The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-02-02

1
them for weeks together
Have you now, Thoughts" cried
Reuben. I'm the squire's time. sir?''
.'In the slnire's time remember
you, l think, Reuben
.Ay, am, sir. Sad changes have
taken place since then. My old master's
gone. and Mr.. Charles is gone, and the
Grange is now Oscar Dalrymple's
Il knew Of Mr.. Dalrynple's death.
What became of his son?"
He soon followed his father. It
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 . fine well
come for him, this riot"
Il was asking some particulars Of
1 "Hat Hdc tidHsYitSu siIiCC lily al.
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 OFF l knew him well. "
He fell into trouble, sir. answered
Reuben. "A nasty, random, wicked
London set got hold of him, and
feeced and ruined him, and he could
not bear up against il"
'Died of it?" questioned the
stranger
He killed himself,' interrupted
Farmer Lee. in low tone. HE
threw himself off one of the London
bridges one night. Westminster,
WASH t it, ReubenP"
.How deplorabler' said the stranger,
after a pause. WAS he buried hereP
Can you show me his grave?'
HE was never found, sir" an
swered Reuben. '.His hat was, but
his body was not. The tide carried it
away
And SO the Grange passed to Oscar
Dalrymple?'
Yes said Farmer Lee. He mar
ried the eldest daughter. Selma, Mr..
Y
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. l rent under him.
Oscar Dalrymple was always .
grasping man."
"Ah, sir, but you have no conception
what he is now" returned Mr.. 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"
"Very WE'LL
HE has taken it i'm his head to build
| finer in their places, but the poor la
borers would not 60 out, for there was
no other low-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
q 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"
I You would have been better of un-
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
generosity. I'VE have never called
this one squire; not man on the
4 estate"
IBID Mr.. Charles owe much In this
neighborhood when he dled?"
'.Nothing at ALL"
'.Docs he owe you nothing?"
Met echoed Farmer Lee. mot
he. | had sent some money to him
just before it happened. and / did fear
there was something wrong about that;
in short, thought it was lost; but it
was returned to me afterward, all
safe"
do you know" cried the stranger.
after pause Of consideration, lit APP
pears to me that you assume too easily
the fact Of Charles Dalrymple's death.
He may be alive. His body was never
found, you say"
This hypothesis was instantly at
tackled by Farmer Lee and Reuben. II
Mr.. Charles was alive. where could he
bep where could he have disappeared
to, and where could he have stopped?
No, no; he was dead, beyond all doubt.
Il must still maintain my opinion
that there is no certainty about it. In
deed, think the chances are that he ID
alive
"Then, perhaps you'll enjoy your
opinion in private cried Farmer Lee.
'.For to talk in that senseless manner
only makes us feel the fact Of his death
more sharply"
| what if / tell you / met him
abroad, since the period you mentioned
as having been that of his deathp" con-
tinued the stranger.
There was a dead pause. Reuben
breathed heavily. ''Oh, don't tamper
with us!' he cried out; IF my dear
young masters alive, let me know it.
Perhaps he is alive; perhaps he's near
us; perhaps he came down with you
tonight
The stranger unwound a shawl-hand-
kerchief, in which his voice and chin
had been muffied, raised lis hat from
his brow, and advanced from under
the shade cast by the stable wall, into
the moonlight.
Reuben! John Lee! do look any
thing like himp"
Farmer Lee and Charles Dalrymple
had to support the old man. His
knees bent, his strength went from
him, and they thought he would have
tainted; the joy Of recognizing his
young master, raised-as it indeed
seemed-from six years grave, was
too much for him. Tears partially re.
lieved him and he sobbed like child.
but it's magic" uttered the farmer,
when he had wrung Charles hand as il
he would wiring it of, Its nothing
| lass naaI vat ol;yoSs