The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-01
Briarsmere,

6ndrSmore.
Esme Barton. as she rode along on her
trusty little cob, paid no heed to the
weather; SO absorbed was she in her own
thoughts.
Ralph Underwood was coming that night
10 ask her to be his wife. she felt sure,
for his manner at the Ffetchers' dance
had been unmistakable.
What answer should she give hin?
Could she ever love man she did not
altogether trust?
An, if only jazz. could speak she knew
what answer she would give II he ever
asked the same question, but Jack never
would, now though years ago he had
shown in a hundred little ways that he
loved her.
But that was before hist ather died,
and Briarsmere was found 10 be mort
gagged and all the affairs terribly involv-
ed. So now Jack was poor man, and
had even undertaken work as Under
woods agent to pay off 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 poweriess to
help Jack because Of that unwritten law
that "a man is to WOO, woman TO be
wooed.''
ram pOQIeu dONlI anu a. lcAol q I'M
Esme to a sense of what was going on
around her
The rain was coming down in torrents
and an ominous roll OF thunder in the dis
lance made Beauty tremble.
1t was a lonely part Of the road; only
little cabin. much out Of repair, was in
sight. She fastened toward ii. not know
ing 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 a shelter in
the peat shed at the back.
AS she stood there caressing her horse
to allay its fears, she was startled to hear
a key fitted into the lock of the door in
front OF the house.
The boards of the mud-covered walls
were ill-htted and rotten, and Esme could
distinctly hear two men talking as they
entered and shook the water from their
clothes.
"a good thing we are here so near the
place" said Underwood.
Yes" answered a voice which made
Esme blush IN the semi-darkneSs, ''it is
a bad storm, but il viii soon be over.
am not sorry it has come now, as you will
see that something must be done to the
place before another tenant occupies it.
1t isn't fit for dog TO live in"
II shall do nothing; it's no use spend
ing money on property of this kind. These
peasants are used to pigging il. Leave
the place aIone.''
That is, of course, your affair, Mr.. IN
derwood," said Jack. "In my position as
agent it was my duty TO point out 10 you
what was needed, but cannot make you
do it. Only I tell you, as man to man,
that the neglect of your tenants inter-
ests is a disgrace to the neighborhood.
have worked as your agent in order 10
work off the mortgage which you hold on
my property, but L suppose the foreclo-
sure you threaten must come. for I cannot
work for you any longer and have NO
money to redeem the estate
And, pray, why am to lose your val
liable services? ?" said Underwood.
You know that during my management
your profits have nearly doubled, but
when it comes TO distilling liquors in I'M
be party to the fraud, draw the line. -
''How dare you speak like this TO me?
said Underwood, choking with rage. you
pauper, if 1 had not employed you, you
would have starved"
You are exaggerating my poverty,
said Jack, in a calm tone. ct is true, by
| honest work I hoped to regain my prop
erty, but when you expect dishonest work
you have come to the wrong man"
by the way" continued Jack, land
Esme could hardly catch his words. fol
he was already on the road, Il have or
| dered back the pipes and stills"
THE dickens you have" roared Under
wood as he paced the miserable room.
A quarter of an hour later Esme was in
the cozy office of her friend and adviser
Mr.. Rance
'It is g. 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
ter? have ever so much more when that
is spent. Besides, happen to know the
mortgage will be foreclosed If this money
is not paid, and 1 have other reasons as
WE'LL
Beauty trotting along in the twilight
was within a mile Of her own warm sta
BILE when she suddenly swerved from a
dark figure walking rapidly in the
shadow.
Esme. who had been sitting slightly in
the saddle, thinking over her afternoon
work, was taken unawares and flung tc
the ground
STOPPING over her, Jack-for it was he
who had unwittingly frightened the cob
lifted her quickly in his arms. She was
dazed and stunned, and as her head rest
ed on his shoulder he stopped. and press
ing his lips to hers. stole the kiss that he
| had never dared to hope would be his
/ by right.
"Esme," he said. after pause in which
| each read the others heart, II never
/ dared hope that you had given me your
| love, and I have no right to ask you tc
| be my wife. for in a few weeks I shall
! have no home. Briarsmere is no longer
mine I kissed you because 1 could not
/ help It as you lay in my arms, and
| thought you had tainted"
"Briarsmere is mine," said Esme, smil.
! ing. "and it is mean of you. Jack, only
| to want to kiss me when 1 Will have
/ tainted"