The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-03-08
[CoNTINUED.]
CHAPTER ".

morning., anu lll6 SccuG Ol ueW uduo
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
Littletield with stableboX 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 prt in the way of his taking
out letters CT 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 Mr.. A Hapgood had been
born with gold spoon in his mouth
The very sound of his name seemed to
betoken happy and prosperous future
AS he drove along at good pace over
the winding country road, under great
trees and past quiet fields, with glimpses
of blue hills coming i'll to fill all the
vistas, he built some pretty castles in
the air He saw how he could make a
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 i'll 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 hazy i'll his mind. but he
dwelt upon its dim outlines with pleas
ure. His intention was and always had
been to marry wealthy woman above
him in 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
of satisfaction was the discovery of an
old ladies' home i'll Littlefield The
house was on a back street, rather un-
attractive i'll appearance and surrounded
by dani close growing evergreens. 1t
had been given to the town by miser-
ly old woman, who had willed away all
her property for charitable purposes to
spite her relatives Arthur went over
the 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 together to talk over their dis
eases and find fault with their keeping.
He made inquiries as to tie terms Of
admission. A hundred dollars paid the
entrance fee, and a 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 a rapid mental calcula-
tion. The old bingham sisters possessed
furniture and family relics that at any
; sale of antiques would bring several
hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
Il Arthur decided to take these precious
: old things as indemnity for keeping
e them i'll comfort as long as they lived
u in the cid ladies' home He even chose
= sunny room for them on the sec-
ond floor. Itwas but sparsely furnished
g! with decrepit chairs and other odd bits
sent by the lady patrons of the home
s from their garrets, but beggars cannot
be choosers. The old creatures ought to
feel thankful to him for any kind of
shelter Tor 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
things. Arthur had, therefore, every
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 their
heads, their faces wreathed with smiles
to welcome his return. But he did not
even pause at the parlor door to inquire
dllGE tllGlT uedllH I16 WAS IdSIer Vi
the house now, and he flung the front
door open with bang and strobe
through to the sitting room, where he
deposited his luggage, and not finding
Elsie he wandered into the great kitch-
en-, where gentle wood fire was burn
ing i'll the stove and great Maltese
cat sat licking her chops and stretching
herself laZily on the hearth. The place
was empty, swept and garnished He
,e opened the chamber door-not a sound.
E. He peered down the cellar stairs listen,
ing for the trip of Elsie's light feet, but
all was silent save the slow tick of the
/ clock i'll the corner. Had the little witch
taken French leave and left those ole
3 women ON his hands? He flushed and
grew angry as it flashed upon him thai
she might have gone away with Pau
Raynor,
He stepped out of the back kitcher
door on his way toward the barn, where
the bawling of calf could be heard
in the quiet air and the oawing Of
crows as they tapped their great blacl
wings over cornfeld. He stopped tC
look in at the old shop where Paul hat
kept his pets and saw the door opel
and the place quite empty. Even Paul''
old hats and coats, that had hung there
on pegs, had been taken away, and thl
few books he kept on rude shelf il
fha sar,. A H.. =.