The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1879-11-06

1T was very good Of you to take so
much trouble for Us" he said in tone
whose sincerity Raby recognized.
''Very probably your aunt may not
care to sell the plate-I should not my
self if I owned such one-but Mrs. Hun
ter gives me the commission, shall Ger
tainly come, for the pleasure Of making
another call upon you. He lifted his
hat as he spoke, and with courteous
bow followed Mrs. Hunter down the
path.
''That's real gentleman" soliloquized
Raby, as they drove off: ''And She
I don't know. She's pretty, and her voice
is pleasant, but somehow there's diff
erence. I don't think like her-Quite."
She had her own ideas about life, this
little Raby, about "real" ladies and ''real"
gentleman, and instinct helped her sure
~ to conclusions usually arrived at on
ly by the slow process Of experience.
Mr.. Freke did drive over next DAY.
He was received very grimly by Aunt
Sabina Marsh, whom he found entrenched
as it we're, in front of her corner cupboard,
and resolved not to cede her plate, or list
ten to any arguments whatever on the
subject This refusal, sooth to say, caused
no particular grief to the disloyal mes
sen ger. He cared little for the plate, but
good deal for the chance for another
chat with Raby, who was more piquantly
pretty than ever, in the efcrt to hide her
amusement at her aunt's grim and defiant
manners.
Ernest Freke made one more call at
the old house before he went back to
town, but only one. II could fall in love
with that GIRL" he said to himself as he
drove homeward; and he made a little
picture in his mind Of Raby in fresh
morning dress, pouring out coffee at
the opposite end Of dainty breakfast
table for two, with sunshine streaming
through an open window behind, and
touching with glints of gold all that
beautiful hazel hair of hers-a pretty pic.
ture.. Ernest Freke was half artist, and
his imagination naturally conjured such
scenes; but he shook his head. He could
not afford to marry (the point was set
tied long ago., unless, indeed-But here
he shook his head again. The chances
were against his falling in love with a
girl who had money. He could not do
without the money, and he would not do
without the love, so he dismissed the
idea of marriage. He was an hon.
orable young fellow at heart, however,
and he would not go again to see Raby.
''What's the use2" he told himself.
''Better not" But Mrs. Hunter and her
} guests became wearisome to him after
} that, and presently he went back to town
} and to his business, in which he immersed
himself. For while Raby'g face foated
!: before his eyes, but the image dimmed as
months went by and in time would prob
} ably have faded out altogether, had it
not been recalled oddly and unexpected
} ly by the following circumstances.
He was passing one day the shop of a
taxidermist, an elderly man, with whom
he haa some slight acquaintance when he
heard his name called.
"Did you want ME, Mr.. Balch?'' put
ting his head in at the door. II thought
heard your voice.
"Oh, yes, Mr.. Freke, did want you
very much, and I ventured to call and
stop you," replied Mr.. Balch, hurrying
out from an inner room. "Excuse me; l
just waited to put on my coat. It's about
Mrs. Morpeth's Will, MI. Freke."
"And who was Mrs. Morpeth?" asked
Ernest, seating himself on a wooden
bench.
"Mrs. Morpeth, sir! Why, you must
know, think, or at least you will know
her house, the oae with the queer steps,
in Dun street.-The Rallied House as the
neighbors callit.
ooh, that queer, handsome old house
next to the junk-shop? do remember.
, have often wondered who lived there
And what did Mrs. Morpeth do ABOUT a
) villa"
) well, that's just it, sir. Pm In a
} great difficulty. Mrs. Morpeth left me
her executor, sir, and I don't know what
, to do about it. You see, sir, there's a
good bit of property-a very good bit.
She was clever for woman, very clever
r And she bought up real estate all over
the city. And there's Rallied House and
what it holds; fifty thousand dollars,
} should say it was worth, at least; some
folks think it will foot up to sixty
''That's a nice sum indeed. But what
! is your ditficulty2 Who are the heirs?'
''That's just it, MI. Freke-nobody can
!; tell, sir. It is left to-but l have Il copy
Of the will here; I'll show you"
!; The document, briefly drawn, but in
| strict legal form, devised all property of
} every description of which the testator
might die possessed ''to the child or child
rem OF nv niece Esther LIE Raron. eldest
daughter of my sister Esther Plat.
, do not know their present name or resi-
dence." That was all. Nothing could
be more indefinite.
"Have you done anything about finding
| these Platts-I mean lie Barons?" said
J Ernest, folding up the paper.
uNO T haven't T don't know how IN