The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-01-26


fades away, had Mrs. Dalrymple, ik
q bright vision, appeared to the admi,
ing eyes of the London world; and sh
might have continued to enjoy IL
smiles and its sunshine, but for the in
sane rage for dress which attacked he
in its worst features and lured her OF
to her ruin. 1t is Turing many now.
CHAPTER VIM.
Things were almost coming to re.
volt; never We're poor tenant farmers
SO ground down and oppressed as those
on the estate of Moat-Grange. Rents
were raised, expenses, properly falling
on landlords. refused to be paid or al
lowed for. Mr.. Dalrymple, the present
owner, was ruling, with q hand of
iron. hard and cruel.
As to the Grange itself, the dwelling
mansion, it was the dreariest Of the
dreary. When Oscar Dalrymple,
through the extravaganza of his wife,
had been rendered liable for heavy
debts, he had sold off the better portion
OF the furniture, retained two or three
Of the rooms as habitable for himself,
wife and one servant, and closed the
shutters of the rest. There they lived
Q life OF penuriousnees; and Selma.
Mrs. Dalrymple, would sometimes un-
lock the doors Of the once familiar
rooms. and pace alone about their dusty
floors, in anger and remorse almost UNI
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES against her hus-
band, who need not have proceeded to
this extreme pass, and remorse for her
own folly. which had led to it.
Three years went by and things grew
worse; more wretched indoors, more
oppression out. One day MIR. Lee came
up to the Grange, respectable farm.
or. who had rented all his life, and hi,
father before hum. under the Dalrym.
pies.
Sir" began Farmer Lee. withou,
any circumlocution, when he was ad
mitted to the presence of his landlord
Il am come up about that paper which
has been sent to me from Jones, youI
lawyer. It's . notice that next Mi
chaelmas, when my lease will expire
the rent is to be raised.
''Well?" said Mr.. Dalrymple.
"A pound an acre.
'sWellp"
"a pound an acre." repeated Farmel
Lee. with increased emphasis, as if h,
thought he was not heard. ..Jone,
must have made mistake; you never
could have told him that, sir. NJ,
daughters think he wrote it when h'
was drunk; for every body knows tina
he has fits Of drinking"
''They are the Instructions I CAV
him, Mr.. Lee"
ITO raise my rent q pound q acre!'
echoed the farmer, forgetting his gram
mar in his excitement.
Exactly. The farm will bear it."
mo. it won't bear it, sir, and
won't pay it"
Il am sorry for that. Mr.. Lee, be
cause it leaves only one alternative"
''And what's that?' asked Mr.. Lee.
ITO substitute in its place anotice {.
quit"
ITO quit! to quit the farm! for me tx
quit my FARM! reiterated Mr.. Lee, il
his establishment. "Why, it has been m,
home all my life, sir, and 1t was mi
fathers afore me. Twas born in tha
farm, Mr.. Dalrymple, years and year,
before you ever came into the world
and mean to die in il. !"
Mr.. Dalrymple did not acquiesce d
object in words. He only looked a
him with his impressive face, and cold
colorless eye.
'.It's my labor, sir, that has made i
what it is" continued the farmer
"v'....cn r..y poor old father died, it wa
not haif the farm it is now. Early ant
late have l been at my post, workin,
myself and seeing that my men worked
n 1nk
to bring it to it's present fine condition
you can't deny, Mr.. Dalrymple, tina
it's the best worked and most flourish
ing land on the estate"
my good sir, do not deny it. %,
as you do; that It is too fiourishing Il
remain at it's present low rent"
1.-The rent is not low, sir; the rent
fair rent, fair for master and fair TO
tenant. Ask any impartial person, asl
Mr.. Cleveland, or ask Jones, and they'll
say AS do. You don't seem to tax,
into account, sir, that my money ha
brought it to what it is, and that hav,
not yet had return for my none,
spent Ii you raise the rent twent!
shillings an acre, the money may jus
as well have been chucked into tn,
dirt"
Il can make no alteration in my de
cision," said Mr.. Dalrymple. Il hav'
these complaints from day to day
nothing else but complaint. The lant
on my estate has considerably increased
In value, yet those who reap the benefi
object to pay higher rent. l had tw,
OF you here yesterday. Watkins ant
Bumford."
They have spent money on thei
farms, too, they have, and the lant
hasn't answered to it bad. Good farm
ers are Watkins and Bumford," noddet
the speaker, approvingly, 'but the!
have not spent half what have. Yoi
see, sir, we never looked for Mr.. Dial
rymple's dying young. and"
Are you speaking of Charles Dial
rymplcp" interrupted tho owner Of thu
Moat-Grange.
mo. poor fellow. / don't mean Mr.
Charles, mean his father. Squire
halrvmnla did 6iA vnanM1 air a Il