Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-08-14


the rise in my rent had just been
made. But, believe me, good sir, l
amt in the habit of tellin' this stuff
out O school. You're the first man
not one of us that l ever opened my
head to on the subject l wouldn't
like that Silas Carter should hear
what I've been telGn' cause, dyou
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 / chance to meet him again you
may be sure ! sail give him a gentle
hint of how things are going on here.
Is there any one on the estate who,
you think, would be entirely fit and
competent in every way for an agent
in Carriers place."
eyes sir, answered Malcolm,
promptly and heartily. Il know
Just the man, savin' my wife's pres
ence. It's her brother, John Gull.
ford. lie used to rent farm here,
but he got disguised with Carriers up
pishness and left. He's now with Sir
Oliyer-a sort of useful man about
the old castle, but not engaged perma
nently."
Did you ever write to your young
master2'
mo slr-never.
81 suppose you-can write"
The honest, hard-handed farmer
colored up to the eyes, and before he
could speak his wife answered for
him:
Good sir, Malcolm's got into a sort
of careless way of speaking, but / do
assure you he has a good education.
AS for writing, he's done that ever
since he was child and Mr.. Carter'll
tell you if he'll tell the truth-that
my husband has Strengthened out his
accounts and written Important letters
for 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 methods of treat
ing land for different kinds of seed.
And then lie 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 e
offered many thoughts and sugges-
tons that might have been Of real
value to the owner Of the land.
At 8 o'clock Malcolm suggested
that, as it was late and very dark,
WITH rain still falling, Sidney had bet
ter spend the night with them, if he
could put up with their Aomely ac-
commoAation. He accepted the offer
gratefully.
The good wife provided him with a
clean, comfortable sleeping room and
gave him a comfortable bed in which
to sleep, and on the following morn
ing. after a good breakfast, the wealth
er being clear and bright, he babe his
entertainers a kindly adieu, promis-
ing them that, if he should ever be in
that region again, he would not fail to
call.
| Both Malcolm and Susan thought
il rather strange that the man had
made them no offer of return for his
entertainments, and yet they were
glad that he had Rot, for they would
only have refused it and thus, perhaps
have hurt his feelings. But very
likely the man was poor, like them
selves. They remembered that he had
worn no jewelry, nor no ornaments
of any kind.
That afternoon Malcolm harnessed
his horse and road to the village,
where he found great connection.
The squire-young Philip-had arriv-
ed at the hall, and it was believed that
he was going to spend the summer on
his estate, Vino had seen himl No
body. But they knew he hao come,
because his luggage had come.
u 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 vii
lage store, where the postoliice was.
In moment he was piled with ques-
tons.
"Where did the squire go last
night" the landlord of the inn asked
him.
Il don't know, the servant answer
ed, He took his gun about the mid
die 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.
l don't know where he stopped. l
can't image"
Malcolm Wausley felt dizzy. His
head seemed to whrl and his throat
to fill up
Without a word to anybody he got
back into his wagon and drove home
drove up to his door just as a light
chaise from the Hall pulled up, in
which was one Of the squire's grooms.
Malcolm was wanted at the Hall at
once. lie was to ride with the mes
senger.
The startled man dared not tell his
wife of the wonderful thing that had
happened
He Embarrassed his own horse and