San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-29
CHAPTER III
MR.. BARCLAY THINKS FOR HIMSELF.


So another ten years had slipped away,
and the house opposite, which had been
empty for two years, was getting in very
bad condition-I mean as to paper and paint
Nobody will take it as it is, Sir John, /" the
agent said TO him in my presence.
Then it can be left alone" he says, very
gruffly. GOOD morning"
"Well, Mr.. Burden" said the agent, as I
gave him a glass Of wine in my pantry, "it's
a good thing he's SO we'll off; but it's poison
to my mind to see houses lying empty"
Which no doubt it was seeing he had per
cent on the rents of all he let
Then Mr.. Barclay spoke to his father, and
he had to go out with flea in his ear, and
when, two days later, Miss Virginia said
something about the house opposite looking
so miserable, and that it was a pity there
were no bills up to say it was to let, Sir John
flew out at her, and that was the only time I
ever heard him speak to her cross.
But he was 50 sorry for it that be sent me
to the bank with a check directly after, and
| was to bring back a neat fifty pound note,
and | know that was in the letter had to
give Miss Virginia, and orders to have the
carriage round so that she might go shop
ping.
Now, I'm afraid you'll say that Mr.. Bar
clay Drinkwater was right in calling me
Polonius and saying l was as prosy as a col
lege don; but if don't tell you what brought
all the trouble about, how are you to under
stand what followed! Old men have their
own ways; and though I'm not very old, I've
got mine, and if l don't tell my story my
way I'm done.
Well, it wasn't week after Mr.. Bodkin &
Co., the agent, had that glass of wine in the
pantry, that he came in all of hustle, as he
always was, just as if he must get everything
done before dark, and says he has let the
house, if Sir John approves
Not so easily done as you'd think, for Sir
John wasn't, he said, going to have anybody
for an opposite neighbor, but the people
might come and see him if they liked.
l remember it as well as if it was yester-
day Sir John was in bad temper, with
a touch of gout-bin 27-'25 port, being
rather an acid wine, but great favorite of
his. Miss Virginia had been crying, and I
had heard Mr. Barclay make use of a word
that ought never to have been used in that
house, unless it was by Sir John, who, being
master, had a right to do as he liked The
trouble had been about Mr.. Barclay going
away. He'd finished his schooling at college,
and was now 81, and fine, strong, handsome
fellow, as wanted to be off and see the world
but Sir John told him he couldn't spare him.
'No, Bar" he says in my presence, for II
was bathing his foot-''if you go away-II
know you, you dog-youll be falling in love
with some smooth faced jade, and then
there'l be trouble. You'll stop at home, sir,
and eat and drink like a gentleman, and
court Virginia like gentleman; and when
she's 2l you'll marry her, and you can both
take care of me till die, and then you can
do as you like"
Then Mr.. Barclay, looking as much like
his father as he could with his face turned
red, said what he ought not to have said,
and refused TO marry Miss Virginia; and he
flung out of the room: while Miss Virginia
IT. h noafin,tsdy