The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1905-08-23
Ills Hearts Desire
BY SIR WALTER BEsANT
CHAPTER xI.-(Continued.D
BY SIR WALTER BESANT

IT1AG EN-
David sat doggedly. He had always
been logged and obstinate. His uncle
looked ar him curiously, as if studying
his character.
DAVID he said presently, "you We're
q bad boy at school, where they ought
to have logged it out of you. You were
a bad son 10 your father, who ought to
have cut you off with a shilling. You
were a bad farmer when you got your
farm. If / hadn't taken your land, a
stranger would nave had it. Now it's
kept in the family. Years ago l thought
to give you a lesson, and il you reform
ed, TO give it back 70 you in my will. l
now perceive that you are one Of those
who never reform. l AVE left it-else-
where"
$50 on" said David, 81 like to hear
you talk"
''The old house at Berry-your old
house-is turned into two cottages. One
of those cottages is empty. If you mean
TO stay in the parish, you can live in it
If you like, rent free, for a time-that Is,
until you get into work again or | find
a tenant. If you choose to earn money,
you can; there are always jobs to be
done by a handy man. If you will not
work, you must starve. Now that is all
/ will do for you. When you are tired
of Challacombe, you can go away again.
That is my last word, nephew" He turn
ed away, and began to busy himself
again among his papers.
after the accident and the loss of
those papers you were senseless for three
days. And after that you got paralysis.
Why, what was all that, but a judg-
ment on you for your conduct to your
own flesh and blood?"
"Rubbish!"
David said no more. Those best ac-
quainted with him would have under
stood from the expression of his face that
his mind was laboriously graphing with
n subject not yet clear to HIM. lie was,
in fact, just beginning to be aware of a
very foxy game which he might play
with his uncle, though as yet no only
dimly saw the rules Of that game. 1t
was n new game. too, quite one of his
own invention, and one which would AZ
the same time greatly please and stimu-
late his uncle. whom he meant TO be his
adversary. He said nothing more, but
ne sat doggedly and tried to work out
the rules of that game.
Presently Mary came home from
church, and with her George Sidcote and
VIII. They found David sitting with
his uncle, but the old man was reading
the paper, and David was silent, think
ing slowly.
Mary" said David, "you don't re-
member me, / SUPPOSED"
you are 1Iy cousin David. OF course
/ remember you, David, though you are
altered a good deal" She gave him her
hand. "All the people are talking about
your return."
Then George and William shook hands
with him cheerfully and brotherly.
why, David" said George. eve must
,ig you out a little better than this. Come
home with Will and me-"
David turned s~ullenly to his uncle.
1--WE one more thing to say. All of
you may hear what that is. He offers
me a laborer's cottage to live in. and a
laborer's work to do. and a laborer's wage
to pay, on my own lands--my own that
he stole, this old man here, sitting struck
by a judgment in his chair. The next
time | come here-you may all take no
tice and bear witness-the question may
not be how little l may be offered, but
how much shall take"
So far had he got in his understand
ing of the game that was to be played.
How much" he repeated, with a
chuckle-'how much shall | take"
Dear me!' said his uncle. This is
Will? When did you come down? And
how is your writing business? Take Da-
vid away. George: | nm afraid you'll
find him very telious-very tedious in
deed"