“BALDOVIE.”

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6244, 17 June 1890, Page 4

“BALDOVIE.”

LITERATURE

A. TALE OP CRIME AND MISFORTUNE. Mrs Carmichael did not say much to her daughter about the alteration which her father in his last moments had lor some inexplicable reason thought fit to make injthe arrangements of his affairs. As the document had been written on the day of the arrival of Wild Will — written as it seemed in his presence —

and as he had been specially entrusted with the task of depositing it in the private deed-box, it might have been inferred that for some purpose of his own he had induced his father so indite it. But that inference was absolutely absurd, in view of the openly expressed antipathy of Will to Fetterheerd. If Will had any control over his father’s disposition of affairs, he would undoubtedly have used it to exclude the name of the clever manager of the business from any stare in subsequent

arrangements. Yet there was the document, in the unquestioned caligraphy of the roaster of Baldovie. It was as impossible to doubt the authenticity of the document as it was to comprehend the motives which had actuated John Carmichael in preparing this surprise for his

family. . Could Will have been acquainted with the contents of the packet which

he had so carefully deposited in accordance with his instructions P Market saidNo,’and repeated ‘No’ emphatically many times. Will would have burned his hand off before he would have consented to touch such a paper, much less to have placed it in sale keeping, if he bad been aware of its nature. No, Will was a good fellow at heart, and whatever he had done or might do, he was the last man in world who wjmld willingly place in the hands of a stranger so much power to interfere with family arrangements as this codicil, or will, or whatever it might bfi called, placed in the bands of the man Feuerheerd.

Mrs Carmichael’s feelinge were much in accord with those of her daughter ; but then, her faith in the clearness of her husband’s judgment was complete. ‘ We must endeavour to look up the matter calmly, Marget,’ she said. ‘We do not know what explanation he may have given to William ; and even from what you yourself say, the reasons must have been very conclusive in order to induce him to obey his father in carrying out this arrangement.’ ‘ But you are mistaken in what I say, mother,’ rejoined the daughter firmly. ‘ I say that this is not the arrangement my lather intended for us —for me.’ ' ~ ‘ But, my dear child, there are his own commands in his own handwriting.’ ‘ I don’t care.’

‘ Will was the only person with him, and Will himself placed the paper under lock and seal.’ ‘ I don’t care,’ was the stubborn but gently expressed response. * We have no means of telling what information he may have given to Will in order to satisfy him that this was the beat thing to do for all our sakes—he must have given him good and sufficient reasons.’ ‘What reason could he eive for putting Feuerheerd in the place of Mr Dalgleish as trustee ?’ ‘I confess it is very bewildering : but no doubt we shall hear in time why it was done.’ Marget looked at her mother with an expression of dismay. ‘How can you think that anythino- could induce him to trust yonr happiness —in the hands of any one except the man who had been his faithful friend for forty, fifty—oh, I don’t know how many years ? I tell you, mammy, there is something wrong, and I will not believe that my father is the author of it.’ Mrs Carmichael was unable to reply. The vehemence of the girl, as much as her insistence on the argument that her father could not have made this arrangement if he had been in his ordinary state ot mind impressed the widow the more deeply because she shared the sentiments ot her daughter to so great an extent, ‘ We need not discuss it any further Marget,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘I should like to wait until we learn how Mr Dalgleish views the position after ' he has had time to reflect upon it in all its bearings.’ Mr Dalgleish tock very much the same view of the position as that of Mrs Garmidhael; but he gave her much relief, and rendered Marget glad, by pointing out a detail which they had overlooked, ‘You must understand,’ he said, * that Mr Feuerheerd cannot assume the office of trustee until we have proof of Mr William’s death, or until the lapse of a reasonable period such as would suffice, under the circumstances, to lead us to the conclusion that he is no more.’ » Oh, Mr Dalgleish, why did you not I tell us that yesterday ?’ exclaimed Margot, her eyes brightening. ‘lt would have saved us many hours of •worry !’ „ . , . T < I must confess. Miss Carmichael, i was so much taken by surprise myself that it became necessary to act with the greatest caution ; and therefore, as is my rule in any difficulty, I decided to sleep on it before pronouncing an opinion.’ ‘ Then we need not even think ot Mr Feuerheerd as a trustee 7 * Well, that is going a little too far. We must think of him in that capacity , and to a certain extent, act under his approval, if we desire to make any important change of affairs.’ ‘Oh !’ murmured Marget reflectively. ‘ Then we are not really free from him V «He can exert no immediate control ovjer you,’ replied the lawyer, who Lad a shrewd notion of what was disturbing the girl’s mind ; ‘ but he will have the power to call us to account for what we do if it should, unfortunately, happen that Mr William is not now alive. However, I have written to Mr Feuerheerd to meet me here, and his time is near ly up,’

Mr Feuerheerd was punctual, for punctuality was to be reckoned as prominent among his other virtues business and social. He listened attentively to the explanation which Mr Dalgleisb gave him as to the opening of packet No. 10, and he listened with interest to the reading of the document which exercised such an important influence over his worldly prospects. When all was done he remained silent for a few minutes. Then he spoke as if deeply impressed by the new mark of favour extended to him |by his late chief, and also by a profound sense of the responsibility which had been thus unexpectedly thrust upon him. He turned to the widow. ‘I feel, Mrs Carmichael, that I have been very much honoured by your husband,’ he said in a low tone, and there was a quaver in it which indicated that the man was really affected by this mark of confidence. ‘ I need nob tell you that I shall do everything in my power to prove to you and to your children that I am not altogether unworthy of the trust your husband has reposed in me.’ Mrs Carmichael inclined her head; she did not care to speak, for she could not quite bring herself at that moment to utter the obvious answer which courtesy demanded —‘ lam sure of it.’ She was not sure of it, and yet she was more than half inclined to think she ought to be. Marget watched him with keen, suspicious eyes. Mr Dalgleish dangled his eyeglasses and remained apparently neutral, or rather in a judical position, prepared to serve whoever was in the right. For it came to be a case of parties —Marget against Feuerheerd ; and the lawyer saw it, and the mother vaguely felt it, {To be Continued, j