rable.

"Written by me and signed this -- day of July, 18--, the anniversary of
Eudora's funeral and the big picnic on my grounds.

"JAMES M. CROMPTON."

CHAPTER X

HOWARD'S TEMPTATION

Howard did not know how long it took him to read this paper. It seemed
to him an age, and when it was read he felt as if turning into stone.
There was a fire in the grate before which he sat, and something said to
him, "Burn it," so distinctly, that he looked over his shoulder to see
who was there. "It's the devil," he thought, and his hand went toward
the flame, then drew back quickly. He knew now what his uncle had tried
so hard to tell them, and remembered how often his eyes had turned in
the direction of the private drawer. He had put his confession there,
and it had become wedged in and was out of sight, until frequent opening
and shutting the drawer had brought it into view. He read the document
again, and felt the perspiration oozing out of every pore. The twenty
thousand recommended for him made him laugh, as he thought that was the
sum he had intended for Amy, and which looked very small for his own
needs. "Six times two are twelve," he said, calculating the interest at
six per cent. "Twelve hundred a year is not much when one expected as
many thousands. I believe I'll burn it!" and again the paper was held so
near the fire that a corner of it was scorched.

"I can't do it," he said, drawing it back a second time. "It would do
no good, either, if they find out in Florida. I don't see, though, how
they can, and if they have, Jack would have written, but I can't burn it
yet. I must think a while."

He put the paper aside, and, without his overcoat, went out into the
cold, sleety rain, which was falling heavily. It chilled him at once,
but he did not think of it as he went through the grounds and gardens
and fields of the Crompton Place, where everything was in perfect order
and bespoke the wealth of the owner. It was a fair heritage, and he
could not give it up without a pang. He never knew how many miles he
walked back and forth across the fields and through the woods. Nor did
he know that he was cold, until he returned to the house with drenched
garments and a chill which he felt to his bones. He had taken a heavy
cold, and staid in-doors the next morning, shivering before the grate,
which he told Peter to heap with coal until it was hot as--. He didn't
finish the sentence, but added, "I'm infernally cold,--influ