Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-04-15
CHAPTER v.
squire Morwen's Polly.

IL there was one thing in which MISS
Mary Holmes was interested than an
other il was the nature of Squire Nor
wen's Will.
That her influence over her old mas
ter was on the wane she felt only 100
we'll assured. But. like the vast ma
iority OF her sex. she hopeiessly mis-
understood the man whom she be
lieyed She ruled, thinking him weak
because he submitted. and blind De-
cause ne did not AXE the trouble 10
see. A man OF large ideas is apt 10 ID.
n slave by habit in the little things OF
everyday, and 10 give carte blanche 10
ANYBODY who will save him from nav
ing TO attend to trifies: Polly. baslng
her calculations on the difference or
Q looked forward to the day when
Der master would want a nurse IN
addition to a hoisekeeper, and when
marriage in church be made h condl-
ton OF remaining with him until ne
died.
Rut ever since Grace Lucas had
Knocked at the door on a certain event
full night, everything had changed. IL
Is true that her master had, on sever
al previous occasions been guilty OF 4
passing caprice for a face less pretty
than polly's own, and she was not I'M
aware that his visits TO Nottingham
or elsewhere on business We're some
times connected with the business or
pleasure. But she was not of thai del
icacy which is offended with mere
frolics. as she would term them, so
long as she kept her hold in the main;
an 81 ur and va ltAd
were the frolics the more sure was her
hold. The affair Of Grace Lucas, how
ever, was a far more formidable sort
OF thing-it meant a rival; and a rival
with the advantage of being, as she
herself was taught by jealousy 70 per
ceiye, not only prettier, and fresher
and younger than she, but cieyerer,
also. and with ways and manners that
would not misbecoma q lady born.
Ever since that memorable night the
squire had been obviously and delb-
erately bent upon ~loosening the bond
that bound him to Polly Holmes. He
no longer goSsipped with her yer the
meals or took her into his confidence;
he had even made such a journey as
that from Lockmead all the way TO
Bristol without telling her where he
was going and when he should return.
He had turned sarcastic, silent and
fault-finding; and when he came back
from Bristol he had not brought her
as much as a ribbon. And he, OF al
men, to give a strange young woman,
a proved spy and agent of the Lud-
dites. a cottage practically rent-freei
What else might he not be giving herr
Who supplied a needlewcman ont OF
work with clothes as good as Poiiy's,
though not so fine? Who enabled her
To give help TO her friends, the ma
chinery-breakers OF LockInead: And
who, in fact. had gazed az the girl as
II he could devour her, under Polly's
own eyesg
IL Grace herself failed 10 perceive
Squire Morwen's purpose, or even his
feelings, 1t could only be because she
was absorbed in her werk, or in other
thoughts or because she was unused
TO the mute language Of passion. If a
man like Amos Morwen had not yet
spoken plainly out TO a girl whom he
believed no better than she should be.
ii could only be because he was wrong
in his judgment. and because his pas
sions were so deeply engaged that he
had become young and shy again.
How II was, he certainly could not
tell that, for some occult reason, the
eyes OF this poverty stricken adventuT-
ess, this agent and companion OF ruff
ans and scoundrels, rendered him BAT
fed and ashamed. Hang her, but she
is playing her game we'll" thought ne.
she won't meet me an inch OF the
way. A duchess couldn't fool a man
more. Well, to-morrow-"
But tomorrow came: and though Ii
made him owner Of Lockmead, ne
found himself no nearer to this re-
markable young oma than he was
yesterday.
However. he hung around the cot
tage like a young lover, and watched
for whatever words he might near let
fall from her.
The reflection that. like the purchase
OF Lockmead from the heir-at-law OF
the late Miss Hillyard, the acquisition
OF Grace Lucas and of the names and
secrets of g employers might also be
made a question OF money, renewed his
confidence, which growing passion had
weakened. On the evening Of tho day
on which this holder thought occurred
TO him, he, instead of sitting eyer his
port AFTER dinner, as usual. contented
himself with a formal half-bottie. and
strolled out along the lane toward the
cottage. which had become TO hin
what the flame Is 10 the moth-not that
he would have chosen that stale CON-
parison. The cottage was by no means
the best In L0csmead, consisting of Int
w small rooms and a shed or out
house.
He knocked and, obtaining no an
swer, lifted the latch and entered the
small brick-payed kitchen. which was
the principal room. Grace Lucas was
evidently out, for the door of the bed
closet stood open, so that he could take
a look around without being disturbed
Not that there was much to see. ex-
cept that the two rooms, though fur.
nished no better than any of the
wretched homes of Lockmead. were
kept exQuisitely neat and clean. n
therefore, resembled a palace in com
parison with the larger dwellings In
which the ave and gave
way To dirt and destiny.
And then, while waiting for Grace
his mental part Travelled off its usual
rcad-that glorious industrial future
which Amos Morwen. as master of
Lockmead, had obtained for himself
and for posterity, at the cost of q poor