The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-03-28
CHAPTER VIII.
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BTie"Ous uOuUl aHu anxiety FOR nO'
,nly might his enemy as he considere,
him. appear at any moment to demand
strict account. but he knew very wei,
that if he pushed on his suit or ATTEMPTED
any deviltry with us | might send fol
Ralph and ask his protection Yet coule
my story he truet How could | know
and alone. of his welfare and the plac.
of his dwelling? Was it possible ht
thought. that such a secret if there wa.
any secret. should be intrusted to the
Keeping of mere girl1 If the boy wa:
really doing we'll why did he not return
on his twenty first birthday and claim hi,
inheritance? So that the more he though,
about it, the more he tried to persuad,
himself that the thing was false Ant
yet he was afraid. could see that he was
continually haunted by the fear of what
might happen He sought me often and
begged for information concerning his
cousin Next. he tried my father. but
his memory as regards the lad was quite
gone. and my mother. but she took no in
terest in the subject, and said she knew
nothing about the boy for her part
Yet" said Mathew. your daughter
pretends tc know where he is and what
he is doing
Then" replied my mother sharply
Lord help the mani go and ask my
daughter -
But she will not tell me.
Then how can I? Hank We. Master
Mathew; you come here too often Nv
daughter hath given you her answer
She bears no love to you, she will have
none of you Go, then. and leave us alone
We are poor enough, God knows but not
so poor as to thrust husbands Oh our girl
against her will Leave us to ourselves.
good man. and find another wife
After this. Mathew remained quiet
again for three or four months That is
to say. he came no more to the house
So great and reasonably great. was my
suspicion of him that | was certain he
would do something to revenge himself
upon me. or to get me in his power Yet
know not could not guess-what he
would do or in what way he could iniure
me. as if the Vaccinations of wicked men
can ever be suspected and guarded against
as if the head of him who is desperately
wicked may not conceive. yea and exc
cute things which an innocent girl would
believe incredible The first alarm was
caused by visit from Barbara who came
to see my mother and myself, together OF
separately She said she was messenger
from her brother who whatever might
say or think was the most forgiving and
the most long suffering of men; that he
was perfectly prepared, if would make
submission. ask pardon for the injurious
things had said, and reveal what knew
of RAJ phi viz. where he was living. what
he was doing, and what were his inten
tons: to pass over ALL and to take me
once more into favor
Good Lordl" said my mother Does
the man think he is the Great Bashaw?
Favor. indeedr'
"Beggars. said Barbara, must not be
choosers
At these words my mother famed up.
and asked Mistress Barbara many ques
tions relating to her birth. parentage.
wealth. religious professions. personal
beauty and SO forth. leaving her no time
to answer any This is. with respect to
the memory of kind parent. manner of
speech common among women-even well
bred city madams when they are angry
Finally. she said that there had been quite
enough said about Mathews proposals,
and that he was to understand again. and
once for all. that they were distasteful;
upon which Barbara coughed. and said
that she had delivered her message. that
she had no desire. for her own part. for
the alliance. which would as certainly be
as distasteful to herself as it was to Mrs
Hetherington. and more so. for her brother
had right to look for fortune. which
would be of much more use to him than
baby face. that she was surprised. being
messenger of peace. and seni by man of
substantial estate. as all the world knew.
TO be thus treated by folk who were ex-
pected shortly to come upon the parish.
and the daughter to be glad of honest SER
vice and a crust. But enough said
''Hoity toityi" cried my mother. This
is brave talking. indeed. from plain millers
and simple farmers. Is the world going
upside DOWN."
Barbara went away. but returned
little before Christmas. Mathew. she re-
peated. was of so Christian disposition
that he was still waiting for submission
and to know where the boy was to be
found She also held out her skinny finger
in warning. and when laughed and re-
fused either to make submission or to tell