Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-01-17

which he was will
irg to disclose; for Mr.. Henry, having for
some while been plunged in n brown study,
rose at last from his seat and reminding the
colonel there were matters that he must at
tend toy babe me follow him Immediately to
the office.
Once there, he sought no longer to dissem-
BILE his concern walking to and fro in the
room with a contorted face and passing his
hand repeatedly upon his brow.
1--WE have some business he began at last,
and there broke Off, declared we must have
wine, and sent for a magnum of the best.
This was extremely foreign to his habtudes,
and, what was still more so, when the wine
had come, he gulped down one glass upon an
other, like a man careless Of appearances.
But the drink steadied him.
you will scarce be surprised, Nackellar,"
says he, "when l tell you that my brother,
whose safety we are all reioiced to learn,
stands in some need of money"
l told him had misdoubted as much; but
the time was not very Fortunate as the stock
was low.
mot mine" said he. There is the money
for the mortgage"
l reminded him it was Mrs Henry's.
Il will be snswerable to my wife," he
cried, violently.
And them" said I, there is the mort
gage"
Il know" said he, sit is on that l would
consult YOU"
| showed him how unfortunate a time it
was TO divert this money from its desti-
nation, and how, by so doing, We must lose
the profit of our past economies, and plunge
back the estate into the mire | even took
the liberty to plead with him; and when be
still opposed me with a shake of the head
and bitter, dogged smile, my zeal quite
carried me beyond my place This is mid
summer madness" cried 1, land l, for one,
will be no party TO it."
you speak as though l did it for my
pleasure" says he. But have Il child now:
and besides, love order; and to say the hon
est truth, Mackcllar, | had begun to take a
pride in the estates" He gloomed for a mo-
ment. But what would you havef' he went
on. "NOthing is mine, nothing. This days
news has knocked the bottom out of my life
| have only the name and the shadow of
things; only the shadow. There is no sub
stance in my rights
They will prove substantial enough be
fore a court" said l.
He looked at me with burning eve, and
seemed to repress the word upon his lips; aud
repented what | had said, for ! saw that
while he spoke of the estate he had still a
side thought to his marriage. And then, of
sudden, he twirChed the letter from his
pocket, where il lay all crumpled, smoothed
1t violently on the table, and read these
words TO me with Il trembling tongue. "'My
dear Jacob'-this is how lie beYns!" cries
he" My dear Jocob, | once called you so,
you may remember: and you have now done
the business, and flung my heels as high as
Cllfel.' What do you think of that, Mackel-
lar says he, "from an only brotherf | de-
clare to God liked him very well: | was al
ways stauch to him: and this = how he
writes But | VIII not sit down under the
imputaton" twalking to and fro)-"I am
rs good as he, / am better man than he; |
cal on God to prove it, | cannot give him
all the mOnsuous sum he asks; he
knows the estate to be incompetent;
but | viii give him what | have
and il Is more than he expects Ihave borne
ali this too long. See what he writes further
on; read it for yourself: | know you are a
nigGardly dog A uiSgardly dog |, mig
Gardiyf Is that true, Mac-.llar, You think
1t is;' really thought 10 ould have struck
me at that. "Oh, You all think so! Wen,
you shall sec, and he shall see, and God shall
see II ! ruin the estate and 60 barefoot, |
shall stun this blcodsucker. Let him ask all
all, and he shall have it! 1t is all his by
rights. All" he cried, "and | foresaw all
this and worse, waen lac would not let me 90 "
lie poured out another glass Of wine and was
about to carry it to his lips when | made so
bold IA to lay finger on his arm. lie stopped
moment. You are right said he. and
flung glass and all in the iiYcplace. Come.
let us count the money
| burst no longer oppose him; indeed. |
was very much affected by the sight OF so
much disorder in a man USUALLY 80 controlled.
and we sat down together counted the money
and made it up in packets for the greater ease
OF Col. Burke, who was to be the bearer
This done, Mr.. Henry returned TO the hall.
whore heand my old lord sat all night through
with their guest.
A little before dawn | was called and set
out with the colonel lie would scarce have
liked less responsible convoy, for he was a
man who valued HIMSELF nor could we af-
ford him one more diSnifed, for Mr.. Henry
must not appear with the free traders 1t
was very bitter morning Of wind, and as
we went down through the long shrubbery
the colonel held himself muifled in his cloak.
Sir" said |, this is a great sum OF
money that your friend requires. | must
suppose his necessities TO be very great"
1--WE must suppose So" says be, | thought
dryly, but perhaps it was the cloak about his
mouth
~ am only servant of the family" said l.