Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-02-14

1
marry, say, and at once. want this
trouble or my mind. This looking after
one girl Is torment. and to think another
is coming. TIN be pandemonium here after
| that; yes, pandemonium, Tsay."
The old man groaned, jammed his glasses
once more over his eyes, resumed his pipe
and began smoking furIously.
Fingal felt that he had found an original,
and was immensely pleased.
| Il suppose" he ventured, that Miss
| Penroy has suit0rs in plenty, thenii'
| s'Suitorsl Young man, why shouldn I
she havei Fortune hunters, though, the
most of 'em; devilish fortune hunters, and
| I'll have none Of 'em, none OF 'em, say,
that WON'T
Isn't there one You appruveim
"Yes, there is one.''
Puff-puff-puff
Fingal waited some moments for the old
man to proceed. He seemed IN no hurry to
speak, so the youth broke the silence with:
The gentleman whom you approve is--''
Captain Starbright.''
Then the old man removed his Pipe aud
caressed his companions knee tenderly.
You never saw the captain, sirai
II never did
"a gentleman, every inch Of him; one OF
the old school. You could hang your soul
on his honor and IL would be safe, sir,
utterly safe, say
And Miss Penroyr'
"Oh, she likes HIM well enough, OF
course, but she's little backward about
acknowledging it. That's natural, you
know, perfectly natural. Girls Of to-day
| are so timid.H
9 To me Grace Penroy seems quite braye,
| Mr.. Vandble,''
'.Ehi Does shei so you've taken the
pains to notice, have youl" and the old man
showed up his glasses and eyed his visitor
from foot to head sharply. Doubtless he
/ was wondering IL this newcomer was TO put
in claim as one Of his granddaughter .
suitors. The young fellow seemed danger
| ously handsome, to say the least, and at the
! end of his examination the old man frowned.
Before he could speak again the sound Of
! wheels fell on the ears of the twain. Grace
| came out on the steps as rumbling stage
/ coach halted, with steaming horses, at the
| gate. A heavy trunk was dumped" from
! the rear of the vehicle, and then the driver
cracked his whip and the coach rolled on.
1 No one had alighted, and Grace gave ex-
preston to her surprise in words:
/ II wonder why she did not come. IT'S too
Iate now too ask the driver, suppose. That
must be my Cousins trunk"
81 don't think it is too late" uttered Fin
I gal, springing up and Fastening in pursuit
4 Of the stage, He was feet Of foot, and soon
1 overlook the numbering vehicle.
1.-THE gal u come toards night said
Iehu, in answer 10 Fingaps question
''Yaas, the chist was hern. She'll be along
with a private rig, was told =
l And FinRal brought this information back
/ to Grace and her grandfather.
I'D pesky sight rather she'd stay away
altogether" grunted the old man.
'Why, grandpain cried Grace.
II had, though. Her mother was the
worst female l ever saw. She'd a cata.
mount temper, and gave poor Jonas, her
! husband, no end Of trouble. II Lura's any
4 ike her mother want none OF her May be,
I though, she's like meek Jonas. II so, 10
I wouldn't take much Of hand to manage
| 1er."
"Grandpa, remember, that Lura hasn't
any father or mother now, and that we must
! pc kind TO the orphan
Eyes, yes, that's true, Oracle. Well DO
Sind to her, and she shall have half my fort
! lne if she behaves herself say that and
mean it, do "
The old man had various moods. At one
time he seemed harsh and stern, while per-
haps the next minute he would be all gym
patty and compassion. He had one soft
spot and that was love for his grand
I daughter.
Fingal excused himself aud was about to
depart when Mr.. Vandible said, suddenly
boy, l haven't settled with you for
smashing the head of the tramp who in
suited Oracle. How much do owe youi
Name your own price now. Don't be bash
full; can pay any amount from dollar up
to amillion, can"
The old man drew a well-filled wallet
from his pocket and proceeded TO open il
with pompous elaboration.
iWhy, grandpa!' exclaimed Grace,
shocked at the practically of the old gentle
man. But Fingal received tho offer in good.
part.
"Don't trouble yourself, Mr.. Vandibie,"
he said with laugh. ~ may crave your
hospitality on more than one occasion,
which, coupled with friendly smile from
Miss Grace, will be ample reward
eyes, yes; but, confound IL. that's just
what / don't want. TAe girls got more
youngsters hanging round her now than
she can manage
"Grandpa, why will you"
"Stopl stop! stop!" commanded the old
man, humping the boards with bis cane.
He looked very angry, and poor Grace was
completely crushed. She dared say no
more, and with a parting word Fingal
walked away.
"High-strung young buck, muttered the
old man, after the young hunter was gone.
"Grandpa," protested the girl. ''you have
offended the gentleman. am sure he wli
never come here again.
"Thats exactly right" chuckied Mr..
Vandible, resuming his pipe. II don't
want him hanging and dangling around.
There's that impudent Austin Wentword
III have TO travel the next time see him.
To think of girl having three lovers. It's
perfectly awful, outrageous, wicked, repre-
hensible and indicate say. Haven't
told you that Clinton Starbright was the
1 one approved Of, and the one you must
marry You know have, you huzzy, and
don't want any back talk, either, remem-
Der that now"
Again the old mans cane made the floor
gar with its owners emphatic earnestness
Grace knew the old mans moods full well.
As for back talk, she once INDUCED In 1t,
bat of late had been wise enough TO refrain.
She walked calmly into the house and sent
one of the men servants to bring in the
trunk that the stage had deposited at the
gate.
In the meantime Fingal walked with q
swift stride down the incline, and soon
stood in the very bottom Of the hollow, with
the roof of the old stone house looming up,
gray and grand as some old Roman pile Of
antiquity in the distance.
Here pausing, he dropped the breech OF
his light Winchester rife to the turf and
glanced back ut the rambling stone building
above
Lone Hollow he muttered.. slowly.
swell named, indeed It's lonely place
enough, that's true. I've found the dove
ant tho cote, now for the hawk who would
despoil it all. thought to meet him here.
wonder II that assault on Grace in the
woods was part Of the plot Patience,
fond heart we shall see Ha, / hear
wheels l woneer who comes now. There
can be but little travel on this road aside
from the Stonefieid STAGE
Stepping aside the young man waited
in the shadow Of bush until light
vehicle, drawn by span Of grays. came
Z opposite.
I zone moment, sir" called Fiusal to the
single occupant, dark, handsome gentle
man, lifting his cap. this is for you, be-
lieve.''
as the vehicle came to halt Fingal
pressed a folded note into the travellers
hand; then, without a word, strobe swiftly
away. As may be supposed, the gentleman
in the vehicle was ruystifed at the strange
+ proceeding
mo BE Continued
I