Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-05-08

She had dreamed Of it all night and thought
OF it all day; even In the excitement Of ex-
tracing the back 1.-THE from recalcitrani
and rather coarse minded Welsh farmer, with
strong views on the subject of 1.-THE, it had
not been entirely forgotten The farmer was
a tenant Of Owen Davies, and when he called
her "parson in petticoats and wus,n and
went on, in delicate reference to her powers
OF extracting cash, to liken her to "twc
legged corkscrew, only screwier," she, per-
haps not unnaturally, reflected that If ever
pace Beatrice-certain things should come
about, she would remember that farmer.
For Elizabeth had a very long memory, as
some people had learned to their cost, and
generally sooner or later, she paid her debts
in full, not forgetting the overdue interest.
And now, as she stood in the room unseen
and noted these matters, something occurred
to her in connection with this dominating
idea which, like ideas in general, had many
side issues. At any rate look of quick in
telligence shone for moment in her light
eyes like sickly sunbeam on a faint Decem-
Der mist; then she moved forward, and when
she was close behind Godfrey, spoke sud
denly.
"What are you both thinking aboutF' she
said in her clear, thin voice; you seem to
have exhausted your conversation
Godfrey made an exclamation and fairly
jumped from bis chair feat which in his
bruised condition really hurt him very much.
Beatrice, too, started violently; she recover
ed herself almost instantly, however
''How quietly you move, Elizabeth" she
said
mot more quietly than you sit, Beatrice.
| have been wondering when anybody was
going to say anything, or IL you were both
asleep
For her part Beatrice specialized how long
her sister had been in the room. Their con-
versation had been innocent enough, but il
was not one that she would wish Elizabeth to
have overheard And, somehow, Elizabeth
had knack Of overhearing things
"You see. Miss Granger said Godfrey,
coming to the rescue, "both our brains are
still rather waterlogged, and that does not
tend to flow OF ideas"
"Quite so,n said Elizabeth. "My dear
Beatrice, why don't you tie up your hair
| You look like crazy Jane. Not but what you
have very nice hair she added, critically.
DO you admire good hair, Mr.. Bingham
"Of course do" he answered gallantly,
''but it is not common"
| Only Beatrice bit her lip with vexation.
81 had almost forgotten about my hair" she
said; II must apologize FOR appearing in such
a state | would have done it up after dinner
only | was too stiff, and while was waiting
for Betty went to sleep"
II think there is q bit of ribbon in that
drawer. saw you put it there yesterday"
answered the precise Elizabeth. "Yes, here
It is II you like. and Mr.. Bingham win ex-
cuse It, can tie it back for you,n and with
out waiting for an answer she came behind
her, and, gathering up the dense masses Of
her sisters locks, tied them round in such
fashion that they could not fall forward,
though they still rolled down her back.
Just then Mr. Granger came back from
his visit to the farm. He was in high humor.
I The pig had even surpassed her former efforts,
and increased in a surprising manner, to the
number Of fifteen indeed. Elizabeth there
upon produced the two pounds odd shillings
which she had ''corkscrewedn out OF the re-
calcitrant dissenting farmer, and the sight
added to his satisfaction
"Would you believe it, Mr.. Bingham, he
said, ''in this miserably paid parish have
nearly Gl00 owing to me, &l0O in 1.-THE.
| There's old Jones, who lives out towards the
Bell Rock, he owes three years tithe-f34
lis. 4d He can pay and he won't pay-says
he's Baptist, and amt going to pay no par,
sons dues-though for the matter OF thai
he's nothing but an old beer tub Of a heather.
"why don't you proceed against him,
then, Mr.. GrangerT
"Proceedl have proceeded. I've got judg-
ment, and mean to issue execution in a few
days. won't stand it any longer he went
on, working himself up and shaking his head
as he spoke till his thin white hair fell about
his eyes. "I'll have the law Of him and the
| others too. You're a lawyer and you can
help me- | tell you there's a spirit abroad
which lust comes TO this-no man isn't 70
pay his lawful debts, except. Of course, the
parson and the squire. They must pay or &c
to the court. But there's law left, and I'll
have it, before they play the Irish game on
us heren And he brought down his fist with
a bang upon the table.
Godfrey listened with some amusement
SO this was the weak old mans sore point
money. He was clearly very strong about
that--as strong as Lady Honoria, indeed, but
with more excuse. Elizabeth also listened
with evident approval, but Beatrice looked
panied.
'sDon't get angry, father" she said; per
/ maps ne Will pAJ dACci ~ - boA " e1As
the law II you can manage any other way
| il breeds 80 much i'll blood"
s'Nonsense, Beatrice, said her sister sharply.
"Father is quite right There's only one way
to deal with them, and that's to seize theil
goods | believe you are Socialist about
property, as you are about everything else
You want to pull everything down, from the
queen to the laws Of marriage, all for the
good of humanity, and / tell you that your
idea will be your ruin. Defy custom and il
will crush you. You are running your head
against brick wall, and one day you viii
| find which is the harder"
Beatrice flushed, but answered her sisters
| attack, which was all the sharper because II
had a certain spice Of truth in it.
81 never expressed any such views. Eliza
beth, 50 / don't see why you should attribute
them to me- only said that legal proceed
ings breed bad blood in parish, and that i
/ true.n
81 did not say you expressed them" went
on the vigorous Elizabeth; '.you look them
they ooze out of your words like water from
a peat bog. Everybody knows you are 6
radical and freethinlzer and everythin
/ alsa that's had and mad and contrary to that