St. Paul daily globe., 1893-01-29
ERNEST DESMOND'S PLOT.

Chicago News-Record.
From the yeranda of his spacious
mansion Ernest Desmond could over
look all Arburdale and the fields lying
round about. He could see Walnut
Ridge in the distance and the river
winding down the valley towards the
lowiands; he caught the first and last
look at the sun, breathed the purest at
mosphere and reveled in conscious
ness OF personal pre-emnence over all
his fellow creatures.
His grandfather had laid the founda-
tions Of the Desmond fortune, his father
had increased it to an enormous extent,
anu dying left successor in his son
Ernest, who combined with the DeS-
mond taste for money-maKing his
mothers overpowering ambition and
strength of will.
He looked a long way ahead, laid
plans accordingly, and then went for
ward TO the accomplishment OF his de-
signs, unconscious of obstacles, and
many man found out to his cost what
it meant to cross him.
He was not thirty live, and for the
first time in his life acknowledged to
his inner soul, with which he often held
prolonged consultation, that he was in
love.
Whether Annie Wilbur was quite fit
to be a Desmond had been question of
long speculation. The doubt. however,
was suddenly removed when. on going
out of town for few weeks, he had
become the guest OF friend with whom
Miss Wilbur at the time also stood in
ri lott Jn Foil JIp -,
love, and hencefOrth was frequent
caller at her home.
He made 10 haste with his wooing,
for he had no doubt of his acceptability.
and if tremor of uncertainty ever did
flash over him iJ was 0uleted in an in
slant by his indomitaole will The idea
that she might reject him, Ernest Des-
mOnd, Esq, the richest and most influ-
enIial man in all the country around,
was too ridiculous fol moments tOler-
at on.
One day he resolved to purchase
strip of the BarstOW estate lying along
the river and erect null thereon, for
he realized that there was sufficient
water power, il dam were built to
turn large amount of machinery.
Young Arthur Barstow was just
emerging from his minority, and in
few weeks would have con troll of the
property. "Barstow is young, and | can
make a good bargain out of him if l am
careful" Desmond soliloquiZed as he
drove down the hill through the village
to the BarstoW place OH the outer edge
of the little town.
He found Arthur at home. and. after
a few pleasant Remarks, cautiously in
quired about the property.
Am going to build a mill" said Ar
thur. ITS fine location, and had not
the property been tied up we would
have mad one long ago"
lit will take considerable money,
won't it?' asked Desmond, without
evincing his yexatlon.
Yes" said Arthur, but my uncle
will advance half, and when the mill
gets to going it will soon pay for ITSELF"
After some further conversation. DeS-
mond confessed that he thought it
poS-site for a mill and asked what he
would take for the land. Arthur did
not wish to sell. Desmond made all
offer, then increased it, but Arthur
would not sell.
"Pll have the place yet" he said to
himself as he drove away. It'll only
cause little bother"
He tried tue uncle, whose one great
Desmond passed any money into the
uncle's Golfers or not is uncertain, but
at any rate the uncle abandoned the
scheme and young BarStoW was left
without the means of building the mill.
Desmond made all astonishing offer
and awaited Developments. Everybody
thought Barstow foolish for not accept
ing, but he had the Idea of mill in his
mind, and somehow or other it should
be built in spite of Desmond, who he
suspected mad something to do with his
uncle'S abandonment of the enterprise.
He began correspondence with men
outside of AlD0rdale, and the result
was that one day il man appeared from
the East, looked over the ground and
went away, but from that time prepara-
tlOnS were made for the erection of a
dam and a mill.
Desmond was enraged, for through
out the whole transaction he had not
been consulted. He knew that i'm the
course OF time the owner OF the mill
site would be- a man of power in that
section of the country, but that any one
but himself should have the honor and
reward of building ArbOrdale into city
aroused all his antagonism.
His love for Annie Wilbur, however,
increased day and night, and at last he
resolved to propose; so he wandered
over to the Wilbur house and Invited
Miss Annie for walk. They sat down
under spreading oak and chatted
pleasantly Of one thing and another for
long time, for Desmond could be
entertaining when he chose.
He felt unusually happy, for was he
not about to confer the greatest honor
that lay in the power Of man Of his
Cto in thp Xynrl6 for
fair but humble maiden? He opened
his lips and spoke; told her of his love
and alteration; fell upon his knees and
asked her to make him the "happiest of
mortalS."
Miss Wilbur rose and looked at him in
aStoniShment. "Have you not heard of
my engagement TO Mr.. BarstOW?" said
she.
A cloud blackened Desmond's radiant
features. lie stammered an apology.
wished her good fortune and left her
looking after him pityinglY.
He soon recovered his equanimity, and
from that time was gracious on all oc-
casions to Arthur Barstow, but in his
heart hated him with all the vehemence
of his nature.
Arthur and Annie we're to be married
as soon as the mill was i'll operation,
WulCii nOulu UC lIlC IlCAG
fhe year went by as most years do.
MI. Desmond was always kind and had
won warm place in the esteem of both
Arthur Barstow and Annie Wilbur.
Everything seemed pointing them to
happiness. Arthur worked hard, and
from early in the morning until late at
night could be seen supervising opera
tious at the mill.
uOne day when berries were ripening |
Annie took basket and crossed her |
fathers meadow. entering the woods |
which covered the slopes of the sur
rounding hills. She followed a wooded |
path for some distance and then climbed |
a declivity, which was covered with |
berry bushes.
She hau filled her basked and entered |
the woods again when she was startled |
by the sound of voices. A name was |
mentioned that caused her to stop and |
listen. With trembling hands she put |
aside the bushes and crept into the |
thicket. Closer and closer she crept, |
until she could see into a little open |
snot where an old shan had onon