The Placer herald., 1874-07-11
ALICE OLDHAM'S FATE.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

The bright July sunshine was turning the
stately Gothic windows Of Oldham Grange to
sheets Of brilliant gold, and the big crimson
roses that hung round the futed pillars of the
porico were distilling that sweetest incense
in the warm, wayward touch of the evening
breeze, as Mrs. Oldham stood in the antique
elegance of the long drawing room-a tall,
fine looking old lady, in lustrous black satin,
with diamond pin sparkling through the
misty edge of Valenciennes lace that encircled
her naughty throat, and her slender, arsto
cratic fingers loaded with rich rings, whose
stones were like drops of gold, and blood, and
purple fire.
Mrs. Oldham ought never TO have been
born in republican country; she would have
worn the ernine of dutcbess with graceful
majesty, or carried her lofty forehead filter
beneath the circlet of a crown.
"Tum them out, sick or well!' was Mrs.
Oldhams stern behest to her agent, with
cred little man Of law, in blue spectacles, and
pepper and salt colored suit that had never
within the memory Of the Oldest village in
habitant, been either newer or more ancient
than it was now. "They are nearly year
behind, now, in their rent and do not
choose to allow myself to be thus victimized. >
Mr.. Obadiah Green took off his blue spec
tacles and rubbed them uneasily
But you see, ma am, he said, rather
apologetically, "this really seems an extreme
case. They've had such bad luck with their
cattle, and the weather has been dead against
their crops. and tie youngest child lies dam
gerously i'll of fever, and"
II know-I know" interrupted Mrs.
Oldham, with an impatient movement of her
head, "ths class Of people is generally plen-
tifully supplied with excuses. can get ten
ants enough who will be glad to pay their
rent pnnctuay, without recourse to any such
lame subterfuges. These people have had
due legal notice, believe. Mr.. Green?'
Eyes, madam, but---"
Every we'll. Eject them from the house,
and bring me the keys, tonight"
"But, Mrs. Oldham, the little girl told
you of will run very serious risk if she is
exposed to the damp night air in her present
perilous state"
81 am not responsible for that, said the
lady, coldIy. "1hey should have taken all
paid their rent, if they desired the shelter
and protection of my roof over their heads. "
The agent still besitated.
II don't think you duly consider, ma am,
how poor and forlom they are. There is an
old grandmother and seven little Children"
"Seven cbildrenP' Mrs. Oldham elevated
her handsome eyebrows and shrugged her
shoulders. Upon my word, think the
best thing that could happen to them would
be for this youngest one to die"
Obadiah Green was really shocked-dry,
matter-of. fact man though lie was, end ac-
customed to the darkest side of human
nature.
"Mrs. Oldhamr'
"Mr. Green" she said, authortatiyely,
81 have discussed this matter quite long
enough. lfyou choose to execute my wishes,
and bring me those keys tonight, well and
good; it not, shall be necesstated TO employ
some other and lers scrupulcus agent"
Mr.. Green bowed low.
"Your wishes shall be carried into execu-
ton, madam. am, of course, bound to
fulfill your commands.
The cd lady looked gravely after him, as
he descended the slope and the smoothly
shaven lawn and disappeared into the green
sylvan soltudes Of the woods below.
"Green is rally getting TOO iastidious,"
she thought, with a scornful curve of her lip
81 cannot submit for an instant to have my
will dispue ed by my own agent. Let the
child diet will be one less for the poor
house TO support"
And Mrs. Oldham, diemissing the subject
from her mind as she would have tossed
away 8 erumpled handkerchief, went out to