The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-09-06
Select Sturg.
THE NEW AGENT.

Susan, | tell you, L can 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 off. tell you, 'tain't no use. l
can't live so. Sometimes, when | git to
thinkin' of it right up an down-in earn
est feel as though I'd rather 90 to the
workhouse and have done with it,
II know it's hard, Malcolm; but, really,
couldn't it be harder ?"
Harder Be harder? What can YOU
imagine hardern what We have to endure
now ?"
II was thinking of the health of our
little ones, Malcolm, and of our own health
toe"
AYE" exclaimed the weary man, with
twist in his face that was comical, for it
was comical idea that had struck him,
land jest see what the health and robust
uousness of them youngkets is costin me-
| sometimes think. they Il eat us all up afore
they get their growth
Susan laughed, for she knew how fond,
ly and tenderly her husband loved those
same ;youngkets, and how much he would
sacrifice for their sakes
She was afraid he would be finally Civ
ing up the farm.
She was born on it, and she loved il
dearly, and it would pull terribly upon hel
heartstrings to leave it.
Her six children had been born beneath
that same sheltering roof, and, altogether,
her life had been very pleasant and hap
py one.
Yet she knew that they were paying al
exorbitant rent-altogether too much
more by far than the farm was worth. But
others did the same, and he and she must
bear with them.
All this she said to her husband as he
sat by the fire filling his pipe. She spoke
modestly, and kindly, and persuasively.
Malcolm lighted his pipe and smoked for
time in silence. At length he brought
his foot down with crash and burst.
Dang it all | didn't mean to tell you,
Susan, but l can't keep it no longer. Car.
ter says the squire's goin' to make another
rise on the rent"
''No, no, Malcolm. You do not mean
it?"
"It's just as true as gospel. Five shil,
Inns month. That's three pounds year.
HOh, Malcolm, don't believe the squire's
got any hand in the business. It's Carriers
own doin, now you depend upon it.
"I've thought O that myself, Susan; but
look: The young blood is aFaV on the
Continent-in Paris, believe, where he's
been ever since he come from Cambridge,
and he's spendin money fast tell you l
look to see the whole grand estate, hall,
abbey and all, put up to the highest bid
der one O. these days. All, faint as twas
when young Philips father was lvin'. We
weren't ground down then. He lived on
his place and looked out for hisself, and
now you see where the moneys goin' at
he laid up-thousands upon thousands of
pounds y
A further smoke in silence. and he
added
eff anything should happen at Master
Philip should be obliged to begin to sell,
this farm would be the very first bit O.
property to go. It's the farthest outlyin'
farm of the estate. Just think of it
We're nigh on to five miles away from the
Hall, and yet he owns all the land atween
here and there-every rood of it. What
a shame it is at young man without any
family, only his mother and two sisters,
should eat into such grand old heritage
so outrageously Halloc | declare it's
rainin'."
HWhy, it's been raining this half-houF,
Malcolm
swell, | never noticed it until now.
Eh who's that, | wOnder?"
1t was rap upon the outer door, NAL
colin got up and took candle and went to
answer the summons.
He found on broad door-stone young
man, tall and strong, clad in a rough forest
garb such as gamekeepers and foresters
were wont-to wear-leather breeches and
leather jacket, with strong leather CATERS,
and upon his head Highland bonnet. He
carried in his hand fowling-piece, with
shot-pouch and powder-horn at his sides.
Malcolm Wansley was not the man to
keep wayfarer at his door to tell his story
when the whole story could be read at a
glance
aAh, stranger got caught ia shower,
eh? Come right in. We've room, sir,
and bit O. fire to boot"
Come to bring him into the full light,
they beheld fne-looking man, nearly a
head taller than his host, and well-propor-
toned; his skin tanned by exposure to the
weather, his blue eyes bright and clear, his
face handsome, with look of keen intelli-
gence upon it.
The stranger spoke pleasantly and cheer
fully, and in laughing way described his
mishap.
He said the gamekeeper of an adjoining
estate was friend Of his, who had given
him permission to run down deer if he
could, but he hadn' done it, though he had
found a good wetting, which would help to
fill out the story of the day.
After he had partially dried his gar
ments, the good wife asked him if he would
take sup and bite, if she would set it
before him.