The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-26

1
No, cousin; but never mind that. /
can put on long skirt
A skirt But. after all. it does not
matter a straw what you wear"
Next day, punctual to the minute,
| Walter drove up TO the door in an open
| carriage drawn by two fast steppers.
| He found Mr.. BARLEY alone, and why?
because, at sight of Walter, Mary, for
the first time in her life. had flown up
stairs to look at herself in the glass be-
fore facing the visitor, and to smooth her
hair, and retouch bow, etc, underrat
| ing, as usual. the power of beauty, and
| overrating utilities. BARLEY took this
| opportunity, and said to young Clifford:
Il owe you an apology, and most
earnest one. Can you ever forgive meI7
Walter changed color Even this
| humble allusiOn TO so great an iRsuli
was WoTmwoOd to- him. He bit his LIP
and said:
@No man can do more than say he is
| sorry. / will try to forget it. sir"
That is as much as | can expect"
said BARLEY, humbly. "But if you only
knew the art, the cunning, the apparent
| evidence, with which that villain Monck
| ton deluded me"
| That | can believe"
| And permit me one observation be-
fore we drop this unhappy subject for
| ever. If you had done me the honor
| to come to me as Walter Clifford, why,
| then, strong and misleading as the evil
| dence was. ! should have said, Appear
ances are deceitful, but no Clifford was
ever dislOyal."
This artful speech conquered Walter
! Clifford. lie blushed, and bowed lit
J tie haughtilv at the compliment to the
| Chffords. But his sense of justice was
| aroused.
you are right" said he. Unjust try
| and see both sides. If man sails un-
der false cOlors, he mustn't howl if he
is mistaken for pirate. Let us dis
miss the subject forever. | am Walter
Clifford nOw-at your service"
At that moment Mary BARLEY came
in beaming with youth and beauty, and
| illumined the room. The cousins shook
hands. and Walters eyes giOwed with
| admiration
After a few words Of greeting he
| handed Mary into the drag. Her father
| followed, and he was about 10 drive off,
when Mary cried ont, ooh, forgot my
skirt if | am to ride"
| The skirt was brought down, and the
horses, that were beginning to fret,
dashed off. A smart little groom rode
1
found another with two Saddle-hOrSeS,
one of them. q small gentle Arab geld
ing, had side-saddle. They rode all
over the farm, and inspected the build
lngS. which We're in excellent repair,
thanks to Walters supervision. Bart
ley inquired the number Of acres and
the rent demanded. Walter told him.
BARLEY said il seemed to him fair
rent: still, he should like to know why
the present tenant declined.
Perhaps you had better ask him."
said Walter. Il should wish to hear
both Sides"
That is like you" said BARLEY; ''but
where does the shoe pinch, in your opin-
iOn?"
We'll, he tells me in sober earnest,
that he loses money by it as it is; but
when he is drunk he tells his boon COM
paniOns that he has made seven thou
sand pounds here. He has one or two
| grass fields that want draining; but |
| offer him the pipes; he has only got to
| Law them and cut the drains. My Opin-
ion is that he is the slave of habit; he is
so used to make an unfair profit out of
these xcres that he.eann0t break him
self of it and be content with fair
one"
Il dare say you have hitit, said Bart
ley. swell, | am fond of farming; but
| / don't live by it, and moderate profit
would content me-"
Walter said nothing. The truth is,
edid not want to let the farm to Bart
ley.
BARLEY saw this, and drew Mary
aside.
should not you like to come here,my
child?"
"Yes. papa, if You wish it; and you
know it's dear Mr.. Hopes birthplace.
well, then, tell this young fellow so.
will give you an opportunity"
That was easily managed, and then
Mary said, timidly, Cousin Walter, we
should all three be so glad if we might
have the farm"
"ThreeY said he, "who is the third?H
"Oh, somebody that everybody likes
aud / love. 1t is Mr.. Hope. Such a
duck / am sure you would like him.
"Hopel Is his name Williamp
@Yes, it is. Do you know him% ask.
ed Mary, eagerly.
Il have reason to know him; he did
me good turn once, and l shall never
forget it."
; "Just like himl" cried Mary. HE is
always doing people good turns. He is
the best, the truest, the cleveresy, the
dearest darling dear that ever stepped
and second father to me; and, cousin
this village is his birthplace, and he
didn't say much, but it was he who told
, us of this farm, and he would be SC
pleased if could write and say, We
, are to have the farm-Cousin Walter
, says So"
She turned her lovely eyes, trimming
! with tenderness, toward her cousin
Walter, and he was done for.
"Of course you shall have it." he said
warmly. Only you will not be angry
with me if insist on the Increased rent
, You know, cousin, have father, too
sHd | must be just to him."
! ITO be sure, you must, dear" said
Mary, incautiously; and the word pene-
trated Walters heart as if a woman OF
! twenty-five had said it all of a sudden
and for the first time.
, When they got home, Mary told Mr.,
: BARLEY he was to have the farm if he
! would pay the increased rent.
THAT is alright" said BARLEY. TO.