The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-11-21
THE NEW AGENT.

Susan, tell you, can't live SO
much longer. I'm workin' the flesh
off my bones; I'm starvin' myself; you
are starvin'; and the Lord knows our
children are poorly enough of. l toll
you, 'tain't no use. / can't live SO.
Sometimes when I get to thinkin' Of 1t
right up an down-in earnest-I feel
as though I'd rather go to the work
house and have done with it."
Il know IL is hard, Malcolm. but re-
ally. couldn't it be harderp"
Harder! Be harderp What can
you imagine harder'n what we have to
endure nowp"
Il was thinking Of the health of our
little ones, Malcolm, and OF our own
health, too."
dang 1t all! I didn't mean to tell
you, Susan, but ! can't keep 1t no
longer. Carter says the squire's goin'
to make another raise on the rent"
mo, no; Malcolm. You do not mean
itp"
..Its Just as true as gospel. Five
shillin's month. That's three pounds
ayear."
"Oh. Malcolm, I don't believe the
squire's got anything to do with the
business. It's Carter's own doin'. now
you depend upon ii"
1--WE thought O that myself, Susan;
but look: The young blood Is away on
the Continent-in Paris, believe,
where he's been ever since he came
from Cambridge, an he's spendin'
money fast. 1 tell you, look to see
the whole grand estate, hall, abbey,
and all. put up to the highest bidder,
one O. these days. An faint as twas
when young Philips father was livin'.
We weren't ground down then. He
lived on his place and looked out for it
hisself, an now you see where the
moneys goin' at he laid up-thou-
sands upon thousands Of pounds! Eth!
who's that, wonderp"
1t was a rap on the outer door. NAL
colin got up and took a candle and
went to answer the summons.
He found on the broad stone step n
young man, tall and strong. clad in u
rough forest garb such as gamekeepers
and foresters were wont 10 wear
leather breeches and leather jacket,
with strong leather CATERS. and upon
his head a Highland bonnet He car
shot pouch and powder horn at his
side.
"Ah. stranger. got caught In show
er-eh? Come right in. We've room,
sir, and bit O fire to boot"
The stranger spoke pleasantly and
checrfully. and in a laughing way de-
scribed his mishap.
After he had partially dried his gar
ments, the good wife asked him II he
would take sup and bite, IL she
would set it before him.
With q genial smile he answered that
he was hungry. He would not put her
to the trouble, but il g..
Malcolm stopped him abruptly.
Don't talk OF putting us 10 trouble,
sir. What arc we good for, II we can t
help one another In times Of trouble
and waniP We hain't got much, and
what we have got's plain an homely.
but it's good. and it's honestly come
BY"
And thereupon Susan set out small
table. and prepared substantial meal.
When the meal was ready the stran-
ger ate and drank with q relish. and
when he had concluded he gladly ac-
cepted q pipe. and as he smoked, he
began to question his host about him.
self and his affairs. He said he was
almost stranger in those parts and
knew but little Of 1t. ....... Co..
..What," he exclaimed In surprise,
when Malcolm had told him who his
landlord was, ..does this farm belong
TO the Maxwell estatep / had no idea
Al. IAI fa
Eyes, SIR" responded the farmer.
young Philip Maxwell owns big es-
tate, and it's pity he don't take care
OF It, II all hear is true, he Is runnin'
through II pretty fast"
lis that SOP What makes you think
ftp" asked the stranger.
..What makes me think ite" echoed
Malcolm. elcvating his brows, and
blowing out IN extra cloud OF smoke.
"Would young man like him. with
out n family-leastwise never heard
of his bein' married-would he, ownin'
such a grand estate as this, crowd
down on poor man like me until he'd
got almost his last shillin', and then,
on top o. that. jam an crowd harder
still. II he wasn't goin' it pretty fastP'
Yes, SIR" he went on, I've been
payin' rent for this farm that no man
ever ought TO pay-a rent that has rob-
bed me, and my good wife, and the lit
tie ones. of things that we really need
ed-and now It's TO be raised again.
Susan-that's my wife. sir-her father
rented this farm, and she was born
here, which, you'll understand, kind o
'taches her to the place. Well. her fa-
thcr paid ten pounds u year. and paid
once in six months. My first years
rent was twelve pounds. then 1t went
M. and up, and for three years last
past I've paid Two pounds month;
and now, sir, I've got notice that I'm
to pay an advance of live shillin's
month. That's three pounds more 8
year. Not much. You may say; but It's
the last ounce that breaks the camePs
back. When a mans payin' all he can
pay, how can he pay any moreP'
"Butn said the wayfarcr. shaking
the ashes from his pipe, .'why don't
you speak with the squire himselfP"
.What! and he away In PARISH!
..Then why not write to himP"
.Ah. sir. there you've hit II! When
younc master Philip came into pos
session he made IL law that the man
who complained to him should be turn,
ed of at once. He's kind o. ticklish,
should Judge. about being bothered.
and he don't like to have his feeiin's >
stirred up; so when he took possession
he was determined he wouldn't have
no complaints nor fault-fnding a., ne
planned that he would enjoy all Of iiie
that could bc enjoyed. anu u nis ~
i ants had troubles they shouldn't saddle
+ 'em of on TO him. So. d'see, he just
!, made that rule---and he made u strong
the man that opened his head % him
about his rent. or about amy short-coni-
n, whatever. or that dared 10 write y
him shonld bc turned of neck and
heels. without further warnin'. -
..BuL dear man. do you think MAS
Ter Philip Maxwell would rcai,y . \,
that thin9a' the guest asked win co"-