Ellsworth American., 1876-11-30

departure did the Squire betray any symp-
tom OF having taken TO heart the defeat of
his scheme or the absence of his son: and
so the people grew to say he didn't care,
aud that the Captain Warder was rs good
as any son TO him; but | knew better.
Sometimes wandering to his door late in
the night to be sure that all was well, |
would hear the Old man weeping like a
girl and year aiterward | found those
letters of Mr.. Wits which were never an
swered. worn to shreds, as century
could not have worn them had they lain
In the Squre's desk instead of-where
they did lie.
As time went on and the old Squire's
strength and spiIit,gradually failed him, he
grew TO lean more and more upon me; a
sure sign that his hard resolves were out
living his physical strength. But no won
der, for those resolves were constantly
propped by crafty words and deeds OF ap-
parent devotion from the one enemy of all
his good and kindly impulses Just as If
she understood the state of the case, Miss
Luxleigh left off coming to Wesmede; and
this served Captain Warder for another ar
gument against Mr.. VIII; as knew. be.
cause | was so often with nv master now.
He had grown so to depend upon my al
ways being ready to his call that | heard
the tales Captain Warder brought OF Mr.
WINS past life; stories, whether true or
false, which he had simply raked up To
widen the present breach, and which full
filled their purpose with cruel success.
II could by any means have discovered
where Mr.. Will was. all the time, would
myself have written him an entreaty to re-
turn and put an end to this misery; but
have shown you where these unanswered
letters lay. aud now they had ceased alto
gether. Never had the Squire let any one
look upon these. aud Captain WardeI'S
poison had done its work so well that the
very mention of Mr.. Wills name now was
enough to throw my master into state of
suppressed passion which was most dan
gerous for him In his eniecbled lcoudition.
At last, one day-nearly year had passed
since Nr. VIII followed Miss Agnes from
Wesmede, and though Captain Narder had
heard Of their marriage, he said, we did
not know whether TO believe il or not
the Squite's lawyers came over from Exc
ter. IN dog cart which Captain War.lcr
had driven IL. aud spent long day at
Wr,u,tc closeted with Mr.. CapIetou.
whose raised unsteady tones reached me
oneu a. passed the library door. There
were many surmises anon. the servants
A. TO the business in hand. but never had
a doubt at all land when | went into the
masters room at night (as | always did
now. inveutiug some excuse or other iust
To- see him the last thing, Tor piticd him
for the sore companion he had in his uu-
quiet conscience and he bid me wait a
few minutes. knew quite well what he
was going to tell me. Ny guess WAS right.
Squire Capleton had made new will that
day, disiuherting his only son. aud leaving
the whole of his property to Captain War
der, who was To assume the Old name when
hy took possession OF Wesmcdc. | stood
near my masters chair. listening while he
told me an thi>. and my lips seemed glued
together; for il any sound had escaped
them Just then. IL would have been a cry OF
anger which would have shut out from me
my masters confidence forever
You hear" he questioned sharply, when
he had flushed; and thought there was a
great eagerncss in his suuken eyes-a
great ca2rrucss 10 hear some one -av he
had done right.
4 hear. Sir. said, when | could speak
quietly aud without exciting him. but il
signifies little TO any ui u. Il isn't very
likely We old servants will stay AT Wcs-
mede to see Captain Wardrr take our
young masters place. or bear our Old mas
ter. name TO make hated
He turned To me. but his anger was too
fierce TO be more than instantaneous, and
then there dawned upon his poor weak face
a pitifnl questioning. I've done the only
thing could have done-the oay thing
he said, his voice rising. on are a silly.
prejudiced woman; faithful as far a. wo-
mans nature can 90, but silly aud preju-
diced. Go To bed
After that threw away all fear Of my
old master, and talked 10 him darngly, Of
ten and often, both of his son and Miss Ag-
mes. You see | could do them no harm
then. lie had done his worst. He could
not either make them hnhappier, or leave
them more destitute. So | had no Logger
any tear for the effect Of those words which
would rise hotly and anxiously 10 my lips.
Sometimes he was almost patient with the,
aud would only murmur the Old reply,
which he always uttered 50 very slowly, i
am glad did it-yery glad dd it.
But at other times he would loudly and
fretfully silence me, ordering me from his
presence let-and this was sad even 10
me. because 1t so plainly portrayed his
growing weAkness-he would summon me
again almost Immediately, and presently
would once more repeat the Old assurance,
which it was 50 plain te see he could not
believe repeat ii as constantly as he might.
AZ the Winter closed in, Captain War
see how that the hard spirit was wearing
out, as well as the thin bent form. and he
feared more than ever TO remove his intiu-
ence. Day by dav now my master clung
more closely 10 his old servants, and he
fretted so when | left him, that | got into
the habit of bringing my work and my ac-
counts to his room quite naturally; then of
reading to him, as If that had always been
a part of my days work and bringing him
messages from the tenants; and of getting
somehow 10 make him feel 1t natural TO lis
ten to me while he rested. Then you may
be sure let him feel what his people would
think ii Il never made it 1heH) they were
to have, Tor their master and their land
lord, a man whom they had always honest
ly disllked. as they had always honestly
disliked Captain Warder. But though in
time all this grew natural 10 us, the Squire
would never let me utter two sentences OF
Mr.. Wits return, or of forgiveness Tor him
and Miss Agnes. At last this day came
round-Mr. Willis birthday, and the last
day of that year which had been so wretch
ed for US all. The Squire had been so rest
less and ill the day before, that had -at
up in his room all night adId | remember
noticing with what start he rose from his
pillows when let in the daylight. asking
me sharply what day 1t was Standing be-
side him-and | know | must have looked
as anxious as Ifelt-I told him. And then
| gently led him on to recall those happy
birth days Mr.. Will had always spent at
home: going back even to that one when
he had taken his baby as NewYear's gift
from Heaven. Quite silently he listened
10 me, but his weak white fingers were
pressed upon his eyes.
o, MASTER | cried, folding my hands
just as if | cried to my Master in heaven,
forgive him, aud bring him home. once
more
Through all its pain, his face darkened
with great anger when spoke. and he
sent me from him as he had so often done
before. But when | returned found him
sitting at the window in the feeble Winter
sunshine. looking himself more feeble than
| had ever seen him look before, but with
genteness in face and attitude which al
most frightened me by its strong contrast
to the passionate vehemence with which
he had dismissed me an hour before.
Hester. he said, calling me by the name
| he had been used to call me when | was a
/ young girl about the house learning from
my mother how to take her place (the place
! I've filed for fifty years.. Hester. perhaps