The Washington times., 1901-09-29

| NOulo YOU h1nnly tel me now lar pll
am from the old Strathmore place.
the owner queried, coming forward and
standing bareheaded before her.
This used to be Colonel Strathmore's s
place." Nancy answered, thinking what a
pleasant, Intelligent face this grey-haired
stranger had.
Was this Justin Strathmore's sugar
house?' he asked. his eyes sweeping over
, the once fine old brick structure, with a
look of keenest interest
| Nancy nodded, surprised at the familiar
use made of her fathers name, and still
more prepossessed by the kindliness and
strength in the somewhat rugged face of
the broad shouldered man standing before
her.
Poor fellow. L just heard all about in
the village
He left two children. understand, a
| boy and a girl I'm told. Do you happen
to know anything about them? I've been
out West so long l lost track of Justin. -"
Yes. Nancy said she knew them both
The daughter lived down the road, not
far away. The son was studying to be a
mining engineer.
Can you tell me if anything was left
OF strathrnore's property? They said he
left his children penniless"
| a deep flush spread over Nancy's face.
You are speaking to his daughter she
| said, looking straight at him with gentle
dignity. He would have shielded his
| children from all want, and would have
| made Strathmere as prosperous as it used
to be If that cruel bullet had spared his
life"
His daughter, Ny dear young lady,
] beg thousand pardons! We were at
college together. Did your father ever
tell you ofathe service he once rendered
James Kirkwood? How he The
stranger paused.
Father often spoke of you, but never
of any service" Nancy said while James
Kirkwood held her hands in warm
| fine sweet face.
How do you iive?" he asked abruptly.
Very wei. teach Mr.. Dunois six
! children she said laughingly.
who pays for Edwards education?"
'I do"
There was pause, and Nancy took
back her hands and smiled radiantly,
and explained that she also did garden
+, ing on a small scale with old Jim. and
sold her beans and cabbages in the vii
| Iage
How much does Dunois pay you. my
! child? You must not mind my asking.
Your father was the best friend l ever
had. He proved it on an occasion when
l needed II friend sorely.'
1T is very. very small pay, but he is
not rich; and he is kind Nancy said,
gently. adding:
I'VE were homeless when Strathmore
was sold
Great Godr' Kirkwood exclaimed, a
| look of the deepest pain coming over his
rugged face.
Then Nancy explained that in two
years time Ned would start making a
support for them both and meanwhile
| well, Theophile and Babin and Titine
were after all not SO very bad. and they
| liked her, and she was fond of them.
There was mysterious stir and strange
whisperings in the old sugarhouse, while
| Nancy and John Kirkwood sat on the
front steps, and talked long and earnestly
together.
81 knew the day would come" the clock
said, peering anxiously forward.
who knows? We may yet hear the
/, hiss Of steam. and feel the throb of the
| piston. l am weary of this motionless
| quietude. this everlasting silence muir
INJURED the fy-wheel-
Bah, Bah. Human folly is almost as
boundless as human greed. 1t was folly
| sheer folly and wickedness to abandon
us to the knawing tooth of rust and the
cruelties of time" said the great rollers
in bitter discomfort.
/ "A few additions here and there. some
! alterations. and the Strathmore mill could
| have done bravely. could have saved
| those poor orphan children from ruin.
But who cared? It was to the interest
| of those who let the place go under the
| auctioneer's hammer, to decry us, to
prate of new machinery. and of Justin
Strathmore's folly in bankruptcy himself
| for his sugar house
! Il hope / am not too weak to do the
work" said the carrier anxiously. They
| load me so heavily. How pleasant to
once more jog along, and see the cane
run through the crushers. hope they'll
| hurry
Hes planning it an," the wind said
rushing hastily in. and carrying the news
to the watts, the turbines and the drying
room.
Il heard him tell her. He says there's
money In this old sugarheuse yet"
| There is! there Is! They have known
it, and l am weary OF guarding the secret.
I on, If james Kirkwood would only come
and break open this door" said the old
desk which leaned riclcety and rotten
less pendulum of the old clock which
marked the hour of Justin Strathmores
assassination.
| Justin was right. III carry out his
IDEAS" Kirkwood said. as he and Nancy
came In and looked around.
| The voices Of the old sugarhouse buzzed
and whispered and the mysterious spirits
of the place enveloped them.
Wouldn't It be glorious to call it back
to life?" Nancy said in an awe-struck
whisper
Was it the wind? or possibly bat fit
ting by, that set the pendulum of the great
clock moving?
You are not afraid?" Kirkwood said
smilingly, stretching out to stop the vi
brations.
| Nancy afterward said there was strange
murmurings around, and n force which
pushed James Kirkwood against the desk.
1t fell with crash. which reverberated
through the vast old building and mingled
with Nancy's cry as she clung to his arm.
"oh. look at thatr' she cried out.
The iron door in the wall, when priced
open by Kirkwood revealed 4 very large
sum of money and memoranda placed
there for safekeeping by Justin Strath-
more.
1T is yours Kirkwood said, placing
tho box IN Nancy's hands but let me
suearhouse. Well take back Strath-
more" he added. pleadinGly.
Nancy looked long at the fine. earnest
fac before her. and with tremuloas
smile stretched out her hand
.
There was Wild glee and exultant com
motion among the shadows OF the old