Saint Mary's beacon., 1899-04-06

u
heed te the weather. so absorbed
was she in her own thoughts.
Rslph Underwood was coming
that night 10 ask her TO be his wife,
she felt sure, for his manner at the
Fietchers' dance had been unmis-
taxable.
What answer should she give
him Could she ever love . mau
she did aot altogether trust
Ab. Y onI5 Ask ssai6spsak she
knew what answer she would give
if he ever asked the same question,
but Jack never would. now, though
years ago he had shown in a hun
dred little ways that he loved her.
But that was before his father
died, and Briarsmere was found to
be mortgsged and all the affairs
terribly iavolved. So now Jack
was poor man, and bad even un-
dertaken work as Underwood .
agent to pay of the mortgage, which
Ralph held.
Esme 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 unwritten Law that "a man 10
to 200, n woman to be wooed."
The rain poured down aud at last
awoke Esme to sense Of what was
going on around her.
The rain vas coming down in
torrents and an ominous roll of
thunder in the distance made Beau.
ty tremble.
Ii was lonely part of the road !;
only q little cabin much ont OF re.
pair, was in sight. She hastenrd
toward it, not knowing il 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
q shelter in the neat shed at the
back. --s
As she stood there caressing her
horse. to allay ITS fears, she was
startled to hear q 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 rotten, and
Esme could distinctly hear two
men talking as they entered and
shook the water from their clothef.
ga good thing we are here 90
near the place." said Underwood.
EYES," answered q voice which
made Esme blush in the semi. dark
ness, cit 10 bad storm, but it will
soon be over. am not sorry it has
come now, as you will see some
thing must be done to the place
before another tenant occupies It,
1t isa't it for dog to live in"
Il shall do nothing; it's no use
spending money on property OF this
kind. These peasants are used to
pigging it. Leave the place alone
That is. of course. YOUR affair,
Mr.. Underwood, said Jack In
my position as agent it was my duty
to point out to you what was need
ed. but ! cannot make you do it.
Only | tell you as man to man, that
the neglect of your tenants inter.
ests is disgrace to the neigh hbor
hood. ] have worked as your agent
in order to work of the mortgage
which you hol on my property, bnt
! suppose the foreclosure you threat
en- must come, for cannot work
for you any longer and have not
money to redeem the estate
And pray why am I to lose yoor
valuable services p said Under
wood.
'You know that during my man.
agem.nt your profits hare nearly
doubled, but when it comes to dis
tilling liquors in underground dis
tilleries and expecting me to be Q
party to the fraud, draw the line.
How dare you speak like this to
to me y said Understood, choking
With rage. 'You psuper, il I had
not employed you. you would have
starved
You are exaggerating my power
ty,' said Jack in calm tone. 1t
10 true. by honest work hoped to
regain my property, but when Jon
expect dishonest work. you hare
come to the wrong man,
By the way continued Jack.
and Esme could hardly catch his
words. Tor he was already on the
road. i have ordered back the pipes