Literature.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 186, 11 August 1904, Page 4

Literature.

THE SCHEMING OF BASIL Sggj. THORNTON, Old Richard Mayne, the crusty old bachelor who owned half Woodcote, lived frugally there in the country. A distant connection of his, Muriel James, a pretty girl of twenty, kept bouse for him. She found it bard ,«tt times to put up jwitthnia temper and overbearing wanneis. Old Mayne Jind long decided that bis vualth should go to one of his tw<* nijphews, Basil Thornton ami Jack hammers. About -his inoaey he had talked to thein <juite plainly. He would leave it, he told them, to the one who worked 'best, who showed that he would reach success, and be tit to have control of his wealth. Basil Ttownton was a shifty, (underhand man, in some business in the city. Verjr few people liked him. .fackatimijiers Had passed his examinations for the Bar, a'id was now diltaptly sitting ins chambers, still studying, moving heaven and earth in his attempt to get briefs. Jack was a handsome, popular fellow, and he was icertain he would get on all right if he once got a, start. He did not like his cousin Thointon, btfif Tlfornton simply hated him, because he was an obstacle.

Thornton, at the lime when this story begins, seemed to, be making - a TfobdHdeal of money. In an offhand way he would mention the a;mount of his income to friends, on amount at which tllicy would be surprised and congratulate him wonder- :' v'ljig'y. . .While • poor Summers was living as clo'sely as he could possibly manage, going straight homo to. his lodgings every' evening from his dingy chambers, ''Thornton's circumstances appeared to be such that he could afford to spend money royally. Some of his friends whispered attiong. tSiemselves that he could not "go"oir tofag in this way, MwieLdid not like Basil Thornton. He' was cad enough to speak con- . temptuously of women even in a wonianls presence, and, while he was not exactly rude to her during his : -visits to Woodcote, she thought his manner hateful. By the. way, Muriel thought that Jack Summers was one of the nicest . .. fellows she had ever known. But Basil Thornton flattered himself that toe got on well with every woman whom he met. One day, after a very extravagant week, the • .'contemplation of the expenses of which had given him a. rueful face, ho had a brilliant idea. His debts were accumulating fast. JfoW, Richard 'Mayno„ his uncle.had always given it to be understood that his money would go either to. Jack Summers or himself. But old men like Richard Mayne, "JMKj ware.:in a position to please Jwmha&Ves I without eonciuering anybody, often change their minds. Wbat about that girl who kept ' ■■•■ iidiifc- tor 'him—only a distant relation, It was true, but still old Mayne might, change his mind in her favour. Basil Thornton crossed the room, *ad looked.at himself in the glass lor »Ic«g tiroe, Whea Basil thought * - «T himself, whiicjl was fairjy often, he always ,/tmagnjvod that he had a strikIt may have been striking. It was rertainly not a handsome face. '*>■ ?.■''. HUfijfli Jjomes '.vgas. natter a decent "" little girl, too, reflected Basil. Of course, she was by<d)o means up to his style, but then.Wank of the risk be removed by her. It would be a perfectlywilliant stroke. She would jump at him, said Basil to himself. Why, perhaps old Mayne> wotted ait them up at once. His lulls were becoming a nuisance. Having settled all this in his mind, 'BaSil 'Thornton spent more money'than ever on the strength of these rose-coloured thoughts. Then one summer's morning he went down to Wo.odcote. Richard Mayne, his uncle, had gone out in the dogcart to the village on some business in connection with his property, which Iwas widely scattered. Hs found- Muriel alone. . "Good morning. Miss James," ha said. She returned his greeting cold- " Will my uncle be long, do you think ?" "I don't expect so/ I'll tell him you are here directly he comes in." Her hand was on the door, but Basil safd, "Don't go, Miss James. I'm not 'such an ogre as all that, am I J Besides, I want a talk with you." Wondering, she came back into the room. She was prettier tjhan he had thought, said Basil to himself. The' next "moment he had started the Ibusiness of his errand with more earnestness than 'he had intended. In j other words he had tried to kiss - her. • But he started back, a stinging ] Wow across his face. I "HoV dare you touch me, Mr Thorttton ?" the cried. "I «ant you to marry me," said Basil feebly, recovering his sclf-satis- " {action a little. Muriel's laugjh sent the angry |sood to his face again, and he flew into a violent temper. "I would never think of marrying a man like you,'- 1 "I know what it is." Basil almost screamed the words. "That ; 'conceited cousin of mine has been down here." "I won't here a word against Mr ' Summers," said Muriel, with quiet digrifcp;. /'You will," said Basil Thornton. 6b*iiotng to turn has head slightly, he had caught sight of old: Richard. Mayne, standing grim and sardonic la the doorway, watching the devalopmfot of the high worlds which bad drawn mm up the stairs. fine chance to run his hated- cousin down, to injure him ' Trttfc : .*i» ; uncle. Richard Mayne did not know that Basil had noticed ftinv V II you knew the way he has been - ''foto§ os» ia London," said Basil. "He does no work from the beginning of the' week to the end." "It's not true,"- said Muriel, de- '■ • 'lending him bravely. "It is true, though. He never will get l auy: briefs. He just lazes away day after day. I tell you he's just ' ' hanging "on the chance of—we'l, you know, what chance," "1 don't beueve it," said Muriel. "Jack—Mr Summers—works very har*.'-i morning, Basil," said old 'grim voice from the doorway. '•'Muriel started, but Basil turned easily. "Good morning, sir,'' said he, as if he had. just seen his uncle for the first time. Basil Thornton went away that evening from Woodcote on good terms with himself. By means of a lot of figures he had made his uncle '■ *«hink "ttfat,- his business was prospering greatly, and that he, Basil, had been working so hard and attentively at it- that success in his business wasJcertain. And he had persuaded old Mayae that Jack Summers was an idle fellow, good for noticing. In fact, Richard Mayne had almost definitely decided to leave his money to Basil Thornton. (To i»e eontmusdj