The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-08-28

around
.It's all ! have left," said Mrs.
Dirk. land / could have let it half q
dozen times over, ii it hadn't been re-
served for you, Cousin Naomi.
You'll take me at reduction from
the usual prices, l suppose?" said Mrs.
Lonsdale-
Il stall charge you just what l
charge everybody else, neither more or
less" answered Mrs. Dirk.
But I'm a relative" pleaded Mrs.
Lonsdale.
What good does that do me?" said
the widow, fixing her blue eyes full on
Mrs. Ionsdale. '.My terms for room
of this size are thirty shillings week. !"
"But that is too much" whined
Mrs. Lonsdale.'
How much did you expect to pay?"
asked Mrs. Dirk with q curious sparkle
in her eyes.
'.In this wilderness here" said Mrs.
Lonsdale, twelve shilIings would
be-"
IF those are your ideas we never
shall come TO terms said Mrs. Dirk.
''Bus if you are really cramped for
money"
My dear Mrs Dirk" said the rich
mans wife, 'yo have no idea of the
perpetual demands on us for money" !"
Il will take you for twenty-five shill-
ings." Mrs. Dirk completed her sent
ence as if the other had not spoken.
And the bargain was completed.
Mrs. Lonsdale had not been in the
house a week, before she took her
husbands cousin severely to task.
That horrid old man in the faded
oliye-green suit has the best room in
the house." said she. The very
best"
"Yes," said Mrs. Dirk, ''he is my
mothers uncle. He was always very
good to my poor husband"
"Sut I'm told he only pays half
price?"
That is my affair." said Mrs. Dirk.
'.But is it true?'' insisted Mrs. Ions
dale.
Yes, it is true confessed the
widow. He is very old. and can't go
up and down stairs, so of course he
must have the tirst-floor room"
''BNt he hasn't any property?"
"He owns Carragee Farm, across
the mountains" said Mrs. Dirk, "but
nobody will rent it of him because the
land is SO rocky, and the farmhouse
WAS burned down last fail, when there
were so many fires in the woods. Be-
yond that he has nothing"
Mrs. Lonsdale curled her lip.
''Such impudence,n said she. '.No-
body has any right to live to be seventy
years old without having laid up some
little provision for the future.
Il was thinking" said Mrs. Dirk,
''that perhaps Cousin Mortimer Ions
dale would contribute little some
thing to his support, as we are equally
related
You may be very sure that he will
not" said Mrs. Lonsdale, with en-
phasis.
Very well," said Mrs. Dirk calmly
ale shall never want while l can help
him"
The very next week, however, old
Mr.. Darrow was found dead in his
armchair. And by will he had left
everything he possessed to his grand
niece, Mary Dirk!
Il wish you joy of Carragee Farmn'
chuckled Mrs. Lonsdale. .'Of course
youth have to pay taxes on it, so it
will absolutely be money out of pock-
et"
at was all he had to give" said
Mrs. Dirk.
Meanwhile, the family was prosper
ING. Sarah WAS engaged to marry q
thrifty young farmer of the neighbor-
hood. Helen was earning a good liv-
ing.
Lizzy was contemplating the setting
Hp OF small mifliner's shop on her
own account-and Rosie was in high
favor at Millingham Place.
Even Mrs. Lonsdale admitted that
her grave French cook could not excel
the Syllabus, creams, delicate cakes,
and delicious puddings which these
young damsels compounded, with the
help of new-laid eggs and country
cream.
Pm almost sorry our rooms are en-
gagged at Saratoga" said the city
lady. Il am getting rather to like
Moon Mountain. And your table is
decidedly good. Mary"
But, just lis she was packing her big
trunks for the removal to the Mecca Of
modern fashion, Mr.. Lonsdale himself
came down.
Well" said the lady airily, ''what
is the news, Mortimer"
Bad news" said Mortimer in n
hoarsc accent. 1--WE are ruined! The
business has gone to wreck-the
cashier has fed to Belgium-and We
haven't cent TO call our own"
Whercupon, naturally enough, Mrs.
Lonsdale went into Mysteries.
When Mrs. Dirk came in, Naomi was
wildly loading her husband with re-
proaehes. Mortimer Lonsdale stood
leaning against the mantel, with some
thing glittering III his hand. Mrs. Dirk
went up TO him and took it away with
gentle authority.
Give me that pistol. Mortimer.
said she. Get up, Naomi, and leave
off crying and sobbing. If ever you
needed to be q woman, you need it
nown'
I'VE are ruined!-we are ruinedw
shrieked Naomi, tearing her hair.
Il never can redeem myselfn' said
Mortimer huskily. You had better
have let me shoot myself, Mary"
"Pshaw!" said Mrs. Dirk curtly
Suicide is the last resort of the cow
ard. Don't YOU know. Mortimer, that
it IS always darkest just before day
lightP"
Il don't know what you mean"
said he.
Then listen to me. The old lawyer
has just come over from Carragee
Farm. He says that they have struck
q rich vein of iron on the rocky hills
there a stock company want to buy
it of me for five thousand pounds. and
I've agreed to sell it. Uncle Darrow
was As mucn your granduncle SIS he
was mine. Wen divide the money,
Mortimer. you and l."
But Eve no right to it. Mary" fall
tered he.
Not by law, perhaps" said the
widow, ''tut you have by equity-at
ali events, half Of it shall be yours.
What do l want OF five thousand
poundse Half will be great riches for
me. The girls are all doing well, and
like to lead busy life. Nay, Morti-