Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1904-05-28


first move, but his foot stopped in mid
air in his anxiety to concentrate al
his attention on his answer
II am a man Of few sentimental
ties," he coldly averred. II have loved
but one person in my whole life. Why
then, should 1 be expected to mourn
over a niece who did not care enough
for me to invite me to her wedding
It would be an affectation unworthy
the man who has at last come to fill
his rightful position in this community
as the owner Of the great Moore es-
tate. For great it shall be- he en-
phatically continued. "In three years
you will not know the house over yon-
der. Despite it's fancied ghosts and
death dealing fireplace, it will stand
Al in Washington. I, David Moore,
promise you this, and am not man
to utter fatuous prophecies. But l
must be missed over there"
Here he gave the mastiff the long de-
layed kick "Rudge, stay here! The
vestibule opposite is icy. Besides, your
bowls are not wanted in those old
walls tonight even If you would go
with me, which doubt. He has never
been willing to cross to that side Of
the street." the old gentleman went on
to complain, with his first show of ir-
ritation. "But he'll have to overcome
that prejudice soon. even if 1 have to
tear up the old hearthstone and recon
struct the walls. 1 can't live without
Ridge, and 1 will not live in another
place than in the old home of my an
cestOrs."
1 was by THIS time following him out
"You have failed to answer the sug-
gestion l made you minute SINCE"
hazarded. "Will you pardon me if
put it now as question? Your niece,
Mrs. Jeffrey. seemed to have every
thing in the world to make her happy,
yet she took her life. Was there a
faint of insanity in her blood. or was
her nature so impulsive that her aston
ishing death in so revolving a place
should awaken in you so little Won
der?"
A CLEAN of what had made him more
or less feared by the very urchins who
logged his steps and made sport Of
him at respectful distance shot from
his eye as he glowered back at me
from the open door. But he hastily
suppressed this sign Of displeasure and
replied with the faintest tinge of sar-
caSm:
''There. You are expecting from me
feelings which belong to youth or to
men of much more heart than under
standing 1 tell you that 1 have no
feelings. My niece may have developed
insanity or she may simply have drunk
her cup of pleasure dry at twenty-five
and come to its dregs prematurely.
do not know and do not care. What
concerns me is that the responsibility
of large fortune has fallen upon me
most Unexpectedly and that I have
pride enough to wish to show myself
capable of sustaining the burden. Be-
sides, they may be tempted to do some
mischief to the walls or floors over
there. The police respect no mans
But Lam determined they
shall respect mine. No rippings up or
tearings down will l allow unless /
stand by to supervise the job. I am
master of the old homestead now and
I mean to snow it." And with last
glance at the dog, who uttered the
most mournful Of protests in reply, he
shut the front door and betook himself |
to the other side Of the street !
AS 1 noticed his assured bearing as !
be disappeared within the forbidding
portal which, according to his own
story had for so long time been shut |
against him, asked myself if the can
die which had noticed lying on his
was of the same make |
and size as those I had found in my
late investigations in the house he was
then entering.