Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-03-11

| why, Uncle?"
New overseer be a chap fro Wales, and
nav manner o. good. All he thinks o. is 10
save money for the company, ami he dawn't
| 90 down hisSen once IN a se'nnight. Nav
the place be wuss than ever. Out alawng to
| the blue gallery, the sea is safe to come IN,
| some Of these days"
~ always said so,' returned. ITS an
| internal shame that nothing has been done"
''Saw it be, lad IsrOke to MeasteT large
| about it last meet, and he ha' promised to
| take last look at 'un before he gangs away.
1 says to him, says ], L dawn't care for my
sen, but I'm afeared for the men, Measter
large, and [ 90 hope summat III be done
| He were kind-spoken, as civil as he allays is,
though some folk dawn't like 'un."
| This was a gentle hint TO me. Knowing
| VIVA: | did, and how cruelty my Uncle's Sim
plcity had been imposed upon, | could hard
| lY refrain from committing myself, but L
| thought Of the possible consequences, and
| held my tongue
! BY and by my aunt came down, and we all
! brealliasted together; after which, my uncle
| went off to the mine. Not till he was gone
| did my aunt set free her tongue, but his de-
| partuTe was the signal for series of gueS-
| tiOns as to the cause of my unexpected re-
! turn. The old mans mind was too full of
| his own troubled thoughts to have much
| room for conjecture, always simple, he now
| took things as they came, in a daZed helpless
| manner pitiful to behold. With my aunt it
| was different. With her characteristic COM
| nonsense, she perceived that my coming
| was due to no mere attack Of inconsistencies,
| but betOkened urgent business on hand.
She soon came to natural conclusion
| that had been drawn thither by the news
| of the approaching marriage.
You had better ha' stayed away" she eX-
| claimed. "'Tis the avid tale o. the burnt
moth and the candle, lad! When Annie said
| she were gawng across TO see thee, l
were glad, thnkin zee might be company
! till each other; but she took zee the news she
| should ha' kept to hersen, and nawt would
| please zee but coming where you warn't
! wanted"
Never mind, aunt" l said, as cheerfully
as possible. Il am not going to break my
| heart, at all events"
May be nawt," she answered; "but you
was better far away"
AS soon as possible, L left the cottage, to
| think out the situation for myself Now
J that | had come home, felt in full force the
| awkwardneSS of my position. How was to
| take firm ground in Annie'S name. and yet
! keep the truth from my uncle, the shock to
| whose already shattered system SO much
| dreaded? From every point of view, indeed,
| the proclamation of the truth would be a
| calamity and scandal; yet it must be made
| for Annie'S sake, fol Madeline'S. My only
| course was to proceed as cautiously as posi-
| bic, first sound the main actor in the drama
| and ascertain what he had to say in his own
defense. With this in view 1 determined to
| 90 at once to R"druth House.
| had opened the gate and was passing in,
| when voice called me. | turned 1nd saw
| my cousin. She had followed me from the
| cottage, with her shawl thrown over her
| head to protect her from the rain. which was
| falling heavily.
Hugh" she cried, painting, and placing
| her hand on my arm, ''Where are you gOing?'
up to Redruth House. 1t was for that
| came"
Not to-day! Don't go to-dayv she ex-
claimed, trembling violently
81 have no time to waste" [ replied 'and
l must have it out at once. Go home, and
leave it all TO me! | have promised to see
you rghted, and l will keep my word"
But she still cIung to me, looking piteOus-
ly into my frowning face.
IF you must go, promise me"
WHAT
promise me that you will do nothing vio-
lent Hugh, dear, he is a gentleman do not
provoke him too much land remember-re-
member that | love him dearly"
Can you still say that, knowing how he
has used yOu?" [ answered, almost Savagely.
''WelI, you best know your own heart; and
l know mine. | came to have it out with
George Redruth and shall not rest until we
meet face to face"
''IIugh, for Gods sake
''There, there, do not be afraid" said,
''but do as | tell yOu-gO home and wait for
my return. [ promise you that | will be
careful. If only for my uncle'S sake, wish
to avoid public scene. But he must be
made to confess, and Miss Graham must be
warned"
lett her standing in the road, and looking
after me as | ran rather than walked up the
dreary avenue. At the last bend, just before
passed from sight, | turned and there she
stood still, watching. | waved my hand to
her before | disappeared. As [ came in
sight o! the house, | endcavore to keep
| very caiH but. in spite Of the effort, my ex-
| element grcW-&nI no wonder seeing the
nature Of my GRAND! But the chief cause
of my emolion WAS the fact that | should
soon, IN All probability, see Madeline Gra-
nam.
| WalF"@ y ill. up;n tn" fI0nt door and
r1u- IT," r. IT, f.w r."'0rHts tie door
was opened by a man-servant.
as your master at homer | asked.
'Mr. Redruth is in the draWing-rOOm," re-
piled the fellow. What name shall / say?'
Il will announce myself" L answered,
| stepping into the hall.
Having already visited the house, knew
my way. As strobe across the hall, the
man followed me, and tried to bar my pas
sage; but pushed him aside.
stand out of the way" l said, and, plac-
! ing my hand on the drawing-room door, [
| threw it open. The man fell back in aston
| iShment and l strobe in.
| For my own part, | felt very like savage;
| but l was in no sense of the word master of
| myself. had the grace, however, to take
off my hat
l found myself in a large, elegantly fur
niShed room, looking to the south and open
| ing on a garden terrace. TO my simple, I'M
! sophisticated gaze it was splendid enough
! for room i'll a palace; but III my present
| temper l was not to be daunted, even by the
| presence of a king.
CHAPTER XXNIu.
| FACE To FACE.
Once Inside the room, l looked keenly
| about me- to discover who the occupants
might be. | could see only two-George