The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-17

tunity for us now just TO run in ard get
married! Come on, old girl, lend me
that wedding-ring a minute, I'll give it
you back in the church, No, thank
you, Mr.. Walter; we love you very dear
ly, but we are ladies, and we respect
ourselves"
In short, Julia confirmed Mary Bart
ley in her resolution, but she could not
console her under the circumstances.
Walter did not write line even to her;
she couldn't but fear that he was really
in despair, and would cure himself Of
his affection if he could She began to
pine; the roses faded gradually out of
her cheeks, and Mr.. BARLEY himself be-
gan at last to pity her. for though he
did not love her, he liked her. aud was
proud of her affection. Another thing.
Hope might come home now any day,
and If he found the girl sick and pining,
he might say this is breach of con-
tract.
He asked Mary one day whether she
wouldn't like change. II could take
you to the seaside" said he, but not
very cordially.
no. papa said Mary; "why should
you leave your mine when everything
is going so prosperously? 1 think I
should like to go. to the lakes, and pay
my old nurse visit"
And she would talk to you of Walter
Clifford?"
YES, papa" said Mary, firmly, "she
would; and that's the only thing that
can do me any good"
well, Mary" said BARLEY, IF she
could be content with praising him, and
and ii she would encourage you to be
n1flQnf-rIharQ Lot M NIL Of
Things went hard with Colonel Cliff
ford. lie felt his sons deSertion very
bitterly, though he was too proud to
show it; he now found out that univers-
ally as he was respected, it was Walter
who was the most beloved both in the
house and in the neighbOrhOOd.
One day he heard multitude shout
ing, and soon learned the reason. Bart
ley haG struck rich vein of coal. and
, tons were coming up to the surface.
Colonel Clifford would not go near the
place, but he sent old Baker to inquire,
and Baker from that day used to bring
him back number of details, some Of
them especially calling to him. BY de-
grees, and rapid ones, BARLEY was be-
coming rival magnate; the poor came
to him for the slack, or very small coal.
and took it away gratis; they fattered
ly of Colonel Clifford. which they had
never ventured to do before. But soon
circumstance occurred which mOrti-
fed the old soldier more than all. He
was sole proprietor of the village, and
every house in it, with the exception of
certain beer-house, flanked by an acre
and half of ground. This beer-hOuse
was a great eye-Sore to him; he tried to
buy this small free-holder out; but the
man saw his advantage, and demanded
E15O0-nearly treble the real value.
Walter, however, by negotiating in a
more friendly spirit, had obtained a re-
ductiOn, and was about to complete the
purchase for fl150. But when Walter
left the country the proprietor never
dreamed of going again to the naughty
Colonel. He went to BARLEY, and Bart
ley bought the property in five minutes
for f12O0, and paid a deposit to clinch
the contract. He completed the pur-
chase with unheard-of rapidity, and set
an army of wOrkmen to raise pit vii
lage, or street of eighty houses. They
were ten times better built than the
COlOnel's cottages; not one of them
could ever be vacant, they were too
great boon to the miners; nor could
the rent be in arrears, with so sharp
hand as the mine-Owner; the beer-houSe
was to be perpetuated, and nucleus of
custom secured from the miners, partly
by the truck system, and partly by the
superiority of the liquor, for BARLEY
announced at once that he should brew
the beer.
All these things were too much for
man with govt in his system; Colonel
Clifford had worse attack of that
complaint than ever; it rose from his
feet to other parts of his frame, and he
took to his bed.
In that condition aphysician and sur
geOn visited him daily, and his lawyer
also was sent for, and was clOSeted with
him for long time on more than one
occasion.
All this caused deal of speculation
In the village, and as system of fetch
and carry was now established by which
the rival magnates also received plenty
OF information, though not always ac-
heard what was going on, and put his
own construction upon it.
Just when Mr.. Hope was expected to
return came a letter to Mary to say that
he should be detained a day or two
longer, as he had sore throat and
fever, but nothing alarming. Three or
four days later came letter only sign
ed by him, to say he had slight attack
OF typhoid fever, and was under medical
care.
Mary implored Mr.. BARLEY to let her
60 to him. He refused, and gave his
reasons, which were really sufficient,
and now he became more unwilling
than ever to let her visit Mrs. EastOn.
This was the condition of affairs when
one day an old man with white hair,
dressed in black, and looking almost a
gentleman, was driven up to the farm
by Colonel Clifford's groom, and asked,
in an agitated voice, if he might see
Miss BARLEY.
Her visitors were so few that she was
never refused on speculation, so John
Baker was shown at once to her draw
ing-rOom. He was too much agitated
to waste time.
UOh Mice Rorf1ax co,I I,o 0xx-o oro