Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-12-06
CHAPTER vi.
TIE LETTER AT LAST.

1t was strange that. about the time
when Ralphs disappearance was first
heard of, rumors ran about the town that
perhaps the mill would turn out after ALL
to be the property of Mathew Humble,
that these rumors were revived at the ap
proach of Raluhs 2lst birthday, and that
again. when Mathew first began his ap
proaches TO me, the rumor was again cir
culated. BY the help of the fugleman
traced these rumors to the barber and
still with his help-because every man
mist be shaved and while being shaved.
must talk II traced these to mono other
than Mathew himself lie had then,
some object to gain. ! knew not what at
the time Later on discovered that his
design was to make it appear-should
Ralph ever return that ! had taken him
for husband when thought he was the
actual master and owner of all for be
lieved he allowed himself no doubt as to
the result of his offers. Doth it not seem
as If the uglier the older the less attract
i've man Is, whether In person or In
mind. the more certain he becomes of con
quering a woman $ hearth
The rumor on this occasion was moro
certain and distinct than before It was
now stated that Mr. Embleton was dis
covered to have made later will, which
had been proved and was ready to be
produced If necessary; that in this will
the testator, after deploring the badness
CT heart manifested by his nephew Ralph,
devised the whole of his property to his
nephew Mathew The barber. for his
part, had no doubt of the truth of this
report, but those who asked Mathew
whether it was true received mysterious
answers Gs that time would show. that
In this world no one should be- certain Of
anything that many Is the slip between
cup and lip that should an occasions arise
the truth Of the story would be tested.
such oracles as incline the hearers to be-
iicve all that has been said--and more.
Barbara, his sister. for her own part,
showed great willingness to answer any
questions which might be put to her But
she knew little. her brother, she said,
was close man. who sat much alone and
spoke little.
And then the fugleman told me a very
strange story indeed and one which
seemed to bode no good to any of us BY
this time so regarded Mathew that |
could not believe he could do or design
aught but evil. This was wrong. but he
was most certainly man Of very evil dis
position
His own private business. the fugleman
told mo this was nothing in the world,
as | very well knew. but the sharing of
rabbits hares. cartridges and other game
on the banks Of the river-led him some
times past Norwich Mill. in the evening
or late at night There was room in the
mill the same room in which Mathew
was vanquished and beaten-the window
of which looked out upon the river, which
is here broad aud shallow brook The
bank rises steep on the other side. and is
clothed with thick hanging woods in which
nc one ever walked except the fugleman,
and he for those purposes | have just
mentioned always alone and after sun
down. Now his eyes were like unto the
eyes of hawk, they knew not distance;
they could see, quite far off, little things
as well as great things, and the
fugleman saw night after night,
that Mathew Humble was sitting locked
up in his room. engaged IN writing or
copying something believe that if the
fugleman had known how to read, he
would have read the writing even across
the river Unhappily. he had never
learned that art Mathew was making a
copy, the fugleman said. of some other
document But what that document was
he could not tell 1t was something ON
large sheets of paper. and in big hand
writing He wrote very slowly, compar.
ing word for word with the papers which
he seemed copying Once when there was
a noise az of some one at the door. he hud-
died all the papers together. and bundled
them away In corner quickly and with
an affrighted air He was therefore doing
something secret. which means something
wicked What could 1t be?
Little he thinks. said the fugleman,
that Master Ralph Is sure to come home
and confound his knavish tricks. and trip
up his heels for him All. think see
him now in lace and rufiies and good
broadcloth, walking up the street with a
fine city madam on his arm.
should have been very well contented
with the lace rutEles and good broadcloth--
indeed, | wanted nothing better-but
wanted no fine city madam at the mill.
Later on learned what this thing was
which he took so long to copy and which
gave him so much anxiety But it was
like fire ship driven back by the wind
among the Tessels Of those who sent it
| forth.
One morning when | was busy in the
kitchen with household work. and my
mother was engaged upon the family sew
ing Mathew came and begged to have
some conversation with her de said that,
first of all he was fully acquainted with
her circumstances. and the unhappy out
look before her. when my grandmother
should die and leave Us all without any