r then took
the property. He had an only son, too; and the boys, being of the same
age, were much together; but their fathers would hardly speak to each
other, and were angry at the friendship between the boys. I remember
being at Major Lester's the very day of the sad event. I was calling
on Mrs. Lester, and we heard a violent altercation going on in the hall
between the brothers. Mr. Tom had come up for his son, who had made
him anxious by his non-appearance at home the night before. The lads
had been out for a night's rabbit-snaring with the gamekeeper, and
Alick had slept at the Hall without the major's knowledge. I don't
know why this should have led to such a violent quarrel, but Alick was
summoned from the stables, where he was found with his cousin Roger,
and forbidden ever to put his foot on Major Lester's property again.
Then and there the lads were separated; but as Mr. Tom marched off with
his son, he shouted out to his brother, "You'll live to see my son
stand in Roger's shoes yet, and the property will come back to the
rightful heir!"

'I remember Mrs. Lester turning to me, and trembling like a leaf: "He
will murder Roger! The dreadful man!" she exclaimed; "that is the only
way the property will come to Alick!"

'The very next day both boys were missing. Mr. Tom seemed quite as
distracted as his brother, but he declared he knew nothing of them, and
for a month no tidings were received, in spite of all the detectives at
work. Then came a letter from Alick, written for both of them, saying
they had taken their passage together for Australia, and had already
got the promise of being taken on a farm; for they were made so
miserable at home by the quarrels of their fathers, that they had
"determined to clear out of it," and nothing would separate them from
each other. They have not been in this neighbourhood since; but last
autumn news came that Roger had disappeared. Alick wrote, giving
details:--"I think Roger was sent on some confidential errand by the
farmer, for he had money with him, and they fear that he was robbed,
perhaps murdered on the way." Mrs. Lester, who was never very strong,
took to her bed, and died a fortnight after the news was brought to
her. But before she died she emphatically declared that Mr. Tom and
his son had decoyed Roger out of the country to make away with him; and
Alick was solely responsible for his death. She persisted in this
until the major more than half beli