Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-06-14

the Lord, an thou hath done thy
duty.''
Josiah acquiesced by an emphatic
movement of his head. Mother" he
said, recurring again to the subject of
Ills cousin Margaret, 81 ha' been think
ing much on the coming home of our
kinswoman. Often my mind hath
dwelt upon her youth and ineXperience.
What knoweth she of the care of n
household and the management of so
many acres as are hers entirely now.
1-thou"-he hesitated-"we must keep
close to her, direct her endeayors, and
from the frst"-he raised his voice.
speaking with harsh emphasis-"allow
no other influence to crowd in to push
ours out. On our counsel she must be
taught to rely, and she must ever find
us to be towers of strength upon which
she may lean with confidence"
Thou hast spoken wisely, Josiah"
the dame replied. "If my memory
doth serve me well, Margaret was ever
an obedient child to her father, SO wilt
come naturally, methinks, to place re-
lance on her kinsfolk. Hast thought,
JOSIAH" she continued, lowering her
voice almost to whisper and looking
toward the door. that thy cousins
lands adjoin thine and what great ben
eft could be derived from being master
of it all?"
Taunston rose and paced rapidly up
and down the dimly lighted kitchen.
Thought! OF course ha' thought"
he exclaimed. For two years l have
watched over everything ON the May
land farm lands, from the littlest new
born lamb to the feetest horse, and
given orders as if We're the owner
there"
He drew sharp breath.
And now-God's pity-I must give
place to a chit of girl, who happen
will bring disorder where ha' had or
der and put wasteful French notions
above good Puritan thrift and care"
AS If the thought were intolerable to
him, he gave his shoulders despairng
shrug, strobe to the window and looked
out long and silently over the blacken-
ed landscape in the direction of the
Maryland estate. His mother sat for Il
time looking with sympathetic anxiety
at the tall disconsolate figure of her
son. AT last she observed quietly: "In
doing thy duty SO well thou hast grown
to love those lands above all reasoning,
Josiah. Methinks by every right thou
shouldst be master there
Mother" he came and stood before
her, with his hand appraised, in state
of unusual excitement, II dreamt last
night that the vessel on which Marga-
ret Maryland sailed from Paris was lost
with all on board, and my cousin, she
who stands between me and the estate,
for am the next heir, as thou doth
know, was gone forever. 1t was
dream, but for night all was mine.
was in truth master there, and
lived. I was rich in this worlds goods,
busy, important, prosperous"
His pale blue eyes glittered covetous-
ly with the feeling that possessed him
as he brushed his hand over his hair.
"Ha, an We're it so 'twould be WE'LL"
Mistress Taunston cried sharply, PRO
vided, Of course, it were the good
Lords WILL" she added piously. "But
there are other ways, my son. Hast
thou given consideration to the fact
that Margaret will need husband
now? An who more suitable than thou,
Josiah?"
He shufiied nervously on his feet, I'M
able to meet her glance.
"Dost think she would regard my
suit with favor?' he asked. although
an upright an honorable man, l ha'
never thought had much attractive.
ness for woman"
His mother threw up her head with
II quick motion, her glance containing
both pride and confidence.
AYE, that she will, JOSIAH she an.
nounced emphatically. "Of truth
thou'rt not oversoft with woman, but
thou art SO tall and doth walk about
with such an air an stride that,
ween, scarce maid thou did set thy
heart on could resist thee"
''If 1t be that my cousin hath an cyl
to her purse strings" he observed
thoughtfully, "my frugal and thrifty
management VI ueI lurll lduuS uluN
appeal to her"
'"Those facts and others to thine ad
vantage will be placed before oul
kinswoman with proper Judgment ant
skill upon her arrival" his mother an
nounced. MY son. thou dost know tina
tits thine own lookout to win thy Cous
in Margaret, for tits ever man.
place to do the counting but that will
keep close shadow and watch wei
for thee and. thine interests thou can
not doubt. ALI. welladay," she drew :
deep breath, twill be happy tint
for thy mother, Josiah, when she can
sit before yon doorway at her spin
ming and, ever and anon raising hel
eyes to look ut the wide acres Of greer
pasture surmounted by the gray house
on the hill, know that thou art master
there"
Taunston, looking intently into space
with covetous eyes. made no reply.
Soon the candles having burned al
most to their sockets and the brigh
flare of the logs given place to dull