Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1899-04-29
BRIARSMERE.

Esmc Barton. a. she rode along on
her trusty little cob. paid no heed to
the weather. So ahsorh,d was she in her
own thoughts Ralph Underwood was
coming that night 10 ask her to he his
wife. she felt sure for his manner at
tine Fletchcrs' dance had been unmis-
taxable
What answer should she give him
Could she ever love II man she did not
altogether trust
All. if only Jack could speak. she
knew what answer she would give, but
Jack never would new. though years ago
he had shown in hundred little ways
that he loved her
But that was before his father died.
and Briarsmcre was found to bo mort
gagged and all the affairs terribly in
volved So now Jack was poor man
and had even undertaken work as Un-
derwood agent 10 pay off the mortgage
which Ralph held
Esmc 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 nnwritten
law that "a man is 10 WOO woman is
to be woocd
The rain poured down and nj last
awukc Esme To u sense of what was go-
ing on around her
The rain was coming down in tor
rents. and an ominous roll of thunder
in the distance made Beauty tremhle
1t was lonely pant of the road Only
a little cabin much ont ut repair was in
sight She hastcnrd toward it, not
knowing 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 Esme
found it was locked but discovered Il
shelter in the peat shed ut The back
As she stood there carcssing her horse
10 allay its fears she WAS startled to
hear key fitted into the lock of the
door in front of the house
The boards of the mud covered walls
were i'll fitted and rcttrn and ESlne
could distinctly hear tw" men talking
as they entered and shuuk the water
from their clothes
"You must do something for the
place. said a voice she recognized as
Jack :
Il Il not spend a cent.
That is. of course. your affair. Mr.
Underwood said Jack In my puSi
tion as agent it WAS my duty To point
ont To- you " hat was needed. but | can
net make yon do il only tell YOU. as
man to man. that the neglect of yorr
tenants interests is a disgrace To the
neighborhood | have worked as your
agent in order To work of the mortgage
which you hold on my property but |
suppose the foreclosure You threaten
must come. for cannot work for y"d
any longer and have not money To re-
deem the estate
And. pray. why am To lose your
valuable servicesl said Underwood
lyon know that during my manage
ment your profits have nearly doubled.
but when il comes To distilling liquors
in underground distilleries and expect
ing me To he party To the fraud draw
the line.
How dare you speak like this TO
me!" said Underwood. choking with
rage "You pauper. if | had not en-
ployed you. yon would have starvedl'
lyon are oxaggerating my poverty.
said Jack. in a calm tone 1T is true
by honest work hoped To regain my
property but when you expect dishon-
est work you have come To the wrong
man
by the way. continued Jack and
Esme could hardly catch his words. for
he was already on the road. II have or
dered back the pipes and stills
The dickens you have!' roared I'm
derwood. as he paced the miserable
room
A quarter Of an hour later Esme was
in the cozy office of her friend and ad-
wiser. Mr. Rance
1T is large sum of money To invest
in landed property, Miss Esme.
Il know said the girl in her quick.
bright way. ''but what does that mat
teri | have ever 50 much more when
that is spent Besides. happen to
know the mortgage will be foreclosed
if this money is not paid, and have
other reasons as we'll
Beauty trotting along in the twilight,
was within mile of hc~ own warm
stable when she suddenly swerved from
dark figure walking rapidly in the
shadow
ESme. who had been sitting lightly
in the saddle thinking over her after
noon ; work was taken unawarcs and
flung to the ground
STOPPING over her Jack for il was
ne who had nnwittingly frightened the
cob lifted her quickly in his arms
She was dazed and stunned, and rs her
head rested on his shoulder he stopped
and pressing his lips to hers stole the
kiss that he had never dared to hope
would he his 10y right
"Esme. he said after pause in
which each read the other ; heart. Il
never dared To hope that You had given
me Your love. and | have no right to
ask you To be my wife. for in Il few
weeks shall have no home Briarsmers
is no longer mine kissed yuu because
| could not help it as You lay in my
arms. and thought YOU had tainted
"BriarSmcrc is mime said Esme,
smiling. ''and it is very mean of you.
Jack only To want To kiss me when
have tainted Exchange