Frostburg mining journal., 1883-09-22

seat, remained standing herself, be.
side her brothers couch.
Raymond Searle, fattersd darlino
of society as he was. had never been
30 near overwhelming embarrassment
in his life.
Anything so lovely as this slender,
tall, stately young creature, in her
bravery of silk and lace and gemmed
attire, he had never seen and the
invalid brethsr looked like otrickea
cage.
They both made him think of what
his father had said about the way the
Wsldsrs had fought his claim.
"Well, sir, said Reds, loftilv, 1--WE
will bear your fathers message. My
brother is not strong enough for many
words. SO you will please address
yourself to me"
For the 6rnt time Raymond Searle,
felt all the ungracious and unsracsful
disagreablsness of the errand on
which he had come.
He blnsbed, he heaitated, he sst
overwhelmed with confusion. Finally
he said, desperately:
You know why I have come. I
wi b now l had not"
"You said you bad message from
your iather?' questioned Reda,
haughnly.
IL irsfer not to deliver it now, "
he said.
"You do not need. We. my
brother and myself, can we'll imagine
that it is only some new threat to
compel us to abandon our home-our
legal and rlghtfll home-in spite of
that decision Of an unjust court which
pronounce otherwise T.
RAYMOND bit his lip.
"In justice to my father, then" he
said, II must tell you that his mes.
sage was no threat. he wished me
to ask YOU when it would be convsn-
lent to give him possession Of Wyldsr's 8
Rock
Never T. rang like bugle note
from Reda's quivering lips. go
back to your father and say that to
HIM. Say that we will lie first. We
will die here resisting. He shall
never have Wylder's Rock while we
live |"
Raymond Searls rose from his seat
bent his head tremendously to her,
bowed low to the brother, in whose
eagle glance the same fame leaped rs
in hers, and went silently from the
the loom.
II think he meant to be courteous" "
said We're Wylder, when he had gone.
II hope we were not rude"
II hope not" said Rsda, a swift
change coming over the sweet. spirited
face. He il not to blame. His father
has not told him all the story, or he
would not have coma. | oou,d see
that. liked his looks--.lid not you,
Ve,e?"
"Yes, l liked him." murmured
We're.
"He would scorn to do such base
ness as his father is guilty of. be-
lieve."
II think he wonl d." We're answer
ed, and lay gazing wistfully at his
sister in her radiant, young loveliness
He was thinking how uncertain his
life was--how poor one at best. He
could but say to himself:
EAU if kind haven could but asnd
her a protector, who was as strong
and true u gentleman as he looked
aho had just gene T.
Raymond went back TO his father
with troubled face.
Sir" said he, sbrubtly, yet with
the profound respect he always used
toward him. you did not tell me all
the particulars OF this Wylder case p
Philip Sesrls reddeued. He would
have rather not tell bis son more than
ne had, but if he must, he was ready.
What ground had The Wyldsrs for
opposing his claim ? Why, simply
this:
1t was Raymond's grandfather who
loaned the money to Guy Wylder,
and took mortaQs on the Rock. He
and Wylder were old and close friends.
Wylder claimed that he paid the
money the very day he, old Raymond
Searle, was stricken with the mortal
illness of which he died before the
following morning. Searle could not
at that moment put his hand upon the