Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-04-19
MOAT-GRANGE,
BIZ ARs HENRY Woon.

1 wished to do. should I have the lease
renewed on the same terms? And
thass what he wrote me in reply. His
end followed soon upon it."
Oscar Dalrymple took the note, yell
low with lying by, from the farmer
and cast his eyes over it:
DEAR LEK--Put what money you like upon
the ,f farm; for hereby pass you my word that
Truly y. yoqss;
He thought of me and of this prom
ise on his deathbed, the squire did,"
resumed the farmer, land charged his
son to fulfill it. Mr.. Charles told me
SO himself. and that it should be all
right"
''Charles and his father are gone,
repeated Oscar Dalrymple, tossing
back the letter with a gesture of con-
tempt at Farmer Lees simplicity.
THAT paper is not worth farthing."
Not in law; am aware of that, sir;
but 1 thought you need only look at it
to act upon it. The squire was almost
like father to you, Mr.. Dalrymple,
and l never supposed but you would
wish to carry out his wishes. have
felt as secure, having tina. document
by me, as if it was fresh lease"
MIR. Dalrymple rose. II will not de-
tain you longer, Mr.. Lee; your time
is valuable"
and what's my answer, sirp"
That you pay the additional rent
demanded, or give up the farm"
Farmer Lee was quiet man, little
given to bursts of anger. but he could
not control some harsh epithets, direct
ed to Oscar Dalrymple, Us he walked
toward his own land. In turning
sharply out of a field, he came upon
two ladies, ono young and very nice
looking. the other getting in years, of
thin. white feature and gray hair.
Law, ma'am," cried he, touching
his hat to the elder, I'm glad to see
you out again."
"Ay," She said, II have had long
bout OF it, the longest illness ever had
In my life. l am getting better, but
slowly; and this fine spring day tempt
ed me forth.
''And what is it that has been the
matterP" asked the farmer. 1--WE
never could learn the rights of it. Old
Reuben told my daughter Judith that
it was as much weakness as any thing"
"Reuben was right" said Mrs Dali
rymple. :'Weakness and grief, that
has been chiefly the matter with me.
Try as will. Mr.. Lee, can not over
get my poor sons dreadful death. 1
have been ailing ever since, though it
never told seriously upon my health
till this last winter. And l have a
great deal of trouble in many ways"
Trouble, ma'am, there's nothing
but trouble for all of u.s." spoke the
farmer.
"You don remember me, Mr.. Lee"
cried the young lady.
your face. think had used to see
you with poor Master Charles and the
young ladies'"
IL am Isabel Lynn; you remember
pow," she said, holding out her hand.
cay, l do" answered he, heartily
shaking it. "And if what we used to
think was true. we should have had
you amongst us for good, had Master
Charles lived"
She turned away her face blushing
deeply, almost to tears, with her UNI
happy membranes.
And lucky thing If it had been
you and Master Charles to reign at the
Grange, instead of what is now. I
dom mean any disrespect to Miss Sc
lima, ma am" he added to Mrs. Dali
rymplc, you are not afraid l do; but
her husband is hard master"
"You need not tell me he is" re-
turned Mrs. Dalrymple, her eye kind
ling. II know it too we'll"
"A good many of our leases are out
this year, and he is raising us all-rais-
ing us shamefully. Mine pound an
acre.
"A pound an acrer' echoed Mrs,
palrymple,
"Not shilling less, ma'am. Jones
sent me the notice yesterday, so just
put on my Sunday coat this morning,
and have been up to the Grange, and
all the answer have got is that I may
pay it or leave the farm. 1 showed
him that letter of your husbands,
ma'am, promising to renew the lease
to me on the same terms to justify my
laying out money on the land and
homesteads. 1t was just as if 1 had
shown him a bit of waste paper"
"Unjust!" murmured Mrs. Dali
rymple.
cts worse than unjust, ma am, it's
robbery. laid out my hard savings
under that specific promise, and I
might just as well have chucked the
money naked into the earth. There Is
nothing but oppression going on from
one end of the farm to the other"
"And fear that nothing else must
be looked for from him." sighed Mrs.
Dalrymple. Il wish he had never be-
come my son-in-law. Selma is his
wife, and the disgrace of these doings
seems to reflect on u.s."
eft m oa q harl dov that fook Mr.
Charles 1 from n us Miss Iynn .0GA hope
you won't forget to come and see us,
while you are here; my daughters
would feel hurt"
''Oh, I shall often come" she re-
piled. II am going to stay all the
summer with Mrs. Dalrymple, if she
will have me. Remember me to
Them"
Ihaz xaa1.tod A. d;stanao haxr;un