The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-03-14

THE LETTER AT 1Asr

!" was strange that. about the time
when Ralph's disappearance was frs,
neard OF. rumors ran about the town tina,
perhaps the mill would turn out. after all
70 oe the property of Mathew Humble
mat these rumors were revived at the an
proach OF Ralph's 21st birthday. and that
again. when Mathew 6rst began his an
proaches to me. the rumor was again cir
cuiated by the help of the fugleman
traced these rumors tn tho h.ri,., 49,,
still with his help because every man
must be shaved and while being shaved
miist talk traced these to none other
than Mathew himself He had then,
some object TO gain | knew not what at
the time Later OH discovered that his
ues'gh was TO make It appear-should
naipn ever return that | had taken him
Tor husband when | thought he was the
aclua' master and owner of all for | be
"eVeo he allowed himself no doubt as to
the result of his offers Doth it not seem
as " the uglier the older the less attract
I've man Is whether in person or i'm
mihd the more certain be becomes of con
querlng womans hearth
The rumor on this occasion was more
certain and distinct than before 1t was
now stated that Mr. Embleton was dis
covered to have made later will. which
mad been proved and was ready to be
produced it necessary that in this will
the testator after deploring the badness
OF 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 1t was true received mysterious
answers. as that time would show. that
IN this world no one should be certain of
anything that many is the slip bet ween
cup and lip that should an occasion arise
the truth of the story would be tested
such oracles as incline the hearers to be
lieve ali that has been sad-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 a man of very evil dis
position
His own private business the fugeman
told me- this was othing in the world.
as ! very we'll knew but the sharing of
rabbits hares cartridges and other game
ON the banks Of the river led him some
times pas, Norwich Mill in the evening
o. late al night There was a room in the
mill the same room in which Mathew
was varJIuShed and beaten-the window
OF which looked out upon the river. which
Is here broad and shallow brook The
bank rises steep OH the OF her side. and is
clothed with thick hanging woods in which
no 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 Mat hew Humble was sitting locked
up in his room engaged in writing or
copying something ! believe that if the
fugieman had known how to read. be
would have read the writing even across
the river Unhappily he had never
learned that art Mathew was making
copy the fugleman said. of some other
document But what that document was
be 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
d noise as of some one at the door. he hud-
died al! the papers together. and bundled
them away in a corner quickly and with
an affrlghled air He was therefore doing
something secret which means something
wicked What could it beY
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 Alb. think | see
him now in lace and ruff1es and good
broadcIoth walking up the street with a
6ne city madam on his arm
should have been very we'll contented
with the lace rutf1es and good broadcloth-
indeed wanted nothing better but |
wanted no fine city madam at the mill.
Later on | learned what this thing was
which be took so long to copy and which
gave him so much anxiety But it was
ike fire ship driven back by the wind
among the vessels of those who sent it
forth
One morning when ! was busy in the
kitchen with household work. and nv
mother was engaged upon the family sew
ng Mathew came and begged to have
some conversation with her He said that
irst of all he was fully acquainted with
mel circumstances and the unhappy out
ook before her when my grandmother
should die and leave us all without any
income at all that being of compass
s'onate heart. be was strongly minded to
nelp them. and that the best way as we'll
~ be could Judge would be to make her
laughter Drusilla his wife This done,
ne would then see that their later years
would be attended with comfort and the
eIief of all anxiety
At frs: my mother did not reply She
had no reason to love Mathew whose un
Sindness to his ward was we'll known to
.el Again she had still some remains
family pride ieft-you do not destroy
woman s pride oy taking away her money
She thought being the daughter of we'll
TO do London citizen that her child should
look higher than a man who had NOT hinp