For Hal's Sake

Front matter

SPECIAL NOTICE.— The New and Revised Edition contains Prefatory Remarks by the Right Hon. W. E. GLADSTONE M.P., who has read and approved the volume. THE STANDARD WORK ON AUTHORSHIP. Crown 8vo, Cloth Gilt, Price 5s. ; Postage, 4*;d. (Fifth Edition. New and Revised.) THE AUTHOR'S MANUAL, Being a Complete, Practical Guide to all Branches of Journalism, Literary Work generally, and Book-producing, with special advice in reference to Imaginative Literature. By PERCY RUSSELL. Brief Extracts from some of the Reviews : — The Spectator says : — " The aspirant to Literature may certainly read Mr Russell's book with profit." The Graphic says : — 4l Mr Russell has got up his subject with much care, and supplies a great deal of useful information. His advice and suggestions are sound and to the point."

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I 29" Notes and Quer$6&&£yB :-^*^he literary aspirant will find in this volume many usefiit^jSj^aria much valuable information What in regard to authorship can be taught, is pleasantly conveyed by Mr Russell, and some of his chapters are instructive." Miss M. E. Braddon writes : — " Your counsel, both to the journalist and the imaginative writer, is full of wisdom." LONDON: DIGBY, LONG & CO., PUBLISHERS, 18 BC-UVERIE STREET, FLEET STREET, E.C. A Complete Catalogue of Novels, Travels, Biographies, Poems, etc., free by post on application. BY AMY MANIFOLD icon i> on DIGBY, LONG & CO., PUBLISHERS 18 BOUVERIE STREET, FLEET STREET, E.C. 1892. FOR HAKS SAKE

Chapter 1

The county of Suffolk boasts of many a quaint old country house on the outskirts of its picturesque chief town, many a noble mansion surrounded by lovely park land, in which the timid deer graze peacefully, lifting their great velvety eyes in calm curiosity when now and again some privileged person drives slowly, softly, over the dewy grass and out at one of the many gates. One of the prettiest of these old houses is the Chace, situated some miles from Ipswich, A in the ancient village of Somersham. Here the Trehernes have lived for many a genera tion ; the present owner, Colonel Treherne, retired from the army, being very proud of the fact that the family of Treherne is one of the oldest in Suffolk. He, the Colonel, loved his fine old home dearly, and always rejoiced when, after the annual change during the hot summer months, they were back again at the Chace and had settled clown for the autumn and winter months.

One fine sunny morning in early September, Noel Treherne, the Colonel's only son and heir, rushed in at the great open French window of the breakfast-room and took his seat, panting and breathless, at the table. All the rest of the family were assembled when he made his hasty entrance. At the head of the table sat his father, a tall, stately man, with a kindly face and very thoughtful brown eyes. The Colonel was fond of reading, and spent most of his time in the great library, poring over the ancient books which it contained. Facing him at the table sat Mrs Treherne, a small, pretty-faced, delicate-looking lady. She was loved and petted and waited upon by hus band and children. Their greatest delight was to sit by mother's sofa, in the great cheerful drawing-room, and pour all news, interesting or otherwise, into the willing ears of the sweet, sympathetic invalid.

Next in the family came Noel, a tall, sunburnt lad of fifteen, with funny, twinkling blue eyes, a decidedly snub nose, and a wide good-tempered mouth. He went in every morning to the great Ipswich school, dropping the twins on his way at Miss Sher brooke's very exclusive school for young ladies. They, the twins, Greta and Madge, aged fourteen, were just a couple of merry hearted, giggling, chattering school girls, in heriting their mother's beauty of face and their father's sturdy disposition. Last of all came Nesta, aged six, the queen of the nursery, in which she reigned alone — a chubby, red-cheeked, dark-eyed, golden haired mortal, worshipped and spoilt by father, mother, brother, and sisters. The family had only the evening before come back from a six weeks' stay at Felix stowe, and a very sunburnt, happy family they looked, for they had bathed and boated and fished the whole long holiday, coming home with many a relic of that glorious seaside visit.

" I've had a race all round the park, father," said Noel, attacking his breakfast eagerly. " Everything looks jolly. And — oh ! girls, turning hastily to his sisters, "we can't go into the cottage grounds any more. Think of the plums, my dears, and all to be eaten by an old American." " What's an Amellican ? " demanded Nesta, waving her spoon at him. " Ah ! the cottage let," said the Colonel dreamily. " I never knew." " Well, Brigson says you did," said Noel in surprised tones. " I ran down to his place, aud he says he wrote and told you last week." " What's an Amellican ? " demanded Nesta again, indignant at not being noticed. " Is it a animal ? " Noel and the twins laughed. "No, girlie," said her brother in mocking tones, "it ain't one of your beloved moo cows — it's a man." "Oh!" ejaculated Nesta gravely, and, her fears removed, went on with her bread and milk.

" Ah ! now I think it over," said the Colonel musingly, "I remember he did write. Some rich American offered a good rent, and Brigson advised me to let the house to him. Yes, yes, to be sure, and I told him to do whatever he liked." There was a general laugh round the table. "You dear old dreamer," cried his wife, cleverly catching Nesta's spoon as she languidly dropped after a hearty meal. " I wonder what this new tenant is like ? " mused the Colonel, staring out of window across the park at some red brick chimneys that just showed between the trees. " I know," cried Noel eagerly. " I climbed the boundary wall and looked down, and there he was, taking the air. A regular Yankee, you know — as American as his name, Cyrus Hodgson. Brigson says he made a lot of money in some mines." "What's he like, Noel?" asked Greta earnestly.

"Oh, yes, what does he look like? And will he let us into the copse, do you think ? " put in Madge excitedly. " No, he won't," said Noel positively. " He didn't tell me so, but I know it for all that." "How?" cried Greta curiously. " His daughter told me — or his girl, as I should think he called her. I was peep ing after him, as he walked down the garden, when all at once I heard a voice just at my elbow. I jumped, I can tell you, for there, sitting on the wall beside me, was a girl just about as old as you." " Oh, what was she like ? " cried the twins For Hass Sake. together, while Nesta wanted to know if the girl had red cheeks like her doll, Betty. " No, Baby, she had no colour ; but she was the brownest girl I ever saw. And oh ! mother, if you could have seen how she was dressed ! A bright red frock, aud one of those hats like the cowboys wore in London."

Mrs Treherne laughed as she moved away to her own special couch. "Did she speak to you, Noel? " questioned Madge eagerly. " Rather ! ' Are you peeking after my dad, you boy ? ' That's what she said when I looked at her. ' Say, he ain't handsome, eh ? ' " "Oh, oh! did she say that, Noel?" "Yes, really. I asked her how she could talk that way of her father, and she just For Hafs Sake 9 laughed and said, ' I reckon you would if your father never had a kind word for you — only looked as if he wished you out of the way. ' " " Oh, poor child ! " murmured Noel's mother. " Poor, poor ickle girl ! " said Nesta mourn fully, her great, dark eyes very solemn. "'Haven't you a mother?' I said," went on Noel, flattered to see what interest his tale had excited. " ' No,' she said, and she dropped her voice as she spoke. ' Ma's dead long since.

Perhaps I shouldn't have been so wicked if she had lived. I've only Harry to care for, and, oh my ! I do love him ! ' ' Who's he ? ' 1 asked. ' My brother— the best boy in the world — far better than you, I daresay,' she said quite fiercely ; and then, when I didn't answer, she calmed down again. ' Have you any sisters ? ' she asked, and when I said ' Yes,' she looked quite wistful. 'I've never played with a girl,' she told me. 'Well, you can play with mine,' I said ; but she shook her head and told me dad would be angry — he hated all of us. I said that was nonsense, he didn't know us. Then she snapped out at me that it was not nonsense. Dad knew all about my father, and was coming up soon to see you. ' I reckon it's some thing nasty he wants to say,' she cried out, jumping down, "cause he looked so black when he was talking of it.

Tell your father he's coming this morning and then he'll be ready for him.' " " And then ? " put in Greta breathlessly. Why, then she ran away, and I came in." " Dear me, how peculiar ! Why should he hate me ? " exclaimed the Colonel, leaving the table and pacing up and down the room. " / don't know this Hodgson." "Yes, it is strange," said Mrs Treheme thoughtfully. " I wonder if he has any motive in coming here ? " "Well, motive or not, I shan't be sorrj when his visit is over," rejoined the Colonel. ' ' Ha ! James," as a tall footman came in, carrying a card, "what is it?" "A — a gentleman, sir, in the library," announced James dubiously. " I told him the master was at breakfast, but he said he'd wait." "Very well," answered Colonel Treherne, taking the card and reading the name on it. "Oh! father," cried Noel eagerly, when James had disappeared, "is it — is it Cyrus Hodgson ?

" " Yes," said his father quietly. " Will you come with me, Marjorie ? " turning to his sweet-faced little wife. "Yes, John," she said, rising at once and going away with him. " Ain't this exciting, girls ? " cried Noel when they had gone, catching Nesta up and enthroning her on his shoulder, where she sat in delighted dignity, holding on to his curly hair with one fat hand. " Isn't it like a tale?" " Yes, yes ! " agreed the twins in one breath. "But, Noel, how horrid! No more picnics in the copse." " Pshaw ! " retorted Noel, " that girl would enjoy a picnic, I know." " Would she ? " said Greta dubiously. " Won't she think the copse small and poky after the bounding prairies ? " "America isn't all bounding prairies, silly ! " laughed Noel. "Isn't it? All the same, if her father hates ours he won't like us in his place."

" No-o. It's a pity, too, for I should think that girl could be very amusing. She looks, my dears, exactly like one of Buffalo Bill's exhibition girls." " What ! A — a cowgirl ? " exclaimed Madge excitedly. "Yes, just that." " Oh, oh ! " shrieked Nesta, tugging hard at his hair in her eagerness. "I'll ask her when I see her." " No, no, Baby ! " said Noel gravely. "She might not like it." " Suppose," said Greta slowly, her blue eyes opening wide at the idea, " suppose she went to our school — wouldn't the girls stare ? " "They would," said Noel solemnly Madge shrugged her shoulders and flew tow*ards the window. " Why did you mention school ? " she said, pouting. " You've made me remember that we've only one precious week more." "And I, too," said Noel, marching away with Nesta. " Come out, girls, and let us enjoy ourselves while we can."

Chapter II

Colonel and Mrs Treherne found their early visitor sauntering up and down the library, his hands thrust deep into his pockets, a queer, hard look on his shrewd face. " Morning," he said sharply, as they entered the room. " I'm Cyrus Hodgson of Montana, sir, at your service."' The Colonel smiled faintly at the abrupt words. "You are my husband's tenant," put in Mrs Treherne courteously. The visitor started and stared curiously at her. " You his wife, ma'am ? " he asked abruptly. Mrs Treherne coloured, but bent her head quietly. " Well, then, I reckon you'll like to hear my tale, too. Don't stop me in what I've got to say. Let me go straight ahead, and then say what you like." " We are ready, sir," said the Colonel a little haughtily, for he disliked the man's tone. " Fifteen years ago," began the American coolly, "your only sister, sir, quarrelled with her father, who wanted her to marry a rich man of his choosin'.

She ran away, got a situation with some Americans goin' back to New York as governess, and left England for ever. I met and married your sister out there — married her, and took her off to Montana, where I'd a kind o' share ■7 in some mines. After a bit we heard, by chance, that your father was dead, and had left you everything — house and land and money. We didn't mind. I'd plenty for her and me and our two children. You'd uever ha' seen me here if it hadn't been for an accident. I came across a man out there who'd been valet to your father, and from him we heard that the old man had been very angry at the marriage you made, and had sent for his lawyer and given directions for a new will to be made, leaving the house and lands to my boy. He was to take the name of Treherne, and live in the old house.

My wife didn't want to meddle in the matter, but she died soon after, and then I made up my mind to come along here and look after that will. I'd like to see my boy ' Treherne of Treherne,' and I'll stay here till he has his rights." B The man's words were rude and threaten ing. Mrs Treherne, looking at him keenly, felt her heart sink strangely as she saw the coarse, cruel lines round his thin lips and the cunning, greedy look in the little eyes. She wondered vaguely if she were dreaming all this — dreaming that Noel, her brave, handsome lad, was being thrust out from the beautiful stately home which she knew he loved so well. As in a dream, she seemed to see the Colonel's pale, calm face and hear his quiet reply. There was such a will made when I married, sir," he was saying. " But when ray father died it was nowhere to be found.

I suppose he had destroyed it, for he grew very fond of my wife in the end. I made every inquiry for my sister, but was never able to trace her, and at. last gave up the task in despair." " Oh, that's all very fine," sneered the American, " but that will was never de stroyed by the old man, the servant told me that. Didn't your father live in the cottage at the last ? " Colonel Treherne bowed his head. " Well, that's where the will is hidden away, and I've taken the house just to find the precious document." He laughed insolently as he spoke, but his rudeness had not the slightest effect on the Colonel. "Find the will, Mr Hodgson," he said coolly, " and I shall not dispute it." " Yah ! " snarled the American, maddened by his calmness, " you don't believe me, I can see, but you shall in the end.

The old cottage has many a queer corner, and the will's hidden away in one of 'em, I'll bet.' Mrs Treherne felt amazed at his vindic tive tone — they were such utter strangers to him — but she said nothing. This man had an only son, too, she remembered, and although he had set about his task in a very mistaken way, yet every effort he was making was for the sake of that one only boy. It was his great desire to see his lad in the old house and bearing the grand old name, that urged him on to the work he had come to do. "You may find the will, but I think it very uulikely," said the Colonel, a worried look in his dark eyes. "Oh, I daresay," retorted Cyrus. "I'll say good-bye now, sir. I sha'n't speak to you again until I've proved you either right or wrong. He strode towards the door, but Mrs Treherne, remembering that lonely child on the wall, crushed down her pride and spoke again.

"Your children?" she said, "our nephew and niece, are we not to see them ? " " Yes," murmured her husband, " I should like to see my sister's children." "And mine," remarked Mr Hodgson emphatically. "Well," he went on gruffly, " I don't care what you do with Mollie, she's nothing but a plague to me. And as to Harry, why, he does just what he likes. If he fancies you, he may come up." Colonel Treherne flushed angrily at the cool impertinence of the man's words, but his wife laid a gentle, detaining hand upon his arm and spoke again. "Will you let Mollie go to school with my daughters ? " The father reddened and looked at her curiously. Always suspicious, and doubt- For Hal ' s Sake. 22 ing anything good or generous, he felt sure she was trying to curry favour with him. " Go to school with your girls ?

" he said slowly. "No, I guess not. Mollie's too wild, she'd scare any English school i? marm. " Wouldn't you like her to be brought up like an English girl ? " asked Mrs Treherne mildly. "If she is to live here, I should think it would be better." "Yes," said the Colonel suddenly, letting his dislike for the man go in his pity for the children, " my wife is right, the little girl should go to school." "Well p'r'aps you're both right," said Mr Hodgson abruptly. " Molly wants polishin'." "And your boy, he can go with Noel, eh ? " asked Mrs Treherne, firm in her resolve to help these somewhat forlorn children. " No," cried Cyrus sharply, " he sha'n't be worried. He— he's kind o' feeble like, not quite straight." He looked at Mrs Treherne defiantly as he said the words, then burst out again, urged on by the pity and wonder in their eyes.

" Not that that goes against him — he'll grow into a fine man yet. So I'll stick to what I came to get — the lad shall have his rights yet!" " Certainly," said the Colonel gravely, his calm tones in startling contrast to the other man's excited manner, "he should have his rights. Does — does he know of your plans ? " " No," said the father sullenly, and was silent then. . " Well," said Mrs Treherne gently, " won't you let him go to school with Noel, that is, if he's strong enough ? " " Oh, he's strong enough," snapped out Cyrus ; " but I tell you he wouldn't care to go, and what he don't care to do, why, he shan't .'" " Very well," said Colonel Treherne quietly; "but my wife may make arrange ments for the little girl ? " " Yes, if you like," came the grim, impolite answer, "only don't blame me if Mollie's too much for them and gets turned out."

Mrs Treherne smiled confidently "Miss Sherbrooke will manage her," she said. " Humph ! " ejaculated the father doubt fully ; "they don't take girls at the boy's college, I s'pose ? " "Oh, no!" "Ah! that's a mortal pity, that would For Hal ' s Sake. 25 ha' suited Mollie better ; it's what she's been kind of accustomed to out West." Mrs Treherne trembled mentally as she listened to this cool speech. Was she going to introduce a firebrand into the quiet school ? She said nothing of her fears, how*ever, only gave an invitation for Mollie and the boy, if he liked to come up and play with the girls. Cyrus flushed up and drew back as he listened to the kindly words. " Say, you're a mighty queer couple ! " he burst out, his cunning grey eyes roving from one face to the other. "You under stand, I hope, what I took the cottage for — to find out the will?"

The Colonel bowed gravely. " And yet yer polite to me ! Sakes, you English are a queer lot ! " " Are we ? " queried Mrs Treherne, smiling faintly. For Hal 's Sake. "You just are! But I guess you think I've come on a fool's errand ? " Colonel Treherne nodded. " I think you have," he said readily ; " but I can't forget that these are my sister's children." "And mine," once again came the em phatic reminder. "Yes, and yours. Come, man," went on the Colonel suddenly, " throw up this foolish claim and let us be good friends ! " For a minute the man hesitated, strug gling with his great wish to make his poor lad master of that lovely place. But the wish was too strong for him. " No," he said doggedly, " I shall find that will yet, and then — look out ! " The Colonel smiled quietly. " Very well," he said coolly.

" But the children, — may they come up ? " " Thank you, no. London to-day for a will call for Mollie We are going up to week. If your girls when school begins, she'll be ready." " They shall come," replied Mrs Treherne, and her tone was very decided, for her gentle heart yearned towards these uncared for children. Cyrus Hodgson went away then in a very puzzled frame of mind ; and the Colonel and his wife, after a long talk, went out into the garden, and calling the children, told them of the new pupil for Miss Sherbrooke, though they said nothing of the father's strange claim. " Won't the boy go to school, mother ? '' cried Noel eagerly. " His father says not. The lad is delicate, and — and a little deformed. He is afraid you lads would make fun of him." For Hal ' s Sake. 28 " Oh ! " began Noel impetuously, then stopped short, for though he himself would have scorned to do such a thing, yet in stinctively he felt how rash it would be to answer for the whole college.

"I don't think they'd laugh at him," he went on slowly, and then, unable to say more, he caught up chubby Nesta and raced off to the house. The twins followed more slowly ; they were talking eagerly to each other of the new girl. " Oh ! Greta," cried Madge, stopping short, " will she wear that hat ? " " I — I shouldn't think so," gasped Greta, quite pale at the thought. " I'm sure she will," said Madge in solemn, resigned tones. "Perhaps she'll wear a pistol stuck in her belt, and ride a barebacked mustang to school ! She's sure to have brought one over with her." Greta had no answer ready to this as tonishing remark. She only gave a little gasp, and flew off to tell Noel and Nesta.

Chapter III

The holidays were over. Black Monday had come, and the three Trehernes were walking down the avenue with very solemn faces. There was a speculative, uneasy look in all their bright eyes. They were going to call for the "Yankee girl" — as they all with one consent had nicknamed her, — and they could not help wondering how she would behave, and in what way she would be dressed. " Bright red, did you say her frock was, Noel ? " asked Greta timidly. Noel laughed somewhat contemptuously. " What a conceited lot you girls are ! " he cried. " Yes, my dear, the very brightest red." " We are no more conceited than you college boys," retorted Madge promptly ; " and no wonder Greta asked that question. You know how well the girls dress. Why, you said yourself that Joan Farington wore lovely hats ! " " Bosh !

" cried her brother loftily ; but he grew red at the same time, for he really had made the remark. "I never noticed her head-gear.' "Oh! Noel," murmured Greta reproach fully, " why, you described one of Joan's hats to mother." "Hush!" cried Noel hastily, "here we are ! You'd better not talk, miss, or the Yankee ogre may drag you into his den. "Ha, ha!" laughed Madge merrily. "My For Hal ' s Sake. 32 dear boy we are not babies like Nesta — you can't frighten us." "Well, keep quiet at anyrate while I ring the bell," commanded Noel, pulling vigorously at the rusty handle. Madge and Greta, while they waited, stared at the quaint tumble-down cottage with deep interest, longing to catch a glimpse of the dreaded ogre. But not a soul was to be seen. The bright sun danced and shone on the diamond - paned windows, and lingered lovingly upon the great straggling garden, showing the curious girls mauy a lovely rose and bright, flutter ing butterfly, but never a trace of anything human.

" Girls, we shall miss the train ! " cried Noel at length in despair. " 1 don't believe there's anyone in the house." " No, there ain't," said a very sharp voice close behind them. " Dad's away yet, Jerusha's out buying butter, and we're here waitin' for you." The three Trehernes started round as though they had been shot, and saw the queerest couple they had ever beheld. A little, white-faced, wistful-eyed boy was swinging on a side gate, and staring at them dreamily as he did so. He might have been any age from six to twelve ; his thin, pinched face was lit up by a pair of very childlike blue eyes, but the deep shadows under them seem to take away from their infantile ex pression, and the lines of pain round the sweet little mouth made the funny, intelli gent face very pathetic. He stooped a good deal, and that made him look smaller than he really was, while his queer, badly fitting, staring plaid suit seemed to render the bend in his back more noticeable.

On the top c For Hal ' s Sake. 34 bar of the gate sat his sister Mollie, calmly regarding the newcomers. She was a tall, thin, graceful-looking child of thirteen, with a small brown face, out of which shone a pair of great fierce black eyes ; yet she was handsome, the twins decided, looking admiringly at the eager, brunette face, the pretty red lips, the curling mass of jet black hair that streamed down over her shoulders and mingled in strange contrast, as she bent her head, with the small boy's sunny, waving locks. " Oh ! " stammered Madge, who generally answered for herself and Greta, " are you ready, Mollie ? We — we came for you." " So I see," said Mollie coolly, jumping off the gate, and holding it steady while her brother climbed down. "Yes, I'm ready, all but my hat, and that's here."

" Gracious Madge ! The Buffalo Bill headcovering ! " muttered Noel, quite as dismayed as were his sisters. " What's that you say ? " demanded Mollie, quickly marching up to him, with a fiery light in her black eyes. " Don't you like my hat, eh ? " " Of course he does ! " cried peace-loving Greta, yet wondering uneasily what " the girls " would say. " It — it suits you." "Yes," agreed Mollie complacently, "much better than those horrid London hats. Now, come on, I'm ready." ' ' But what's he going to do ? " asked Noel curiously, a feeling of pity filling his heart as he looked at the little American lad's small, queer figure. " Oh, he's going to see your ma and your baby sister," said Mollie coolly, strolling along with her hands clasped carelessly be hind her. "Ain't you, Hal?" " Yes, I guess so," answered the small, old-fashioned boy, nodding affably at the astonished Trehernes.