Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-06-30

1 II1 CIVIL 0hb 49,.
them both cordially. found ii expedlent
70 treat them with az least an outward
show Of friendliness. But they Wen
| knew that. with their masters death,
their tenure of office ut Deanshurst
would terminate. and hence b We're
as anxious as the baronet himseif that
his life should be prolonged TO the ut
most possible limit.
once an idea takes firm root In me
brain of a very old person. IL infaiiiply
develops into a mania, Sir DefeK
mania took the form OF a convection
that. SO LONG as he remained in bed, ne
! could not die but that every minute ne
spent out of bed was fraught with
peril TO his existence. Love OF life was
strong within him. His excursions De-
yond his bedroom by degrees became
less frequent and of shorter duration,
until they ceased altogether. anu he De-
came voluntarily bed-ridden.
Were a younger man." he world
sometimes remark TO Hirst, the butlel,
I'D bar the entail, under the new act.
and make ducks and brakes of the
property. That would satisfy the old
Woman in Black and her master, loo,
ell, Hirst:'
why. YES, sir" Hirst would suavely
| reply. "Old Simon's money would be
spec right enough if you did that, and
there'd be an end of the matter, curse
and all"
mo doubt. no doubt. But | am too
old for that sort of thing. now, and L
can't bring myself TO break up Deans
hurst. Just To satisfy the spite of an old
( witch who died more than a century
and a half ago. So I'll stick TO my
present plan whereby. curse or no
curse, | must die in my bed or not die
at all. And, upon my faith, Hirst, l
believe L shall live TO the age of Methu-
selah!"
Whereupon the butler would remark
TO his wife that Old Grumpy was be-
coming madden every day; and she
would bid him hold his tongue for a
wooden-headed fool. forasmuch as bed
was not only the safest place for the
old man, but of the utmost assistance
TO them in their little game. And no
doubt il was.
Naturally enough, Derek, the young
.er, was not slow 20 take full advantage
of the additional freedom given 10 him
by his fathers voluntary isolation.
Having the one redeeming quality, at
all events, of being extremely fond of
sport, his life during the shooting and
hunting seasons, was a reasonably
steady one. True, he sometimes invit-
ell guests to DeanShurst whom his IA
Their would not willingly have allowed
to cross the threshold. and taxed
Hirst's patience severely in his de-
mands upon the wine-cellar to satisfy
his disreputabie b~angers-on.
But the astute butler always found
1t better worth his while TO wink at
these invasionS than to come 70 an
open rupture with the young heir by
complaining TO Sir Derek. After all.
tips are tins. whether they come from
q nobleman or a householder: the cost
of the wine consumed did not come out
of his (Hirst'sl pocket: and he was es-
sentially wise in his generation.
1t was, however during the months
when there were neither birds to be
shot nor foxes to be hunted that Der
elk. finding the time hang heavily on his
hands, "a v free scope to his innate
witness of disposition.
After a time the comparatively mild
temptations 10 dissipation offered by
Winchester and Southampton pallea
upon him, and a couple of flying visits
TO London convinced him that in the
Metropolis alone could a spirited young
fellow of nineteen find real happiness.
And in London he accordingly resolved
to spend the wearisome summer
months.
But one difficulty presented itself: it
was necessary, for financial reasons,
that he should obtain his fathers con
sent and the necessary funds. How?
He could think of no reasonable pre-
text, and took counsel with the butler,
who, he rightly surmised, would be by
no means sorry to get rid of him, for a
time, at least.
II say, Hirst, what sort of a temper
is the governor inY' he inquired, di-
Dramatically. II want to see him."
We'll, sir, he amt particularly out
rageous to-day" was the cautious re-
ply. But IL | might venture to advise
you, Master Derek, wouldn't say any
ching likely TO stir him up. He's
grown awfully crochety lately.''
@Crochety." repeated Derek, with a
hooking laugh. When was he any
thing else but c~rochety? See here.
Hirst, you understand him better than
L do, and l want your help"
Only too pleased, I'm sure, sir"
murmured the butler.
Il want 10 stay in London for n few
months" continued Derek, land | don't
quite see what excuse | can make to
the governor. You understand
oh, yes, sir | understand right
enough, asserted Hirst, with q know
ing grin. let me see-you can't very
well say it's for your health-nor yet
for business, seeing you haven't got
none. Hold hardI / have it. Tell him
you're just sick OF doing nothing. and
that you want TO study for a commits
sion In the army. That'll do the trick.
Master Derek, III wager-especially il
you let me give him a hint before.
hand"
"Ail right" said Derek, "you see him
first, and let me know when tn to
draw the old badger"
Whatever the arguments used by tho
willy old butler. certain it is thai the
old barOnet listened favorably to his
sons acknowledgements request.
) you want TO go TO London at n
examiners for a commission, do you?,
he remarked. doubtingly. II won't in.
quire too closely as to whether that Is