The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-12-26 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDCTE OBSERVER.

valley, the distant village, with its white sinoke.
wreaths rising straight in the breathless air; behind
them a dark wood, and au evil face peering out from
a dense growth of unclerwood not ten yards off: a
very evil face, melodratnatised by a quantity of black
hair—much dishevelled by crawling through the
bushes—by a hooked nose, and gleaming white teeth:
mere accessories these, which might heighten the
effect of the picture, but the expression was the thing.
The veriest beginner in the study of physiognomy
might have read envy, hate, jealousy, cruelty, printed
there in unmistakable characters; while a graduate in
the science would have added incipient madness and
murder.

"I have come to call on you upon business," said
Thomas, unwitting that his words were overheard,
and by whom.
"Shure !". cried Jenny, in astonishment. _ _

"Yes. I have got the lease of poor old Jones's farm,
and father has given me the money to stock it, and so
forth, with the first year's rent in hand, so that I may
not be pressed. Well, you know, the farm comes
right alongside of your bottom field yonder, and
Williams is past his work. It is enough to make your
poor father turn in his grave to see the state the land
is in. Now, what will you give me to set it all right
for you, and look after it just as carefully as if it were
my own?"
"I don't know," said Jenny, who was earnestly
plaiting gathers in her dress, and then smoothing them
out again. "Shall you ask much ?"
"Very much—all you can give me.*
" Lor I"

"I shall want all the thoughts of this little head,
and all the love of this little heart,. Will you pay me
that ?"

Jenny, blushing redder than the sunset, murmured
something, which her companion rightly interpreted—
" You have got that already."

Which caused a break in the conversation, the
lovers having arrived at a station where "ten
minutes were allowed for refreshment."

"And I want this little hand," resumed the infatua-
ted Mr. Thomas, "and the right to put a ring on it."
And he caught hold of the coveted member, which
was not very white or soft, but which trembled
pitiably. "And if you hear certain banns put up
next Sunday, I want you not to forbid them."

"Next Sunday! 6h, George, how sudden Why,
this is Thursday!'
_ . _ _ _ _ _

"You forget, we have to be asked three times before,
my payment can begin; and 1411:lake it a rule never to
do anything for nothing and the farm wants attend-
ing to at once."
The train had no right to come to another refresh-
ment station so soon, but it did, and there was a con-
siderable pause before Thomas resumed—
"l shall start off early to-morrow morning to Brecon
to siern the lease, which lies in the lawyer's office there,
for r want to get back by night. I shall be too late
to see you when I return, but the first thing Saturday
morning I shall look in, and tell you that it is all
settled."

The sun had been relieved, and the waning moon,
which looked like a half-sucked lozenge, was on for
the night before the lovers separated. George Thomas,
with a light step and lighter heart, stepped gaily along
a path cut through the centre of the wood, and dis-
appeared. Jenny, too, tripped with elastic tread to-
wards her cottage; but suddenly she stopped, and
pressed both hands to her heart as a look of wild pain
passed over her face.
Suppose she should sea him in the church to-morrow
night!
The thought was too horrible to dwell upon; she
shook it off, and entered the house.