Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-07-15

what lamentable thing it was that
he should be at the head of a fine es-
tate. What life's prospect was be-
fore her. And yet, perhaps, few would
be inclined to pity her, for her own
| reckless extravaganza, her deceit to-
ward her husband, had led to it. But
for that, he might never have become
what he was.
Suddenly an even tramp of feet was
heard outside the house, and before it
had struck Selma what it might be, and
given time to bolt and bar the doors,
| the indictments of the common were
in the hall, their numbers considerably
swelled. 1t looked a formidable inva-
| sion-was it murder they intended, or
was it arson, Or what was it not? Sc
lima in her terror flew to the top of the
| house, three stairs ut time, and the
servant maid flew screeching after her;
they both, with one accord, seized upon
rope, and the great alarm-bell
| doomed out from the Grange.
Up came the people from far and
near; up came the fire-engines, the lat
ter feeling exceedingly aggrieved at
| finding no fire; the farmers. disturbed
in the midst of their pipes and ale,
rushed up from Miss Lees; Mrs. Dial
rymple and Mrs. Lynn, followed by
| Reuben, also went; and, in short, every
body went.
| The hall was a scene of contention.
Oscar Dalrympie stood in the midst of
| his undesirable visitors; he could not
| get rid of them, and they would insist
upon being heard.
Poor old Reuben, gricvcd to the
heart at the aspect of affairs altogeth-
er, went outside the house, and paced
about in the moonlight, for it was
fine light night. He had strolled near
the stables. when he was accosted by
| some one who stood aloof, under the
shade of their side wall,
whats the matter here, that peo-
pie should be running, in this way, into
| the Granger"
'.It,s something like rise, 1 should
call it, answered Reuben. 1.-The
whole estate has been put upon
awfully."
'.Who lives at the Grange? Mrs.
Dalrymple?"
Are you stranger, then" asked
Reuben, ''that you do not know?'
Il am stranger. Until this night
| have not been in the neighborhood
for many years. But | was formerly
on intimate terms with the Dalrymple
ldHlllN, anu nave stayed mere Win
them for weeks together
Have you now, thought cried
Reuben. lin the squire's time, sir?"
you, 1 think, Reuben
SAY, | am, sir. Sad changes have
taken place since then. My old MASTER
gone, and Mr.. Charles is gone, and the
Grange is now Oscar Dalrymple's
1 81 l-npw of Mr. Ia lryn n1p' death
What became of his son?"
He soon followed his father. 1t
will not do to talk of, sir.
'What was the cause of his death?"
returned the stranger.
Before Reuben could answer, Mr..
Lee came up, and commenced a
warm comment on the nights work.
Il hope there'll be no bloodshed," said
he, ''but Mr.. Dalrymple has sent off a
| private messenger to the police sta
ton
'.This gentleman used to know the
| family" interposed Reuben, "and has
come to the place tonight for the first
| time in many years. It's a fine well
come for him. this riot"
Il was asking some particulars of
what has TRANSFERRED since my abb
sence," explained the stranger. Il
have been out of England, and now
/ thought to renew my acquaintance
with that family. What did Charles
Dalrymple die of? l knew him well. ="
''He fell into trouble, sir answered
Reuben. "a nasty, random, wicked
London set got hold of him, and
tleeced and ruined him, and he could
not bear up against it.
'.Died of itP" questioned the
stranger.
He killed himself" interrupted
Farmer Lee, in low tone. He
threw himself off one of the London
bridges one night. Westminster,
wasn't it, Reuben?''
How deplorabler' said the stranger,
after pause. WAS he buried here?
Can you show me his grave?'
''He was never found, sir" an
his body was not. The tide carried it
away"
land so the Grange passed to Oscar
Dalrymple?" 49,.
Yes said Farmer Lee. "He mar
ried the eldest daughter, Selma, Mr..
Charles sister. And something not
pleasant was up about them. They
went to London, and Mrs. Oscar got
into debt. and her husband brought
her back here: and since then he has
been an awful landlord, grinding us
down to powder. | rent under him"
Oscar Dalrympie was always a
| graspiDg man.
"Ah. sir. but YOU have no conception
what he is now, returned MIR. Lee;
'there's not more cruel tyrant going.
We are most of us to be turned out
next week from the farms that have
sheltered us all our lives, that we have
spent our savings upon and improved
to what they are. And-as you know
the place, sir, you must remember
some poor cottages on the common"
Every well. p"
ale has taken it in his head to build
finel in their places, but the poor la
borers would not 90 out, for there was
no other Iow-rented novels for them to
turn to. So he pulled the roofs of, and
forced them out, and they are living in
barns, without any better shelter.
These are the men that are making the
disturbance indoors now. Then
Thomas-but it's of no use troubling
stranger with these details. He's
playing old Nick over us. sir. and moth
ing less. 1t was fatal night for us
that took Mr.. Charles"
You would have been better off I'M
der him, you Think"
Think Indignantly cried the
farmer I'D give the half of what
have saved, for the sake of myself and
those around me, if Mr. Charles was
squire now,' he added, in burst of