The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-11-21
"Would he? Ah. didn't hep" erie

10 the squire, ana ne got MS clscnarRe
papers offhand. Yes, sir, he was turn
ed away and the farm let to another
man within week after the letter had
been put into the post Silas Carter
must have the postmaster under his
thumb. In fact the squire owns the
line of buildings where his store is and
where the postofficeis. Ah, 1t was diff
ferent when the old squire was livin'.
He never tnrned deaf ear to an honest
tenant-not he.
"Why-look, Susan an me-we kind
r-nmissd ourselves that we'd give
our second chna little Georgie-hc's
ten years old now, sir-rnaT we-u gi,~
him leetle bit better eddication than
boys of his rank generally get; but we
can't do it now. Ihis last rise in our
rent has took the last penny-and
more, too. Really and truly, don't
think can pay 1t. hate to give up
the dear old place, where Susan was
born and reared; but 1t must come. l
can have farm OF Sir Oliver Thorn
dyke for about one half what I've got
to pay another year for this"
But pardon me. good sir. This is
no business o. yourn; but you asked me
question, and | got q goin', and
didn't know how to stop, seein' that
the rise in my rent had just been made.
But, believe me, good sir. amt in a
habit O. tellin' this kind o. stuff out o.
school. You're the first man. not one
OF us, that ever opened my head to on
the subject. wouldn't like that Silas
Carter should hear what I've been tell
in; cause, d'yu see, such things sound
SO different when they're told second
hand"
Have no fear of me, my good man."
returned the stranger heartily. my
name is Sidney-George Sidney.
have met young Maxwell; and should l
chance to meet him again, you may be
sure / shall give him gentle hint of
how things are going on here. Is there
anyone on the estate who, YOU think,
would be entirely fit and competent in
every way for an agent, In Carter's
placep"
'.Yes, SIR" answered Malcolm.
promptly and heartily. II know just
the man, savin' my wife's presence.
It's her brothcr-John Guilford. He
used to rent farm here; but he got
disguised with Carter's uppishness,
and left He's now with Sir Oliver-a
sort of useful man about the old castle,
but not engaged permanently"
"Did you ever write to your young
master?"
mo, sir-never."
81 suppose you-can writer"
The honest, hard-handed farmer col
ored up to the eyes; and before he
could speak, his wife answered for
him:
Good sir. Malcolm's got into q sort
of careless way Of speaking. but do
assure you he's got good education.
As for writing. he's done that ever
since he was a child; and Mr.. Carter'l
tell you-if he'll tell the truth-that my
husband has Strengthened out his ac-
counts. and written important letters
Tor him, more than once. Malcolm
won't speak for himself, but I'll speak
for him."
Mr.. Sidney nodded and smiled, and
changed the subject. He asked NAL
colin about his land, about his crops,
and about the best method of treating
land for different kinds of seed. And
then he asked about the quality of the
land of the various large farms of the
estate. and sought to know how they
were carried on.
To all his questions the farmer not
only gave intelligent answers, but he
offered many thoughts and suggestions
that might have been of real value to
the owner of the land.
At nine O'Clock, Malcolm suggested
that, rs it was late and very dark, with
rain still falling. Sidney had better
spend the night with them, II he could
put up with their homely accommoda-
tion. He accepted the offer gratefully.
The good wife provided him with a
clean, comfortable sleeping robe, and
gave him n comfortable bed in which
TO sleep; and on the following morning,
after a good breakfast. the weather be-
ing clear and bright, lie bid his enter
taincrs kindly adieu. promising them
that ii he was ever in that region again
he would not fail to call.
That afternoon Malcolm harnessed
his horse and rode to the village, where
he found great commotion. The squire
Young Mr.. Pnilip-had arrived NJ the
Hall. and 1t was believed that he was
going TO spend the summer on his es-
tate. Who had seen him? Nobody.
But they knew he had come because
his luggage had come.
Il went up 10 the Hall last evening""
said the keeper of the village inn, '.but
he was not there. They told me he
had been there but had gone out. +"
Just then q servant from the Hall ar
rived on the spot--the largest village
store, where the postoffice was. In
moment he was piled with questions.
s.Where did the squire 90 to last
niphtan the landlord Of the inn asked
him.
81 don't know" answered the SER
want. HE took his gun about the mid
die of the afternoon, yesterday, and
went into the woods, he said, to start 0
deer: and, IL you'll believe 1t, he didn't
get hack until this morning. ] don't
know where he stopped. can't Inn
agine." NJ
Malcolm Wansley felt dizzy. His
head seemed to whirl and his throat to
fill up.
without word to anybody, he got
back into his wagon and drove home
drove M to his door Just as light
chaise from the Hall pulled up. in
which was one Of the squire's grooms.
Malcolm was wanted at the Hall ut
once. He was to ride with the mes
senger. :,
The startled man did not dare to toll
his wife Of the wonderful thing that
had happened.
He embarrassed his own horse and
put him back In his stable. and then,
simply saying to Susan that he was SO.
inc up to the Hall. he got into tho
chaise and was driven away.
Arrived at the great mansion-Max-
well Hali-Malcolm was conducted ut
once into the main vestibule, thence
into the great hall, and so ON to the
sumptuously furnished library, where
sat Ills guest Of the previous evening.
who arose at once, advancing with Q
genial, kindly smile and an extended
hand.
.Well, well. Malcolm. we are met
again. No stammering. man. There
has been no deception. Didn't you
YOU know my baptismal nameP George
Philip Sidney Maxwell" !.
Malcolm might have remembered. II
he had only thought, but he had not
thonght
Maxwell poi1ted tine farmer to seat
and then opened conversation; but
there Is no need that we should follow
all that was said. y.
III III Ar&t