The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-03-21
CHAPTER VII.
MATTHEW'S FRIENDLY OFFER

most unhappy of girls. the most joyous
The Immediate prospect of poverty-for
the dame declined daily-the hard work
which began at daylight and ended at
bedtime, the certain knowledge that Ma
thew was not satisfied with simple re-
fusal-these things, which had before
filled my mind with terror. now appeared
like the imaginary specters of the night.
which cease to alarm when the day has
dawned To me it was more than the
dawn of day: it was the uprising of a
glorious sun of love and hope Ralph
loved me. Ralph was well, prosperous and
in high esteem. Ralph was already
wealthy; Ralph would come, and all
things would be well. whatever might
happen at the moment. Yet this | could
not tell to any. Mathew was not to know;
my poor old grandmother was tso old n5w
and too failing of mind and body, to caro-
for earthly things; my father had clean
forgotten the boy; my mother would not
greatly care to know; nor would it soothe
her anxieties to feel that we had protec
tor separated from us by the rolling seas
and by voyage of ten months or more
What good would be his far off treasures
to us. she would have asked, when what
we want is beef for the pot, and bread FIR
the board? AS for my fathers madness.
it increased every day. so that now our
cottage was palace indeed, every meal
was a banquet. and the small beer of my
brewing was champagne, port. Malaga, CT
Imperial Tokay But Mathew was too
much with him. and it made me uneasy
to observe how he complimented my
father on his wisdom. his resolution and
his wonderful success.
I'm all respects, madam" he said to my
mother. Il find your husband most sensi-
bic and full of sound Judgment have
taken his counsel of late in many private
matters of Importance
Then the Lord help you'll" said my
mother. sharply.
"What if he does exaggerate his private
fortune?" Mathew went on 1T is fail.
ing with many persons concerned in
trade"
IF you mean this in kindness, sir"
said my mother. Il thank you humbly for
your good opinion of my poor. distraught
husband If you mean it in mockery. you
are most cruel man.
Indeed. madam" he replied, bowling,
pray believe that mean it in kindness. Z"
He had no kindness at all in his nature
He designed these words to cover his in
iquitous purpose.
Go no 70 -
walk with my father in the garden. and
whatever wild things my father said he
would accept gravely as if they were in
deed words of wisdom. No one except
myself suspected him of sinister designs
and my father disclosed to him the whole
prodigious extent of his madness. so tina,
! could have cried with shame and hu
initiation. Mathew knowing well. as al
the world knew by this time. that he was
little better than the poorest in tn,
parish.
THE world. sir" the poor gentle
man would say with lofty air. has
yet to learn how great benefactol
simple London citizen may be- There
have been many benefactors acknowl
edge their greatness But wait. sir
until my will is opened and read. Tt
you. friend Mathew. | have bequeathed
poor SIC. 000-no more"
'.Oh. sirl" He bowed and spread his
hands. This is indeed goodness
1T is the duty of rich citizen to dis
cover merit and reward 1.-THE plain duty
| am a London citizen. and am perhap:
more proud of this position than becomes
Christian. The bulk of my fortune
have left to my daughter. whom design
in marriage for some great nobleman
But have not forgotten the poor of my
native parish. Mathew-no. no. and yor
will find, when my will is read, thai
schools. hospitals. marriage portions fol
the girls. and apprentice money for the
boys. will attest my remembrance of this
place.
"Sir." said Mathew. with grin of con
tent. You will be benefactor indeed.
Now. before answered Ralph's letter
which | kept for more than a month il
my bosom. reading it every day when
could snatch moment. Mathew came te
me. and after little preamble, Of which
| am going to tell you. reopened the dis
tasteful subject of courtship. was il
the garden. gathering herbs for a mint
julep. when saw him standing at the
garden gate. He looked so jocund, hs
smiled so pleasantly. and he wore so sell
satisfied an air. that | was quite certain
some evil thing had happened.
''Drusilla /" he said. Il have heard Ger
tain intelligence. You may depend upor
its truth. which is confirmed in every par
ticular. think that you should be ths