REGINALD'S FORTUNE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8556, 2 May 1891, Page 3 (Supplement)

REGINALD'S FORTUNE.

BY MRS. HARRIET LEWIS, Author of " Lady Roslyn's Pensioner," " The House

of Secrets," " The False Heir," " The Heiress of Egreraont," etc.

CHAPTER XXll.—Continued.)

maky's presentiment. Tiik seven years in which Fennes had thus been serving for Mary Hay ward, by elevating his character and rendering himself worthy of her, had not been without struggles and occasional fits of despair, particularly at first.

The other salesmen knew of his disgrace and his impending trial, but did not know the palliating cause of his crime, his employers deeming it best that Fennes should be silent in regard to Mr. Westcourt's greater guilt until he should be required to make a public defence. From these business associates the young man had at first, therefore, to endure much •that was unpleasant, but as his consistent character became noticed these little annoyances passed away, and his former disgrace was forgotten. Tho policeman whoso testimony was so necessary to his conviction had not yet returned to England, and the public, whenever the subject was mentioned, began to entertain the opinion that his statement of having captured Fennes on the spot of his crime was entirely without foundation. They even imagined that the policeman had fled to avoid arrest for perjury, and their sympathy, of course, turned in the clerk's favour.

Mary Hay ward had received several letters from the good-natured official, the first informing her that he had arrived safely in Australia, and should certainly return to England at the time agreed upon. The second letter, dated two months later, informed her that he had purchased a farm with his money, and intended to settle upon it, and remain a few months longer than originally planned. A third letter, dated a year later than the second, communicated the fact that he was very prosperous in every respect, aud had just married a buxom English girl. A fourth. announced the birth of a son and increased prosperity, but made not the faintest allusion to a proposed return, which in the midst of domestic and material happiness seemed to have been entirely forgotten. The fourth letter had also been the last, and the friends of Fennes had rejoiced at the prospect it afforded of the policeman's continued absence.

The trial had been postponed all these years for the appearance of the missing witness, and that' it would ever take place had become a matter of doubt.

On the afternoon of the day on which Reginald set out for Westcourt Lodge, Mary Hay ward stood in the shadow of the little vine-draped porch of Fosdick Cottage, shading her eyes with her hand and looking expectantly in the direction of the railway station.

Mary had not the showy blonde beauty of Oriana Westcourt, nor the sparkling loveliness and quick, graceful movements of Willa Heath, but her gentle countenance had deepened its expression of saintliness, and she seemed more than ever to look like the pictures of the Madonna. She was grave and quiet always, but at times her lips wore a smile that was all the sweeter for being rare. She had passed her first youth and had acquired a womanly dignity that was infinitely becoming to her. As she stood watching and waiting, her guardian came down tho little path leading from the garden, and said to her, with an affectionate smile :

"Looking for Wixon already, Mary? Why, it can't be time for the train." " Yes, it is, dear uncle," replied the maid, glancing at the littlo gold watch hidden in her belt. "That is, it lacks only five minutes of it. How good it is of Wixon's employers to offer him a week's holiday at this time." "He deserves it, my dear, he deserves it!" responded Mr. Fosdick, heartily. "He has nobly redeemed himself from his youthful fellies and errors, and has become an honourable, respectable man. I wish his parents had lived 'to this day." A flush of gratified affection and pride— if Mary were capable of the latter sentiment —tinged the maiden's pure cheeks, and she said : " Ah, yes, dear guardian, Wixon has well repaid yout kindness and fatherly interest." "Say, rather, your love and devotion, Mary," interposed her guardian. "I fear I should have turned the cold shoulder upon him but for your pleadings and tears. I was more jusb than merciful in those days," he added, with a sigh. " I should have ignored his orphanage and desperate temptations, and judged him only by his deeds. His reformation has taught me a good lesson, my dear —not to judge too quickly nor too harshly, and to make allowance for youth and temptations." "Dear uncle," murmured Mary, with a smile, and her words sounded to Mr. Fosdick's ears like the sweetest praise. Her guardian had lost his old harsh look with his increasing years, and his countenance had gained an expression of hearty benevolence that was pleasant to behold. He seemed to lean upon his gentle ward much more than formerly, and to entertain toward her a species of veneration that was not surprising. " I've been thinking, my dear," he said, leaning upon his walking-stick, "that Wixon can't have a very comfortable home in his London lodgings. They're a complete contrast to our pretty cottage, with its garden and fresh air. Why shouldn't he live with us ?"

"Live with us, guardian.?" Yes, Mary. He has become a man to be proud of in point of' character and morals, and I know that you and he love each other devotedly. If you intend ever to marry, why not marry now ?" The maiden looked a little startled, and replied : • "I have been accustomed to think of our marriage as something far distant,

uncle. I should like to devote some thought to the subject. Ah ! there's the train !"

A faint whistle of the distant steamengine reached their hearing, and Mr. Fosdick turned his gaze in the direction of the station, pondering upon the idea he had broached. .

After some minutes' waiting, Mary's loving gaze detected the form of hor lover approaching the cottage with rapid, energetic movements, and an eager air, and she walked down to the gate to meet him. It was not long before he came up and clasped her hand warmly, putting one arm around, her waist and conducting her to the porch. in the resolute-looking, bearded man so tenderly supporting Mary's fragile form it would have been difficult bo recognise the boyish Wixon Fennes of former years, and Mr. Fosdick looked upon him with a sort of paternal pride, as he followed him into the house.

" You don't seem to see me, Wixon," he said, with protended reproachfulness. " What has happened to make you so joyfulyour holiday ?" Fennes laughed joyously, as ho responded :

"Nob that exactly. When I wrote to Mary yesterday I simply told her that I was to have a weed's holiday, and I loft pleasanter news untold, wishing to bring it in person. What do you think ? My employers have doubled my salary." Mr. Fosdick looked pleased and conscious, as if the fact had not been unknown to him before Fennes' coming, and the young man oxclairaed :

" Ah, Mr. Fosdick, you knew it before. I owe this promotion bo you. How can I repay all your kindness?" " No, you don't owe it to me—not a bit of it," declared Mary's guardian, energetically. " You owe it solely to yourself. It is true that your employers consulted with mo about the matter, but only because I have an interest in the business. Your salary has been raised because your services are worth the increased amount offered you." , Fennes grasped the hand of Mr. Fosdick and drew Mary closer to his side, saying, with profound emotion : " Better than the increased salary were the praises my employers lavished upon me. They made me feel that my terrible past had been entirely forgotten by them and that they entertained for mo a cordial respect. Ah ! this has been a happy day for mb."

"And this is a happy moment for me, dear Wixon," said Mary, joyously. "Do you not feel that at last you have vindicated yourself and thrown aside all your boyish weakness ?"

"I feel, dear Mary," responded Fennes, taking her hand and kissing it reverently, as if it had been the hand of a canonised saint—"l feel that I owe my present happiness—all I am and have or shall be—to you. If you had deserted me, as 1 expected you would, on learning my crime, I should have been to-day a convict in a penal colony, without, a chance to retrieve my errors, and borne down and crushed by the weight of my disgrace. Oh, Mary, you have indeed saved inc."

As he again lifted her hand to his lips, tears of joyful gratitude fell upon ib, and they were even dearer to the maiden than his reverent kisses.

Mr. Fosdick made repeated efforts to clear his throat, and turned away to wipe his eyes of a suspicious moisture that obscured his vision.

" You must not praise me too much, dear Wixon," said Mary, striving to speak steadily; her countenance was divided between smiles and tears. " I fear you and uncle will spoil me." "There's 110 danger of that," declared Mr. Fosdick, emphatically. " Now sit down, both of you. I want a little serious talk with you," Formes seated himself upon a sofa, drawing Mary to his side, as if he could not bear to relinquish hold of her, and her guardian drew a chair directly in front of them, and continued :

"It's a long time since I heard either of you speak of marriage. What is the reason ?"'

" The longer I live," responded the clerk, " the more I feci how unworthy lam of Maty." " But," interposed Mr. Fosdick, with a smile, " I will own that you owe all you are to Mary's influence ! If she can accomplish so much, seeing you only one day in the week, what might she not make of you if she were your wife? Mary is of age, and can do as she likes. I have no longer any control over her actions, and continue my office of guardian only because of tho love I bear her and the 'fact that she know nothing whatever of business. Still, I think Mary would not like to marry even now without my consent, and I take this opportunity of granting it, with my blessing added thereto." Mary looked thoughtful, but Fennes nearly sprang from his seat in eager delight. "What!" he exclaimed. '-Mary may marry me at last! Do you mean it, Mr. Fosdick ?"

"Certainly I do," was tho response. "I opposed your engagement once, and have often blamed myself for that opposition since I have seen how you have turned out. Mary has my full consent to marry you any day she likes !" Fennes turned to his betrothed, endeavouring to subdue his jubilance, and exclaimed : "You have heard your guardian's words, dear Mary. Will you marry mo " Before I decide upon my answer," rej sponded Mary, gently, "I would like to speak to you upon a matter of great importance. You know, clear Wixon that lam promised to you, and that 1 love you. I am ready to become your wife at any time, but I fear if our early married life should be interrupted by your trial I should feel it more than if wo were single. lam thinking more of you than of myself," she added, in a tone testifying to her sincerity. "At such a time I would not like to have your anxieties deepened into fears for mo !" Fennes uttered a stifled groan, and after a moment's pause the maiden continued : " During all these years, dear Wixon, we have not succeeded in causing Mr. Westcourt to confess his guilt, or in any way criminate himself. Is'ay, we have not even made an attempt to do so, resting satisfied with your having gained possession of the paper so important,to your happiness and mine. I therefore dread the trial of your case, and hope it may never come off 1"

"Oh, Wixon will never be tried!" declared Mr. Fosdick, confidentially. "That policeman has been gone seven years, and it's nearly four years since we heard from him. Ha has a wife and family out there, and is doing well. He'll certainly bo in no hurry to pay out money to return to England. In fact, it's my opinion that he'll never come back 1" " What do you think, Wixon ?" asked the maiden.

" I think as your guardian does, Mary— that tho policeman will never return. If I thought he would. I would not ask you t(f become my wife," was the firm response. "I would not give you mv name, and promise to - cherish and protect you, if I feared that I should only bring trouble and disgrace upon you and make you an object of pity to your friends." "It is not that—l should feel your troubles as keenly whether married to you or only your promised wife,". answered Mary. " But. I must think what is best for you, my dear boy." The last words, uttered in her tender, motherly way, brought a smile to Mr. Fosdick's face as ho regarded the well-grown man whom Mary addressed, but Fennes himself was only too grateful for any term of endearment, Mary not being especially demonstrative in her affection.

"It will be best for me to have you always near me," said the clerk, in a low and loving tone. "I do nob deserve you, Mary, but I am very lonely without you !" His manner touched the maiden's heart, and with a tender pressure of his hand she said :

"Then I am ready to become your wife, Wixon—ready at any*time,!" "But you have nob given me your opinion in regard to the policeman's return," remarked Fennes, quite anxiously, before venturing bo realise his happiness. " Your guardian and I have given our opinion that he will not return, bub I shall not be easy until I know what you think." Mary hesitated, and Mr. Fosdick said : " Yes, Mary, give us your ideas. I have a great confidence in your judgment and sense !"

Mary seemed greatly averse to stating her opinion, but finally answered : " I may be very foolish, bub I have a feeling as though we had nearly reached a crisis in our affairs— if this trial, so long

deferred, would soon be entered upon. I have a strong presentiment that our present peaceful quiet. will soon be broken. Fennes'.. had unlimited faith in Mary's judgment, and his face clouded over as he listened to these words; bub Mr. Foadick laughed and said : " Our sensible Mary has turned a dreamer at List. Why, my dear, I never heard you peak of a presentiment before! I fear your imagination has conquered the good strong sense for which you have always been noted."

"Perhaps so,".said Mary, endeavouring to smile. "I know I am nob a very good comforter in expressing my fears,. but I daresay they are foolish." " Foolish Of course they are. Wixon, my lad, cheer up. Don't be cast down by even one of Mary's presentiments. The quiet of years isn't likely to be broken ab this late period. Rest assured that the policeman knows when and where he's well off, and will remain in his present quarters." Fennes, having a naturally sanguine temperament, allowed himself to be persuaded into cheerfulness ami hopefulness, especially as his betrothed seemed to throw aside her gravity and sadness and become more cheerful -and happy. "Perhaps so," said Mary, endeavouring to smile.

Mr. Fosdick perceived the impression he had made upon the young couple, mid proceeded to enter into elaborate arguments, proving to his own entire satisfaction that it was a moral impossibility for the missing witness to return under twenty years, if ever. He even undertook to prove that the policeman must have died in Australia, alleging that his four years' silence could have proceeded from no other cause ; bub in this last argument he quibe broke down, failing to convince even himself. His hearty joyousness of manner and entire confidence inspired Wixon Fennes with a belief that he need not apprehend the return of the absent policeman, and caused Mary to conceal her fears and inquietude. "Have I said enough on thfe.subject?" at length demanded Mr. Fosdick, humorously. "If I haven't, I am ready to continue an hour longer. If I have, I demand that Mary shall reward mo by naming the day when I shall have the honour— the pleasure—of giving her away.", "This month is April," mused Mary. " Perhaps in June." "In June?" said Fennes, eagerlv. " Ah, Mary, you said you would be ready at any time. Why nob marry me .this very week ? We can get a license, you know." " April would be a very suitable month," remarked Mr. Fosdick. " Wixon's life has been hitherto full of storms and gloom, and it is time the sunshine entered it. Let me see—to-day is Wednesday. Suppose you get married on Saturday morning ?" Mary yielded assent to the solicitations of her lqver and guardian, promising to be prepared for the ceremony on that day, providing nothing should occur to prevent. With this acquiescence Mr. Fosdick and Fennes were overjoyed, and the former arose to leave the room, that the lovers might feel free and unrestrained in their communion. As he withdrew and Fennes folded her in a fond yet reverent embrace, the maiden thought : " Yes, I will marry Wixon on Saturday, should nothing occur to prevent it. Can this presentiment of mine be without foundation ? I feel as though something will occur to prevent our intended marriage. I pray that this presentiment may be groundless."

CHAPTER XXIII. TII K COMING TRIAL. "Prosperity doth bewitch men, seeming clear But so;i.s do laugh, show white teeth, when rocks arc near." Yi'ebster.

Under the hopeful assurances of her lover, Mary Hay ward soon dismissed from her mind the apprehensions to which she had confessed, and assisted Fennes in planning their future.

They were joined in their conversation after dinner by Mr. Fosdick, who declared that he could not lose Mary entirely, and that. Fennes must reside at the cottage as its future proprietor. This proposition meeting with favour from the young people, it was arranged that Mary's marriage should not at all interfere with the quiet arrangements of the cottage, and that the only change in the family was to be the introduction of the new member.

The next morning, as the trio sat within the porch, Mary felt a return of her presentiment of coming evil, and her countenance betrayed her sadden emotion. " What is the matter, Mary?" asked her lover, anxiously. " You are quite pale." "It is because I feel that our marriage will not take place on Saturday," responded Mary, in an unsteady tone. "I feel sure that something will occur to defer it. I cannot overcome the feeling of which I spoke last evening." Mr. Fosdick and Fennes both smiled and endeavoured to combat Mary's fears. In tho midst of their efforts the postman appeared and delivered into the hands of the maiden a letter addressed to herself.

"From Australia !" she exclaimed, looking at the postmark. "It is from that policeman, Wixon." Opening the missive, she perused its contents with considerable agitation, finally reading it aloud. It was indeed from the missing witness, and stated that his four years' silence was due to the fact that he had nearly made up his mind not to return at all to England. Having, however, prospered beyond all his expectations, he had finally yielded to the solicitations of his wife, who desired to introduce her husband and children to her friends in England, and proposed to sail for his native country in the vessel following the one bearing the announcement of his cbming. He'added that he had been informed in a letter from his mother that his mysterious departure and absence from England had caused reports and suspicions injurious to his character, it being thought that he had fled to escape a charge for perjury in the case of Wixon Fennes, and, in order to clear his character from these aspersions, he declared that he should, immediately upon his arrival, report' himself to the proper authorities for the prosecution of the case.

As Mary proceeded with the contents of the letter her voice grew calmer and more steady, and her manner became self-pos-sessed, as if she knew that she would be required to sustain the spirits of her two companions. Mr. Fosdick received the news with considerable agitation, having fully persuaded himself that the missing witness would never appear; but Fennes retained his calmness and self-possession, much to the surprise of his friends. " I am not unprepared for this announcement," he said, quietly, when Mary bad concluded. "It is true that I have hoped that he would remain in Australia, or at least never appear against me, and I have even tried to believe that he would not, yet I have schooled myself to bear his return with equanimity. We must not give way to despair." " Well, I must say you bear it better than I could have hoped or expected," exclaimed Mr. Fosdick, divided between grief and admiration. " You don't oven seem surprised." " Dear Mary," said Fennes, taking the maiden's hand, " you were formerly my supported consoler, but you must now allow me to sustain and comfort you." "You are not despairing then?" said Mary. Her lover replied by a cheerful smile and the remark :

" Despairing, when I have your love and the friendship of your guardian ? No, Mary, I have a great deal to. sustain me. How thankful L am," he added, " that the news came at this time. A week hence and you would have borne my name, Mary. It is best that this business should be got over before we enter upon our married life—that, life which I hope to make all cloudless and happy." " That's all very well, Wixon," exclaimed Mr. Fosdick, " but I think that this letter should nob make any difference in the time of the proposed marriage. You can bear your trial better if you feel that Mary is really your own wife. Mary has both sense and affection. Let us hear what- she has to say about it." Wixo.i Fennes looked at his betrothed, with a perceptible hope that she would echo her guardian's words, but she said, with an appearance of joy : " You cannot tell, 'Wixon and uncle, how happy 1 am that the letter came to-day ! Wixon is right. Our marriage must be deferred. Thank Heaven that lam still unmarried !" Air. Fosdick stared at his gentle ward in amazement, and Fenrioa looked startled.

" I don't understand you, Mary," declared her guardian, in a puzzled tone. " Then I will explain. If I were Wixon's wife I should nob be capable of giving evidence at his trial. As lam unmarried, I shall offer myself as a witness in his behalf."

"But what do you know of the matter, except from his declarations, my dear?" asked Mr. Fosdick. "Give us an explanation of your ideas." "I shall detail my visit to Wixon in his prison," replied Mary, thoughtfully, "and tell what he said to me about Mr. Westcourt's guilt—" " But that is only hearsay evidence." " And then, guardian, 1 shall narrate my visit to Mr. Westcourb himself, and tell how I compelled him to obtain Wixon's release ou bail. _ The men who became bail can conlinn my statement. And I can prove the merchant's guilt from his own confession made to me on that occasion. I never thought of it till last night, when the idea flashed upon me like an inspiration." "It is indeed an inspiration 1" declared Mr. Fosdick, joyfully. " Let the trial come, Wixon. We may get you off safely after

" I hope so," responded the clerk, gravely. "I have made up my mind to bear my fate calmly, whatever it may be. And yet I cannot resist the thought that I have suffered sufficiently for that involuntary crime, committed when I was a mere boy. If I should got clear, I shall - not regret my bitter experiences, for they have made a man of me ; have shown the depth and strength of Mary's love, and have given me your friendship, Mr. Fosdick." "If you get clear, Wixon!" said Mr. Fosdick. " You speak as though you were in doubt on that point. I am sure you must fj.t clear." "It- a matter of uncertainty," replied the clerk, a shadow falling upon his manly face. "I hope lam prepared for any fate, but I cannot resist a conviction that I shall not suffer more punishment than I have already endured. I have thought much upon the subject, and have much to offer in my own defence. I was but a boy in character, a weak-willed orphan lad, struggling to do right under the disadvantages of former boyish follies and errors. Mr. Weitcourt was a man esteemed by everyone for probity of character, and by no one mora than myself. That I, being what I then was, should have been led away by such a man as my employer, would nob have been strange, but when it is seen that I' did not yield, bub was forced into the crime by means of that forged cheque, there must certainly be sympathy for me. I think of that struggling, erring boy—myself at twenty-two —as "of another being, and with the profoundest pity." Mary pressed her lover's hand in silence, and her guardian exclaimed : " Anyone can see that the chief blame rests with Mr. Westcourt. Heaven grant that he may suffer for his crime !" " I think," said Fennes, thoughtfully, " that my subsequent career will tell in my favour. You and my present employer can testify that I told you of Mr. West-court's guilt years since, and Mary can give the details of her visit to Mr. Westcourb. I shall have a powerful witness in my own conduct since that unhappy period, and am more glad than sorry that this trial, which has so long been suspended over me, is at last to take place." Fennes' quiet firmness and courage did much to destroy the fears of his betrothed and her guardian, and contrasted favourably with his grief and tears of seven years before under the same circumstances.

This letter hay been a long time com ing," said Mary, taking up the document again. " The vessel has been a long time making the voyage. I dare say the one in which the policeman intended to sail has nearly arrived. She may have been spoken or heard of. I will look into the late papers for news of her."

Hastening into the house, she speedily returned with her arms piled with daily journals for the past fortnight, and'began scanning the shipping intelligence. " There is no allusion to the Queen of Scots in this morning's paper," she observed. "I think I will begin with the later papers." Glancing over one after another, she at length uttered a cry of surprise, and exclaimed :

"The Queen of Scots has arrived! She came two days since, and her arrival was chronicled yesterday. She must have got here sooner than the vessel by which the letter was despatched." "Is there a list of passengers?" asked Fennes.

"Yes: bub I don'b see the policeman s name among those of the cabin passengers. If on board, he must hive come in the second cabin or steerage." " Well, we are as well prepared now for the trial as we ever shall be," said the clerk. " Mr. Westcourb has not left the country as I feared he would, when I read the paragraph in the paper that he had obtained his insurance money. lam sure we can make out the case against him, and it can be strengthened by some allusions to his treatof Mr. Reginald Westcourt, his nephew." " Mr. Reginald !" exclaimed the maiden. " Why, Wixon, he must be nearly of age." " Yes ; he must be nearly twenty-one, and will soon pub in his claim for his fortune, which I am sure his uncle will try to keep from him. Mr. Westcourb must wonder sometimes what became of those documents proving the extent of Reginald's fortune. I don't doubt that he trembles when he thinks of them. He suspected me, you know, but I told him they were not in my possession. Are they all safe, Mary ?" " All safe, Wixon," was the response. " I have guarded them as precious treasures. Mr. Reginald still lives with Mr. Aylmar, does he not Fennes replied in the affirmative, showing that he had kept himself informed of Reginald's movements.

" Mr. Westcourb must know that the papers were stolen purposely," said the maiden, " and he must also know that they can be of no use to anyone save his nephew. He will, therefore, think that they have found their way to Mr. Reginald's hands. Having arrived at that conclusion, his next step would be to get his nephew under his own roof, for he wouldn't be likely to yield up Reginald's fortune willingly." " True," replied the lover. "Bub Mr. -Reginald cannot have been at Westcourt Lodge a long time, if at all. Last year he went abroad with Mr. Aylmar, and this year he had been at the manor. Still, as his birthday draws near, his uncle may take steps to secure his fortune. He will come of age in June." " How do you know the exact time, Wixon ?" asked Mr. Fosdick.

"Mr. Aylmar has celebrated Mr. Reginald's birthday every year by a small festival or party," was the reply; " that is, excepting last year, which was spent abroad. I shall not interfere at present in Mr. Westcourt's .plans in regard to his nephew," ho added, " for 1 think he would lack the opportunity to destroy him, even if he had the inclination. I can interfere in due time, and deliver up the papers." This proposition meeting with approval, the subject was dismissed, and the thoughts of the trio returned to the more personal danger menacing themselves. In the midst of their discussion Mary's attention was attracted to a tall, bearded stranger, wearing a broad-brimmed hat and loose-fitting garments, who was coming along the road from the direction of the station. There seemed to her something familiar in his looks, and when at length he paused at the little gate, leaning upon it, she felt convinced of his identity, changed as he was since she had seen him.

" Does Mr. Fosdick live here ?" asked the stranger. The owner of the cottage . replied in the affirmative, inviting the stranger to enter. f "You are Mr. Fosdick, then, I suppose said the new-comer, in an easy tone, as he accepted the invitation, and seated himself. " And this is Miss Mary Hayward ! I can see by her agitation that she recognises me." "Yes, yes !" exclaimed Mary. "You are the policeman—" Wixon Fennes and Mr. Fosdick both started, although neither spoke. "I'm-not a . policeman now, thanks to you," said ( the stranger, with a laugh. '' I'm a well-to-do farmer, with a nice wife, and three as pretty children as you could wish to see. This is Mr. Fennes, I take it?" he added, looking hard at the clerk. "Oh, no—beg pardon, sir ; I see lam mistaken."

" Not at all, sir," replied Wixon, quietly. "I am Mr. Fennes."

"Well, I shouldn't have known you— though, to be sure, I had but a brief acquaintance with you. How you have changed, and for the better —if I may say so, sir/'.

There was a respectful tone in ' the stranger's voice, due to the clerk's appearance and air of quiet dignity. "Seven years. have changed us all," replied the clerk, gravely ; "you equally with me, I think !"

"I dare say. I suppose Miss Haywardis now Mrs. Fennes ?"

Mary replied in the negative. " Then I hope you soon will be," remarked the newcomer, heartily. It was because of your devotion to Mr. Fennes, miss, thab I took the idea of getting married myself. Before your visit to me I hadn't though# much of womankind, but after that I couldn't help wishing I had someone to care as much for me. And I've got a good wife, better'n I deserve, though she ain't a delicate little creature like you, miss. Bub I didn't come out here to talk of myself, bub of this arson business. You see, mother wants me to clear up my name—" "And quite right, too, sir," interrupted Fennes. " You owe such a step to your mother, and still more to your family." The ex-policeman looked surprised at this response, and regarded the clerk as if he had been > some rare and carious being, exclaiming: " Well, that's hardly what I expected to hear you say, Mr. Fennes. I had some idea that you might have run away on getting my letter, and for Miss Hay ward's sake I shouldn't have been sorry if you had. But I see you're a different sorb of a man from what I imagined." Fennes acknowledged the compliment) with a bow.

" I'm going right through with this business," resumed the ex-policeman, addressing the maiden, " and I want to know if you are ready for the trial. You desired the delay in order to make Mr. Westcourb acknowledge hi 3 guilt in some way. Have you succeeded ?" Mary replied in the negative, but declared her idea that the interview she had had with Mr. Westcourtin regard to bail for hec lover would do as well.

" It'll certainly tell against him," commented the ex-policeman. " Did you ever hear anything more of thab nephew of his 2 Do you suppose he really wanted to {ret) the lad out of the way ?" Fennes assented, and related the particulars of his visit to the merchant's house ; his idea of running upstairs and securing the forged cheque ; his hiding in the closet, and detention therein ; the conversation he had overheard between the merchant and his wife in regard to their nephew, suppressing nothing of the events of thab memorable evening, except the abstraction of the documents relating to Reginald's fortune.

That fact he desired still to keep an inviolable secret.

" And so you got the cheque, eh?" inquired the stranger. " I'm glad of it, and I hope the old villain will get his deserts soon. I hope you'll get off altogether, Mr. Fennes."

Wixon thanked him, and the ex-police-man continued:

" Not that I shall say anything less than the truth, you understand, sir. Of course, my eviderice'll be for the prosecution,"but there's much that'll tell in your favour from your own witnesses." The stranger remained about an hour, being kindly entertained by the littlo family, and eventually took his departure, declaring that lie should bring his wife to see Miss Hay ward. After his departure the lovers and Mr. Fosdick engaged in a consultation of a plaa for Fennes' defence, and became quite hopeful in regard to the coming trial.

[To be continued.]