PROBATION:

A TALE OF THE LANCASHIRE COTTON FAMINE; Br MISS JESSIE FOTHERGILL, Author of "Henley," "Aldyth," "The First Violin," etc.

CHAPTER XVII. DISCORD. The scene once again is the drawing-room of Mr Blisset's house ; its occupants, Myles and Adrienne; he iuat arrived; she smil ing to receive him, lie smiling in answer, as one might smile on suddenly finding a flower peeping up through the snow. , " I rather hoped you would como to-night, to do some Gorman," said she, "but I did not think you would come so early." "We are working half-time. We began to-day." said Mylcs. "Half-time already? I thought there was such an enormous supply of cotton somewhere in the country." ' So there is, somewhere; but it will have to bo bought with a'price beforo it can be got at. Lots of other places have begun half-time to-day. And it's not only that cotton is dear; there must have conic a re action after last year's over-production. It was tremendous. There is a bad time coming for the workers ; but those who can afford to wait, will make some big fortunes." " Some others will lose them, I think." " Naturally. The one goes with the other."

" But how will you all manage when the hard times come ?"

"Wo shall pnll through," said poor, short sighted Mylos, little dreaming of the depths of misery, and what ho, and such as lie— proud, honest, sclf-dopendentmon—consider deepest degradation, which lay in the not far-distant futuro. '' We shall pull through. If it is only half-wage we get, we shall have to do with half doings; pinch a bit, and clem a bit, and put on a good face." "But," said sue gravely, " my uncle and Canon Ponsonby were saying the other night -that the time must most Jikaly como >v]».ou there would be no work and no wages.1' " If tho war lasts a longtime, or the ports are very well blockaded, it may come to that," said Mylcs calmly. " But we and a good many others beside us, have money laid by. We must live oa that till better times come."

In six mouths from that time thousands o£ working homos were stripped of every stick of furniture that could possibly be done without. Many a savings bank had collap sed. Many a stout hearted toiler had to tend his proud, unwilling feet towards the relief committee, or the guardians, and with burning face, and bursting heart, and down dropped head, tell his tale, and ask for "cha rity. Not yet had the " Lancashire Lad " sent to the Times that pathetic account of the shamefaced girls who stopped him to ask him, " Con yo help us a bit? that appeal which brought the tears to thousands of eyes of readers in every end of the earth. None of this had happened yet. The great " panic" had not come swooping down upon the land; hut it was not long before the cry of the distressed must go up. Mylcs Hoywooil, after this his first half day's enforced idleness, perhaps not ill pleased to be freed for a few hours on a fine afternoon, from his toil, said ho had no fears for the future. He felt himself strong ; felt that a little pinching and "clemming" would do him no material harm, and smiled at the storm-cloud coming across the Atlan tic.

They went on talking upon indifferent topics; butwhilcsho questioned or answered, his jealous eyes detected some change in her. She was not cold to him ; there was the same genial grace and cordiality, and yet there was a change. In a pause which pre sently ensued, a footstep passed on the flags outside. She raised her head.quickly, and looked up, with parted lips and a startled expression. " Do you cxpoctsomo one?" asked Myles; and so much were the words a part of the thought, that he scarcely knew he had spoken them until she answered : " I oh no ! Why should I ?.. But shall we not read some more of ' Iphigeuia ?' Here is the book."

She did not look at him. There was a sudden constrained expression upon her face as she opened the book, and he as suddenly felt his heart sink witli a reason loss, aimless lover's pang. He said nothing, however, but obediently "began to read. But neither his heart nor hers was in the work as usual. She had told him that ho was an apt scholar; his intelligence was ready, and his ear quick, and attuned to the Lancashire gutturals, and its broad "a's" and"us" found little difficulty with tho corresponding German sounds. Myles, for his part, had treasured up that hour that cvhp devoted to him once or twieo a week as if it had been some precious coin or gem. Then she was all attention to him; then she was thinking of nothing else but him and his lesson, and the idea was heavenly. But this very evening, for the first time, ho was obliged to let himself understand that her attention wandered, that she sometinies scarcely heard what ho said, and his anxiety and forobodingincreased every moment. He was no favoured lover; ho had striven assi duously to conceal every sign of his devo tion, for fear it should annoy her, or repel her. He had no right to ask her why her attdntion what made her absent and distraite, and that very fact made him the more sensitive to the change in her manner.

He read on, and translated, mechanically, dreamily, till he came to the words—

Und knnff ga Thaton drangen wie die • Sterne Kings am uns her, uniahlbar aas der Nacht.

" 'And future deedß,' " he slowly tran slated, while the sense of discord and oppres sion grew every moment stronger; " ' and future deeds pressed about us, out of the night,; countless as tho stars.' .... ... ... " She had not .heard a word. Ho looked at her, with eyes that dared not be reproach ful, and said,nothing. There was pain, there was embarrassment, in her expression. Then she suddenly said:. • " I want to.speak to yon. Let us put away this book I want to.tell you some? thing that I ought to have told you before." At once his face changed ; the cloud fled ; he turned to her with a smile.

" Something you ought to have told me — '■ —" he began.. . . The door was opened. Just outside they heard the voice of Brandon, Mr Blisset's old servant saying: ," I will see whether Mr Bl'isset is at liberty,; sir,, if you will step in here." " Then'he threw the door wide open, and announced1:: •

■ "Mr Mallory." 'Sebastian .came into the room, and Adrienne rose, feeling like one in a dream, looking like a person who has received over whelming news of some kind. She saw Sebastian; she felt that Myles was there— felt it in:eyery fibre of her being, and while Sebastian spoke to her, she was only in tensely conscious that Alyles was gazing at them both; and she wondered with an in. tensity that amounted to pain, what he was thinking of her. , ■ She'gazed at Sebastian, as he came up to her, looking as if he saw no one but her, .with extended, hand, and she Jieard him as Jie.said—,;":' si ' '' ' " I

"Miss Blisset, I little thought, before Saturday, that I should have the happiness of meeting you again—in Thanshopo!" With that their hands closed, and her voice said, with a vibration— "It is certainly long since wo met. lam glad to see you again." Myles had risen, with a swift, almost un conscious impulse, and was now in the window, leaning against it, and looking into the night which was now falling fast. He closed his eyes. He felt his own emotion to ho almost grotesque iv its intensity, but it was so—he could not help it. The devil jealousy had seized his very heart strings on the instant, and clutched them relentlessly. There was onething, and one only, t&Vat he could do—having no right to call her ito ac-; count, he could suffer in silence, aufl. speak gently to her—after all, lie reminded aim self, she had been exquisitely kind to him, and he had no sort of cluim upon swell kind ness. While Myles fought this silent, desperate battle with the feelings which urged him to rush out of the room and leave those two together, Sebastian was saying, " I came to see Mr BUsset on some busi ness, and his scryaat asked me to como in here. I fear I disturb you." "Not at all. May I introduce—but Mr Heywood tells me he knows you already." She turned to Myles, who also turned. His very emotion made him rise to the occa sion. Pride mid self-esteem, respect and regard for Adricnne, modesty as to his own merits, all urged him to put on an out wardly calm demeanour; and Sebastian, whatever astonishment he might feel, was of course far too civilised to betray it. " We have met already to-day, earlier," remarked Mr Moilory, courteously bowing towards the young man, who, on his part, bowed his head gravely and proudly, and wished his employer good evening. If Adricnne had not flushed up, and looked with such startled conscious eyes, and such a hall-excited smile, around: her, he could have done even, more—lie might have been ablo to force a smile too, but under the cir cumstances it was physically impossible. Adrienne, turning aside, as if to push for ward a chair, looked at him, but in his then state of mind ho could not understand the jlancc ; all lie could do was to answer it with luothcr, of bitter, clouded, miserable feel ing ; sorrow, pain and a sort of premoni tory dospair Sebastian did not see Adrienne's look, but he did see this one of Mylcs's, and it made him feel suddenly grave and doubtful. In an iustant he understood how things were with Mylcs; aa to Adrienno's feelings he was utterly in the dark. He remembered one morning, when she, relieved through his efforts oi groat anxiety, had clasped his hand, and looking up at him with brimming eyes, had said: "There is nothing I would not do for you." They had been almost the last words she had said to him. The day afterwards he had lost her. Ho knew nothing of what she.thought of him now, but ho realised immediately that the stiff necked young workman, whose pride and reserve resisted all his efforts to break through them, was over head . and ears iv love with the woman of whom he had been thinking, when he spoke to Helens Spence ley of " the nicest girl lever knew." It might be preposterous; it might lie that young, handsome, and more than ordinarily high spirited and ambitious young workmen had no business to fall in love with young ladies in a superior position in life; but all that did not prevent the fact that such an occurrence had taken place before and would take pjace again. Sebastian knew it, and reasoning from the interest he himself took in Myles, did not underrate the importance of the discovery he had made. " Have you seen the evening edition of the Manchester paper?" he asked Myles, as ho seatedhimselr.

"To-night?. No." " The war news seemsjrather important. I hope our neutrality won't be put in peril. It would be an everlasting disgrace to us if it were to be interrupted for a moment." " Yes, it would," assented Myles, dimly conscious that it was a superior sophistica tion which was able to converse thus easily upon foreign affairs—under the circum stance.

" I suppose you take a great interest in the war, too?' said Sebastian, turning to Adrienne.

"Yes," she replied. "Mr Hey wood and I have the audacity to dispute even with my uncle sometimes? , •

" Mr Blisset is your uncle ?" '' Yes. Oh ! I forgot you could not know ; I live 'with him here. Have you known him before I"

" Never. But I find he is my tenant. I came to see liim on a matter of business, and "

" Will you step into the other room, sir?" interrupted Brandon coming in. Sebastian rose. "Shall I see you again ?" he asked, stoop ing a little towards Adrienne, who looked up to him, with the same distinct, though well-repressed agitation or excitement of some kind in her face.

" It will depend upon how long you stay; I do not know ?" said she; and her voice was not calm and deliberate as usual.

Myles sat still,"his face composed, watch ing those two; realising her grace and beauty, and his charm of manner, and all those advantages iv the background. No girl—he felt it keenly—need be ashamed of the fact that she had fallen a cap tive to the wooing of Sebastian Mallory. His heart grew heavier and colder.

" Then I will say good evening, in case I do not see you again, said Sebastian. They shook hands, and Mallory followed the waiting Brandon. Then they were left alone. Adrienne's face had changed; the excitement had gone from it; it was pale; the glow had faded; her voice sounded tired when she spoke. "When Mr Mallory came," she. said, forcing a smilo, "I was justgoing to explain to you that I knew him—or rather, had known him a few years ago. It was curious that he should call at that very moment.". . " Yes," said Myles, inavoice as colourless as her own.

" Once he was very kind," she pursued, '' when my father was in trouble. He saved me a great deal of anxiety and distress." " Yes," again assented Myles. "I am sure he is very considerate, and means to do right." . ■..■■ ~-■■' ~•■.■■■• " You think so ! Then your opinion has changed?" .. •,,.': "Yes, very much. He is not at all the kind of man I supposed him to be " "I am glad you have discovered that, t am sure you and he will get on, now that the misunderstanding is cleared up." ■ Myles rose, smiling rather a faint miser able smile. He felt it impossible not to givo one littlo thrust in the midst of the agony ho was himself enduring. "You know I am hot-tempered, and I am afraid prejudiced," said he quietly ; "but if you had mentioned to me that you knew Mr Mallory, and that be was not the kind of man I supposed, I should—perhaps I,might have behaved more rationally." Adrienne stood speechless. She made neither apology nor excuse. When ho said good night, she put out her hand silently, and did not meet his eyes. His own,man ncr was quiet to coldness. Thus they parted. Myles, as he walked home, could not forget the verse from '? Iphigenia," which he had laboriously translated— , ,','<•'■'■■■ Undkuhft' go Thatou draneon wiodioStorre, Rings urn nna her [uDzablbaraus der'Nacht.

In that moment he doubted bitterly whether anything but woes lay for him in the future.

Meanwhile Adrienne was left alone to reflect upon the situation, to think of Sebas tian's smile, and of Mylcs Hcywood's pale face and glowing eyes; and, after due reflec tion, cither to congratulate or commiserate herself, as she thought most appropriate.

CHAPTER XVIII,

" MAY MY MOTHER CALL UPON YOU ?' Mr Mallory contrived to make his vis;

;so delightful to Mr Blisset, 'that that gen tip man pressed him, with an eagerness un wonted to him, to remain a little longer; and Sebastian, hoping each moment to see Adrienne appear, continued in his place. At last she came into the room; but she had brought her work with her, and, after a few sentences of courtesy, amiable but meaningless, she took a chair a little apart, and sat m almost entire silence, while the two men discussed, first politics, and then, when each had taken the length of the other's foot on that topic, science and philosophy. Sebastian, whether intentionally or not, showed himself in his best mood, and put ting aside both cynicism and indifference, discussed the subjects earnestly—and incidentally displayed how much thought and attention ho had really given to them.

Mr Blisset, greatly delighted at finding so attentive a listener, was also in a happier and more hopeful mood than usuaL Adrienne's eyes were fixed upon that mon otonous embroidery. It is to bo presumed that she did not see the repeated glances, half of inquiry, half of surprise, with which Sebastians eyes continually sought her face. He knew that she could talk on such subjects. Mr Blisset's reiterated appeal to her— "Eh, Adrienne?" " Don't you think so, my dear ?" —showed Sebastian that she was not accustomed to sit in silence at the feet of so great a philosopher as her uncle, and yet she was silent now, merely answering when spoken to, as briefly as pos sible. At length came a pause, and Sebastian hastened to make use of it. " How do you like England, Miss Blisset ?" " I can hardly say, seeing that I only know Thanshope." "Thanshope, then, as compared with the Continent in general ?"

"I like it," said Adrienne, "becausel have found a home in it, and because I am useful to some one—am I not, uncle ?"

" Necessary, my dear, necessary." " There you see ! necessary !" said Ad rienne."

" But you used to rejoice so intensely in the sunshine, and the poetry, and the beauty of those foreign lands." "Yes, I did." " Wetzlar, for instance. Do you remem ber how delighted you were ? How you sat dreaming by Goethe's Bruunen, and how you seated yourself in Lotte Buff's parlour, and looked round, and could scarcely speak ? :1 "Ah, yes 1" said Adrienne, her eyes lighting up at the remembrance, and a smile stealing over her face ; "but that was very enchanted ground, you know." "And you struck a few chords on that piano ; 'old, tuneless instrument,'on which Goethe had played to Lotte, and then drew back, quite ashamed of your own audacity— you must remember?" " Did I ever say I did not remember?" said Adrieune, a tremor in her voice, as she looked up and found Sebastian leaning forward, his chin in his hand, and his eyes fixed upon her face. Something in the expression of those eyes seemed to cause Adrienne some emotion. Her colour rose. Mr Blisset had opened a. newspaper which his servant had brought in, and was apparently buried behind it. Sebastian, his eyes still fixed upon the young lady's troubled face, said

loftly: '■ Don't you think Wetzlar was the most sunshiny place you were ever in 1" " At least the sun began to shine for me there ?" she said quickly, and looking towards him with a sudden, deeper glance than before. He smiled.

"I think, for mo too." Then, seeing that she looked still more downcast, he added, "But we shall meet again, I hope, and then we can discuss those old days.

I was eoing to ask, have you many friends here ?"

"Scarcely any. My uncle does not visit. We know Canon Ponsonby, and Mrs Ponsonby called upon me and was very kind. Then I have a few friends of my own peculiar kind, you know." "I know. Old apple-women at street corners, working people; unhappy youths who want a few lessons in this and that— eh?"

"Yes," said Adrienne, smiling. " Then Myles Heywood is not counted amongst your friends?" said Sebastian composedly, glancing aside at Mrßlisset, to assure himself that that gentleman was ab sorbed in his newspaper. "Yes, he is," said Adrienne, raising her head. "Heis a friend both of my uncle's and mine."

" Is it allowable to ask how you made his acquaintance ?" Adrienne suddenly crimsoned, while Sebastian unkindly continued steadfastly to watch her. He had been piecing different facts and inferences together in his mind, and was rather anxiously awaiting her answer.

"It is not allowable?" he said. " I beg your pardon." " Yes, it is, quite," retorted she, some what recoverinc; herself. " I met Myles Heywood a few weeks ago, not more. I used to have some work that I did at the public reading-room, and he used, to read there too. He rendered me a very kind service on one occasion, and has been a friend and a visitor here ever since." :

Sebastian bowed politely. "He interested me," said he, with a rather ambiguous smile. '' I wished to know more of him ; but he declines every advance I make to him." ■ ■ • •

Adrienne was silent. Sebastian, with a laudable thirst for information, went on, iv the same calm, matter of fact voice—

. "I begin to think that in this case ap pearances deceived me " (Adrienne looked rapidly up and down again). " There is something wonderfully attractive about his face and manner. He appears so very superior to his class, and yet—l begin to fancy there must be some fatal defect of temper—some moral want." "You are mistaken," said she, in a voice which, though low, was so clear and deci ded as to startle Sebastian. The information he wished for appeared to be readily forth coming—whether it were of a pleasant nature or not, he could hardly yet say. , " You think so ? You think it is not mere churlishness ?"he said, purposely using a strong word. " He has not a grain of the churl in him."

"Indeed! Then he must have •well developed imitative faculties," said Sebas tian, with a politely sceptical accent which he had often found useful, as a conversation al weapon. It was successful on this occa sion. Adrienne answered quickly: '■ Yon must not think him churlish. It Avould be a grievous mistake to make. He has a most generous disposition. You should see him at home with his sister and his cripple brother—and his deaf friend

Harry Ashworth. You would not mis judge him then. Those people know \m heart, as it is—and they all adore him. Churlish—no !"

"Well, does he behave in such an ex traordinary way to Mr Blisset ? does he look at him as if he would say, ' Thus far, and no further. Keep your distance, if you please'?"

"To my uncle—oh, no !He is very fond of him, and very respectful to him," said Adrienne demurely, a curious little smile quivering about the corners of her mouth.

" Then why docs he select myself as the object of his hatred—for I am sure he does hate me ?"

" He—because " " Because— l" "I cannot explain. Only he does not hate you." " I am convinced you could tell all about it if you would, so as you will'not, I must find it out in my own way. I am deter mined I will learn the reason of his aversion to me—and ■will overcome it." , "Oh, don't! Pray let him alone. He is best let alone." Sebastian smiled. " You seem to be well acquainted with what is best for him—though you have only known him a few weeks. If you have succeeded in making a friend of him, why should not I?" " I would not go too far. Remember, he, as well as you, has a right to choose his own friends, and if he does not choose you for one of them, you have no right to •"

" Importune him ? No. You are quite right," lie said, rising. "But—there is society of a different stamp from Mylcs Hey wood, even in. Thanshope. Would you have any objection to my mother calling upon you ?" " Mrs Mallory—objection ? Not the least. I should be delighted. But don't you think, if she had wished for my acquaintance, she would have called before ?" " She was ignorant that you lived here. She thought Mr Blisset's household was quite without ladies. I expect she will call upon you within the next few days."

•■ I shall be happy to see her," said Adrienne politely, but not enthusiastically; and he* could read nothing from her eyes, as they answered his inquiring gaze. She roused her uncle from his abstraction, and Sebastian dropped her hand with a smile. After all, he told himself, it was absurd to think seriously of Myles Heywood as a rival—quite absurd. ' A high cultivation like Adrienne's—and how different she was from that little dark-eyed Helena; with her vehemence, and her disorganised ideas as to woman's rights and man's selfish nessy-could surely never feel any. real affinity with that untamed, untutored specimen of humanity, Myle3 Heywood.' There might be plenty of farce about him, but force without culture is apt to get un comfortable. Amidst earnest requests from Mr Blisset that he would speedily renew Ma visit, and equally earnest assurances on his part that he would do so, Sebastian departed. In the Oakenrod drawing-room, Mrs Mallory by the fire, with a novel and the feathery screen; Hugo gloating over a copy of the original edition of Bewick's "Birds." the like of which treasure, he considered he had never seen before; for the res silence. " You have been out all the evening ?" in quired Mrs Mallory languidly, asshe looked up. " Yes, I have been at Mr Blisset's." Hugo looked up. "Mother, do you ever call at Mr Blisset's house V ; "No. Soon after ne came I called; but his man-servant told me that he was a great in valid, and saw no one." "He is certainly a great invalid. But there is a Miss Blisset." : ■ "Is he a widower 1" asked Mrs Mallory, struck by something in her son's tone, dimly conscious of some impending un pleasantness in store for herself. ; ,\ " She is his niece. She came to live with him some two years or eighteen month sago. I was delighted to renew my. acquaintance with her." ■ ■ : ::. :, -,••-.

"Then you had met her before?" - "Yes; atCoblentz, andatWetzlar, on'the Lahn." • . ::.': :• •'••

Sebastian was at the present moment leaning on the top of his mother's chair, which was a deep, roomyeasy chair of a by gone day. As he- spoke, he tookthe feathery screen out of her hand, and fanned her with it a little. She wished, he would not do so. It might not make it really more difficult to resist him, but it made her look very un gracious ; it must look ungracious in 'a mother to deny favours to a son who tasked them in so seductive a manner.^ i ;ut .■■■■:■■ ; MrsMallory thought there were certain points upon which she would never give in; but even while she thought it, Sebastian's hand waved the screen to and fro, and his voice gently continued to speak—even then, she had an indefinable sensation of being managed—that power was slipping fiom her hands into his. But she could say nothing •until he had in some way committed him self; and he had a most provoking habit of not committing himself. ■•.: . li-.i.n "She is as clever and accomplished in her way as her uncle is 'inhis," Sebastian went on; " and she is, in addition, a most charming young lady;' She has no friends here—and she is so different from .the xhan shope people—much more in your style than that vehement little Miss Spenceley," he . added, while Hugo looked on from afar and laughed inhis sleeve. "I am sure you.would like her if you knew her, and I "want yoji to be so kind as to call upon her." ;;■■ '>'■'■'■ "Call upon her! Call upon a; person I know notlungabout ! Really, Sebastian,'l wonder at you!" ■ ' . ■ ■• vi..■>■•■:.;

"My dear mother, she is not in the least what you would describe as a 'person.' Even jour critical taste will pronounce her a thorough lady when you see her."--.; - "How is it nobody else has called upon her?" ' •

" Some one else has. Mrs Pohsoriby has called upon her. But. I want you to call upon her. You really would oblige me ex ceedingly, mother, if you would."

'' And therefore I must, I suppose. , That appears to be the role by which the young judge,the old in the present day," said Mrs Maflory a little acidly. '■'.' ~/...' ..

Sebastian had come round to^ the other side, and was leaning against the mantel piece, and as Mrs Mallory concluded:her remark she looked at her son, and her son looked at her. If he had only been; talking about Helena Spenceley! But it was merely some Miss Blisset. She thought she would refuse. But at that moment the idea struck her that she might even, serve her own aims by consenting conditionally. ,

Scarcely two days before,- < Sebastian had treated, first with levity and contempt and then with downright repugnance, the prospect of dining at the Spenceley's house, or cultivating their further acquaintance. Mrs Mallory had at moment in her pocket a note, in Helena's handwriting,'requesting the pleasure of the company of Mrs and Mr Malfory, and that of Mr yon Birkenau to dinner ten days hence.

"lf I go out of my way to make new ac? quaintances, about whom I care nothing in the world, it is only fair that you "should

put yourself a little out of the wav t^ Sebastian." J> m > "Perfectly fair. As how?" ■ "We are invited to dine at the Spencc. leys' on the -th. If you don't go the™ aud liehave civiUy to my friends, I S don t see how I can encourage yours. aW whom I know .nothing, to come here, or to go to see them myself." v w • l "I i - qui,.e 8^ SS tha- importance of M situation," siud Sebastian, witfi that pla«ffl politeness which exasperated Mrs Mallo™ beyond all bounds, Because she-did nor know into what language to translate it. " If you will call upon Miss Blisset within the .next day two-f mean apropercj Z. know, with an intimation that you wouM like her to return it, and robn-I wffl «?£ any amount of Spericcley spreads, be tLv' never so gorgeous, and will. Wen to S bjpcnceley's diatribes with the utmost T thinko?" WIU be the »n*S to. This was notveryencouragingbehaviour • buti was the best to be extracted from her very trying " son, and Mrs MaUory had to accept it, merely, remarking- ynaat? "If your friend Mia. Blisset has anything like the good a uahties of Helena, I fib! surprised. ">j-ouuuoe «at c^ et knOWB notlling about." 7 "Mrs Mallory made a note of the ; Adrienneßhsset,"and began to feel;an intense dishke to that young lady. But the bargain had been struck On, the third day after the treaty had been;; so to speak, signed, Mrs Mallory called out her horses and called out her men, and drove in state to see and overwhelm Miss Blis set. ; ; ;..■'. ■ : /, She saw her ; but the overwhelming re mained still a dream for the future.'; Ad rienne's utter want of embarrassment in the presence of Mrs Mallory of the Oakenrod, might be in Lad taste, but it could not very well be commented upon. She parried all her 'isitor's hidden thrusts upon the subject,of Sebastian with a cooladroitness which calM forth that lady's reluctant admiration, ami behaved altogether with an ease and an address_ which was the more reprehensible in that it seemed so perfectly natural., "But it could not have been natural," reflected Mrs Mallory, as she drove away,. "The attention, after Sebastian's calling there and finding her, was so marked, jl think she is the most consummate little actress I ever met, anywhere." : , , (To s<j continued.) •■ n-

Origin of the Tichborne Fraud.

[New York Herald.}

Mr. William Stapleford, of 156 Oxford street, Manchester, who at the time of the Tichborne estate claim was said to have been wanted by the English authorities, is at present paying a visit to this country, and. was seen at 143 East Twenty-Fourth-street^ New York, on Sunday. Mr. Stapleford was for-many years a prominent solicitor and attorney in Sydney, New South Wales, and first made the acquaintance of Sir Roger Tichbdrne in ,1854,,' when th&ybnng man was making a tour through South America. Tickborne and he soon became friends, and after less than a week's acquaintance the former had told Stapleford all about Ms home at Tichborne and his family, and even confessing that an unfortunate attachment for his cousin Laura had been the cause of his leaving for South America. Besides the information he had learned • from young Tichborne, not then a baronet, he had re ceived a photograph of him as a partinggift, and they had arranged to correspond with one another before parting. In the summer of 1854, Roger, who had been travelling through the country, returned to Bio de- Janeiro; and Stapleford received from him a letter-in June to the effect that he was going to JVew York by the Bella. Soon after that he heard that the Bella had been lost at sea, and of'course concluded his friend was drowned^ in her. In 1856 hie partner at Sydney, William Gibbes, went to Europe, and Stapleford gave Mm the portrait of Sir Roger, asking him to see Lady Tichborne in Paris and break to her the news of her son's death, telling him at the same time what he knew about the young; heir. In 1859, before Gibbes returned to Sydney, Stapleford came to New York on business for one of his clients, and while there received a letter from Gibbes,. stating his intention of settling in London. This decided him to give up the business at Sydney, and accordingly he sold it in 1858; and went to Europe. , When he arrived at London he could not find Gibbes, and conse quently he started in business for himself at No. 125 Queen-street, London, E.C., where he remained till .1,870. In that year he first heard of the discovery of Sir Roger Tich» borne, and was very much pleased at the news.- /Hatting a suspicion of the matter,, however, he went to see the claimant, whom he saw in 1871 in London., When he saw him at first he did not think he was the real Sir Roger, but afterwards changed his opinion, and in 1872 he was among the witnesses who identified him. In 1872 he again saw him while out on bail afr Manchester, where Stapleford had gone meanwhile to live, and, at a pigeon-shooting at the Bellevue Gardens, he accused him of fraudj and threatened to expose him.- The claimant then informed him that he was not Sir Roger Tichborne, but Arthur Orton, of Wagga Wagga, and that: he had been in duced topersonate Tichborne by Stapleford's own partner, Gibbes, of Sydney, who had first conceived the fraud.' T&kingadvantage of the information given him by Stapleford, Gibbes had, instead of returning the papers to Lady Tichborne, written to her that her spn was alive and well at Wagga - Wagga, intending to get money from her to.send, him home. After a great deal of corres pondence, Lady.. Tichborne . had sent in- structions for her son-to go :to Sydney, to be indentified by an attorney named Cubbitt. there, .whom employed as her agent.. As Gibbes was known to Cubbitt, he got Orton into the scheme,- promising him a share of the spoils,' and Orton went to Sydney and bought Cubbitt over, who, sending a favorable reply to Lady Tichborne, received, a large sum of money from her, of which they all received a share.. At this point Orton and Cubbitt formed ■ the mad project that prton should really go to England to person ate the young.baronet, and, although he.ac knowledgel. Gibbes was opposed to it as fool-hardy, he did go there, and was iden tified by Lady Tichborne, and in 1870 he sent Gibbes and Cufrbltt.some .more money, on receiving which they left Sydney. Orton promised Stapleford to give up the estate as soon as the trial was'.over,.but, for fear of being imprisoned for..perjury,, he. did not care to withdraw then.- • -To save Gibbes and avoid being mixed up in thematter, Staple* ford kept back his. evidence, and when the fraud was discovered and Orton sentenced, he did not think it necessary to inculpate his partner, and' has".never, therefore, mentioned the matter to any one since. Gibbes, is, however, he believes, dead, and he feels no longer any hesitation in giving to the publifi a true nistory of the origin of the famous Tichborne clainu

STAR SATURDAY SUPPLEMENT, OCTOBER 8, 1881

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