberty 3