Run to Earth

ine Jernam, and the March winds were blowing amongst

essly to and fro, stopping before one of the windows every now and then, to look, with

ot easily forgotten by those who looked upon it. Sir Oswald Eversleigh, Baronet, was a descendant of one of the oldest families in Yorkshire. He was the owner

reached his fiftieth year it was co

of the baronet's wealth. The chief of these was Reginald Eversleigh, his favourite nephe

ed Dale. But Lionel and Douglas Dale were not the sort of young men who care to wait for dead men's shoes. They were sincerely attached to their uncle; but they carefully abstained from any de

his early boyhood this young man had occupied th

lowers that flourish best with tender rearing;

en the boy showed himself reckless and extravagant in his expenditure of money, the baronet fancied that extravagance the proof of a generous disposition, overlooking the fact that it was only on his own pleasures that Reginald wasted his kinsman

The day came when the baronet awoke to the knowledge that

ost brilliant auspices. But from the day of his leaving his military tutor, until the present hour, Sir Oswald had been perpetually subject to the

suffering man; but he had exhibited extraordinary endurance in all his dealin

desiring him to call upon hi

een himself and Reginald Eversleigh. In this matter he had acted with no undue haste; for it had been u

ew could resist. It was difficult to believe that Reginald Eversleigh could be mean or base. People liked him, and trusted him, in spite of themselves; and it was only when their confidence had been imposed upon, and their trust betrayed, that t

te delinquencies had become known to Sir Oswald; but he trusted in the influence which he had always been ab

e, and advanced towards his unc

w back, refusing t

and honest men," he said, haughtily

had Sir Oswald spoken to him in that tone of cool contempt. The colour faded f

ncle!" he

elationship exists between us, Mr. Eversleigh," answered Sir Oswald, with unalter

seated himse

end, whose word I cannot doubt, whose honour is beyond all question, has considered it a duty to acquaint me with certain facts that have reached his knowledge, and has opened my eyes to your real character. I have given much time to reflection before determining on the course I shall pursue with one who has been so dear to me. You know me well enough to be aware that when once I do arrive at a decision, that decision is irrevocable. I wish to act with justice, even towards a scoundrel. I h

ld - what have I done that you

surprise; but even in this desperate moment, when he felt that al

e!" cried the baro

combination of circumstances, have reached my hands; and in each of which there is th

lett

n in your possession; but to so fine a gentleman such letters were of little import

velopes from the table, an

eigh's face grew livid. He looked at the lower, and then returned both

the letters," he

e; "then it will be necessa

re reading it he looked at his nephew with a grave and mourn

able and generous-hearted. After hearing the story of this letter, I knew you to be base and heartless. You say you know nothing of the let

essed him, for he knew that one of the darkest se

engaged. You met Jane Stukely in London, fell in love with her as it seemed, and preferred your suit. You were accepted by her - approved by her father. No alliance could have been more advantageous.

pity's sake," murmur

y Park. There you saw Mary Goodwin. Accident threw you across this girl's pathway very often in the course of your visit; but the time came when you ceased to meet by accident. There were secret meetings in the park. The poor, weak, deluded

Stukely's protégée in the face of a suicide, whose body was exhibited in the Morgue at Paris. The girl had been found drowned. The Englishman paid the charges of a decent funeral, and took back to the Stukelys th

ur victim. When your funds were exhausted, when the girl's tears and penitence grew troublesome - in the hour when she was most helpless and miserable, and had most need of your pity and protection, you abandoned her, leaving her alone

t liberally. I meant,"- the young man interrupte

and was left at the hotel where you deserted her, and whence it was forwarded to you. I

aces that used to smile upon me, but which now would turn from me with loathing and aversion? You know that I cannot go back. You leave me in this great city, so strange and unknown to me, and you do not care to ask yourself any questions as to my probable fate. Shall I tell you what I am going to do, Reginald? You, who were once so fond and passionate a lover - you, whom I have seen kneeling at my feet, humbly born and penniless though I was - it is only right that you should know the fate of your abandoned mistress. When I have finished this letter it will be dark - the shadows are closing in alrea

profit. You initiated the banker's clerk into the mysteries of card-playing and billiards. You won money of him - more than he had to lose; and after being the kindest and most indulgent of friends, you became all at once a stern and pitiless creditor. You threatened the bank-clerk with disgrace if he did not pay his losses. He wrote you pleading letters; but you laughed to scorn his prayers for mercy, and at last, maddened by shame, he helped himself to the money entrusted to him by hi

uncle's face; the consciousness of guilt render

whom we both loved, and who made her choice between us - choosing the younger and poorer brother, and retaining to her dying day the affection and esteem of the elder. I loved your mother, Reginald Eversleigh, and when she died, within one short year of her husband's death, I

is, sir?" murmured

is heart - an inward convictio

two hundred a year. You have a soldier's career before you, and you are young enough to redeem the past - at any rate, in the eyes of the world, if not before the sight o

ear uncle - you cannot surely c

net rang

igh," he said to the servan

could not believe that all his hopes were utterly ruined; that he was, i

rom Sir Oswald's face. A mask of ston

inald, in accents that were t

ate himself before the man who had been wont to respect him as Sir Oswald Eversl

ansion, Reginald Eversleigh abandoned

; as if I had not been haunted perpetually by that girl's pale, reproachful face, ever since the fatal hour in which I abandoned her. But th

tched at full length upon a bench, abandoned himself to gl

ad - while the cold, gray light of the sunless day faded into the shadows of evening. It was past seven o'cloc

hange into the line - turn foot-soldier, and face the scornful looks of all my old acquaintances. No, no, Sir Oswald Eversleigh; you have brought me up as a gentleman, and a gen