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»v-»r^i 9 onv", I SlUKTiJ…

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»v-»r^i 9 onv", I SlUKTiJ The Maid in Possession. By TOM GALLON. (ALL RIGSHTS RESERVED.) When Miss Janet Trench first received the astounding intelligence that the house in which she had been born, and in which, save for brief intervals, she had lived for two atd twenty happy years, was no longer her own. from a legal point of view. she did two curious and characteristic things. The first- was to tear up the letter from the lawyer containing that obviously absurd announce- ment: the second was to close her pretty mouth very tightly, and to set her fine white j teeth, and to vow in her heart of hearts that she would. never give up the place to any- one. i It all came about owing to a most unfor- tunate and perverse will. Her father, dying while still a comparatively young man, had had a vision of the lonely girl alone in the old house—unprotected—a prey to fortune- hunters and scoundrels of every degree. Casting about in his mind for the most likely person who should, in his interests and her own, protect her, he thought of a certain blameless and well-meaning, } and utterly dull—and determined to link their names together. So it came about that the property waa left to llr. James Boddington, on the sole pleasing condition that he married his cousin, Miss Janet Trench. Thereafter they were to settle down, and enjoy the property and each other's society for the remainder of their lives. Miss Janet Trench, however, had other ideas There was no place in all the world j like the Abbey House; she knew every stone and timber of it; she wowd give it up to no one. More than that, she had heard some- thing concerning this cousin although she had never seen him; she rapidly decided that he was not the mate for her. Accord- ingly she wrote off a ilery letter to the lawyer, stating her determination to set the will at defiance, and to hold the house against all comers. That worthy lawyer and kindly man—Mr. Daniel Chimtery—sighed over the perverse- mess of the sex in general, and of Miss Trench in particular, and journeyed down into Bedfordshire to see her in person. He put the matter clearly and carefully before her, showing her the danger she ran io defying the law. and pointing out to her how very much more pleasant it would be fOt everyone if she obeyed bar father's last injunction, and married the man assigned w her. "I can assure you, my dear young lady, Aid Mr. Ohinnery, that the young man is very worthy "Worthy!" she retorted "I won't marry anyone worthy. I hate the word. He's a lout; and even if he was the best man in the world, I wouldn't marry him when I'm told to." Then you'll lose the house." said the lawyer, putting his papers together. Never!" she exclaimed. I'll bar every door and window. I simply won't give the place up. You can tell Cousin Boddington that if he attempts to force his way in here it will be the worse for him. I won't give up the dear old place, and I most cer- tainly marry him." Well, I've done all I can," said Mr. Chinnery, with a sigh. He has determined to- come down here within the next few days, -in order to see you himself; I advise you at least to talk the matter over with him." He won't be admitted." said Janet Please tell him so." With the departure^ of the lawyer. Miss Janet Trench set about to prepare her house for a siege. Locks and bolts received special attention; in one or two ea-see bar? were even put to the windows. When she went out for her daily ride a trusted servant carefully barred the door after her, and only admitted her when she was seen to be returning. Every precaution was taken; every visitor was watered before being allowed to enter. And still the odious Cottsin Boddington did not appear. But it hapF-ened that, while Miss Janet Trench guarded the home of the Trenches, and watched jealously for the advent of Mr. James Boddington, a certain young man also had his eyes attracted towards the place, for quite other reasons than those of possession or of matrimony. Mr. James Stanijury was taking a pleasure jaunt through certain parts of England, And was particularly interested in ancient architecture. Old churches and private chapels attached to country houses attraotoo him particularly; at some future date he derminoo that he would compile a book on the subject. Being a man of wealth and leisure, there was plenty cf time for the preparation of the book; just now he was m?re)? collecting details. And the fame of a ceruxin old chapel attached to the Abbey House had reached him, and he had deter- mined to see it, and if possible the houee Itself. Mr. James Stanbury arrived, in a very prosaic fashion, on a bicycle; went, in a very prwaic fashion, to the ledge gates. They wepo locked, and when he rang the beU, arad asked permission of the lodge keeper to enter, he was curtly refused. tnrxted away, baffled and annoyed. Bat if his des.Ve to see the place had been great- before, hov much greater was it now. after this refusals By hook or by crook he would get into the place. He mounted his bicycle and rode slowly sound the out er wall which encircled the grounds. He came to one place, hidden in a side road, where the wal! was lower than at ?ther~; raising hiin.=-elf to the top of it. he ?ould see the coveted chapel among the trees He hid his bicycle securely in a clump ot aushes near at hand, mounted the wall again *nd'dropped o>ver on the other side. The chapel was half in ruins, and was easy of access. He took photographs of it, and made many notes. In fact. he explored it from end to end. Just as he was about to depart he saw, hidden away in a corner at 1 the top of a short flight of steps, an ancient. Iron-studded door. Thinking that it might lead to some other t?art of the chapel he had not yet seen, he triad the rustjy handle. The door opened after some little difficulty, and James Stanbury found himself in a long dark corridor, lighted cfjmly by one or two windows pierced high up in the masonry The spirit of ad ventre was strong upon him. He went on. until he came to another door at the end of the corridor. Opening this, he found himself in a long, broad pic- tare gallery, with windows on one side giving M to the grounds, and with doors leading to various apartments on the other. Quite leisurely, he examined the pictures, and decided in his own mind that the Trenches had been, and probably wero still, rather a good-looking race. Having ex- hausted the pictures, he grew bolder; open- ing a door, he passed into a room fitted up M a. library. Then. quite forgetful of the fact that he was a stranger, trespassing in a strange house, he proceeded to examine tho books on the shelves. He was interrupted by an amazed exclama- tion from someone in the room. Turning with an open volume in his hands, he saw a young girl, her slim figure clad in a riding habit, and with a riding whjp grasped in her eloved hands, Fcr a moment there was an embarrassed slence. a.nd then Mr. James Stan.bury spoke. "I beg your pardon," he said. "I am aware that I had no right to force my way in 11 ere-" "I am glad you admit that, much," 8h$ flashed out in reply. "But, you see. I' take rather a deep interest In the house "I know that." she retorted. "You needn't tell me. I have been expecting this visit for tome time." He bowed" and said nothing. "How did you get in?" "I limbed the wall "The sort of thing one might have expected you to do," she snapped out at him. "There never was anything straightforward or manly about you, James" "I am sorry you should have such an opinion of me-Mi-Mi8s- "You need not pretend you don't know my namr;, sir." she cried. "As I have said, I have been expecting yotl. for some days. I have carefully had every door and window, as I thought, barred against you." "I did not know that you were so anxious to keep the place to yourself." he said, bitterly. "I intend to keep it to myself," she replied fiercely, taking a step towards him. and crvttipg the air with a little swift flash ot the whip. Having climbed the wall, how did you get "I came through the chapel. I was deeply interested in it I stayed there for some time. Then I discovered a door leading to the house. I did not intend that anyone should se*» me at all." "I'm quite aware of that," she retorted. "However, now that you are here, I suppose we had better discuss the situation—James Mr. James Stanbury bowed in a helpless fashion, and looked quickly round the room. He bowed, but said nothing "You understand, of course, that this place belongs to me?" she began, seating herselt and tapping her riding boot with the handle pI her whip. "I suppose you won't deny, ♦hat. I have no intention of denying anything," f be replied. I am naturally of an easy- going temperament. I'll a-dmit anything, you oare to suggest." Looking at him shrewdly from under the brim of her hat,, she decided in ber own mind that this mysterious, cousin was by no means a bad-looking fellow. I forsesee that we may get 011 better •Mmn I imagined," she said, nodding at him slowly. You doc't necessarily want me to go?" To go? I shouldn't dream of suggesting ttaoh a thing," be replied. I wae quite sore you wouldn't, when we efune to talk it ever," she scud, with a ■rm.li Now, the question ie—Jim—you j won t mind my calling you Ji-m. wau you? On the contrary, I think it's meet kind of you," he repiied. Please go on." Well, you see, Jim, the matter stands like this," she went on, balancing the whip between her raised hands, and looking over it at him. My poor old dad only meant the very best for both of us. when he decided that you should have the place." There is not the slightest doubt that it is a dreain," decided Mr. James Stanbury. He thought you'd look after me—and be good to me and all that kind oi thing. But, you see, to begin with, you're not in love with me, are you?" Looking at the dainty little figure in the chair, smiling at him so quizzically, Mr. James Stanhury decided that he was not at all sure about that matter. Well, as to that, I would rather not say anything definite,' he said. Oh, but you're not; you mustn't be," she retorted. It would simply be taking a mean advantage. I don't believe you; you don't want me—you want the house. Can't I have the one without the other?" he asked, whimsically. You know you can't," she said. When I sew you first juc-t now, I thought that you might prove to be kind and reasonable; tha.t you might not wish to turn me out of my dear old home; tha.t you might leave me in peace here—as a generous gentleman would." And if I refuse to do that?" he asked. Then there is but one alternative," she said, rising. I quite see that I can't defy the law—and I certainly won't give up this place. You're a brute "-she cut the air again for a moment with the whip—"but I shall have to marry you. When he recovered from that extra- ordinary proposal he found that she had sub- aided into the depths of the great chair, and was crying softly to herseif. The apparently friendless little figure appealed to him, how- ever; he went towards her, and laid a hand gently on her shoulder, and spoke. you know I don't want to causae you any trouble," he said. If I'm so very obnoxious, why do you suggest tha.t you would like to marry me?" I never suggested that I would like to marry you at all," she whd,m.pei-Ed. "I merely said t-hat it was necessary. Besides"— she sat up and dried her tears i m not aware that I said you were obnoxious- I daxosay I might—might manage to get on with you—Jim. W>U, ol course, if you feel there's no other way," he began. But she interrupted him quickly. Of course, there's no other way. If you hadn t come here—forced your way into tne place- it might have been d:ft'ere:u. But you haven't behaved like a gentleman, and, there- fore, I'm compel.ed to carry out my father'# wishes, and to ma.rry you. You'll have to take the consequences." I'm quite prepared to do so," he replied, hoping as he spoke t-hat at some future time he might unuerataaid the whcie extraordi- nary business. It was at that moment that a servant entered with a note. The servant looked in some amazement at the young man, and then at her mistress. "A messenger has just brought this from the railway station. iiUi«." she said. It was brought down by train." The girl, with a slight inclination of the head towards James Stanbury. ripped open the envelope, pulled out the sheet of pa.per. and glanced rapidly through it. Then she gave vent to an amazed exclamation, and turned sta.-t,ed eya upon him. Wha.t in the world does this mean?" tiliil demanded. Here is a note from my lawyer, saying that you are not coming after all- and here you are;" I really don't see what your lawyer ca.n have to do with me," replied Stanbury. I may know him-I may have met him; but I don't think so. Will you read the note?" This is what he says; I am glad to say that I have given your couin James Bod- dington, so bad an account of you that he feels he will be safer in declining to have anything to do with you at all. More than that, he has an aversion to a country life, a.nd could not consent to live a.t the Abbey House. He will not, therefore, trouble you in any way, nor take advantage of the terms OIl the will. Sincerely yours, Daniel Chin- nery.' Now, what have you to say to that?" she demanded. "I have only to say that my name is not James Boddington, and that I know nothing of Mr. Daniel Chinnery," he said. "Oh:" She fell back into the great chair, and stared up at him. Perhaps you will tell me who you are?" James Stanbury—although you are per- mitted to call me Jim-very much at your service. I took the liberty of climbing your wall, and examining the chapel. I took the further liberty of coming into your house. I am sorry I aim not your cousin—" Don't you understand 'what I have done, sir?" she asked, springing to her feet. Don't you know that, believing you to be my odious cousin, I have asked you to marry me?" I am not the odious cousin, but I am per- fectly willing to accede to your request," he said. Oh, please don't think," he went on, hurriedly, that I am likely to take ad- vantage of what has been a blunder. I'm not that sort of man at all. I am only a lonely individual, like—like yourself. Fortune of birth might perhaps have made me a cousin. I wish it had. I believe there is such a thing as love at first sight. I believe I've experienced it within the last ten minutes. You have been pleased to say that I was something better than you had ex- pected- You won't go back on that, I hop.Q?" "The circumstances are entirely different. When I asked you to marry me-" You admitted that I. was nicer than the cousin you would have married to keep the house. I have not that cousin's power," he pleaded, but I don't think you would care to break your word-would you?" "My word?" She looked up at him with wide-opened eyes, but a smile was dancing in them. You said I was to marry you," he .re- minded her. I don't like to-to break my word," she answered, demurely. And held out her hand to him.

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