BLOOD WILL TELL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXV, Issue 9729, 4 January 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

BLOOD WILL TELL.

Part- IT. '■■' A ROM!ANTK> SEQUEL. ''':■'" ' (By Aiec Alan.") ' (All Rights Reserved.) '"". ,; Chapter IV. Again £he years went by, as they have a incfc father., At least,. Dr Heytou's son followed in his father's footsteps. Through school, college, aid Divinity course, he took prizes, scholarships, bursaries, and exhioitions in succession. He went further than his father in quest of learning. Following the trend: of the time, he went to Oxford for a term or. two, to give him the tone then beginning to be sought after by dcotch Established Churchmen, who went in for a modified liturgy and . mild ritualism. He also spent some years imbibing modern philosophy Jrom. the ieetures at one and another German university. He retnroed to Scotlana and his father's house a very learned young man with a distinguished air about him. When he presented himself to his Presbytery for license,, the usual members, grown somewhat rusty maybe, felt a. certain dread in putting him through .the customary questions, and examinations. By his lather's advice he curbed his proud and controversial spirit, and answered meekly and humbly. His examineis, thus feeling well content with themselves, gave a very cordial and eulogistic Teport of him, ancf he was "licensed" with great eclat. The Moderator, of course, made, special reference to his being "a son of the manse," and took the opportunity of predicting a great and useful future for him. .' As a matter of fact, in the lines.of common sense, tact, 'and. general knowledge of. how to perform the many and varied duties of a parish minister, he never could hold the candle to his father, whose grandpomposity even, fitted him better for generat respect than did the usurping push of his meaner looking' brethren. With his fame as a scholar, by the influence of the long-established and widely known' good name of his father—in fact, mainly because lie was the son of such a man, the young probationer soon got good employment. In a subordinate position he did not require to exercise judgment in the management of parochial matters, but he had every opportunity of •retting into good society, and of mating love. Before it was found out that, as a man of afiaiis, and even as a preacher, he was only mediocre, for all his wide learning, he was inducted as minister of a populous parish, increasing in commercial importance, and with a large and increasing stipend. He was very well off. He made a rich match too, richer in one way than he had any idea of. He performed all the duties pertaining to his office carefully, bin not enthusiastically. But he had" married a woman of affairs. Of her again. He had not been long married when his father died. Among his papers was found the packet left by the grandmother. 'What the father did with it the son also did. The son though, knowing by one dark hint of his father's that little satisfaction would be got by looking into it, that if there were good reasons for his father not opening it, there must be less cause for his meddling with it. He had no morbid curiosity about things unprofitable. So he too laid it away unopened, to excite the curiosity of the next generation, if— Some years later a son was born to this couple. "He was their only child. He had his father's pleasing face, his grandfather's build and bearing, and his mother's brightness and business capacity. This is the account of him a few years ago, before he'became of age. Although his father did the preaching, and carried through all the ceremonies of baptisms, bridals, and burials, and even did a certain kind of parochial visitation with acceptance,, it was Mrs Heyton who really managed' the general Christian work of the. parish. With two or three probationer assistants and some divinity students whom she bad the knack of attaching to herself" and the cause—with : elders in their several districts, and even enthusiastic Sabbath School teachers, she kept prayer meetings, visitings of the sick and the backsliding, clothing clubs, soup kitchens, etc., etc., all a-going. How she 1 did it she could not tell. She was a born organiser: order and punctuality being natural gifts with her. She kept everything up-to-date, banishing vice and rewarding virtue. She pulled the wires, too, so that everyone who could be useful got the work that suited him or her best, and each one had the notion that he or she was managing the whole thing. Proslytising evangelists found no rest for the soles of their feet in her well-ordered do-

main. She could not, however, engraft any of her system on the somewhat stolid and self-satisfied temperament of her husband. Besides, he was overwhelmed with the work of reading, criticising, and writing books, when he had leisure from his sermons and the demands of his parish work. Something of the sort, he said, was expected of a man with his natural gifts, and wide literary attainments. Mrs Hevton, therefore, managed her husband, and kept him not only up to time, but let it be understood that he was the mainspring of all the punctually and puetiloously performed work in the parish. She managed him as she managed others, except that her care of him and his work was always first and of first importance. As I said before, and I say it again in another sense, he was very well off. When their only son was old enough to be of use to her, she began to use him, and found that he responded to her call. Before he grew to* manhood even, he was more of a man of affairs in parish work than ever his father had been. It was a real loss to Mrs Heyton, when he had to leave for college. She had been leaning on him perhaps too much and too soon. But classes did not last ail the year, and he made up for it during vacations: and yet he found time to dig into his father's stores of knowledge to aid him in his summer studies, and prepare himself for the coming session. In preparation for Oxford and for Continental travel and study, his father was still an apt tutor. In everything in which his grandfather and his father had been as good as others or better, the young man excelled. He made friends "with nien of all ranks, and men of rank seemed honored when he befriended them. Though only a minister's —a Scotch minister's —son, he was noble in every way. At Oxford" this noble young Heyton became friend and tutor to Lord Honey, only, son and lteir of Earl Beeston. This earl's grandfather was that baronet, Sir James Honey, whose daughter-Florence, Earl Rushleigh, bigamously married nearly a century ago. How he became the first Earl Beeston I have already related. During vacations and afterwards young Heyton travelled with his pupil, visiting allthe ends of the earth.

Honey got a special bit of fun for liimseif out of the fact that out-empire people, and others unacquainted with English ways and the English aristocracy, made no "distinction between the two as to rank. Where one was Mr Heyton, the other was Mr Honey; and equally so when one was called Lord Honey, the other received the title of Lord Heyton. And truly, if "•lordship" went by appearances, Heyton would have won easily. If "my lord" depended on abilities and general "savoir faire," Honey would have been .'eft in a back street. "Lord Honey got much amuse ; ment for himself, when they were in pri-

vate, out of nicknaming his companion and tutor, "Lord" Heyton. He always did an inward smile when he heard, and sometimes Tead oi, the pair being coupled as Lords Heyton and Honey. Once in a while some one might contradict this and say, "Heyton answers only to Mr Heyton." Then another would say," tliinking himself more knowing, "•Travelling incog., you know."

When they toured Xew Zealand in 1904, the "Henry Mercury" Teferred to their fleeting presence thus -.—"Two scions of nobility have been in our vicinity of late doing the local scenery. They motored from Dunedin, and lunched at the White House. The tide being very favorable, Miss M'Regg soon had her launch in readiness, and took the young noblemen, Lords Heyton and Honey," first to the lakes, then down the Taieri" to its mouth. Their, lordships expressed great pleasure on viewing the lakes with their surrounding hills spread out in varied tints, and at every 'turn of the river each coming and parting view drew forth sentences of artistic praise from first the one and then the

other of the noble young strangers. It is interesting to hear Horn visitors the praise of the scenes that we behold daily and i"orget to appreciate Their lordships expressed themselves thoroughly satisfied with the whole outing. Tue} give special thanks to Miss M'Kegg for the maimer in which sho had steered and .guided her handy little craft, and more particularly tor her entertaining scraps of local history and Maori tradition. We learh from •Burke's Peerage' that the title 'Lord .Heyton, is borne by the heir of Earl Rushleigli, an ancient. peerage; while that of •Lord Honey' belongs to the presumptive Karl Beestoii. The present Earl Beestoii is the third peer of that name, his'grandfather, who was Sir James Honey, baronet, having for political services,, been raised to that rank in the reign of George in." . . Some days after the publication of this bit of local news, Honey picked up the "Henley Mercury" from the commercial room table of their hotel, and read the item. He went olf with it''to'Heyton, saying, "I say, old man, we're found out. Just look at that paragraph describing our trip down the Taieri, and, incidentally, our noble selves."

"Ha ! ha!" laughed Heyton after he had Tead it. "I've no claim to such a title. I'm afraid that, if I.do belong to that noble house, it will be in some distant untraceable way, and perhaps with a. bar sinister on the escutcheon."' "Oh! we shall hope for the best," said Honey, in a mock pathetic way. Then more seriously, "Have 1 ever told you that Heyton Towers, Earl Rushleigh's place, lies next to our in Tottenhamsiiiie? And, by the way, Kushleigh died some months ago leaving no issue. Heyton is not a common name. Your bearing and general tone is aristocratic enough. I don't wonder at the beggar's calling you Lord Heyton. Did you ever inquire "into your ancestry further than your grandfather, who died not so very long ago?" "I think we'd better change the subject. Lord Honey," said Mr Heyton stiffly. And they did. But Lord Honey wrote home to his father, and at Cairo, a point which he had indicated in their intended' itinerary, he received a letter in which was a very cordial invitation for Mr Heyton to come with his pupil to Beeston. There they would all be pleased to see the gentleman irom whom his son had received so much improvement, and on whom he seemed to place so much friendly reliance. Mr Heyton was highly gratified with both the "appreciation and the invitation. He knew that the influence of Lord Bee. ston might be directed for his future benefit, and he was also desirous of finding out how lie could behave himself in one' of "the stately homes of England." So he heartily agreed to go to Beeston for a week.

Chapter V. He was received with much honor by Loid Beeston, in almost a motherly manner by the countess, and' in a very free-and-easy way by their only daughter, Lady Helena" Honey, whom .Lord Honey had accosted with, "Ha ! Xell! we're both at home together again. Won't we have a good time?" 'ihey did have a good time. Although it was not to' be expected that the surrounding- nobility and gentry should be called ill to do "honor to Honey's tutor, yet the tutor was never kept in the background when any came to pay "duty" calls, or to felicitate the young lord on his return home. Even Lady X ell's lady u-ier.ds were freely informed that the "uod-looking young man was "Honey's tutor," who had gone from Oxford with him on his tour round the world, and had come to Beestoii with him for a week. He was clever, she believed, and was the son of a clergyman in Scotland. ! Before that week was over the trio had explored the policies, the park, and all the wide domain of Beeston —Heyton for the first time, and the brother and sister with loving memories of more youthful days. Lake and streamlet, meadow and hilltop, and' every nook and glade of field ar.d .forest were "admired and re-admired. Lawns and shrubberies, garden and orchard, vineries and conservatories—all were lingered over and inspected. The library had a great attraction for Heyton.

On the fifth day, in the afternoon, they had been inspecting the ballroom and large dining-room. From the pictures there they turned back to those in the hall, in the"staircases, and in the galleries. When these had all been explained and commented on, Honey said: "Nell, let's go up to the turret and see the sun set; itis worth looking at, Heyton. Come on." They wont, and there was certainly something to admire. Few landscapes are more beautiful than that looking west from Beeston turret, when the sun is going down. The view is down a valley, with sloping hills on either side. These are varied by copses and green pastures on the higher ground, while on the lower slopes are fertile fields. In that early autumn these fields were laden w-ith. produce, in bands and patches, according with the crops and tne shapes of the fields. The colors were chiefly shades of green and yellow—dark green, green, light green, yellowish green, yellow, .tawny yellow, and yellowish grey —in no particular order. In the centre foreground lay the little lake glistening under the glancing rays; and, trailing away from it, with almost serpentine motion, meandered the stream, enlivened at every.bend by beams from the low and almost level sun. Heyton was enchanted, and waxed poetic. Brother and sister wore silent, as if it would be unbecoming in them to praise what might almost he considered as their own. Yet each had a different reason for silence at- this juncture. Ever since Heyton had stiffly asked him to change the subject, Honey, though silent on it, had ever kept that subject steadily in his mind. Heyton's manner then, and often since, when he had begun to notice it, had reminded him of a similar mannerism in the late Earl Rushleigh, whom as a near, neighbor and a relation he knew well. Ho was certain, too, thatin his appearance, and gait even, he resembled the Heyton family. His father had corroborated his observations, but had said nothing. In all their little excursions, the vicinity of Heyton Towers had been caiefuily avoided, and the place had never been mentioned. Xow it would be seen by Heyton for the first time.

Lady Helena was silent for quite another Teason. These five days of free-and-easy companionship with a handsome young man, who was not a brother, had been very pleasant. He had been excellent company, both indoors and out, and he had never presumed. Lady Nell, on self-examination, had discovered that she had come to think more of "Honey's tutor" than she should, seeing that he was—ah■ —quite "impossible." Surely there seemed to be something more than friendly politeness in his eyes when he had to do anything for her. Their. proximity while ascending that turret stair had brought him nearer to her in thought also, and she arrived at- the top with a determination, if not to snub him, -at- least I'to keep him at due distance, by the way, that he had never shortened. She alone had been guilty. After many admirable speeches on the beauty of the west. Heyton turned to the east, and saw that the turret enabled them to look over the Beeston Woods, and beyond them he discovered many other beauties reflecting the setting sun. The most outstanding one seemed to be a castle. Her ladyship had also turned to look in that direction.

"Whose place is that, Lady Helena?' askedHeyton.

"That," answered she, with a new man. nerism, "is Heyton Towers, the seat of our neighbor, and relative, Eari Bushleigh. I am sorry to say, however, that there is no earl now. But the estate and the household are, by the late earl's will, being carried:on as before, in expectance of some claimant appearing. A steward is over everything, indoors and out.- The butler anct bis wife, who is housekeeper, look after the household as formerly, and keep the servants at their work. Anyone inclined to take advantage of the absence cf a real head of the household soon has to go. Besides, Mr Jarndice, the late earl's law agent, visits once a month, and looks over the steward's accounts. The' game is well preserved, and the tenants have repairs attended vthat she had broken, silence, Lady Nell was as chatty answer).—"l was up there ten daj J s ago, "and had a cup of tea with old Mr and Mrs is, the butler, and his wife—and he. told me some curious things about.the two earls whom, he has; served from boyhood to old age."

, "Mrs Webb's maiden name was Cobb," Iheie biokc in Honey, "and alter we learned that, Xell and I used to make fun with I oki. Kushleigh, when he came over to an impromptu dinner, about his keeping sucli a cnity house, as the chief thing we saw were the 'cobwebs.' We meant that as on'e into him foi his alwajs handing us o\ei to Webb and his wife, when w* would obey his general invitation to "come over at -any time.' He ; always went mooning away with his books But at dinner here he would laugh contentedly at our amusement, and say that it was a good'thing to get ,a bottle of wine with a cobweb about it'. And so he had his little joke, too." "That's how I learned to have tea with Mr and Mrs Webb,"' explained her ladyship. "But what did he tell you about the two earls?" asked Honey. "I do not think I will tell you now," replied his sister. Then suddenly remembering something, she turned to Heyton, and said : "You should go over'and see the old place. • It is very interesting from au historical point of view, and there arc many old family portraits. It is a much older family than ours —many hundreds of \ears older."' "We'll go o\er to-morrow morning after breakfast," said Honey, "if Mr Heyton has no objections. Then we can do the forenoon exploring and taking notes, and be back to luncheon'—unless old Cobweb insists on doing the honors of the house. What say you?" "Oh! I shall be very pleased to spend the last day of a most pleasant week in that way," answered Heyton. Ho it .was arranged'. At dinner shortly after Lord Beeston inquired how the young people had been emnloving themselves thai day, and was told of the view from the turret, and of the projected -visit to Heyton Towers in the morning. Whether that astute old gentleman had been let into the secret of the Scotch marriage by the late earl or not, he never said then or afterwards; but he sent a note across that evening to Webb telling of the intended visit of Lord Honey and a Mr Heyton, his tutor, in the morning. All that evening Heytcn was abstracted and almost absent-minded. He tried to arouse himself, but failed. He retired early, and endeavored to concentrate his mind upon a book wlueh he wished to finish; but no. He went to bed, but not to sleep. Something new possessed his mind. The curious behavior of Lady Helena on the turret, her new hauteur; and her desire that he should visit Heyton Towers while in the district. Had she discovered anything that might connect his family with that place? Had she a wish to humble him? Then his thoughts reverted to his home, to his mother, and to his father. In his thoughts his mother had 'always been first. He felt somehow as if something was going to happen to him; he could not define it. He turned over and thought of Lady Nell again. Yes; to himself he called, her Lady Xell. He remembered her' kindly scrutiny of him while he rowed her and Honey round the little lake during the afternoon of the clay before. She had not seen that- he had seen her. Ox was that loving look for Honey who sat behind him? The voung man was 'falling in love where he must not. Yet with, self-deceiving belief lie took that appreciative look to himself, and, with it glowing before his ; minds eye, he fell asleep. i At breakfast next morning, • Honey asked his sister when she would be ready Ito start.- and was told that, as she had ! been there so lately, there was no call ■ for her to go again so soon. There was ■ nothing new to her. He would be quite able, with Webb's 'assistance, to guide Mr Heyton over the place, and bring him back to luncheon. She had to attend, to some cottage visiting in another direction, she said, which his return had beguiled her into neglecting. So as frequently before, in many parts of the world, the two young men went to \iew- the historical place together. At many places had they seen things Temark- , able and thing surprising, but never be- • fore had they encountered a thing so remarkably surprising as they did that fore, noon at Heyton. Towers. As they approached the Towers, taking an old time short cut across the boundary, some one; who seemed to be on the watch, for them, went off hurriedly and announced them. Coming along the upper terrace from the riglit, they saw the whole array of upper servants under the portico, and the others ranged behind them in the hall. .Honey had never been received like this 'before, and could not understand it. So he said, laughingly to the butler, who was in front, "Ha! Mr , Webb, are you expecting royalty this morning?" "Xo, Lord 'Oney; we're 'ere to welkim Lord 'Eyton to 'is hancestral ,'ome." then turning to Heyton who had come forward, he said to him, "Welkim to your hancestral 'ome, my lord; and we hall 'opes as 'ow the Hearl 'imself will soon be 'ere too. Welkim 'ome, my lord !"' '-Tliis is going a little too far, Lord Honey!" cried' Heyton with grim reprimand", snch as he seldom used to his pupil. "What does it mean?'' "1 know no more than yoa do, Heyton. What's the meaning of the turn out. Mr Webb?" " - "'Hi 'opes there's no offence, your lordships; but we received warning that we might hexpect to see Lord 'Eyton soon. , Ami when hi saw Lord 'Oney haceompanied by a gentleman who is" halmost the living himage of the late Heart's father, hi made sure to bid 'im welkim. Beg pardon liif hi'm wrong, my lord P "My friend is Mr Heyton, who has been | round the world with me, Webb; and we| have come over t'liis morning to look at i (the pictures, if it will not inconvenience , vou." ; j

"Certainlv not, your lordship." (Turning to the attendants)., "Go hoff to your dootie.3. But my lord, if you'll hexcoose me, your mention of foreign parts reminds me of hanother thing that made me-surer. A foreign paper, which came the other day, hand which hi hopened in the library, stated that the Lords Heyton and 'Uney 'ad been touring Noo Zealand together." "Ah!" said Heyton smiling, "that's how one mistake leads to another. I'll have to excuse you after that." "Thank you, sir. Follow Lord 'Oney to see the pictures, and perhaps you will see something helse as should plead hexcoose for me.' ' -

There was no doubt about the beauty and the value of the pictures, nor was there any doubt about old Webb being excused. • The family portrait, if they showed the visitors one tiling more than another; it- was that- Heyton had a good right to the family name. This caused him much thought, and lost for him a good many of the remarks of Lord Honey about the historical value of the pictures, as well as the ex-and extra-asperated commentaries of Webb on certain family pictures. He spoke little, 'and as Honey saw that he was not enjoying himself, he proposed an early return to Beeston, which was Teadily agreed to. As they departed Webb said, "Mrs Webb was in 'opes that- you would stay to luncheon. But ft can't be 'elped. I'll tell 'er that you'll stay longer next- time yon come," —which saying was prophetic, though he knew it not, not being a seer. They made their way quietly back by another road, and encountered Lady Helena returning also' round-aboutly from her cottage, visiting. When Honey told his sister of Webb's reception and "the effect it had on Heyton,'she too was grave and thoughtful about -it. Their return was made almost in' silence, and as they turned the last bend of the avenue, they encountered one of the footman on a bicycle. He stopped, touched his hat, and handed a.telegram to Heyton. He opened it, ■ grew pale; and gave it to Honey, who read it, and said, "You must-go atonce, Heyton," Then to the footman : "Retuin,at oiice, Tom. Go up to.Mr Heyion's T°°m, ft 1 "1 P ac!r up for him! I'll get the dogcart. There's just time tocatch.the midday express at Whackford.—Heyton had gone hurriedly. on.-rrThen answering his sister's: .look of sympathetic - inquiry, he -explained, "He must go to. Scotland .at, once. His father is suddenly/taken ill. .1* know he fears for his mother' who. is. a tender-hearted. .wpmaiV,■') he has told. me. While. I see-to „the dogcart,!will you'see that a double allowance of sandwich is ; packed v into, my topcoat pockets; with something in"} a flask. "If w<S; do jiotHave time' ;toj eat oii the way, over, J'Jl-shove ifinto -the carriage -beside him."- - .".-...• :, - i.'.-. ;' JJell hurried oh in silence : deeply, moved; and Honey took a .short.- cut jto, the. stables-. v r.':'-:'l ■ ■;.'.■ s V;:.->fe.-:-?: ;

llii less than ten minutes Honey was atfi the door with the dogcart, and a- gloom behind him. Beeston and the countess wrung He j ton's hand in silent sympathy, v telling him to come back to them when he could Honey saw that his sister was too much embariassed to speak and said/ "Xell, please, go and 'phone to Whackfordstationmastei to have a ticket ready for a passenger coming from Beeston and going to. Edinburgh." She gave ;a liand.shake to B eyton, and ran off relieved.

Chaptei VI. It was only while speedmg through the homelike heather hills of the border that, Heyton first felt the pangs of and then turned to the plentiful supply" l oi sandwiches that Honey had pushed in ceside him when hurriedly bidding him good-bye, and telling liim to send for'lum, if he should need help and sympathy, and to try .to make his way back to Beeston, oooner or later. Honey's last words to hia friend and tutor were, "Whatever you do, don't forget to write and tell us how you find your father and mother. There's your luncheon ; don't forget to cat it.'" So after some hours lie remembered, and ate. "And what was the matter .with, his father?" asks the reader.

He had had a severe paralytic stroke. When his son had freed himself from his mother's embrace, they went together to the sick man's room. As they appeared at the door, the doctor beckoned to them, and whispered, "There will soon 'be a change. "He will either increase in strength partially—which forbodes a gradual recovery—or he will have a „ lu;cjd minute or two, and then the end." He had scarcely ceased speaking when there was a movement in the bed, and they, saw the- patient looking at them lovingly. His wife ran towards him and knelt by the bed." ' ■ ?

The old man looked appealingly.a't his son and strove to raise himself aM'speak; but he fell back and was gone. The'doc-' tor examined him, .and pronounced' him dead. Mrs Heyton heaved a heavy'sigh; and slipped to the -floor. The nurse who' was near and the young man lifted, the fainted woman, and bore her to a couch in the next roomi The. doctor came- to apply restoratives, but soon desisted. She too was dead. Hardly ever have two such useful lives ended so suddenly. together. ■ Hardly ever has it been given for two such loving- GhrUtian souls to. "wing their way togther to the realms of the blest. When the news spread of their sudden taking, aftev such stienuous lives, much that was beautiful waa spokeii of. them, but more was thought. Although in general life we find it not hard' to fill the place of some or.e who has gone,.yet to replace "such a pair, the one the complement of the other, would be difficult. That parish finds the hardness even yet, my friend t-eils we.

I And now it is the turn of the 'third generation from "Margaret Heyton, nee Boawell," to decide whether or not that packet of hers shall be-opened. As soon as Lord Honey leeeived word of the double blow ih.it had prostrated his friend with grief he hurried to his side and stayed with him tiil the dual funeral and all. necessary obsequies were over. Then he told him to come back to Beeston for a quiet time, after he bad set his affairs in order, and so went home himself to tell his people of thagreat honors that had been .paid to his frined's father and mother, and of the excellent appointments- of his quiet home. .There would be much grief for Heyton even in. iea-ving' the ilans-D, he told them; for he had been born and brought up there, and had experienced only ene unhappy time in it. That was since his return, on leaving Beeston. He had asked Heyton to.come back for a quiet- time after he had set his affairs hi order. "I hope I have done right in that, father?" he concluded. "l'eriectly right, my son," answered the earl. All fourj waited Heyton's' return with different feelings;—the Countess with the s.ur.e motherly friendly feeling .as be- - fore «i!y somewhat intensified by Heyton's sudden and irrevocable bereavement; Lady Helena had a sisters sympathy and-some: thing more; and Honey.yearned for Heyton, as Jonathan did for D'avid, as the friend -of his heart and soul. 'Xhe earl fidgeted and was ill at ease, as one awaiting the occurrence of an, uncertain events Between you-and ,me, I believe that 1 -' the late Karl Hushiedgh had told Beetom.of the Scotch marriage of his father', just as that father had told it to him, and'had sworn, him to secrecy, bidding his wait and watchevents; but neither to help nor hinder until be should be called to do so. The time of waiting was to be "for one year after his c'e.ith" (as every body knew). Jamdice (his lawyer) had the papers and knew what to do after that year expired. -This secret, i think,.troubled the good earl, just as a rr.ason.ic secret- may trouble an. apprentice. But the earl never told the cou:v:_'Ss, nor airy one else, that secret. Not- many days passed when Honey receive:! a "wire'' from Heyton to be so socd as meet him at the station, as he was coming south by the afternoon express. Now, Lady Helena had been taking herself to task seriously, and had concluded that, in the present state of her feelings, it. would be indiscreet for her to remain at Eea-jton during any lengthened visit- from that tutor of Honey's, and she had just arranged to leave, for a long-promised visit io an old schoolmate, by the very train on which Heyton announced his coming. Her ■ladyship's winsome face was, consequently, the iut pleasant thing that welcomed- him at Whackford. She was standing on the platici-.n, looking at the incoming train, while" If c-ney secured her ticket. They had drivci up but a minute before, and Tom waii with the dogcart. Lady Nell gave Heytoi: a. pleasant recognition which he debJnnxirly acknowledged. This confirmed her resolve for flight, and when she got_ into i lie carriage that he had come by, she" was fiad that there was not time for more tharr .: formal gOod-bye, whose stiffness rather dulEed the brightness of that -first welcorr.-e smile. Heyton's thought, as he responded to Honey's subdued enthusiasm, was. "Women are fickle, however high born !"

While driving back to Beeston, Honey remir'.-cd, "You've got away from things earlier than you -expected, ha.ve.yoit not? Or had you just to tear yourself away, from ever-much sorrow to come where you'll ever ft.xl ready sympathy?" "Neither, my dear Honey; I have come solely en a matter of business; and. as I have" aw no father to. consult with, I thought I could ask your father to aid me, without- being too presumptive. It is an unexpected chance of .promotion, and Earl lJeeGlon's influence.'will! be ..grateful to me if xisc-d in my-behalf. . . When I place.the case bc-fcre him, I would! like you- to be pre-.w; to bask up iny application. "Yo.i may be sure of that, and of .father's help too, ..if within, his- power. Can you tell rr.e beforehand anything .about, it, so •that 1 could make up my mind how to back you up ?" '■'.-■ "I am. afraid that I.,must, deny myself that pleasure... I place .great. dependence on your father's, judgment,.and the-chance may be a-mere Sash, in the pan. ./-Should, he decide 'that the matters worth: proceeding .with, you shall! know.all immediate-, ly.. I ask you-to present me to him'as seeking his advice on a'matter of business.. ./Yow will also, please me if you.'are with-me*.to-hear his decision. I. may need at. friend's support/then," -&,'.;...;. :■ '•'■'■.■■.. "Very .well,-/Heyton^,-1 am glad "they delayed luncheon till-"-our--, arrival.; -,- After, that, we'lttaekje the wisdom and. power of the earii" ;. " .'■.'••'J''

Hejton was received with clmacterist'c i kindness, h's poor appetite and his agita- ■ tion being attributed wholly to his double [cause for gnef. I Afterlunchean the Earl went to hisbusiinccs room, whither his son soon followed ,him, bunging in Heyton. j "Father," said Honey, "Mr Heyton , wishes to lay before you a case of unexpected piomofcion which has come an, his I way, ana to ask your advice. He also ■ wurhes ine to be present to gne him countenance in case your counsel is adverse."

I The earl lojked doubtful. Then Heyton [said, "T have heTe some papeis and letters that will speak for themselves, if you will please to look over them. I have not told. Lord Honey anything, lest the downfall of my prospects should affect him too much." Heyton then handed to the earl the important packet left by his greatgrandmother, which he Had found among his father's papeis; and which he had open-1 eH the day previously, being moved thereto by the remembrance, of'"things, that had| transpired at Heyton Towers. He con.-, sideied .also the fact that no - claimant had. come forward for the vacant earl-1 dom. , He "determined to take the advice of the, father of his friend, Lord Honey;

:anil^,;^h«efpr6.wais; at Beeston.'.; iAl;his. sou].: was tfoubled c^ceiidngyLady.:Helena, he had-,;not j yet formiiUtedo.his ihpughts about her suffi-cientiyj.-^v:-';,' : .*v?:c\V. ; "-"'. - .'-'■'!C\; *',..■: ■ ' opfeaeil the packet deliberatelyitand'scrutihjsed -one document only— ; of "the -register, which lay uppermost: ,"• -ThenVhe/aroee, hurriedly and went, to"the telephpne,.rang up, and gave :'''JSo':'oo7s~iix. Jarhdice." r On the connection !'faem^\'.iridde,-7'he > V'calied'. out, "That' you, "'•" W'Jiere ? HeytphVTpwers ? Thank you, ;lilrfind' him, ,But,.-I, say; don't expect •Kyh hoipe».to-nigfit. Right !'* and then he rang off.- He turned to. Lord Honey, and isaid: ~': ' "jWilti j' you, my son, .oil-: behalf of "your'friend, go oyer to ■■'■_■ Heytpn... Towers,'i and bring Mr Jarhdice here., These' lawyers are 'cuter ih.-3nat.ters of this sqrt than we are, and know how to pulL the wires." Tell him that\l.said! thattlie matter is very important, and he had better bring his bag w : th hdm, : amd stay the night. V r .ou heard, me advise, his head'!clerk.of that: , I may'"tell ■you,—for you look anxious about Mr Heytpn— that.if :we.get Oaiadice to advise in the procedure, your friend's prospects axe very/bright." , '„■....''.' ■:'-. "Ali'xight,. father, .and tliank yon. I'm Off"':':':-': .■''■.'■■

..': "And inow, nly dear sir," said the earl to Heyton, "we'.ll rest ore our oars till we.have Mr;'Jarndice also. in' consultation. Take charge of your papers again. You look jaded; perhaps you had better, take some rest -till■ dinner time. We'll not do any consultation,, till' after dinner."

"Thank you; I am greatly obliged to ) you," .said Heyton. "When. Honey returned,.with Mr Jarndice he left the lawyer" with his father, and would,have gone at once to Heyton, had ' the earl not told him that his friend had gone to rest till dinner, and that- it had been arranged that the four of them would • go into consultation of his friend's case immediately afterwards. After dinner the earl told the countess , that asi he had to consult with Mr Jarndioe. about a business that affected Mr Heytoii's prospects for the future, the four of them—"Honey_is i interested for liis friend," interjected, answering her look—would go to .his business, room for a time. So she would be .free to .take her after-dinner nap, and be'her own blight self again when they .all came to. the drawing-romm. ; When' Mr Jarndice saw the marriage lines and the certified extract from the marriage register, he.'exclaimed, "These are what the last two Earls of Kushleigh have been, afraid of, ever since the former of the two married a second time. Mr Heyton, L consider that you have a perfect -claim to the earldom." I may say for the l'ate earl, that he .knew where the claim should come from. . His father told him about it, and ad.vised him to continue the annuity, should he die first. But the payment had ceased but a short tune before he died. The late earl was ever ready to give up all rights and titles had a. claim from your side of the house been made. The reason why" he never married was because, as he ■said to my father in early life, he was unwilling to be the father of sons or daughters who might- be thrown, out of the Heyton estate, because of this earlier marriage of his father's. There will be as little delay as possible in quietly proving before the proper court that you are the rightful heir. If you will entrust your papers with me I shall be most happy to carry the matter to its only legitimate issue. Xo one will rejoice more than I, Mr Heyton, when I can legally call you Earl Rushleigh. I coiild tell you much more, but for the present it would seem like speaking of a private matter to a stranger. There-may be other extracts from registers required, such, as would prove you the eldest in .direct descent from the marriage herein indicated. But you will give me your address in Scotland" sir, or elsewhere, and I shall send you a. list of what is required. Perhaps it would be'better if I sent down a confidential clerk to you. and he could help you to collect these necessary legal! papers, and 'no hint of our intention would get into the newspapers':" "That would suit very well, Mr Jarndice. I shall find out how long I can be at tha Manse, and .telegraph to you when to send."

So the old packet was placed for security for the night in Earl Beeston's safe, and the party adjinirned to the drawing-room. As they went- Honey said to his friend, "My trick of calling you Lord Heyton- was more, correct than I dreamt of."

Yes, my friend; but titles are tabooed till the court gives warrant." "That's right," said the -earl, who overheard 1 , "and it may he as well to keep the matter quiet till then. We taur will hold on to it."

I Mr Jarndiee was as good as his word, in everything, and within a -month he had so expedited matters that a decree of court had proclaimed Heyton sole heir to the late Earl -llushleigh and successor to that title ar.-d all other rights and titles adjoining to it. When Mr Jamdiee had given full account of all lands and; moneys left by the late .earl, the.-.-new Bar] R-nshleigh found himself a very rich man. . When Lady Helena came home'again she was unprepared to see that "tutor of Honey's" still at Beeston. She had never in any of her letters alluded to him, and, by the earl's advice, nothing hid been written to her of who the now earl was. The newspaper accounts of him had been meagre, and there had been no rejoicing on his arrival at Heyton Towers. Lady Nell had never wholly subjected that first dawn-. mg love of hers, ar.d in. spite of herself she.felt drawn to Heyton; but when he boldly made love :to her she was astonished, and, to protect herself against herself, she told her mother of hi> bold advances. The countess had been tutored, by he*r h;:sband; and Honey, who was in the seciet of 1 leyton'saspirations to .get Lady Nell to love him for himself and not for his title, kept out of the way and gave fair play with her. Her mother merely remarked- when- spoken to "that he was -a young man- of good character, and of excellent prospects." "If that's what you think of him, would I be safe-in accepting his addresses? Would father and. Honey 'like it, if I married him?" "I heard your father say to Honey only the ether day, that he was so clever that he might be a. duke yet." ''l am very pleased to hear it; for Ido love him, and have had to avoid! him lest I should betray myself." "What's the matter, Nell, dear?" asked the earl, who had overheard the last words as lie came in.

"Oh! mother' will tell, you," cried the blushing girl as she ran off. As she turned .quickly down a walk in the shrubberies to commune with herself, she met the bold wooer face to face. She was strangely agitated, and was pale and red-.by-turns.- . "Is Lady Helena afraid of me?" (No answer.) "Did I frighten your ladyship with my -boldness?" (No answer.) "Shall Tleave "you Do you wish to.be alone?"

•'No,"' "It you ban tolerate my- presence, Lad|y Helena,"l will explain somewhat the cause of my .boldness with you: First,'while I was here that delightful week that brought me such grief in I learned to care for you as I cared for no woman on earth before. I had to be silent so as not to 1 betray my liking; for your brother's tutor it would be pure presumption. ' Second, the death of my parents has considerably improved my circumstances, and I leturned to Beeston as the friend of Loid Honey. Your father has given me much help and godd advice in my affairs, and is pleased t6 think much of me. Third, I had a. feeling that I was not altogether ' indifferent to you, and asked your fathei's leave to pay my addresses, to you, and I am pleased to say that I received it. lam come again to my fourth point, Lady Helena, "Have I your leave to woo yon?" With a blush and a smile she answered, '•You may try." ~- He tried ard he,won. When he had made suie of his victory, he led her up to the carl and the countess and told them so. •'Well done, Earl Rushleigh 1" cried the father. ' "I'm iiery_ much pleased," said lict mothei, tearfully and tenderly. i. I "Y'ou'll be a countess yourself Xell," said Honey, as he came up and kissed her. ~-,.' "Has this been a conspiracy? asked Jus £isfcer; and the new Earl Rushleigh replied for him, "Xo, my love, it is all my fault for wishing to try a bit of old-fashioned Tomance."