Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-01-21

] had engaged! says ! to myself. He
knows who I am. and recommends him.
self by this stroke Aud yet It turns out,
after all. that you are not the man who
answered my advertisement. but q
strangerw
"Ay. sy; It's So" said the young man
simply.
"Weil. ! shall get n manager some.
where. no doubt" said Hcnchard. with
strong feeling In his tones. But II will
Ike long before see one that would suit
me SO well!'
The young man appeared much moved
by Henchard's warm convictions Of his
value. He was silent till they reached the
door. II wish I could stay-sincerely
wish It," he replied. But, not cannot
be; II cannot! want to see the warrld."
CHAPTER VII.
When Elizabeth Jane opened the hinged
easement next morning the mellow air
brought In the feel Of imminent autumn
almost as distinctly as IL she had been In
the reniOtcst hamlet.
Hearing voices, one Of which was close
ut hand, she withdrew her head and glanc-
ed from behind the window curtains. MIR.
Hcnchard-now habited no longer rs q
great parsonage. but as thriving man Of
busincss-was pausing on his way up the
middle Of the street. and the Scotchmnn
was looking from the window adjoining
her own. Henchard. Il appeared. had
gone q little way past the Inn before he
noticed his acquaintance Of the previous
evening. lie came back few steps. Don.
old Farfrae opening the window wider.
"And you are on soon. ! supposeY said
Hcnchard upward.
"Ycs--almost this moment, SIR" said the
other downward. "l'll walk on, and the
coach will ovcrtake me-"
(which way!"
THE way ye ore going"
"Then shall We walk together to the top
o town.
III yc,ll wait a minute" said the
ScOtchman.
In a few minutes the latter emerged,
bag In hand. Henchard looked at the
bag as ut an enemy. 1t showed there was
no mistake about the young mans dcpar.
ture. "Ah, my lad" he said. you should
have been . wise n,an and have stayed
with me-"
Yes. ycs-it might have been wiser"
said Donald. looking inicroscopically at
the houses that were firthest OF. ut II
only telling ye the truth when I say my
plans are vague"
They had by this time passed on from
the precincts Of the inn. and Elisabeth
Jane heard no more. She saw that they
continued In conversation. Hcnclard turn.
Ing to the other occasionally and empha.
sizing some remark with gesture. Thus
they passed the Golden Crown Hotel, the
Market House. the churchyard wall, as.
cending to the upper end Of the long
street till they were small M two grains
Of corn. when they bent suddenly TO the
right into the Bristol ROnd and were out
Of view.
"lIc was q good man-and he's gone"
she said to herself. II was nothing to
him. and there was no reason why he
should have wished me goOd.by."
"You IRE still thinking. MOTHER" she
said when she turned Inward.
YES; I am thinking Of Mr.. Henchard's
sudden liking for that young man. He
was always SO. Now. surely. II he takes
so warmly to people who are not related
to him Mt all. may he not take as warmly
to his own kiny'
The discussion was continued during
breakfast. and the end Of It was TINT Mrs.
lienchnrd decided. for good or for III. to
send Elizabeth Jane with message to
Hencllard to the effect that his relative
Susan. q sailors widow. was In the town.
leaving II to him to shy whether or not he
would recognize her. What had brought
her to this determination were chiefly two
things. lie had been described a. lonely
widower. and he had expressed shame for
q past transaction Of his life. There was
promise In both.
III lie suys no." she cnjoinctl. as Eliza.
beth Jane stood. bonnet on. ready to de-
part: III he thinks Il does not become the
good position he has reached to In the
ns his distant kinsfOlk say. Then, sir, we
would rather not lntrudc: We will leave
Castcrbridge as quietly as We have come,
anu 30 back to our own country ] al.
most feel that ! would rather he did sny
80. rs have not seen him for no many
yenrs. and We are s0-littlc allied to himw'
"And II he says yesy" inquired the more
sanguine one.
In that case," answered Mrs. Hcnch.
ard cautiously. TASK him to write me q
note. saying when and how he will see us
or me-"
Very little inquiry was necessary to
guide the girls footsteps. lcnchard's
house was one Of the best. fronted with
murrcy.c0lorod old brick with chimncys OF
the same that showed arclicd reccsses In
their sides. The front door was open,
and. as In other houses. she could see
through the passage TO the end Of the gar.
den--nearly q quarter Of a mile on.
Mr.. Hcnchard was not IN the house. but
In the stOre-yard. She was conducted into
the messy garden. aud through side.door
In the wall. which was studded with rusty
nails speaking OF generations Of fruit trees
that had been trained there. The door
opened upon the yard. aud here she was
left to find him ~ she could. 1t was a
place thanked by hay-barus. into which
tons Of fodder, an In trusscs. were being
packed from the wagons she had seen
pass the Inn that morning. On other sides
OF the yard were wooden granaries on
stone saddles. to which access was given
by short Flemish ladders. and a tall store.
house several stories high. Wherever the
doors Of these places were open. a closely
packed thrOng Of bursting wheat sacks
could bc seen standing. with the air of
waiting for famine that would not come.
She wandered about this place. uncom-
fortably conscious OF the impending In
terview. ill she was quite weary Of
searching; she vcnturcd to inquire Of a
boy In what quarter Of the labyrinth Mr..
tienchard could be found. He directed
her to an office which she had not seen
before. and knocking at the door she was
answered by n cry OF Come In"