The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-06
BRIARSMERE.


sure, for his manner at the Fletchers'
dance the other evening had been unmis-
taxable.
What answer should she give himP
Could she ever love q man she did not al
together trustf
Ah if only Jack could speak she knew
what answer she would give II he ever
asked the same question, but jack never
would, now, though years ago he had
shown in q hundred little ways that he
loved her.
But that was before his father died, and
BEiarsnere was found to be mortgaged
and all the affairs terribly involved. So
now Jack was a poor man, and had even
undertaken work as Underworld agent to
pay off the mortgage, which Ralph held.
Esme was rich, and could do as she liked
with the fortune she had inherited from
her mother, but was powerless TO help
Jack because of that unwritten law that
''a man is to WOO woman to be wooed."
The rain poured down, and at last
awoke Esme to sense of what was going
on around her.
The rain was coming down in torrents,
and an ominous roll of thunder in the d.
stance made Beauty tremble.
1t was lonely part of the road; only
little cabin, much out of repair, was in
sight. She fastened toward it, not know
ing If Mrs. O'Grady still occupied the
place, or whether she had already gone to
live with her sister in Kerry.
On trying to lift the latch, Esrne found
it was locked, but discovered shelter in
the peat shed at the back.
AS she stood there caressing her horse
to allay it's fears, she was startled to hear
a key fitted into the lock of the door in
front of the house.
The boards of the mud covered walls
were i'll fitting and rotten, and Esme could
distinctly hear two men talking as they
eI,4 IL 81 I,1sn
clothes.
ga good thing we were SO near the
place., said Underwood.
Yes" answered a voice which made
Esme blush in the semidarkness, 'it is
bad storm, but it will soon be over. am
not sorry it has come now, as you will see
that something must be done to the place
before another tenant occupies it. 1t isn't
fit for dog to live in, much less human
being'
81 shall do nothing; it's no use spending
money on property of this kind. These
peasants are used to pigging it. Leave the
place alone"
THAT is, of course, your affair, Mr.. Un-
derwood, p" said Jack. Gin my position as
agent it was my duty to point out to you
what was needed, but cannot make you
do it. Only l tell you, as man to man,
that the neglect of your tenants interests
is disgrace to the neighborhood. have
worked as your agent in order to work of
the mortgage which you hold on my prop
| erty. but 1 suppose the foreclosure you
threaten must now come, for I cannot
work for you any longer and have not
money to redeem the estate.''
"And pray why am 1 to lose your valu-
able services?'' said Underwood.
"You know that during my manage
Thent your profits have nearly doubled, but
when it comes to distilling liquors in IN
derground distilleries and expecting me to
be party to the fraud, draw the line
"How dare you speak like this to meP'
said Underwood, choking with rage You
pauper, if I had not employed you, you
would have starvedr'
"You are exaggerating my poverty"
said Jack, in calm tone. "It is true, by
honest work hoped to regain my property,
but when you expect dishonest work, you
have come to the wrong man.
"By the way" continued Jack, and
Esme could hardly catch his words, for he
was already in the road, 81 have ordered
back the pipes and stills
"The dickens you havel" roared Under
wood, as he paced the miserable room.
A quarter of an hour later EsIne was in
the coy office of her friend and adviser,
Mr.. Rance.
1T is a large sum of money to invest in
landed property, Miss Esme."
81 know said the girl in her quick,
bright way, f'but what does that matter?
have ever so much more when that is
spent. Besides 1 happen to know the
| mortgage will be foreolosed if this money
is not paid, and I have other reasons as
welI.''
Beauty trotting along in the twilight
| was within a mile of her own warm stable
when she suddenly swerved from a dark
! figure walking rapidly along in the
shadow.
Esne, who had been sitting loosely in
the saddle, thinking over her afternoons
| work, was taken unawares and flung vio-
| lently to the ground.
STOPPING over her, Jack-for it was he
who had unwittingly frightened the cob
| lifted her quickly in his arms. She was
dazed and stunned, and as her head rested
on his shoulder he stopped, and pressing
his lips to hers stole the kiss that he never
dared to hope would be his by right.
Esme,'' he said after a pause, in which
each read the others heart, 81 never dared
to hope that you had given me your love,
| and have no right to ask you to be my
! wife, for in q few weeks shall have no
home. Briarsmere is no longer mine. I
| kissed you because I could not help it as
you lay in my arms, and I thought you
had tainted
''Briarsmere is mine" said Esme, s1nil-
ing, land it is very mean of you, jack,
only to want to kiss me when I have
tainted. '-London News.
Dreaming to Good Purpose.