The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-09-23

at times ho seemed little absent and
thoughtful. One afternoon he went up
stairs to change his everyday coat for
better one.
"Where are you going?" cried Mrs.
Harbury, quickly, as he came down
again.
"only into Northan. I shall be home
early"
"Into Northam | It's not market
day" t
ssNo; but I've got little business
there-about those sheep, you know,
Dinah Ann I shall get them at my
own price, after all. +" +st i
.sf.Of course you will ] told You SO
all along. But do wonder you could
not wait. until tomorrow. a,.a 81 fFy
cob market days always q bustling
day; one forgets half ones business, or
has not time to do it. Anyway, I
thought I'd go in this afternoon"
"I, should like to go with you,
james !"aa -
Mr.. Harbury received the impnlsire
wish with a blank look, and had no
ready answer at hand as; :. ---.
81 want to buy a new silk gown, and
to order q best cap, and ever SO many
things Yes, will go with you, James.
Iwon't be five minutes getting ready"
But-Dinah Ann-not to-day. /
can't take you this afternoon. You shall
go tomorrow, instead. t5 5id tof'ia
"Why can't you take me ?"a7 Itea
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 y to his wife. 10 -
"I'll be even with you, Mr.. James,"
nodded she. 6 is s., 1atfE.s5,e q al.
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 a marrow 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 a
mailman.
In the fireplace under the furnace a
fire blazed away, upon which more coal
had recently been thrown. Winter than
death, James Harbury made one frantic
move toward it, while a yell of what
really seemed like terror broke from
him. Another yell succeeded, and still
another; then he collapsed utterly, and
fell upon a low wooden stool in wild
despair.
&c sGood heavens I' 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, indeedi" 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 p
He flung his arms around in all direc-
tions, SO that she could not get to his
chest, or to any other part of him.
"Who lighted this fire ?" he gasped.
"Phebe lighted it. I 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 yot
should be put out about it?"
".It's everything to me, " he family an.
swered. Give hundred pounds has
been burnt up in it"
Rising up from the stool-and Dinaf
Ann wondered the creaky old thing haG
not come down with his weight-he hast
ened indoors, sat down by the table
and buried his face upon it. She fount
him so, his face hidden in his hands.
"Now, James, Just tell me what al
this means-if you are not quite out O
your senses. Come I intend to know.
Eyes, you may know it now, :" he said
lifting his face and its despair. ST hat
placed in the fireplace of that old fur
| mace, in my old green pocketbook, g500 il
bank notes. And-and = they ar,
burned ! They are burned, Dinah Ann I
| Dinah Ann paused.
| "Where did the notes come from ?"
""From your brother-to me. A lons
| while ago, years before / knew you,
lent friend over s400. He ran ava,
with it to Australia, and I lost my money
and set him down as a rogue. But he. j
not so dishonest as I thought him d,
has made his fortune out there, and i
back again in London now, and las
week he transmitted the debt and inter
est to your brother for me-e50O.
brought the notes home the night Harr,,
drove me here" lr
"And now Just tell me, James, hoy
you could think of putting bank note
into such place as furnace fire
hole ?" -... ...-..
/ "I did it for safety. Nobody eve
went in there, and the furnace was neve
used"
"Safetyl Was there. not your burea
up stairs in the bedroom ?"
"That's never locked.
"Why, it's always locked"
"Any way, the key is never taken on
-"AhI I see what it is. You wer
afraid should see the money and wan
to spend it.
"And SO you would, Dinah Ann
sum like that coming Unexpectedly" b
meelIly rejoined. "Bonnets and frilll
and fresh chairs and tables-you'd M
have known where to STOP"
"Well, must say, James, you hay
been rightly served for your want I
confidence. No husband ever has col
cealment from his wife, if she's goc
wife, but he's sure to be paid out. It
a loss, though, $780,,
He groaned.
8 "My business in Northam this afte
noon was to consult with your broth,
about a good investment for it."
"What's this ?" asked she, placir
before him the identical green case
with the bank notes inside it.
; James gasped.
"Dinah Ann My dear Dinah Ann
"Ah it's my dear Dinah Ann now.
and where would you be without me?
have given you a good fright, howeve
, Don't you conceal a thing from u
again, James,"
"I don't think will, F" he said. "Hc
J has it all come about?"
"Why, I have just been playing L
! tie as well as you. was at the gate la
Thursday night, and heard what "
: said to Harry as you got out of the gi
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