Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-04-08
"very mely not, but nevertheless,
"a Bible -

'cAy hAcig hos' o"s
what was it?''
"A Bible"
"Just like him; and we had two fam
lily ones to begin with, not to speak OF
the little ones you have id almost every
room.n
"In the same way, Stephen, people
gave US napkins enough for three gener-
atoms, and silver mugs enough to serve
all our friends. Unce's Bible was by no
means an ordinary one"
"How not?n
at has been in the Hawick household
since A. ID. 1916, and contains the fam
lily register for more than two hundred
years. | AM the last of our branch !;
uncle thought | would like to have it. 1t
is queer old book with great brass
clasps. made uncle two solemn promises
over it."
"What were theyl"
"That | would never part with it
under any circumstances unless it was
to give it back in his charge, and
and"
"Well, what else2'
That when every other source of
help and comfort failed me | would
go to it-don't look SO angry, Stephen. "
IL think nave good cause to be an
CRY; it is like phophesy of i'll fortune.
Why should he forespeak sorrow for yeu?
And why should he suppose that you
would need help or comfort | could
not give your If he had given you a
thousand pounds it would have been more
to the purpose.
Maggie looked quickly up. She had
never heard such sentiment from Ste
phen's lips before. Then she laughed
gayly.
"A thousand pounds, Stephen Why,
what on earth should we do with so much
money!"
"Buy and drain Druid's Moss, Mag
gie."
Maggie drew her eyebrows together
and looked wonderingly at Stephen, who
had risen and was pacing the floor with
rapid, thoughtful steps.
"Why, love. " she said anXiously, "what
can you mean2 The Druid's Moss What
is that worth2"
"a few lecches and wild birds now,
NluSSlC, Dttb uClCs anu uOlG1 VI SOAoCH
wheat and rich meadow grass if it is
drained. | was talking 60 Thwaites abou:
it to -day. Both our uplauds are worn out /;
the Moss lies between us. ] would give
five years of my life to own half OF it and
money sufficient to drain and cultivate
it,
Chow much money would do, Ste
phenY"
"a thousand pounds. l could drain
part, and then save the proceeds to
drain the rest. But where could | get
the money!
~ was thinking of Uncle Joseph.
Would you let me ask him."
Nothing is so wonderful as the growth
of q master passion. In few hours, the
desire for this particular piece of land
had strengthened itself so that Stephen
began to consider whether it might not
be worth while to let his wife 90 borrow
ing for him; and the longer he talked,
the more eager he became so that, at
last, Maggie felt hurt to see what trit1e
he made Of her feelings and of the risk
Joseph Hawick would run.
| However, next day she went to see
the old man, and, as they sat together
over their tea and crumpets, said:
"Uncle, Stephen wants to join Squire
Thwaites in buying the Druid's Moss"
"What for? To raise cranberr.es?'
"Unclel why they talk of goat
wheat fields and meadows
1T will need sight of drainage and
that means a sight of money. | should
not think Stephen had idle cash sufi-
, cient."
BIZ wants to borrow IT.
Joseph's face rlouded.
wv 0nders never cease. ! thought
Stephen Gray would starve before he
would borrow or owe money"
Don't cast up the past, uncle. Ste
phen thinks that if he could borrow a
thousands pounds he would make it ten
in very few years; and, uncle, | came
to-day to ask you to lend him it. !"
"You came useless journey. Maggie.
forbye don't like that pride that makes
others stoop for its conceit,"
esquire Thwaites said Won had plenty
of money in Kendall Bank"
of had money I'd never trust it in
any bank; but / make no more than
need now. am getting an old man.
Maggie"
"Stephen will be sorely disappointed. =
''He has no cause to be so. told him
yoz would have no fortune, and he quite
scorned at the thought of money with
you He had his choice between yor
and Kate Crofts, with the Crofts Manor
at her will. "
The old man was quite gloomy after
this talk; and Maggie was almost glad
to escape from the silent hearthstone Ia
the hustle of her own busy farm aud tho
noisy welcome of her husband.
Stephen took the refusal very proudly
but the idea had now become paramount
and Joseph Hawick's refusal had only
made him the more determined to carry
out the project lie had fierce struggl,
with his pride and his independence, bu
the next day he went into Kendall ant
made arrangements to raise the money by
a mortgage on the farm that had beer
unincumbered for six hundred years
In few weeks all arrangements haC
been made, the Moss had been bought
surveyed and divided, and the partner