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


off my bones I'm starvln myself you
are starvn'; and the Lord knows our
children are poorly enough off. tell
YOU faint no use. l can't live so.
Some times, when / git TO thinhn' Of
it right up an down-in earnest
feel as though I'd rather go to the
workhouse and have done with it.
81 know it's hard, Malcolm, but,
really, couldn't it be harder"
Harder BE harder! What can you
imagine harder'n than what we have
to endure n0w2"
81 was thinking of the health of our
little ones, Malcolm, and of our own
health, too.
Aver exclaimed the weary man,
with twist Of his face that was com
ical, for it was a comical idea that
had struck him, 'and jest see what
the health and robustuousness of them
younkets is costin' me. | sometimes
think they'll eat us all up afore they
get their growth
Susan laughed, for she knew how
fondly and tenderly her husband
loved those same ''yOungkets," ana
how much he would sacrifice FOR their
sakeS.
She was afraid he would be finally
giving up the farm.
She was born on it and loved it
dearly, and it would pull terribly
upon her heaatstrings to leave it.
Her six children had been born be-
meath that same sheltering roof, aud
altogether, her life had been a very
pleasant and happy one.
Yet she knew that they were paying
an exorbltant rent-altogether too
much more by far than the farm was
worth. But others did the same aud
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 per
suasively.
Malcolm lighted his pipe and smoked
for time IN silence. AT length he
brought his foot down with a crash
and b'rst.
Dang il ALL l didn't mean to
tell you, Carter says the squire's
gon to make another rise ON the
rent.
mo, no, Malcolm. You don't
mean lt2'
ITS just as true as gospel. Five
shitlu's month. That's three
rounds "A year
"Ob, Malcolm, | don't believe the
sQuire's got any hand in the business.
It's Carriers own dom, now you de
pend upon it"
I've thought o that myself, Susan;
but look: The young blood is away
on the contnent-in Paris, where he's
been ever since he come from Cam
bridge, and he's spendin money fast.
/ tell you | look TO see the whole
grand estate, hall, abbey and all, put
up 10 the highest bidder one O these
days Ali, faint as twas when young
Philips father was liyin'. We weren't
grounn 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 thous.
ands of poundsl"
A further smoke in silence, aud he
added.
IF anything SHOULD happen at
Master Philip should be obliged to
sell this farm would be the very first
bit O property to go. It's the tarthest
outlyiu- farm of the estate. Jest
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-eyery rood of it. What a
shame it is at young man without
any family, only his mother and two
sisters, should eat into such a grand
old heritage spontaneously. HOlloo
/ declare its ralniu'.
"Why. It's been raining this half
hour Malcolm.
"Weu never noticed it until how.
Eth who's that, | wonder
1t was a rap upon the outer door
Malcolm got up and took candle
and went to answer the summons.
lie found on the broad duOrstoue a
young man, tall and strong, clad i'm
a rough forest garb such as game6eeu-
ers and f0resters were wont TO wear
leather breaches and leather jacket
with strong leather CATERS. and upon
his head Highland bonnet. He car
ried ia his hand a fowling piece. with
pouch and powder Eorn 10y his side.
Malcolm Wansley wasnot the man
to keep wayfarer ut his door to tell
his story when the whole story could
be read mt a glance,
"Ah stranger! got caught iu q
shower ELI. Come right in, We've
room. SIR, and bit o. fire boot
Come 10 bring MIN into the full
light, they beheld a fine looking man,
nearly head taller than his host
and well proportioned; his skin tan
ned by exposure to the weather, his
blue eyes bright and clear, his face
handsome, with a look Of keen intelli
gence upon 1t.
The stranger spoke pleasantly and