Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-10-30
CHAPTER XIV,

When the harvest was over and the
grain was ingathered, and the work OF
the year completed, George began to
make his arrangements. He had receiv-
ID the formal notice and a six months
grace in which to find the money. There
was no longer any doubt possible that
he must leave Sidcote. He had now
made it all out in his own mind. There
would be enough money from the harvest
to pay the half-years' interest; the land
would be forecosed And the sale of his
farm Implements furniture and every
thing would leave him with few hun
dred to begin the world again. He would
60 to Tasmania, where a man might buy
O small farm and live upon the fruit Of
his own labor.
Let u.s." said Mary, make one last
appeal to my uncle We will go togeth
er, George Perhaps he may relent even
at the last"
They made that appeal at an unfor-
tunate time To begin with, it was in the
morning, when David was still with his
uncle; and in the second place. it was
a morning when David had been abusing
his position. The redemption value of
the coupons, In fact, was at a preposter-
Gus figure, and the poor old man, torn by
the desire to get back his property and
by rage at the terrible ransom imposed
upon il. was rapidly arriving al the con
dition in which his nephew loved to see
him. when he lost his self-command, and
In turns groveled. wept protested, i'm
plored. cursed and tried to bride his
nephew.
When they opened the door they found
the old man trembling and shaking with
the passions of impotence and rage. His
face. livid and distorted with hagsard
eyes, was turned upward in an agony of
entreaty, to meet David's. There was
no pa ssion in that fact. nor any emotion
except calm and sober satisfaction,
which might even have been holy graft
tude, for Davids heavy face was hard
to read He stood over his uncle's chair.
dominating him. with bundle of papers
in his hand. regardless alike Of prayers
or imprecations.
wait minute, George" he said.
"We have just finished our business, and
a most pleasant half hour we have spent,
to be sure Now. uncle. steady. | say, or
you will have tit-now. is it n deal, or
shall | put this little packet into the fire :
Quick Take it or leave it. That's my
fgure.'
''lll take it---oh. I'll take it,"
David laid the paper on the table in
stantly and made note in pockctbood
Pity" he said, that you would not
come to terms sooner. You'd have spared
yourself a great deal of trouble and time
But there, you always would have your
way. and you enjoy beating man down
don't you?" His uncle did not look ex-
actly as if he had enjoyed the last at
tempt. Now, I've DONE George"
Although he had finished his business
David did not retire, but took a seat
Mary's seat-in the window, prepared tC
listen. and with the appearance of one
interested in what was coming.
What do you want, GEORGE" Mr.
I.eighan asked, impatiently. why dc
You come here while am busy. Mary
I'm not so strong as | was. and david
made me angry. Wait moment. Da
vid said something that angered me
Wait a moment. He doesn't mean to an
ger me-no-no-but he does, some
times"
He covered his face with his hands
Presently the trembling left him and HI
recovered.
Now" he said. with a show of brisk
ness, Il am better again. What Is 1t
George? If it is business, have 20,
come to propose anything? You hav,
got your legal notice, l believe? Yes
Then you know the conditions Of tn