The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1902-04-25

inc me lot of advice. and Uncle Fred
came to me at once with sympathy
and offering help. Hard as the next
two or three years were, struggled
on-one goal before me, one hope in
my heart-Alice Wray.
had succeeded in ma king an in
come large enough Tor my small wants
when | T.. crived letter one morning
from solicitor, informing me that my
uncle Joseph Penfold was dead, and
that everything he possessed was left
to me, on the conditions that l live at
Marshlands, altered nothing either in
the house or out, nor in my lifetime
I'D any of the land. l., died a bach
elor, the whole property was to 60 to
Uncle Frcd's sor; but if married,
could dispose of the property as |
liked by will. His sole reason for
making me his heir seemed to be that
! | had never borrowed money from him.
Uncle Fred, who was now widowcr
was not mentioned; but he Was quite
kind about it, and 1 promised that his
boy Charley should not. begin empty,
| handed.
So took up my residence at Marsh
lands, and my engagement to Alice
| Wray was announced. The old house
was rather dismal. 1t wanted more
light in it, some of the trees had over.
grown it, and wanted cutting down;
and there is no doubt that by judicious
alteration it could have been improved
not only in value, but in every other
way.
OF course, | could not make these
alterations, but, at least, | was near
Alice; and when she came there as its
mistress the old house would be brig ght
enough | lived chit fly in tie library
which was well-lined with books and
massive with old oak furniture; an
ideal room to think and work in.
1t was pleasure to sit down and
write at the great desk, which was a
| fixture built into a corner of the room.
and replete with drawers and cunning
Iy devised hiding places. The learned
air about the room made YOU feel
erudite.
| had not been long at Marshlands
before Uncle Fred made use of me.
Uncle Joseph, he told me, had allowed
| me two hundred a year, and con
tinued to do so; but he soon began tt
borrow money over and above this. J
did not mind, for he had always been
very kind to me; but began to under
stand why the property had i'sen left
to me.
"Charley's schooling is serious ex-
pense, Jack" he said, standing with
his back to the library fire. Il do not
like to ask these favors of you, but
what am | to do? To tell you the
honest truth, | had reckoned upon
having scme of Joscph's money; and
not getting penny has naturally left
me in a bit of a fix"
81 quite understand" | said, giving
him a check.
1t was the first OF many.
Alice and | were to be married in
the spring, and in January an Old
friend of mine, Basil Williams, came
to stay with me for few days. He
arrived in the evening; l had not ex-
pected him until the following day;
not that it mattered, except that l | al
promised to go and see Alice.
She was always nervous if | did not
keep my promises; so, after dinner. |
asked Basil to excuse me.
1T seems beastIy rude,'' l said, "but
YOU kHOW WudG "OIutIl are.
Go, 10y all means. | shall be quite
happy here hy the fire, and shall very
likely 60 to sleep. What jolly place
you have! It's like the stereotyped
haunted house in novel,"
Basil was bit of an antiquarian
and old houses were Il hobby Of his.
"Yes; it wants more windows in it. >
| You Philistino!' hc exclaimed.
"You would like to build a modern
wing on to it, suppose. Those who
love old places ought to be grateful to
your uncle for leaving the property as
he did,
left him in an armchair drawn
close up to the fire, dccanter and a
box of cigars beside him.
''Ring for anything you want" !
said. "l'll get back as soon as possible
By the way, why should you not come
with mt?
"No, thanks. 1t is more comfort
able indoors than out. | will be in
troduced to Miss Wray tomorrow"
1t had rained during the day, so
went round by the road instead ol
taking the short cut across the fields
Alice was alone.
81 hardly expected you, Jack. How
late you art!''
| | told her the reason.
"Oh, you should not have come
Mr.. Williams will think me nui
sance."
ale looked quite happy when left
him." said, laughing. 81 asked him
to come. but he preferred the fireside.
Where's unclt?'
| "IIe went out half an hour a ro-into
| I