The Heir Of Bendersleigh; Or, The Freemason's Promise.

" I tell you , " said Mr . Grainger , rising from his chair and speaking with much greater warmth than he had hitherto exhibited , "'I tell you , if this marriage be proceeded with , your conduct will be selfish , pitiful , tyrannical , and mean ; you will be the scorn of your own sex and the contempt of the other . I tell you that ; but that I know I have done my duty and that

. good may come of all this , I should have hated myself promoting your views , " continued Mr . Grainger , with much agitation and trembling as he spoke . Mr . Raker stood transfixed , at what he looked upon as the temerity of the old man , in thus addressing his best client . At length , being encouraged by a laugh from his friend Joe , he said :

" Go on , Grainger ; go on my old cock . I dare say this will do you good in the end . It'll improve your prospects , old as you are , no doubt ; " and here he winked at Joe , for approval , at which that gentleman nodded his head in an oracular manner , as much as to say , "you hit the old boy there—follow it up . " " Your insinuated threat Raker harmlesslb lied

, Mr . , passes y y me , " rep Mr . Grainger , t ! but direful as I look upon this impending calamity , direful as I believe , if it occurs , it will prove to both the parties most interested , 1 yet believe that the Heir of Benderslei gh will not so conduct himself as to make his name a bye-word of scorn to all who know him . " '' Oh , indeed ; you know that I can't very well do without you , to morrow ;

yon know you hare gone so far in this matter that I must have your assistance further , " cried Mr . Raker , fiercely , ov else I'd have cut this matter short enough before this . But I perhaps may teach you a lesson , Master Grainger , that old as you are , and cunning as you axe , and straight laced as you seem to be , you won ' t forget in a hurry ; " said he , pacing the room .

" I know yon cannot do without me at this marriage ; you have forced me _ along with you in your headlong progress with respect to it , but I believe that the lesson you speak of will not be for me to learn . I believe , that in the ceremony of this marriage to morrow , you will taste the first drop of _ a bitter draught of which you little dream . I believe , that iu attempting to compass the unhappiuess of one who never wronged you , will consummate

you your own . I would have saved you from it , but you have rushed upon your own destruction . " "By—I am surprised that you are not afraid of what you say . But I suppose you think you have fleeced perhaps enough , do you ? " cried Raker , in an insulting tone . _ " The-miserable suspicion that you express is worthy of you , it is of a piece with all your proceedings since I have known youj" replied Mr . Grainger , quietly .

" What do you think , Joe ? " turning to his friend and speaking in a tone of choking passion ; " this old lawyer—this chap that has had the picking that you know out of us for the last twenty years , sticks up against me iu this way ; thwarts me wherever I go , all fo / a paltry , miserable , snobbish clerk that he ' s got in this hole of his that he calls his office . Isn't it enough to make a fellow lose his temper ? " inquired lie of his friend .