The Press., 1894-12-06

CHAPTER W.
 The south wind blew blandly that morning, and the scent of new made hay was in the air. The wheatfelds wore pale gold color, and the corn lands rustled their broad green leaves. Arthur Hapgood was driving back from Littlefeld with stableboy beside him. A satisfied and complacent smile curled his we'll cut lips, for he had prospered in all his undertakings. No obstacle would be put in the way of his taking out letters of administration as the late Simon Hapgood's heir, and the old mans bank account had proved to be larger than he had any right to expect.
 Manifestly MT. A. Hapgood had been born with a gold spoon in his mouth. The very sound of his name seemed to betoken happy and prosperous future As he drove along at a good pace over the winding country road, under great trees and past quiet fields, with glimpses of blue hills coming in to fill all the vistas, he built some pretty castles in the air. He saw how he could make fine country place of the old farm by remodeling the ancient homestead, building new stables and turning the whole into grazing for sheep and cattle He intended gradually to acquire a number of fine horses and to go into scientific breeding. The homestead would thus become his residence during the summer months. There was good fishing in the neighborhood, and he felt within him the exultation of holding his head high among the best families of that part of the country.
 Then his thoughts turned to Elsie bright, bewitching, saucy little Elsie He meant to do something handsome for the girl-something that would win her gratitude and make her look up to him as benefactor and friend. The plan was still hay in his mind, but he dwelt upon it's dim outlines with pleas ure His intention was and always had been to marry 8 wealthy woman above him ill position, who could help him cleverly to climb the social ladder. How little Elsie was to fit into this ambitious scheme he did not care to explain even to himself.
 But what gave Arthur peculiar glow
 
 old ladies home in Littlefeld. The house was on back street, rather un- attractive ill appearance and surrounded by dank, close growing evergreens. It had been given to the town by a miser- ly old woman, who had willed away all her property for charitable purposes to spite her relatives. Arthur went over he establishment with the matron. There were only four decrepit old wom en at that moment sharing its benefits, and they looked as cheerless and de- pressed as old women generally do when shut up tegether~te talk over their dis eases and find fault with their keeping. He made inquiries as to the terms of admission. A hundred dollars paid the entrance fee, and 6 yearly stipend of $50 paid for board and lodging. Where two shared the same room the entrance fee was cut down one quarter.
 Arthur made rapid mental calcula- sion. The old Bingham sisters possessed furniture and family relics that at any ,ale of antiques would bring several hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Arthur decided to take these precious old things as indemnity for keeping them in comfort as long as they lived l in the old ladies' home. He even chose sunny room for them on the sec- ond floor. It was but sparsely furnished with decrepit chairs and other odd bits sent by the lady patrons of the home from their garrets, but beggars cannot l be choosers. The old creatures ought to feel thankful to him for any kind of shelter for their few remaining days He was not under the slightest obliga- tion to do anything for them. They actually owed the estate for many years board and lodging, and it was out of his sheer good nature that he had made this provision, although, of course, the furniture would be some slight compen- sation. Happily no one in the neighbor- hood knew the actual value of these right to feel virtuous as he briskly jumped down from the wagon, paid the young man from the livery stable and dismissed him on his way back to town. The two old women had seen him ar rive, each from her own window, and | they kept nodding and bobbing theil | heads, their faces wreathed with smiles to welcome his return. But he did pot even pause at the parlor door to inquire after their health. He was master o1 the house now, and he flung the front door open with bang and strode I through to the sitting room, where he l deposited his luggage, and not finding l Elsie he wandered into the great kitch l en, where gentle wood fire was burn l ing in the stove and a. great Maltese cat sat licking her chops and stretching l herself lazily on the hearth. The place 1 was empty, swept and garnished. He l opened the chamber dOor=not a sound.