The Birthright

ed upon me again and again to set down in plain terms the true history of events which have set people's tongues wagging. I must confess that, in spite of the pleasure I h

ting things on paper, and somehow, while the facts are clear enough in my mind, I feel a great difficulty in relating those facts in a way that is clear and understandable. You see I ha

ether misunderstood, and what is more, to clear my name from scandal. Moreover, as he truly insisted, there

league with the devil. It is also said that you broke the laws of God and man in your dealings with your relations, and that Parson Inch refus

her am I sure that I can explain certain matters to Parson Inch's satisfaction. At the same time I am not afraid of the light, and so I am determined to set down truthfully, to t

zled the Bishop himself who came to visit the rectory some years since. All I undertake to do is to put down in plain, homely words the story of my life, in so far as it affects my good name and the good name of those who are associated with me. I

l the land is under cultivation, and the house is roomy and substantial. You must not imagine, however, that the Barton is the principal place in the parish of St. Eve. Far from it. The parish contains twelve thousand acres, and is, on the whole, the richest parish in Cornwall, and so three hundred acres do not count much. Up to the time of my father living at Elmwater Barton the place had always been held by

e possession of the estate which has always belonged to the Penningtons? I

ly young man; and when my father was about five years old, his father called him in

father, "you told me

s possible for a woman to get there; that is why I want to give yo

ind to me?" as

at, she will bring you a brother, who is about yo

e welcomed his new mother very eagerly, thinkin

outh, but he had died of cholera about four years after my grandmother died. Her little boy, too, was

lways jealous for her son, and she hated my father. The very sight of him used to vex her, especially as after several years she did not bear my grandfat

cially if that woman is clever, and has a will of her own, which latter quality few women are short of. Anyhow, after many years, she succeeded in setting my grandfather against his only son Jasper. How she managed it I don't know, for my grandfather always had the name for being a just man, but then, as I said,

ill, however, which my grandfather, in spite of James Tresidder, who was also a lawyer, would have inserted. I think the old man's love for justice, and perhaps his love for his son, caused him to have a mind of his own in this case, for in the face of lawyer Tresidder's objections and his wife's entreaties he stood firm. The clause was to this effect-that if Jasper Pennington or his heirs were

t my grandfather to have this clause expunged. But the Pennington blood asserted itself, and although he had

to my father. How could he, with onl

y father was twenty-one, and it was stipulated that h

e quarrels he had had with my father were of his wife's making; and anxious to do justly, he wrote a letter to Mr. Trefry telling him that he desired his presence at Pennington, as he wanted to make a new will, which should be duly signed and sealed before his son Jasper's twenty-first birthday. This letter was given to a servant to take to Truro. Now this

or in some other way killed, because the woman he had married

ossession of the Penningtons for many generations, passed o

enough money to get back the Pennington estates according to the provisions laid down. At that time Elmwater Barton was to let. Old Mr. Quethiock, who had just died, had left one son who had a shop in Falmouth. This son did not like farming, and he willingly agreed to le

o was always friendly with the people at Lantallick, visited the house often, and all the more because he loved Mary Archer. Concerning Mary Archer I will pass no opinion. I will only state facts. I have been told that she was a beautiful y

wife, and it was then that Squire Archer told him to leave the house, and inform

y has promised to be my wif

y only daughter to marry a tenant farmer, a wild young scam

ill not vouch for the truth of that. Certain it is that

robbed Jasper Pennington not only o

ington estates, according to the terms of his father's will. This was told Richard Tresidder and his mother one day, and they both laughed. About this time my father's cattle began to die. No one could explain why, but die they did, until many ru

this, among others, especially as my relations with Eli Fraddam, Betsey's son, have been condemned by Parson Inch. It is said that the Fraddam family h

djoining suffered not at all. In a few months he was driven to extremities; he saw his chances of buying back his old home slipping through hi

d adjoining the Pennington land

idder, with a sneer, "and

black-hearted knave, and other things concerning himself, which maddened Richard Tresidder so

men. Richard Tresidder was a slim, wiry man, and, while strong and agile, was no match for a man who, when he hadn't an ounce too much flesh, weighed over eleven score pounds. What my father would have done by

t my father would be hanged. The magistrates, who knew the Penningtons and liked them, however, did not

f my father, and again by unfair means. Was it a wonder, then, that Jasper Pennington should regard t

father, wondering what to do, wen

an't harm me, because I'm the oldest son, indeed the only son, b

e bait un-ded 'ee bait un, now

came up, or I should have murder on my conscience, a

ther's they that can kill, an' ther's

an, Be

per. Ave 'ee seed

plied my

ome in, Jasper," and she l

feeling that came over him as he saw Betsey Fraddam's son. He looked even as a

all a purty cheeld, es

r did no

Betsey Fraddam to 'ave pur

had a strange way with her that made

e a son some

aid my

ethiock es well off, and her father do oan the Barton. Think about it, Jasper. And the

n they had together at that time, for my father told me, and he was always a truthful man. But his cattle got

d borrowed, and Elmwater Barton rent free during her lifetime. If she died before my father, the question of rent was to be consider

as constantly persecuting him, because she feared his getting rich, while her son, who enjoyed my father's wealth, had all sorts of people ready to do his will. Only for him to hint at a thing, and his satellites would do it. Thus, one day a herd of cattle wo

orn-out old man; and so, when sickness overtook him, he had no strength to fight against it. It was during this sicknes

sper, for I don't think your grandfather Quethiock will ever charge you rent, and he told me it should be your

ything in my power

t back your own. Never rest until you are back at Pennington as master and owner. You have b

I replied. "I will never rest u

y are all as deep as the bottomless pit,

as my reply, "and y

ly, in the year 1737, when

, of the love which came into my heart, of many mysteries which I cannot explain, and

e as it may all seem. Moreover, let God be the judge whether my quarrel with the Tresid