Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1882-10-12
CHAPTER III.

years and visit the estate of the once
wealthy Squire. AS we near the gate
way we perceive large concourse of
people gathered at the entrance. In
quiring the cause, we are told the
Squire is dead-had committed suicide
in the night, and the inquest is being
held to-day. We pass into the house
and on to the room occupied by the
Squire, and gaze on the last remains of
the once opulent farmer.
"Can it be, says one, "that the Squire
was financially embarrassed-that caus-
ed him to commit the rash act?"
This and other conjectures were the
subject of conversation by the villagers,
but time and a thorough investigation
of his affairs only could answer. A
week passed by, and all conjectures
were set at rest by the announcement
in the daily papers that the Squire had
died insolvent and that it would take
all his vast estate to pay his liabilities.
The farm must go, and the once proud
daughter Mabel would be a homeless
and penniless wanderer on the earth:
for of kindred she had none, except an
aged aunt, and anything but good feel.
ings existed between them at this time.
Mabel, since her fathers death, had
busted herself with gathering together
various little articles-mementOes of
her own and her father's-and now
that that was done she began to reflect
on her past life. especially on the last
few years. Naturally her thoughts re-
verted to the time that she parted with
Charles Perry. Oh, if he were here
now he would sympathize with her and
be her friend in this hour of affection,
but she had the burden to bear alone.
Weeks rolled on, and the day of the
sale that was to deprive her of all she
held as her own, drew near, and she
busted herself with making ready for
her departure tomorrow.
"This," said she to herself, "drives
me from the last place / can call my
home"
The day came at last and the estate
had been looked over by men who had
an eye to the value of it.
The very hour had come that was to
see it In the possession of another, when
horseman was seen to ride up to the
gate, dismount, and approach the
house. He was tall, finely. built, mus
cular man, and had evidently been ex-
posed to hardships, the extent Of which
his hardened hands and bronzed COM
plexion could give the beholder very
good idea. He looked about him a
few moments, and at last approached
the auctioneer who had already began
his work. Already had the bidding be-
gun to lag, one man, lawyer, being
the only one that seemed to want to
pay anywhere near the value of the
estate, and he had only offered $4,000
about one-half the value. The auc-
tioneer was about to strike it off to him
when $4,000" was heard to come
from the vicinity of the stranger, and a
run was the consequence. Up, up, un.
til it reached the enormous sum OF
SIC, 1000, when it was struck off to the
stranger. He Immediately entered the
house and was met by Mabel who
handed him the keys.
"No;" said he, in clear, manly
voice. mot yet. wish you to stay TIL
tomorrow, and then l will take pos
session"
He then returned to the village, got
the deeds made and paid for the estate
and the old magistrate Of the village
said In the presence of several of The
villagers that he paid it all in gold, ani
all new pieces at that.
| The next morning, true to his promise
he called at the estate to take possession
but his appearance was altered by thu
change that had been made in his ap
parel, and by the application of q razo
to his face. He entered the hous'
and went to the parlor as IL he wer
well acquainted with the house. HI
met the servant girl and asked her TO
her mistress.
Tell her that wish to see her Il
the parlor If she will please to favo
me with her company"
Presently she came. He met her a
J the door.
, "Here," said he, els a paper. 1 wis
you to read, and 1 will return In a fe,
! moments and see what you think Q
it,"
He then passed out the door, bu
fingered In the hall.
Presently he heard a smothered q
clamationin the room he had just lel