Captain Bayley's Heir:

y its banks, looking forward to some grand skating if the frost does but hold two days longer. The sky is blue, and the sun shining brightly; the wind is fresh and keen; it is just t

pieces of ice sent skimming by mischievous boys over the glassy surface, to the disgust of skaters, who

le, Captain Bayley, an old and very wealthy retired officer of the East India Company's Service. His fortune had not been acquired in India, but had descended to him from his father, of whom he had been the youngest so

leading belles of Worcestershire, she disappeared suddenly from the circle of her acquaintances. What had happened no one ever knew. That there had been some terrible quarrel was certain. It was understood that Captain Bayley wished no questions to be asked. Her disappearance was a nine days' wonder in Worceste

hought him the most altered, and said that although he appeared to bear the blow lightly he felt deeply at heart the death of his daughter. His nearest heirs now were his two nephews, Fra

not only accepted the trust, but had Alice installed at his house, there to be educated by a governess instead of being sent to school. But although in a short time she came to be regarded as the daughter of th

always open to him. Frank had never counted on the probability of his uncle leaving him any money. Certainly he never for a moment built castles in the air founded upon the chance of the inheritance. His father had been an easy-going and somewhat careless man, and would sometimes laugh with the boy in speaking of his future and predicting what he would do if he were come into old Bayley's estates. None of the Captain's intimates could-had they been asked-have declar

to stay the Saturday and Sunday in Eaton Square, while Frank went carelessly his own way. And while there was nothing in the smallest degree servile in Fred's manner-for this indeed Captain Bayley would have instantly noticed and resented-the

r; and although Alice had a sort of faint suspicion that Frank, who was certainly her o

. It was clear that he would grow into a big man, but his figure was at present loose and unformed; he had dark brown hair, wi

ent strength in the slight figure. His hair was light, his features clear and sharply cut, and the face a decidedly intellectual one. His manner was somewhat cold and restrained, but pleasant and courteous to men older t

opular, which was far from being the case with his cousin. Upon the other hand, while Frank seemed to be a sort of common pro

alking by the edge of the Serpentine. Presently they saw a knot

that hole; there is something moving-there's a dog's head, I declare. Poor b

y, "can't it get out? Do you think it will be

imes, but in vain, to scramble out, the ice each time breaking with its weight, "will be to turn and wal

" Alice again asked, paying

eplied. "You stop here, Alice, with Fred.

go with y

k there, and they are a roughish lot. Besides, you will not be able t

her cousin Fred, while Frank wen

were his fag," Fred said, with a smil

ank's way, and I like it;-at any rate one always

I mean, and that I don't always mean well," Fred Barkley said in a quiet

arelessly; "but I do not always understand what y

ht that was the same

rejoined. "Well I sh

the group he began to unbut

ainly will be if no one goes in for him. It's no distance to swim, and I should think one could wade to within twenty yards o

irl, poorly dressed, was standing crying bitterly; a cripple boy in a box upon wheels was trying to pacify her, whi

oung un?" Frank said

sy. She belongs to this little gi

nk asked, "for the water

ge in the summer, and keeps on until the water gets too cold. I can do that fast enou

FROM THE

ak it before you. You will have to put some weight on, for it is nearly half an inch thick; I expect ther

ady to kick off now, so don't you be frightened if you get numbed with the

with pleasure up

r face, sir," he broke off, "I saw you in the fight down by our place at Westminster,

Frank said quickly; "then I owe him one, and if

red the water, breaking th

s legs up regular. All right, Flossy," he shouted to the dog, as he cont

able to break it. A few yards further on the water was up to his chin. He was now breaking the ice by trying to climb upon it. Frank was watching him closely, and noticed that he no longer proceeded about his work deli

the ice, and cast a despairing look towards the shore. Then gradually his head disappeared under the water; but Frank was already half-way towards him. A few strides had taken him through the shallow water, and he swam with vigorous strokes through the floating frag

. "Wrap him up in my coat and his own, and then run with him up to the Humane S

ad given a plaintive cry of despair as it saw those who had approached so near turn back, for there were but some five y

I am," Frank said to h

igorous strokes broke the intervening barrier of ice. He seized the little dog, put it on the

and, after lying for two or three minutes utterly exhausted, it scrambled to its feet and

tand, so benumbed were his legs by the cold. His cou

for you to do. Oh! I am so pleased you did i

im to speak. "You go home with Fred; I shall get a hot bath and have my clothes dried at

run, which he kept up until he reached the establishment of the Roya

ot bath we had ready, and he has opened his eyes, and is able to speak; we

felt an intense pain as the blood flowed back into his chilled limbs, then a delightful sensation of warmth and comfort stole over him; a glass of hot

in silver and coppers, and handed over to the cripple to give to his brother. Fred Barkley dropped in five shillings, and Alice Hardy the same sum. Then after walking to the receiving-house, and hearing that Frank and the lad h

rwards returning to set free the dog. Upon the way home he had appeared to Alice to take the matter exceedingly quietly, but he now, somewhat to her surprise, appeared almost as enthusiasti

it a foolish boy's trick. What right has Frank to risk getting rheumati

ave a boy, uncle," A

, but he risked the life of that boy by encouraging him to do such a foolish action. It was a hair-brained business altogether, sir; and I am glad you had the wisdom, Fred, to keep out of i

ntly. "I believe if you had been there, and had heard that poor little dog's cries

onderful things if they had only been born men. Nature appears to be always making mis

ght you meant it; but you only talk so out of contradiction. If I had said I thought Frank was

tell Miss Lancaster that unless she can keep you in better order I shall have to

ing, "if you would always be good and reasonable; but I cannot venerate y

whether this act of Frank's would raise him in his opinion or the contrary; but he flattered himself that, at any rat

n that at that very moment the old officer was walking up and down his library, muttering to himself, "I would give a good deal if there were a glass window at that boy Fred's heart, that I could se

ll, but just blurts out the words which come to hand. It is curious how much more Alice takes to him than to Fred, for he bullies her and orders her about as if she were one of his fags, while Fred is as courteous an

fter sleeping for some hours; their clothes had be

n?" was Frank's first inquiry

denly, "I was trying to fetch out poor little Flossy, and the ice would not break, and I got colder and colder, and then I don't seem to remember any more except somehow that

n time I was, for you did not sing out, but went right down

oy said suddenly, "

n again and got her out, after

n, and no mistake. I wonder how Harry got back; it would be a

him," Frank said; "and the little girl

a pavement, and I expect that he and she atween them would be able t

; "but it don't matter much, it's getting dark now, and I can take a cab when I get out of the Pa

ways will have my clothes so big, cos of my growing. She always seems

, while Evan, whistling a popular air in a high key, took his way to Westminster. On arriving home he

and you would have got drowned too, Harry tells me, if that young gent hadn't been and gone after you; and then this blessed minute I should have been breaking my heart about you, and you down underneath the ice in the bottom of the Serpentine. T

n can buy some more. Here, Evan; here are thirty-eight s

ent at the pile of money in Harry's lap. "W

ave it to me to give to you. I did not quite like your taking money for doing s

e of delight. He had none of his broth

some 'igh collars and come the swell. I suppose it won't run to a carriage and pair, mother, or to a welvet gownd for you,-that would be

"When dad comes home we will talk over with him what's the best way of laying out this money. It's yours to