The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-10-22

surprise, and he added Immediately, Il have
not seen it myself for many years in Eng
land You belong to Bythorpe he went
on, as if anxious to divert the conversation
from any personal chann,ls,'
Man and boy, have lived here these fii-
ty years That Is my farm, pointing with
a proud, possessive air in the direction
whence he had come, Manor Farm
Then you are half escaped the lips
of the other but the words passed unno-
ticed by his companion.
Dick Sisted, OF the Manor Farm, he re-
peated. Mine now, as it was my fathers
before me, and will, please God, be my sons
by aud by
"A perfect life, Mr.. Ststed-a home, a
wife aud little ones. What could mau re-
quire more {?
You do not possess them {? questioned the
farmer, looking up, surprised at the energy
in the strangers voice.
Il am not married. he replied, briefly
'Bn',' he haolcned to add, fearing his reply
might have been abcupt, you know the
place, you say then Ierhaps you can tell
me to whom belongs yonder house. pointing
toward the distant towers of Bythorpe Ma
nor. But maybe I'm OBTAINING you"
no, no. replied Mr.. Sisted, coureously,
I'm not pressed for time Yonder house
bplrr gs to Squire Churchill the young
Squire we call him mostly about here, see
ing that his father is dead not so long since
'He is dead p
Aye, surely and young Mr.. Edward has
come into the place and married a bOnny
wifi, he has
The old Squire had daughter, had be
not p
Two. You knew them 2
L knew cf them,' the stranger replied,
eyusivcy. And then, pointing to a small,
white house that was visible through the
trees, and 10 whom does that belong ?
That Why to Mrs. Sutton, poor body
And why do you pity her?
You must be stranger, indeed sir, to
ask why ?
Then enlightcn me. Tell me the story
They had reached the slle now, through
which the farmer had first appeared upon
the scene. and he paused at the strangers
words, and rested his arms upon it.
story 1t is queer story Almost too
sad to call by such a name She was the
doctors wife, n sweet, pretty woman as ever
| saw fifteen years ago, with fair, hand
some boy whom she was that proud to see
the two together. He, the doctor himself,
was a bit grained-lcast wise, so I've
heard say-and all the more reason why the
mother and son should think so much of
one another.
The father did not overlike it; still he
was open.handed with the young man, edu-
Gated him finely, sending him to school and
college until it was easy seeing that the boy
who was fne-looking enough, was begin
ming to think no small ideas of himself
'Tis said he even lifted his eyes to one Of
Squire Churchils daughters-leastway at
the last. But ! am not telling it you straight
on. You should come and see my wife if
you wish to hear the story well told
But was there such presumption = in.
quired the listener. You say this young
man was well educated and good looking
and perhaps'-alter a seconds hesitation-
the lady liked him.
lie should have known his place better,
said Mr.. Sisted, sturdily; 'leastways he
should have learnt it, What is young
lady's fancy worth She was but sixteen.
Squire Churchil's daughtGrs were not for
such as he However, this love-making, or
whatever they choose to call it, was only dis
covered afterward, when everything was
brought to light. And in the meantime the
tragedy came
well p asked the stranger, leaning for
ward with interest on her face,
A murder was committed here. Yes,you
may well start. In this quiet village, where
nothing was heard Of out of the common
from one years end to the other in this
village-in that lane where it joins Squire
ChurchiIs grounds-Squire Churchil's Sec
ond son was found dead. And
And then, as said before, it all came out
about this poor young Sutton keeping com
pany with Miss Churchill for it seems the
foolish young thing not being able to see
him elsewhere had agreed to meet him in
that very lane on that very night for one
of the farm laborers saw them part and her
run up through the meadows home only a
few minutes before he heard cry and ran
forward to find poor Master Harry lying
there dead
'Of course, NJ. Sutton was taken upY'
'Of course sir. But now comes the queer
> part of the story. For though he was tried
;, and it was proved most beautifully that he
had killed Master Harry for telling him
, what he thougot of his conduct, and was
condemned to be hung aud was aflerward
only left off with transportation for fifteen
years-yet now it seems
n That it vas not he after all p
y How did you guess that? The other day
e there came the news that the man had con.
e fe,sed to the crime on his deathbed, so that
e after all young Sutton has suffered all these
years for what was No f.ut of his. Least
IS ways, so the young Squire told US the othGl
d day, His mother always believed in him,
e he went on, after a moments pause. II
d will come right some day. she often said t,
n me Mr.. Stisted it will come right somt
!, day. 1t is some niscarrying justice Hi
" father died-could not lit up his head again
e but his mother has aye waited
r, Something like a sob burst from his com
panion,a and Farmer Sisted looked up in sur
e prise.
d u have heard something Of this, he said
l. in a stammering iasl ion, in answer to th
n look. Il knew this maa-that is, have me
70 him.
l. rs that so, sirT said the farmer, wit
N fresh interest. AYE, / remember you sal
70 you had been long out OF England. Wen,
Y shall be glad to see him back and shake hin
le by the hand and bid him forget the past