CHAPTER II.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 196, 26 March 1887, Page 6

CHAPTER 11.

Ralph's patrimony— a shadow. Had the youth been his own and only eon, the good doctor's greeting could not have been warmer, or more full of heartfelt' love and good-will. The embrace was ardent, and when the words of greeting had been exchanged, Dr. Bale stood back and looked into the handsome, manly face before him, with a pride that sent a rich flush to his very temples. " Ralph ! you are looking splendidly. 0 1 take care of that health o! yours ! The Good Father has blessed you above the majority of mankind. He has given you a body perfect, with health to match. ' Will you preserve them intact ?" '* " Surely, dear Uncle,— if I may still call you so—it shall ba my earnest endeavour,

never, by any willing aot, to mar the health that is now mine." " Good. And now, my boy, when you oease to call me uncle, you shall — But never mind. 1 won't make any threats $ for I hold a threat to a promiee, which Bhould never be broken. There is a seat. Now tell me of your vie it to London. Whom did you see, and what did you Jo ?" "Dear uncle," the youth returned, with a happy smile, through which the glow of a noble pride was clearly manifest— the turn that had been given to the conversation had for the moment put aside the thoughts that had bo deeply stirred him-— "Dear uncle, I arrived in London safe and well, and took rooms in Sir William's house by special invitation of the present occupant. My first visit was to the Royal College of Physicians , in Pall Mall East, where I found President Burrows, who received me very kindly. He read your letter first, and then that of Dr. Laybrook. If I had been a prince royal he could not have given mo more attention. He called three other physicians of the fac ulty to his assistance, and the four together examined me. I will only say— ln the end they gave me the highest credentials that can be given. " That same evening I found opportunity to make an appointment with Sir William Fergusson, President of the Royal College of Surgeons. There chanced to be a good opportunity for dissection, so my examina tion was not only thorough, but practical. The result there was fully as satisfactory aa before. But that is not all. Before I left, President Fergusson offered me a first- class professorship in the department of anatomy in his college." 11 And you refused it ?" " Yes." 4< My dear boy, I am not sure that you were wise. It would have been a splendid opening for you." '* Ah, sir," the warm colour coming back to his face, "I bad a reason, with me allpowerful, for not accepting it ; and that roason I have now come to make known to you. But first, let", me ask—ls it settled that you will go out to India?" " Yes, Ralph, just as soon as my arrangements can be made. And that reminds me I have a letter for you from your dear old guardian, Sir William, which I will give you before we separate. It is only of love and good-will. All his business he has left to me." " My dear uncle, ought I not to go with you ? Do I not owe it to him that I should make at least that effjrfc to see him once more before he is done with this lower life ? And, further, may I not be of assistance to you ? Remfcinber, it is a long distance, and there are trials and dangers in the way." •'My dear, dear boy, I thank you for your good- will j but I cannot accept your offer. First, with regard to Sir William, it is his own desire that you shall not come He is strongly impressed that I shall not find him alive. Should that be the case, your long and costly voyage would be useless. On the other hand, should I find him alive, I shall hope that I can cure him, and bring him home with me, when you will meet him joyously. Second, with regard to myself, yourcompanionehip would be indeed a pleasure to me ; but I need you fur more here During my absence you will have charge of my old patients, and be preparing the way for a final settlement in life. No, no, your place i(> here. "As for me, I must go. I owe it not only to my brother, but to myself. lam under a promise to him that, should accident befal him, I would at once come to him, if he be living, to assist him ; and, if he be dead, to settlo his large estate in India. In every way the duty is sacred." At this point a eilence fell, which lasted , several seconds. At length the young phyaicion looked up, and with the old quiver in his lips, and a deepening flush on bis face, he said : " Uncle Lawrence, I am going to be bold and frank. The weal of lifetime is at stake, and I cannot afford to be backward, nor to suffer fear to tie my toDgue. You are going far away, to return, Heaven alone knows when. Beforo you go I must know what of joy may be mine in the future. It cannot be unknown to you that I love Morna — your beautiful Morna - your daughter. To come at once to the point, I aek you, will you give her to me— to be -my wife?" It was plainly to be seen that the older man was holding back his deeper feelings. He asked, quite calmly : •' Does Morna love you as you love her ?" " She does, sir. O, Doctor Dale ! 1 know lam now poor, dependent upon my own efforts for u livelihood ; but, sir, I can gfve her a love strong and true ; I can offer in my own behalf a character above reproach, a will to do, with health and — " " Stop ! stop !" interrupted the father, his own lips quivering, while the tears which he could restrain no longer now burst forth. " Ralph I my dear boy !" he went on, rising to his feet, and extending both his hands — "Ralph !"— aa the youth started up and caught the hands thus oub3tretched~"you have given me more joy than I can tell. The dearest hope of my life is in this f uliilled — Ralph, dear boy -I would rather know that my precious child was to have you for her husband and protector than to see her mated with a prince of the royal family. Yes, yes; she is yours, and lam content. Now I can look my voyage in the face without a fear or doubt." Thus speaking Dr. Dale let fall the youth's hand, and resumed his seat, " Ralph,'' ho pursued, after a little pause, and before the transported lover could find worde for the expression of his feelings, " almost the last subject spoken of between William and myself before he left for India was in relation to this very thing. We had long thought that you and Morna must inevitably come to love one another, and we had agreed that if the love shou be manifest, and if you ehould fulfil in your mani hood the promise of your youth, you should be united ; provided, of course, that you both should wish it. And in his letter to me— the one just received— my brother bids me to be sure the matter is settled before I leave home. So you will see we have reason to be grateful and happy all around. " There i" — when Ralph had tried twice to express his feelings, and had twice broken down, — "I know a'l you would cay. I know your heart, dear boy, as well as you know it yourself ; and I think 1 may truly say the event gives aa much joy to me as it can give to you. To my blessed child I have given the love and devotion of my soul's life ; her future is all in all to me ; and when I know that future is to be in your bands I am content. I can ask no more. Now, if you will, you may go and bring the dear girl hither. There are a few matters of business that I ' would talk over with the pair'of yon." " Oh© word, sir, before I go— if you trill listen." "Certainly. What ia it?" " Morna is to be my wife. How long mnrtl wirit?" v " Why— surely, Ralph, yoii could not think of tiding married before my return from India. Remember, the dear girl is but seventeen. I had thought she should be at least 'nineteen before she beoame a wife. However, wait until I am home again, and we will then see. Does my, answer disappoint you ?" '/ "No," the youth replied, affcet a brief pause. "As you leave it), lam satisfied. Indeed "—with a brighter look—* 1 1 should

be most ungrateful were I not satisfied with any terms you should see fit to propose. Do you think it possible that you. can be at home in a year from this time V "la less time, Ralph. I plan to be abI Bent not more that ten months at tho outside.Of course, there may be accidents. The chances are that nine months will cover my absence from home." 41 1 wish,sir, you would call it a year. It pains me to speak of possible events — of contingencies that may intervene— yet,, where so much is at stake, do we not owe it to one another to leave no possible loophole — no weak or unguarded point? You are going very far away ; you will encounter many dangers. Ships are lost ; men die of disease ; disappointments and unforeseen obstacles lie in every path, especially if it be a long and unusual one." "Ralph 1" cried the old doctor, impulsively, at the same time reaching out and . grasping the young man's hand, " I understand you perfectly ; and you are right We will call it a year. If lam at home in one year from this day, I shall not forget. Should anything happen to detain me — no matter what it may be - if lam not with you at that time — one year hence — Morna may then become your aife. I will speak with Mr Crandal on the subject,, so that he may understand our arrangement." " Crandal !" repeated Ralph, in a tone of unmistakable dislike. " What will he have to do with the matter ?" 44 Why, my dear boy, I must leave some one in charge of my large property, and ia, care of my child ; and where can I find abetter man ? You do not like him ?" 44 No, sir," replied the youth honestly, 11 1 do not." 44 W ell," said Dale, with a thoughtful | look into the frank and handsome face before him, " I do nob know that I can wonder. He is not such a man as I, would select for a companion ; nor da . I intend that he Bhali be a companion to Morna ; but, surely, you will admit that he is an honest man. Think how long he had charge— Role and entire — of my brother's large estate. William had the. most implicit confidence in him ; and I believe the confidence was not misplaced. I have already spoken with him on the subject, and ho will cheerfully do all he can for me. He will continue to reside there at the Abbey, while Morna may reside t.hero orhere ( as she shall elect," " What authority do you intend to give him, sir?— if I may ask the question." '•' Over my child, no authority at all. Pshaw ! Don't let dislike of tho poor man blind you. And another thing, Ralph ; piay do not help Mornu to dislike him more than she does already. Re is the man to ■ have charge of my property, to collect my rents, and pay my bills, and, for that matter, to pay Morna's bill? also, I shall leave the dear girl her own mi-tress, be sure of that. And now, suppose ycu go and find her. " We can imagine the meeting between the lovers, and the joy that fullowel Ralph's aunouncement of the father's decision. It was no more than Morna had oxpected ;, yet, when she teßted her head upon the, bosom of her dear lover, feeling that herrest and refuge were to be there for evermore, her heart swelled with a degree of rapture which her tongue could not express. 14 In one short year, darling, you will be my wife. Oh ! can you realise all that it mean" ?" 41 1 can realise, dear Ralph, that it fills* me with gladnes. Oh ! if* papa wero not going from us. I should say nobody was . evor so happy. But I will not repine. Do* not fear, And yet, in epxte of all she could say o r , thit-k, the prospect of her father'- departure for India cast a cloud over her joy. She could not explain it ; she could not tell whyit should bs so ; she only know that so it was. Fad she rpokon the truth aa she felt it in the depth ot her heart, she would have confessed that the feeling had been with, her — a feeling bern of an impression which she could not bani9h — that when her dear papa had left her she should never see him again. But she was careful to give the thought to no one else. She did not whisper it even to Ralph. In hid library Dr. Dale was once more becoming anxious and impatient. What in . the world kept them so long away ? They came at length, hand in hand, and knelt at his feet while he blessed them. The first matter of business taken up, after the lovers had become seated fide by side, facing the good doctor, was that relating to tho care of the Grange during the owner's absence 44 Papa," said Morna, when he hid introduced the subject, "1 Jo not doubt that Uncle Oandal will be the very best mau you could find to care for your eetito ; bub you will not let him have any authority over me. You will promise ni3 that ? ' The doctor glanced quickly afc Ralph j but the latter shook his head smilingly, saying as he did bo : ' 4 No, no, Doctor. I have not gpokon a word." 41 What!" cried tho girl, with n lighf, rippling laugh. " Did you think Ralph had. been trying to prejudice me ? 0, no ! I know that he doe 3 not like Jonas Crandal ; yet he never told me so. No, papa ; it ia my own heart that speaks. I have no particular fear of the man ; but I do not like him, and I should be really unhappy if I thought he was to be my guardian." " Pooh I Pooh ! I never thought of such a thing, my dear child. No, no ; he will be simply my agent, to have charge of my estate while I am away. Over you he can, have no sort of authority further than his duties as caretaker would naturally give him." 41 How will it be about money, papa ? Shall I have to go to him for it ?" •< Why," said the doctor, somewhat perplexed, 4( I think it would be beet to let yeur uncle keep the hank account." 44 Rather a distant uncle," nodded the.^ girl, demurely. •• It took two marriages to make him such. Really, papa," speaking with more emphasis, * * the man is no relation of ours, and I could never feel to regard him in that light. To be sure, Uncle VTilliam's wife was his half sister; but you must rerneni, bar that I have ecarcely a recollection of her. But never mind that. If it would pleaee you to have Mr Crandal handle all the money, I will make no objection ; only you will be sure and tell him how much he is to pay over to me." 44 I shall simply tell him to honour every demand you may make upon him. Bless your dear little heart ! he is one of - the kindest men I over knew. I wouldn't, for the world, do a thing, or speak a word 9 from which he could possibly gain the thought that I feared to trust him to the utmost." Morna started to reply, but held her tongue ; and before she could make a. second attempt Ralph laid a hand lightly on her shoulder, and whispered into her ear : ' 4 lt is only for a "year, darling. You shall look to me then." Her face lighted up in an instant, and her eyes gleamed happily. " X shall not be wealthy, Morna ; but I , shall haVe— " 44 More than you think for," interrupted , the old doctor. •' It is time, my dear ' boy, that you should know how you stand^with the world, You have been kept in ignorance thus far beoause Sir William thought you wtu'd do better— that you would feel a.

1 sharper Bpur to exert yourself— if you were given to believe tbat you were poor ; or, at least, that you had no money to waste. Ralph, your father, when he died, left in William'd care for you ten thousand pounds, well and safely iu vested." '♦So I have been told," said the young man with a wondering look. " And 1 sup posed tho money had been spent in giving v me an education. Aye, and more, too. I must have cost my guardian over and above that." "Ralph, you should know Sir William better than that. When he took to his tome, and to his heart, the child of the man— the dear and cherished friend— who had twice saved his life, he did not plan to rob the boy of his patrimony. No, no ; he found joy and comfort in treating you as a son. The sum your lather left has never been broken in upon. Several times your guardian took the liberty of seeking new investment, when he thought that by so doing he could benefit you ; and let me tell you, from my own knowledge,— tha growth of your little fortune gave him more of pure, heartfelt Batis'faction than he could have found in the coming to himself of a million. Whatever he may nave thought of giving you from his own fortune could have no relation to this This was your father's gift— something that he held eacred— a trust that he held separate from all other things. •' My dear boy, your patrimony is not large ; but ifc is something. Your father, on his deathbed, told William that he had invested for you ten thousand pounds. When William made his first visit to the bankers who held the securities, he found them to be worth nearer twelve thousand than ten, Two years later he found a new investment. Later still he found another. On his arrival in India, not cuite cix yeare ago, he found there an excellent offer for your little fortune, and he had it transferred to him at once ; and there it had been ever since. In his last letter he writes me that he has called the money in and deposited it in the Bank of Bengal, subject to your order. You will send your order by me. Wait !— l will get the letter, 'and let you hear hie own words." The doctor arose, and went to his great cabinet, trom one of the compartments of which he took the letter in question. Once •more seated, he opened it, and read : "• I nave neea mcnt fortunate in the various investments of my dear boy's patrimony. Out here I pus it i'to the Wangapoor Land Compans'a etock, hLvirg then little more than twenty thousand pounds to iuvpst. I purchased four hundred shires, paying fifty pounds per share. Two weeks ago I sold them for two hundred per Bhare. Pretty good, I call it, considering that the investment was alnolutely cafe. The secret was, I took the shares in the company's U,f -in cy, k lowing well the character of the men in cba g\ I trugbt, heavily for myself, and I sold my own shares when I sold Ralph's. 80, you will understand, the \lear boy "has eight thousand pounds, in gtod Engli-h gold, awaiting <:is order in the bank. I wish I could see him to congratulate him, but you can do it for me.' " That is all, Ralph What do you think Of it?" The dear boy knew not what to think. He veaa confounded. At first he could not realise it He thought his dear old guardian muet have taken that method of making him the recipient of his bounty ; but the doctor very soon convinced him that it was all as it appeared on the Burface. " Your modest patrimony, by the watchiul and judicioue care of your guardian, has legitimately grown to that goodly sum, Of conree, you are grateful, but you will believe that Sir William has found more real joy in seeing it^ grow than you will ever experience in using it. Ha !" Ralph had caught the good doctor's hand and the tears weie starting from his eyes when this sudden exclamation caused him to look up and turn his head, following tho direction of the other's eyes, and the sight of Jonas Crandal coming slowly and thoughtfully up the gravelled walk drove all other thoughts from his mind. (To be Continued )