Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-02-12

On this occasion. therefore, it was
with the greatest pleasure that Arma
thwaite saw, as he tramped his way
up through the slush to the inn, high
dOg-cart standing at the door, with
Lady kildonan in it. She was talking,
in a higE-pitched and excited voice, to
the inn-keeper's wife, who stood
humbly on the door-steps below. and
from time to time wiped her eyes
with her apron, as she murmured a
broken word or two during the lady's
voluble address. The young doctor
was afraid, before he could hear any
words, that Blake must have died sud
denly, and that the lady was trying
to cheer his widow But as he drew
nearer and stood by, waiting for an
opportunity to address Lady KildOnan
without interrupting her, he was
amazed to find that, instead Of COM
fOTting the poor woman in her mis-
fortunes, the mistress of The CragS
was scolding, and even threatening
her, for the nOnpayment of the rent
which vas due, while Mrs. Blake was
meekly protesting that it was no fault
of her gOOd mans that he was behind
hand, that trade had been bad, and his
health sickly, and times had been very
hard with them.
"On, yes; Of course, it's always the
same story" said Lady KildOnan, not
with any harshness, but f1IppantIy,
and with some impatience The
times are not hard for you only. They
would be hardest for us, if all our
tenants were to decline to pay their
rent because trade was slack. l might
be inclined to let you off myself, per
haps, hut his lordship simply won't
hear of it. The house is a nice one,
in a good condition, and could, it ap-
pears, be let again and again to pay
ing people, if only you were out of it.
I'm sure you can't complain that we
haven't given you grace. Mr.. CrOs-
mont has been really very kind to
you. And now understand. you must
find one quarters rent-thats only
half what you Owe-by this evening,
when NJ. Crosmont goes to Liverpool
to pay the rents into the bank, or else
you must have notice to quit. Now
you understand, don't you?'
But the woman, finding her tears
unavailirg, had wiped her eyes and
plucked up little spirit; for to be
trampled on and let off the payment
Of your rent, is a grievance that can
be borne, but to be trampled On and
then threatened with notice to quit,
is more than handwriting flesh and
blood can bear
Il understand your ladyship, and
perhaps l understand better than you
think" said Mrs. Blake bitterly.
Lord kildonan didn't use to be so
hard; 20, nor Mr.. Crosmont didn't
threaten us with notice to quit. we
that's been here all these years. It's
like the times of your ladyship's
grandfather back again, when, as I've
heard tell, the poor folk was pressed
and worried to pay the last ia. thing
for him to squander on his pleasures
in foreign parts-that's what it's like,
your ladyship, and may I never say
no truer word. And if me and my
good man and the children's turned
out, why we'll go to his Iordship HIM
self, as the new young doctor-bless
him, for he's got a heart, he has,
told us to do. And Mr. CrOsmCnt's
own poor lady, for all they say she's
bit strange in her ways, she's said
the same to me. MIS-. Blake says
she, go to his lordship yourself and
| tell him all about it. And if he likes
to turn us out, why, after all, he's not
bred in these parts, and it's not as
hard a thing for him to do as it is in
you, my lady, what was reared here,
and who we've looked up to as our
own, for your fathers and mothers
sake
And Mrs. Blake, overcome with her
emotion, broke down and sObbed in
earnest Lady Kildonan, who had sat
quite still while she listened to this
outburst, answered, in a quiet, hard
and cold tone:
To be continued.