The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-10-07

the line familiar to her in her schoolgirl
days.
~ should not at all wonder, James,
but Emma Land has come back again.
"May be. Two or three years ago
we heard she was married out there"
"Who heard it? Who said it?"
81 know heard it; l remember it
quite well. But as to who said it, l for
get that-your brother, I think. That
she had married cousin"
son not that that's unlikely, for
she was ready to marry anybody. Sned
have married you, you know. She laid
traps for you"
That's about true, / believe; but I
did not fall into Them, Dinah Ann"
And, laughing good-naturedly, James
Harbury turned from his supper-tray to
reach his pipe Dinah Ann rang the bell,
resumed her knitting, and fell INTO an
unpleasant roverie.
A few days passed away, things going
on smoothly at the farm. Dinah Ann
had recovered her temper-at least, she
displayed no signs of its being ruilled.
James Harbury was as usual, save that
at times he seemed little absent and
thoughtful. One afternoon he went up
stairs to change his everyday coat for a
better one.
"Where are You going ?" cried Mrs.
Harbury, quickly, as he came down
again.
"Only into Northom. l shall be home
early"
"Tnto Northam It's not market
day."
"No; but I've got little business
there-about those sheep, you know,
Dinah Ann. | shall get them Mt my
own price, after all. "
"Of course you will. I told you so
all along. But do wonder you could
not wait until tomorrow.
"Oh-market-day's always bustling
day; one forgets half ones business. or
has not time to do it. Anyway, |
thought I'd go in this afternoon"
81 should like to go with you,
James !"
Mr.. Harbury received the impulsivc
wish with blank look, and had no
ready answer at hand.
81 want to buy new silk gown, and
to order best cap, and ever so many
things. Yes, I will go with you, James.
L won't be five minutes getting ready"
But-Dinah Ann-not to-day. |
can't take you this afternoon. You shall
go tomorrow, instead.
"Why can't you take me?'
Business" he shortly replied. And,
his gig being just then brought round,
White Bess in the shafts, he got into it,
without more ado, and drove away, call
ing out Good-by !" to his wife.
"I'll be even with you, Mr.. James, !"
nodded she.
The sun was setting when he drove in
again and round to the stable yard.
Leaving his horse and gig with Evan,
he was crossing to the house when his
attention was caught by huge volume
of black smoke putting out of the Chin
ney of a narrow building that was for
merly made to serve as brew-house and
wash-house until the large one was built.
AS it was out of use now, was not i'll fact
used for any purpose whatever, or ell
tered by anybody from months end to
months end, Mr.. Harbury naturally
thought of fire. He rushed to it like a
mailman.
In the fireplace under the furnace n
fire blazed away, upon which more coal
had recently been thrown. Whittier than
death, James Harbury made one frantic
move toward it, while yell of what
really seemed like terror broke from
him. Another yell succeeded, and still
another; then he collapsed utterly, and
fell upon low wooden stool in wild
despair.
"Good heavens |" exclaimed Dinah
Ann, who had been STOPPING over some
blankets in the far corner, "what in
the world is the matter? Is it spasms,
James? Let me run for the camphor. !"
"Camphor, indeed /" exclaimed tine
unhappy man. Bring poison rather.
Poison. You've ruined me-"
"IIc's off his head" was her pitiable
suggestion. "Let me rub you, James.
Where is the pain? In the chest ?"
He flung his arms around in all direc-
tons, so that she could not get to his
chest, or to any other part of him.
"Who lighted this fire ?" he gasped.
"Phnbe lighted it. | ordered her.
The hue in the proper wash-house mas
taken to smoking frightfully. The
blankets are to be washed tomorrow,
and will be put in soak tonight. But
what is the fire to you, James, that you
should he put ont about it?"
Z" It's everything to me, he family an
swered "Five hundred pounds has
been burnt up in it"
Rising up from the stool-and Dinah
Ann wondered the creaky old thing had
not come down with his weight-he hast
ened indoors, sat down by the table,
and buried his face upon it. She found
him so, his face hidden in his hands.
"Now, james, Just tell me what all
this means-ii you are not quite out OF
your senses. Come l intend to know. !"
eyes, you may know it now" ,"he said,
lifting his face and its despair. =" had
| placed Ill the fireplace Oh tiiht oll lur-
mace, in my old green pocketbook, f5OO in
bank notes. And-and they are
burned They are burned, Dinah Ami"
Dinah Ann paused.
"Where did the notes come from? "
"From your brother-to me. A iong
while ago, years before l knew you, l
lent friend over GiOO. He ran away
with it to Australia, and l lost my money,
and set him down as a rogue. But he Ii
not so dishonest as / thought HIM ne
has made his fortune out there, and Is
back again in London now, and last
week he transmitted the debt and inter,
est to your brother for me-E500. l
brought the notes home the night Harry
drove me here"
"And now Just tell me, James, how
you could think Of putting bank notes
into such q place as furnace nre-
hole ?"
al did it for safety. Nobody ever
went in there, and the furnace was never
| uga1 ~