Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-09-11

partner. The squire stared at him an.
grily.
II knocked, sir" said Rogers, defer
entially.
II should hope so,n answered the
squire with GOODNESS. But the clerk
seemed to take no offense, and depart
ed on tiptoe after handing some checks
to his chief. The old man flushed a lit
tie and was disturbed. Rogers was his
daily companion and made himself
quite Indispensable. To the squire he
was only a subordinate, and apt to be
~presuming and curious.
81 don't like him, in spite of all you
say" the squire grumbled to the senior
partner a moment after the door was
softly closed.
well, perhaps not as a companion"
agreed the old gentleman with a smile.
y thought he looked crafty and sneak
ish myself at first sight, but he has
been perfectly faithful and steady
these six or eight years now, and l long
ago gave up suspecting Rogers. He is
curious, perhaps, but harmless, harm
less"
He'll wait forever for his chance,
but he'll take 1T when he gets it," said
the squire. "That is, if / know any
thing OF human nature. l wish we had
our money oil in notes instead of so
much gold, but we cannot risk the
chance Of u changing the notes in
Bristol before the Mary and Bell sets
sail. And my man Weymouth can
hold his own, Ill warrant him. l hope
he'll be prompt about starting. He as
much as told me that it was not all bust
ness that keeps him here; he is paying
attention to o young woman whom he
hopes to marry. But he's q man of his
word. IT'S O good bit of work for him
and money easily earned, as you may
say, since he was going to Bristol q day
later, at any rate"
The squire took his riding stick and
gloves from the table and babe his old
friend good morning. They shook
hands heartily and had q cheerful word
or two about their business and it's
probable success.
"See that they start ut six o'clock
oN,iAay nOilAiSfo vi CNth CdliiSis Vic
youngcS man sproed back to say. "The
roads are heavy already with SO mucn
rain, and if l don't mistake the signs
there's more coming. They can't get
to Bristol at best before night l don't
know what sort of a mount Rogers
will get. He'll soon worry a good
horse out of his wits, l should think.
Tell him that Henderson Is set upon
sailing early"
He'll wait a tide for his money
said the senior partner with assurance,
tapping the arm of his chair. Hes a
prompt man, is Henderson, and an ex'
cellent shipmaster, but eighteen hun
dred pounds is a good sum to miss; his
luck depends on getting it, you know,
Still, I'll tell Rogers. Take a glass OF
Madeira before you go; will you join
me, sir, It's toward noonl"
As night was falling two mounted
messengers, spattered with mud from
cap to stirrup, were riding YEARLY
along a deep, worn country lane. They
were in the north part Of the county Of
Somerset, near the waters Of the Sew
ern. The lane itself, deserted enough
that night, was q great thoroughfare
for those who came from the south and
west to cross over into Wales. BY thic
immemorial stream of travel and the
wearing of the weather it had beer
worn like a swift streams channel
deep below the level of the country,
One of the riders kept ~glancing fear
fully at the bushy banks above him, as
if he expected to see a head in the
thiclzet peering down. The other mar
rode straight and stern in his saddle
and took no notice of anything but h.
horse and the slippery road.
AS they came, riding northward side
by side, to the top Of @ little hill, Rog
ers, who wore a strangely pale and
craven look, gave a sigh of relief, ant
his horse, which limped and bore thC
marks of having been on his knees
whinnicd as if in sympathy. The wide
| gray Severn spread before them; tht
high headlends sloped gently away or
| the right, and fell off like a cliff on the
left; below the land was edged by G
long line of dyke which fenced the sei
| from marsh and meadows that stretched
away from the coast. Over the wide
water drifted low clouds of fog and
rain, and in the southwest a dull rec
CLEAN of fading winter sunset light
ened but little the cold and stormy color
| of the sky. High above the Severn, al
| the roads end, stood a group of low
buildings perched on the headland to
| gether. like a convent or a place of mil
itary defense.
AS the travellers rode into the yard o!
the old Black Eagle inn In the twilight
| the inn itself and all it's stables andout
houses seemed deserted. There was a
bare and empty look everywhere. The
sunset just struck a last whip of rain al
the two tired men, and Weymouth
called impatiently to the hostler, and