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

language of one who looks upon such matters with a view to the future ot the lives of those most prominently interested in the . matter . Your mother ' s income is under the control of Augustus Baker . " Harriet involuntarily started , and with her face still pale as before , she . gazed upon the old lawyer , with a frightened look . " Doubtless you are surprised , but the fact is so . The riches which

Mr . Baker has lately obtained by the death of his father , include a mortgage of your mother ' s property , the interest upon which has for years accumulated . I will not say that Mr . Baker woidd . use this power , wMcb undoubtedly he possesses upon your mother ' s property , but possessing it , how much the more is the offer through me that he has made to you . Was I not rightHarrietwhen I said I worked but for your happiness ?"

, , He paused , for the young girl beside him was again weeping , and her distress appeared to overwhelm her . At length , the passion of her grief being spent , Mr . Grainger once more urged his smt with an earnestness indeed which seemed most strange beside the grief which it produced in her to whom he appealed . But his suit prevailed at last , and the deep intensity of Harriet ' s grief was succeeded by a calm , and a strange

firmness appeared in the bearing of the young girl , which surprised Mr . Grainger , and almost shook him in Ms purpose . It was remarkable , that in all this interview there appeared to be a studied desire to avoid the mention of the name of Henry Elliotson . That there should be silence in that respect , with Harriet , was not indeed a matter for much wonder , but with Mr . Grainger so closely connected as

Henry Elliotson was with him , it was indeed strange that he should avoid as much as possible any reference to his name . How fain would Harriet have alluded to it , how gladly would she have pleaded Ms cause with the old man , and sought Ms help to strengthen the young affection which her heart had so recently conceived . But it was the very youth of that affection which operated as a check upon her . It was , indeed , new to her

heart , and therefore she could scarcely bebeve that it really had an existence , at all events sufficient to give her strength necessary to discourse upon it . True , Mr . Grainger had mentioned Henry ' s name , to forbid his visits , but that was not enough to justify Harriet , at least she thought so , in . avowing her passion to the old man ; albeit , her bearing when Henry ' s name was mentioned , was more eloquent about that passion than all the words her tongue could utter .

The intensity of her grief was passed , and Mr . Grainger spoke to her more at length , and she listened to him calmly too , of the relative position of Henry and the young heir . She repbed to the old man , and still calmly too , but it was rather the calmness of desparation than that which arises from the placid soul and the contented heart . " Harriet" cried Mr . Grainger" I am old nowbut as I greet you

, , , the elected wife of the heir of Bendersleigh , I feel a joy and gratification which might warm a younger heart on such a subject . I can see , " continued the old man , with more of feeling in his tone than he had yet displayed , "I can see the opening of a long line of happiness for you , in this marriage , of happiness for you all , and in that happiness I feel my own . "