Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-09


has took the last penny-and more, too. Really
and truly, don't think can pay It. 1 hate to
give up the dear old place. where Susan was
born and reared; but it must come can have
farm of Sir Oliver Thorndike for about one
half what I've got to pay another year of this.
But, pardon me, good sir. This Is no bust
ness OF yOurn; but you asked me q question,
and got a goin' and didn't know how to stop,
SEEM that the rise in my rent had just been
made But. believe me, good sir, amt in the
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
tellin'. cause d'yOu see, such things sound SO
different when they're told secondhand"
turned the H gcS Mv name Is
Sldney-George Sidney. 1 have met young
Maxwell. and should l chance to meet him again
you may be sure shall give him a gentle hint
OF now things are going on here. Is there any
one on the estate who, you think, would be en-
tirely fit and competent in every way for an
agent in Carter's placer"
Eyes. SIR" answered Malcolm. promptly and
heartily; Il know just the man, savin' my wife's
presence. It's her brother-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?"
''NO sr-never"
The honest. hard-handed farmer colored upto
the eyes. and before he could speak his wife an
swered for him
''eood sir, Malcolm's got into sort Of care
less way OF speaking, but / do assure you he
has good education. AS for writing he's done
that ever since he was child; and Mr. Carterll
tell you II he tell the truth, that my husband
has Strengthened out his accounts and written
important letters tor him more than once NAL
colin won't speak for himself, but I'll speak for
him."
= fr. Sidney nodded and smiled. and changed
the subject. He asked Malcolm about his land,
about his crops, and about the best methods 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 We're carried on.
10 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 o'clock Malcolm suggested that as It
was late and very dark, with rain still falling.
sidney had better spend the night with them. if
he could put up with their homely accOmmoda-
ton He accepted the offer gratefully.
The good wife provided him with clean COM
Portable sleeping room, and gave him comfort
able bed in which to sleep, and on the following
morning. after good breakfast, the weather
being clear and bright, he babe his entertainers
kindly adieu. promising them that, if he should
ever be in that region again, he would not fail
to call.
Both Malcolm and Susan thought it rather
strange that the man had made them no offer of
return for his entertainments; and yet they were
glad that he had not. for they would only have
refused it, and thus, perhaps, have hurt his feel.
lngs. But very likely the man was poor like
themselves. They remembered that he had worn
no jewelry, nor no ornament of any kind
That afternoon Malcolm harnessed his horse
and rode to the village, where he found great
commotion. The squre-young Mr.. Philip
had arrived at the Hall, and it was believed that
he was going to spend the summer on his estate.
Who had seen him Nobody. But they knew
he had come, because his luggage had come.
~ went up to the Hall last evening"" said the
keeper of the village inn. but he was not there
They told me he had been there, but he'd gone
OUT
Just then a servant from the Hall arrived on
the spot-the largest village store. where the
post office was. In a moment he was piled with
questions.
Where did the squire go to last night?" the
landlord OF the inn asked him.
Il don't know" the servant answered "He
took his gun about the middle of the afternoon,
yesterday, and went off into the woods he said
to start up a deer; and. if you'll believe it, he
didn't get back till this morning. Idon't know
where he stopped. l can't imagine
Malcolm Wansley felt dizzy. His head seemed
to whlrl and his throat to fill up
Without a word to anybody he got back into
his wagon and drove Monochrome I'D to his
door just as light chaise from the Hail pulled
up. In which was one of the squre's groOms
Maicomb was wanted at the Hall at once. He
was to ride with the messenger
The startled man dared not tell his wife of the
wonderful thing that had happened
lie unnarneSSed his own horse and put him
pack into his stable. and then simply saying to
susan that he was going up to the Hail. he got
into the chaise and was driven away.
Arrived at the great mansiOn-Maywell Hall
-Ma!comb was conducted at once into the main
yestIbule thence into the great hail. and so on
to the sumptuously furnished library. where sat
his guest OF the previous evening, who arose at
once. advancing with a genial kindly smile and
an extended hand.
'Weil, well, Malcolm. we are met again. Stop
stammering. man. There has been no decep-
tlon DIDN'T you know my baptisInal name?
George Philip Sidney Maxwell"
Malcolm might have remembered if he had
Thought, but he had not thought.
Maxwell pointed tho farmer to seat. and
then opened conversation; but there is no need
that We should follow all that was said
The squire spoke OF his old agent. Sas Car
ter, closing his remarks on that subject thus:
Il should serve him but justly if should con-
sign MN to the county Jail; but have stripped
MN OF his ili-gotten gains most of which shall
restore to the tenants whom he has robbed in
my nalne and | have cast him out from our
midst, warning him that if l see him here again
may proceed against him legally"
AND then, after a few remarks on other sub
jects. he said:
And now. Malcolm. a word regarding your
self. The pretty stone cottage in the park is
empty since Carter left it, and am without an
agent and superintendent. They are open to
yOu--the cottage and the Office-if Won will ac
cept them, and will only add that by accent
ing you Will confer a favor upon me which viii.
command my deepest and WarmeSt gratitude I
THINK ] shall not be disappointed Ah none of
that! My eyes are open; know what am doing.
spoken with others, and hear but one report.
All speak in your favor. Come. saw the
word, and will 90 to the superintendent's Of
flee, and place the books and papers in your
hands at once
1t was in the dusk OF the evening when NAL
cclm Wansley was set down at his own door.
Malcolm, where have you been?"
wv here told you was going-tO the Hail."
"FOr WHAT"
"The squire sent for me-"
"The squire! Is he at homer"
YES, and intends to remain at home"
"Oh. / am glad. But what in the world did
he want of you?"
"Oh, nothing particular, He only wants us to
live in the stone cottage in the park. and he has
made me his agent and general superinten-
dent"
MALCOLM Wansley! Oh. how can you?"
''But it is true-every word of it,"
''Madc--yOu-his-ag And who in the
world ever put that idea into his head?"
You did, my darling"
81? On, what a.
''Hold on! The squire ate supper here last
evening and spent the night with us"
"Oh OH Was it,