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t, if you are that person, in all probability there is some legacy bequeathed to you by a relative," replied Mr S---; "is it you?" "Yes, sir," replied Rushbrook, changing colour; "I did once live at Grassford." "Then you had better write to the parties and make yourself known. I will leave you the newspaper." "What think you, Jane?" said Rushbrook, as soon as Mr --- had quitted. "I think he is quite right," replied Jane. "But, Jane, you forgot--this may be a trap; they may have discovered something about--you know what I mean." "Yes, I do, and I wish we could forget it; but in this instance I do not think you have anything to fear. There is no reward offered for your apprehension, but for my poor boy's, who is now wandering over the wide world; and no one would go to the expense to apprehend you, if there was nothing to be gained by it." "True," replied Rushbrook, after a minute's reflection; "but, alas! I am a coward now: I will write." Rushbrook wrote accordingly, and, in reply, received a letter inclosing a bank-bill for 20 pounds, and requesting that he would come to town immediately. He did so, and found, to his astonishment, that he was the heir-at-law to a property of 7,000 pounds per annum--with the only contingency, that he was, as nearest of kin, to take the name of Austin. Having entered into all the arrangements required by the legal gentleman, he returned to Yorkshire, with 500 pounds in his pocket, to communicate the intelligence to his wife; and when he did so, and embraced her, she burst into tears. "Rushbrook, do not think I mean to reproach you by these tears; but I cannot help thinking that you would have been happier had this never happened. Your life will be doubly sweet to you now, and Joey's absence will be a source of more vexation than ever. Do you think that you will be happier?" "Jane, dearest! I have been thinking of it as well as you, and, on reflection, I think I shall be safer. Who would know the poacher Rushbrook in the gentleman of 7,000 pounds a year, of the name of Austin? Who would dare accuse him, even if there were suspicion? I feel that once in another county, under another name, and in another situation, I shall be safe." "But our poor boy, should he ever come back--" "Will also be forgotten. He will have grown up a man, and, having another name, will never be recognised: they will not even know what our former name was." "I trust that it w
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