The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04

Inc table stout jar containing Hollands
winch ne had already begun to drink.
Pretty Drusillal" he cried. astonished.
nave you brought the money!"
NO." | said Il come tn learn If vo,
are in earnest or in lest
In JEST" Then he swore loud cath
See you. my lass: if that money is not
Pald next week. your house will be sold.
MAKE your account of that But if you
comply with my conditions, the papers
shall be torn up
Then am come to tell Won. Mathew
that although | shall not comnlv with
your conditions, the cottage will not be
Sold"
why not?"
Because first of all. that mortgage is
false | know now what you did. You
caused my father to sign one paper. be-
lieving it to be another That is a fraud,
and hanging matter, Master Mathew"
he laughed, but uneasily. and he turned
pale Also. which is hardly worth the
noting. ne swore great oath.
1T liet" he cried Prove It'll"
i can prove it, when the time comes
meantime, reflect on what have said II
Is wicked and detestable plot. Reflect
upon this and tremble"
he laughed again. but uneasily.
There is another reason" | said.
why You will not sell the cottage It is
TINS fou are afraid that Ralph may
come home and demand an account.
Well. can tell you this; that he will not
come home just yet. But. if you do this
thing as sure as | am alive, Mathew,
will write to him and tell him ALL | shall
tell him how yon have prosecuted me to
marry you. not because you want me for
your wife, and though you have had your
answer dozen times over but because
you want to plague and spite your cousin.
L will tell him, next. how you have spread
false reports about another will and how
you have whispered that he is turned
highwayman. And lastly. will tell him
how you have practiced upon the kind
heart of a poor demented man, and made
him sign his name in testimony of your
own foul plot and falsehood. | will not
spare you. | will tell him all l will beg
him to return post haste. and to bring
with him officers of justice. Then. in
deed, you may look for no mercy, nor fol-
anything short of the assizes and New
castle jail"
spoke so resolutely. though perhaps
through ignorance spoke foolishly that
| moved him and he trembled.
Yet he clustered He said that ali
women are liars. as is very well known
that the boy was long since dead am
buried; else why did he not return tx
claim the property That. as for my
story. he did not value it one farthing
while, as regards my accusation, he wouls
laugh. In fact, he did laugh, but no
mirthfully
Come. Drusilla. he said; your fathe
is welcome to the money, for aught care
| do not desire to sell the cottage 81
down and be friendly. Tell me all abou
the boy and look, my lass"-his eyes wer
cunning indeed-''look you. Write to the
boy; tell him, if you will, about tn,
money. Tell him that am willing not t,
press it if he will give reasonable assur
ance or security of his own in exchange
Let Ein, for instance, give me mortgage
on the mill, and let him. since he is Sc
prosperous. pay the interest himself"
This was trap into which | nearly fell
But | saw in time that he designed to fine
out in this way what he had to fear
Il have told you. | said, what l shall
DO"
''Ah your story, doubt, is but made
up by woman's wit. Drusilla you are
cunning baggage. Come. now. give over:
stay here and be my wife; thou shalt be
mistress in everything. AS for Barbara,
am tired of her sour looks. She scolds
all day. She may pack; she makes the
meals uncomfortable She NAV vanish;
she stints the beer, We will keep house
without her She finds fault from morn
ing to night. She is al
You called me- Mathew? Barbara
suddenly opened the door and stood be-
fore us Her eyes followed me as | went
away with malignity difficult to describe,
and Mathew. sinking back into his chair,
feebly reached out his hand for the lar of
Hollands