Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-09-12


gan at last to pity her, for though he
did not love her, he liked her, and was
proud of her affection. Another thing,
Hope might come home now any day,
and if he found the girl sick and pining,
he might say this is a breach of con-
tract.
He asked Mary one day whether she
wouldn't like a change. Il could take
you to the seaside" said he, but not
very cordially.
"No, papa" said Mary; @why should
is going SO prosperously? [ think I
should like to go to the lakes, and pay
my old nurse visit"
"And she would talk to you of Walter
CliffOrd?"
Eyes, papa" said Mary, firmly, "she
would; and that's the only thing that
can do me any good"
well, Mary" said BARLEY, eff she
could be content with praising him, and
regretting the insUperable obstacles,
and if she would encourage you to be
patient let me think of it,"
Things went hard with Colonel Cliff
ford. He felt his sons desertion very
bitterly, though he was too proud to
show it; he now found out that univers-
ally as he was respected, it was Walter
who was the most beloved both in the
house and in the neighborhOod
One day he heard a multitude shout
ing, and soon learned the reason. Bart
ley haG struck rich vein of coal. and
tons were coming up to the surface.
Colonel Clifford would not 90 near the
place, but ne sent old Baker to inquire,
and Baker from that day used to bring
him back number of details, some of
oil +O h DxTI do
greeS, and rapid ones. BARLEY was be-
coming a rival magnate; the poor came
TO him for the slack, or very small coal,
and took it away gratis; they fiattered
him, and to please him, spoke sighting
ly of Colonel Clifford. which they had
never ventured to do before But soon
circumstance occurred which morti-
fed the old soldier more than all. He
was sole proprietor of the village, and
every house in it, with the exception of
a certain beer-hOuse, fianked by an acre
and half of ground. This beer-house
was great eye-sOre to him; he tried to
buy this small free-holder out; but the
man saw his advantage, and demanded
91500-nearly treble the real value.
Walter, however, by negotiating in a
| more friendly spirit, had obtained a re-
duction, and was about to complete the
purchase for s1150. But wnen wafer
left the country the proprietor never
dreamed of going again to the naughty
/ Colonel. He went to BARLEY, and Bart
ley bought the property in five minutes
for e1200, and paid deposit to clinch
the contract. He completed the pur-
chase with unheard-of rapidity, and set
an army of WOrkmen to raise a pit vii
lage, or street Of eighty houses. They
were ten times better built than the
COlOnel'S cottages; not one of them
could ever be vacant, they were too
great boon to the miners; nor could
the rent be IN arrears, with so sharp
hand as the mine-OWner; the beer-hOuSe
was to be perpetuated, and nucleus of
! custom secured from the miners, partly
r. *; r.: SYSTEM aud partly by the
superiority of the liquor, for BARLEY
announced at once that he should brew
the beer.
All these things we're too much for
man with govt in his system; Colonel
Clifford had a worse attack of that
complaint than ever; it rose from his
feet to other parts of his frame, and he
took to his bed.
In that condition aphysician and sur
geOn visited him daily, and his lawyer
also was sent for, and was clOseted with
him for a long time on more than one
occasion.
All this caused a deal of speculation
in the village, and as a system of fetch
and carry was now established by which
the rival magnates also received plenty
of information, though not always ac-
curate, about each other, Mr.. BARLEY
heard what was going on, and put his
! own construction upon it.
Just when Mr. Hope was expected to
return came letter to Mary to say that
he should be detained a day or two
longer, as he had sore throat and
fever, but nothing alarming. Three or
four days later came letter only sign
ed by him, to say he had slight attack
of typhoid fever, and was under medical
care.
Mary implored Mr. BARLEY to let her
go to him. He refused, and gave his
| reasons, which were really sufficient,
and now he became more unwilling
than ever to let her visit Mrs. Easton.
This was the condition of affairs when
one day an old man with white hair.
dressed in black, and looking almost
gentleman, was driven up to the farm
by Colonel Clifford's groom, and asked,
in an agitated voice, if he might see
Miss Barley.
Her visitors were SO few that she was
never refused on speculation, SO John
Baker was shown at once to her draw
ing-room. He was too much agitated
to waste time.
ooh, Miss Barley" said he, eve are
in great distress at the Hall. Mr.. Wal
ter has gone, and not left his address,
and my poor master is dyingl"
Mary uttered an unfeigned exclama-
ton Of horror.
AN, miss" said the old man, "God
hlnSS Won. Won feel for I'm not on
the old mans side, miss: I'm on Mr..
Walters side in this as [ was in the
other business, but now see my poor
old master lying pale and still, not long
for this world, do begin to blame my
self. l never thought that he would
have taken It all to heart like this. But,
there, the only thing now is to bring
them together before he goes. We
don't know his address, miss; we don't
know what country he is in. He sent
line to Miss Clifford a month ago from
Dover, but that is all; but, in course, he
writes to you--thdt stands to reason;
you? and we shall all bless you"
Mary turned pale, and the tears
streamed down her eyes. ooh, sir"
said she. I'D give the world if could
tell you. [ know who you are; my poor
Walter has often spoken of you to me,
Mr.. Baker One word from you would
have been enough; would have done
anything for you that could. But he
has never written to me at all. I am as
much deserted as any of you, and have
felt it as deeply as any father can, but
never have felt it as now. What! The
father to die, and his sons hand not in
his; no look of love and forgiveness to
pass between them as the poor old man
1nounc h -as-1I &c re