The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-04


the thatch, he rose up quietly and went
out into the open, for he felt suffocated
indoors
Almost below him was the old Eliza
bethan manor house, with its terraced
gardens, amidst ancestral elms: and as
he gazed on it with wistful eagerness
a great wave of land hunger swept over
him, and he knew in his Utmost heart
that no foolish dream of equality would
ever make him renounce his rights He
would set all his proofs in order. and go
in by carrier to Mere that very day and
see those lawyers.
| The cobbler was at home to breakfast
at his usual hour, dressed in his best
Sunday clothes, and though his wife
and daughter looked curiously at him.
they did not venture to ask any ques-
tons He took down the big Bible and
wrapped it up in brown paper. but not
until he was on the point of starting did
he announce that he was going in to
Mere that day Lyddy whispered to
her mother, and then ran to the door
after him with a piece of figured print
| in her hand
"Oh, vather," she exclaimed edo zee
mind vor to bring l back another yard
O thik there lilac stuff? Tes vor nv
Wedden Sownd, an Jeane Warden her
| tells l as they do make the sleeves
ablown out more'n ever to-year"
Tell 'ea what, lass" he replied stern
! ly, looking her full in the face With as
much dignity as he could impart to his
| short figure, "the''d best put all they
voollsh thoughts out o. mind 20 soon
as may be. Thee nun look a sight
higher ror journeyman carpenter
now. I'll make a leady ov ee avore
long, an take my word wort, there be
many a enc in zilks an zatins as idden
fit to hould a candle to 'ee.'
| He gave her no time to answer. but
hurried off down the road to the lit
tie green in front of the BLACK Dog, .
where Sam Bewley, the carrier, had al
ready arrived with his numbering van
and big Patient white horse.
What do zee mean, vather?'' cried
| Lyddy, aghast. She would have fol-
lowed him, but her mother called her
| back
'Doan't zee worrit theezel, my maid; ;
vather've a gotten a maggot ms head
but they lawyer vO'ks beant no vools,
an they'll soon tell he the rights ont,
| vor EUR Hidden no odds eff thee do
| bide to hoam a bit longer; twill gle
Tom the more time to get ready vor
zee. He mid so we'll make zee a fine
settle an a Golfer, now the corner
cupboard be DONE
| The good woman knew how proud
Lyddy was of her lovers skill, and the
| girl looked up and thanked her with a
pathetic little smile, though it was as
much as she could do to check her
| tears.
! 1t was after 8 o'clock that evening,
! and she and her mother were sitting
down to their well-earned rest, when
the cottage door was suddenly pushed
open and Jane Warden burst in like
! a Whirlwind. Being one of that feck-
| less, good-natured sort who neglect
| their own home duties, while they are
| always ready to do those of other peo-
| pie, she had offered to make the we'd
| ding dress, for in the West Country an
| unwritten law forbids a girl to make
| that garment for herself, under penalty
of i'll luck.
| "Oh Lyddy!" she cried in a loud,
harsh voice, I've a-bin into Mere this
| day vor to take our Polly to the
| firm y-her be alters whindlen an like
| to go back; an your vather he wur
| along O. we in the van an, bless my
| heart alive, how he did go on when
axed ZEN about your wedden! He wur
| up to onst an fit to. jump down the
droat ov L. an 20 I've ruined on vor
to ak zee plain an Wind out the druth.
Be you upzides WI Tom?"
| At these cruel words, which struck
| boy- he iy.Jc
faded away and she had to lean against
| the table to steady herself. But her
mother promptly interposed.
DO zee let the maid bide, Jea1e!
| Whatever be a-tellen of? He be a
rare I'm vor q joke, be our Oliver, an
| he've a-tookt you in, 20 he have!" and
the brave woman made a desperate eff
| fort to laugh, as, with much tact, she
managed to dismiss her unwelcome Wis
itor before her husband came in. Mean
| time, poor Lyddy, who found that she
could not otherwise obey her mother s
| signs imploring her to keep silence, has
| tily left the kitchen.
| Oliver Bevis came in holding up his
| head with an air of elation and i'm
portance which told it's own story. He
was so full of his all-absorbng idea
that he did not notice the silence and
| GOODNESS with which he was received.
well, Dinah, they lawyer chaps
have het the right nail O. the head, -
he exclaimed. as he threw himself back
in his old-fashioned chair ''Measter
Wellburn he warn't to hoam hezelf, an
t wur the young fellow, a son O. his'n
as l iced, but lawk, he did take a main
deal o drouble, an when l showed en-
the big Bible wi my granfer's neame
in't-'Oliver Bevis'-writ plain an big,
why you mid a-knocked he down wi a
feather! Then he axed I a mort O.
questions till you mid zee, 20 plain as
/ plain, as he knowed l nun be the new
squire O. Legion. He be a-gwain to
get my papers all right, wi the copy O.
parish registers an zich loike. I've axed
| Fam Bewley to dreve over to Legion i
the mornen vor to zee the place.
| Lar bless zee, Oliver!' exclaimed his
wife in dismay, you idden a-gwine to
| let voks know about thik there, till 20
| be as they lawyers have a wound out
the druth for sure?'
! NO. no, Dinah; I beant zich a wool
as that" he replied testify, AN Fam
doant know as tidden i the way O. my
bizness but look zee, ties gospel druth
vor all that"
| At this moment young Simon came in
| from the road where he had been play
ing tipcat with some other boys, raw
enous for his supper, and there could
| be no more talk in his presence.
| Next morning, true to his word
| Sam Bewley came round in the light
cart, which he kept because it was
| handy to fetch a barrel of beer or a few