Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-04-21

fine light night. He had strolled near the stables. when he was accosted by some one who stood aloof, under the shade of their side wall.
 Whats s the matter here, that peo- pie should be running, in this way, into the Granger"
 'It's something like rise, should call it, answered Reuben. 1.-The whole estate has been put upon awfully."
 "Who lives at the Granger Mrs. DalrympleP'
 ''Are you a stranger, then," asked Reuben. "that you do not knowp' ''I am stranger. Until this night have not been in the neighborhood for many years. But l was formerly on intimate terms with the Dalrymple family. and have stayed here with them for weeks together. Reuben. 'In the squire's time, sir?''
 'ln the squire's time I remember you. l think, Reubcn.' ''Ay, 1 am, sir. Sad changes have taken place since then. My old masters gone, and Mr. Charles is gone, and the Grange is now Oscar Dalrymple's ''
 '1 knew of MT. Dalrymple's death. What became of his sonP''
 ''He soon followed his father. It will not do to talk of, sir.'' "What was the cause of his deathP" returned the stranger. Before Reuben could answer, MT. Lee came up, and commenced a warm comment on the nights work. '1 hope there Il be no bloodshed," said he. ''but MT. Dalrymple has sent of private messenger to the police sta tion."
 ''This gentleman used to know the family" interposed Reuben. "and has come to the place tonight for the first time in many years. It's a fine well come for him. this riot"
 ''l was asking some particulars ot what has transpired since my ab- sence," explained tho stranger. "I have been out of England, and now thought to renew my acquaintance with that family. What did Charles Dalrymple die of? I knew him we'll"
 "He fell into trouble, sir," answered Reuben. "A nasty, random, wicked London set got hold of him, and feeced and ruined him, and he could not bear up against it.''
 "Died of ita" questioned the stranger.
 "He killed himself" interrupted tai iAeI Aee, HI LOW tOne '1e threw himself off one of the London wasn't it, ReubenP"
 ''How deplorable!" said the stranger, after pause. "Was he buried herep Can you show me his gravel"
 'He was never found, rsir,' an- swered Reuben. "His hat was, but his body was not. Tho tide carried it sway.'
 And so the Grange passed to Oscar DalrympleP'
 "Yes," said Farmer Lee. .'He mar ried the eldest daughter, Selina, MT. Charles sister. And something not , pleasant was up about them. They went to London, and Mrs. Oscar got into debt, and her husband brought her back here; and since then he has been an awful landlord, grinding us down to powder. I rent under him." ''Oscar Dalrrymple was always a grasping man."
 "Ah, SIT, but you have no conception what he is now," returned Mr. lee; 'there's not more cruel tyrant going. | We are most of us to be turned out next week from the farms that have sheltered us all our lives, that we have i spent our savings upon and improved
 
 | the place, sir, you must remember some poor cottages on the common" 1 ''Very wei"
 ''He has taken it in his head to build finer in their places, but the poor la borers would not go out, for there was no other low-rented novels for then to turn to. So he pulled the roofs off, and forced them out, and they are living in barns, without any better shelter. These are the men that are making the disturbance indoors now. Then Thomas-but it's of no use troubling 8 stranger with these details. He's playing old Nick over us, sir. and noth- ing less. It was a fatal night for us that took MT. Charles"
 You would have been better off un- der him, you think?" ''Think!' indignantly cried the | farmer, 'Id give the half of what I have saved, for the sake of myself and those around me. if MT. Charles was squire now" he added, in burst of generosity. 'We have never called this one squire: not man on the estate."
 | Did MT. Charles owe much ln this neighborhood when he dledp'
 Nothing at all."
 "Does he owe you nothingP"
 Mel" echoed Farmer Lee. "Not he. 1 had sent some money to him just before it happened. and did fear there was something wrong about that; in short, thought it was lost; but it was returned to me afterward, all safe."
 Do you know" cried the stranger, after pause of consideration, .'it ap- pears to me that you assume too easily the fact of Charles Dalrymple's death. He may be alive. His body was never found. you say"
 This hypothesis was instantly att tackled by Farmer Lee and Reuben. If MT. Charles was alive, where could he be? where could he have disappeared to, and where could he have stoppedP No, no; he was dead, beyond all doubt
 Il must still maintain my opinion that there is no certainty about it. h. l I kl- oL H.. |