Chapter I: Front Matter

THE MAKING OF WILLIAM EDWARDS

Yours Faithfully Isabella Banks]

PUBLISHER'S NOTE TO POPULAR EDITION

This book appeared originally as 'The Bridge of Beauty.' But on its re-issue in popular form it has been thought well to indicate in the new title the purport of the story.

_Frontispiece._] [_See page 16._]

THE MAKING OF WILLIAM EDWARDS

OR

_THE STORY OF THE BRIDGE OF BEAUTY_

BY MRS. G. LINNAEUS BANKS

AUTHOR OF 'GOD'S PROVIDENCE HOUSE' 'THE MANCHESTER MAN' 'IN HIS OWN HAND' ETC. ETC.

_WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY W. DEWAR_

SECOND EDITION

LONDON: ANDREW MELROSE 16 PILGRIM STREET, E.C.

CONTENTS.

CHAP. PAGE

I. A THUNDERSTORM 13

II. WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN 25

III. A BOY'S WILL 36

IV. PAYING THE RENT 46

V. THE NEW INMATE 57

VI. LOST 70

VII. THE YOUNG PLAGUE 83

VIII. THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS 95

IX. THE BAFFLED AGENT 105

X. FRIENDS AND BROTHERS 118

XI. A MEMORABLE ENCOUNTER 129

XII. CAERPHILLY CASTLE 141

XIII. MAN PROPOSES 152

XIV. WHERE IS EVAN? 162

XV. A STOP-GAP 179

XVI. DISCOVERIES 193

XVII. PROPER TOOLS 207

XVIII. IN THE GRIP OF A STRONG HAND 219

XIX. WITH GRANDFATHER'S GOLD 232

XX. IN THE NICK OF TIME 249

XXI. THE FINGER OF GOD 264

XXII. A BLIND INSTRUCTOR 280

XXIII. BRIDGE-BUILDING 298

XXIV. PONT-Y-PRIDD 313

POSTSCRIPT 333

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE

THE SEARCH FOR THE MISSING FARMER _Frontispiece._

THE RIDERLESS HORSE FOUND ITS WAY HOME 17

MOUNTED ON THE LOW WALL, ON HIS WAY TO EVAN'S SHOULDERS 67

LYING IN THE MIDST OF THE HOARY CIRCLE OF GREY STONES 79

'SO THAT IS HOW YOU PROPOSE TO CARRY ON YOUR FARM?' HE SAID, WITH A SNEER 107

HE TURNED AND SHOOK HIS WHIP-HAND AT THE CHILD 111

THERE WAS SOMETHING RATHER MYSTERIOUS ABOUT HER CARGO 165

'YOUR RENT WILL BE ADVANCED TEN POUNDS PER ANNUM AFTER THIS DATE,' HE SAID 175

HE FOUND MR. MORRIS SEATED AT THE TABLE AS WELL AS THE VICAR 243

LONG-LOST EVAN HAD COME BACK 253

BLINDED BY PASSION, HE SPURRED HIS HORSE TO THE UNCERTAIN FORD 269

ELAINE PARRY 293

ONLY HIS WIFE CAN ENTER INTO HIS FEELINGS, AND ALLEVIATE HIS BITTER HUMILIATION 325

THE BRIDGE OF BEAUTY, 1755 331

THE MAKING OF WILLIAM EDWARDS.