The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-09-23


at times he seemed a little absent and
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 Northam. Tshall behome
early. ~
"Into Northam It's not market
day."
"No; but I've got little business
there-about those sheep, You know,
Dinah Ann shall get them at my
own price, after all.
"Of course You will. told you so
all along. But / do wonder you could
not wait until tomorrow" - -t.
"Oh-market-day's always bustling
day one forgets half ones business. OF
has not time to do it. Anyway, I
thought I'd go in this afternoon"
81 should like to go with you,
James 7"
Mr.. Harbury received the impulsive
wish with a blank look, and had no
ready answer at hand.
81 want to buy new silk gown, and
to order a best cap, and ever SO many
things. Yes, 1 will go with you, james.
I won't be five minutes getting ready. :"
But-Dinah Ann-not to-day. I
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 III the shafts, he got into it,
without more ado, and drove away, call
ing out Good-by !" to his wife.
"Pll 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 CHM
ney of 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 in fact
used for any purpose whatever, or en-
tered by anybody from months end to
months end, Mr.. Harbury naturally
thought of fire. He rushed to it like o
mailman.
In the fireplace under the furnace a
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 the
unhappy man. "Bring poison rather.
Poison. You've ruined me-"
"He'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-
tions, 50 that she could not get to his
chest, or to any other part of him.
"Who lighted this fire 2" he gasped.
"Phebe lighted it. 1 ordered her.
The fue 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 be put out about it?
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-f you are not quite out Of
your senses. Come I intend to know. y
eyes, you may know it now, he said
lifting his face and its despair. 81 had
placed in the fireplace of that old fur.
mace, in my old green pocketbook, e50O in
bank notes. And-and = they are
burned They are burned, Dinah Ann p
Dinah Ann paused.
"Where did the notes come from ?'
I"From your brother-to me. A long
while ago, years before knew you, ]
lent friend over s40O. He ran away
with it to Australia, and I lost my money,
and set him down as rogue. But he is
not SO dishonest as I thought him he
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. ]
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 place as furnace fire.
hole ?"
."I did it for safety. Nobody evel
went in there, and the furnace was never
used.
"Safety! Was there not your bureau
up stairs in the bedroom ?"
"That's never locked"
"Why, it's always locked"
"Any way, the key is never taken out
of it." -. ..s b.. .
"Ah! I see what it is. You were
afraid should see the money and want
to spend it."
"And SO you would, Dinah Ann-s
sum like that coming Unexpectedly" h
meekly rejoined. "Bonnets and frills
and fresh chairs and you'd no
have known where to STOP"
"Well, must say, James, you hav'
been rightly served for your want o
confidence. No husband ever has a con
cealment from his wife, if she's goot
wife, but he's sure to be paid out. It il
a loss, though, $780,,
He groaned. .--.
"My business in Northam this after
noon was to consult with your brothe
about good investment for it.
"What's this p asked she, placin,
before him the identical green case
with the bank notes inside it.
James gasped. o..p -.a.
"Dinah Ann ! Ny dear Dinah Ann I
"Ah it's my dear, Dinah Ann now
and where would you be without me?
have given you good fright, however
Don't you conceal thing from m
again, James," .-.
I don't think WILL" he said. "Ho,
has it all come about ?"
"Why, I have just been playing a lii
tie as well as you. was at the gate las
Thursday night, and heard what yo
said to Harry as you got out of the gig
1t excited my suspicious and my curiof
ity."
"But what did I say ?" asked tn
e - L.. L.