The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-09-11

My tine is not my own just now. he
said "If you'll send me your letter IN put
it into Spanish for YOU but l have no time
to call at your hotel. P"
This was said with d cide1 tore that set
tied the question.
Il see," thought the vicar ale is not the
man TO walk into any little trap may set
for him.
TN send the letter to your private ad-
dress this evening" he sail
you had better send it here | live a
little way out of Grandchester
The vicar assentei, wished Mr. Foy Good
morning" and went away, Ten minutes
afterward be went lack to kibble & UNI
pleby's, saw the clerk he had seen first, and
said:
81 may as well have Mr. Toys address, in
case l shouldn't be able 10 get my letter
written before he leaves busine S"
Certainly, sir Mr. Foy hives at Par
minter-Rose Cottage, Lawson lane
Thanks ! may not want to send 10 him
there, but its a. well to he on the safe side
Good morning
Good morning, sir, said she clerk aloud
"Fidgety old gentleman he calculated, in
wardlY
farIninter was a rustic village seven
miles from Grandchestcr. 1t did not lie in
the direction affected by Grandchester mer-
chants or GrandChester tradespeophe. Here
were no Gothic mansions, no fair Italian
villas, spTingiug like mushrooms from the
soil-one year a confusion Of Inns and NOR
tar tubs, stacked flooring boards and rough
hewn stone, and the next all smiling among
geranium beds and ribbon bordering, velvet
lawns and newly planted Strawberries None
Of tAa commercial wealth of Grandchester
had found its way to Parminter The VII
lage was still villase-a mere cluster of
laborers' cottage, two or three old home
steads, and half dozen small dwellings of
a shabby genteel type.
Among these last was Rose Cottage, a
small, square house, with plaster walls,
fright with greenery and scarlet berries,
even in this wintry season. A bow window
below, rustic lattices above. Just such a
house as man with considerable taste and
| an inconsiderable income would choose for
| himself. The small garden in front of the
| bow window was in admirable order, yet
the place had a deserted look somehow, Mr.
leworthy thought, as he rang the bell.
He rang cree, twice three times with nc
| more effect than if Rose Cottage had been a
| toy house inhabited by Dutch dolls. This
was aggravating. There was a meadow on
one side of the cottage, where half dozen
| sheep We're browsing contentedly. The vicaI
| climbed the hurdle which divided this pas
| ture from Lawson lane and went round &c
the back of the cottage Here there was a
small garden, neatly and tastefully laid out,
but there was no more appearance of human
| life at the back of the house than in the
| front
81 suppose my gentleman comes home al
night and lets himself in with latch key,
the vicar said to himself, much provoked a,
| having travelled seven miles without result
He was climbing the hurdle on his return
to the lane when small girl in very shor,
| skirt-a girl of timii aspect carrying beel
| jug-dropped him a courtesy and said:
| "Please, sir, was it you a-ringing of thu
bell just now''
"Was it mel7 ejaoulatel The vicar, impa
| tiently. "Yes, it We're"
And then, smiling on the small girl, for b,
had a heart large enough for ever SO many
parishes of children. he sail:
| ~ am not rexed with you, my dear; | an
angry with fate. Tell me all you know
about that cottage and I'll give you half
crown
The girl gasped She had never posse ise
| q haif-crown hut she had an idea it mean
abundance Her father counted his wages
by half-crown'. AMI there were not many il
wee Is wage
Please, sir, Mr. Foy lived there with hi
sister, hut they've left
"oh, they've left. have theyl When die
they leavea'
Last Monday, sir, and the lady she wa
| very i'll, sir, and be took her away in
| cab"
"And Mr. Foy has not been back SINGER
mo. sir. He left for good, and be CAV
the key of the cottage to my mother, anC
the agent is 10 put up board next week
and the house is to be let 1t was took fur
nished, and it is 10 be let furnished again.
"Did they live quite alenei Had they n
servantr
"No, sir, never no regular servant Mothe
used to do the cleaning twice week
Mothers very sorry they be gone. The,
was good to mother"
"How long had they lived thereT
"Nigh upon year"
"Aud the lady was Mr. Foy's ssterf'
"Yes, SIR
sand now take me to your mother"
The girl looked wistfully at the jug.
"if you please, was to fetch fathers beer
sir
Il see And if you don't father will b
angry"
ayes, sin"
"Then you shall 60; but first tell me wher