Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-07-28
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money, and now you find that you really
have lost it, and you cry over it as if it
was new thing. Nonsense about the
workhOuse; you are as rich as you were
yesterday" +.
Mary" he said, David has been here
again. He says it is all a Judgment"
"All what, uncle?"
CAL the trouble that has fallen upon
me-the fall from the pony, the loss Of
the papers, the very paralysis; he says
1t Is judgment for my taking his land.
Do you think that it is a judgment,
Mary? Perhaps | was hard upon the
boy; but one couldn't stand by and see a
beautiful piece Of property going to rack
and ruin without stepping in to secure
1t. If | hadn't lent him the money on
mortgage, another would; if I hadn't
sold him up another woodland it is all
in the family; that's what David ought
TO think, and not to come here swearing
and threatening. If it is a judgment.
Mary" He paused for a word of
comfort.
We'll. uncle" she said, "we are
taught that we bring our sufferings upon
ourselves; and be sure, if everybody was
good, there would be a great deal less
suffering in the world. Nobody can deny
that"
But not such lot of Judgment. Mary.
All this fuss because David had to sell
his farm, and | bought it. | can't be-
lieve that. Why don't other people get
judgments. them
Patience, uncle. Think-whateve
happens now about that money, that it
was lost six years ago"
All. you keep on saying that. You
don't understand what it is to have the
thing you had despaired of recovering
dangling before your eyes and then taken
away again. What does i woman under
stand about property? David laughed.
There's something come over David. He
IS just as slow as ever in his speech,
and III his ways, but he's grown clever.
No one could have guessed that David
could go on as he went on here this morn
ing"
What has David to do with it, IN
cle?''
with the property? Nothing, Mary.
nothing" he replied, hastily. Don't
think that he has anything to do with
it. He groaned heavily, remembering
how much, how very much, David had
to do with it.
Can l do anything? Can George do
anything?"
George would like to see me wrong
ed. 1t is an envious world There is
one thing he could do 1t seems a big
thing, but it is really a little thing. If
George would do it, | would would
i would-no; because l should only
lose the money another way"
- mean Won would oiva ,-o,,, 49,,
sent, uncle|'
Mono; l can't do that. 1 couldn't
yesterday; much less to-day, Mary"
We'll what is this thing that George
could do for you?"
"A villain has got my property. Mary.
George might go and take it from him.
IL L had the use of my limbs, I'd dog
and watch the villain. [ would find ont
where he had put the property. l would
tear 1t out of his hands if I could get it
no other way. Old as l am, 1 would
tear it from his clutches"
George can hardly do that for you,
uncle. Especially when you refuse your
consent to our marriage, and are going
to drive him out of Sidcote, as you drove
David out of Berry"
ITS business, girl; it's business. How
can I help itY'
''Well, then, uncle. if you are in real
trouble, send for George, and let him
advise you"
George, advise-me. Mary, nv dear
when l begin to want advice of any man.
send for the doctor and order nv coffin.
might use Georges arms and legs; but
my own head is enough for me, thank
YOU. There is another way" he said
But l doubt whether you have sufficient
affection for your uncle to try that way"
rs it something that | could do? OF
course 1 will do it, if l cam
will you? It's this, girl. Hush. don't
tell anybody. It's this: David has got
a secret that / want to find out Now"
his voice sunk to whisper, David was
always very fond of you, Mary; and he
is that sort of a man as a woman can do
what she pleases with him. Pretend to
let him make love to you-pretend that
you are in love with him. Wheedle the
secret out of him, and then tell me what
it is"
And what would George say while
was playings this part? Uncle if you
have such thoughts as that, you may
expect another Judgment
He groaned, a good deal shaken and
agitated Then he dropped asleep But
his slumber was uneasy, probably by rea-
son of his agitation in the morning: his
head rolled about, he moaned in his
sleep, and his fingers fidgeted restlessly
At four o'clock he woke up with a start
and a scream, glaring about him with
terror-stricken eyes, just as he had done
once before.
Help" he cried. Help. He will
murder me. Oh. villain, | know you
now. | will remember will remember
I will remember Here the terror
went suddenly out of his eyes. and he
looked about him in bewilderment.
MARY! | remembered once more. Oh,
l saw so clear-so clear.-and now I
have forgotten again. This is the sec.
ond time that l have seen in my dream
the man who took my papers and my
gold-the second time. Mary, if it comes
again, l shall go mad. Oh. to be so
near, and to have the villain in my grasp
and to let him go again. Mary, Mary
the loss of the money, and the dream,
and your cousin David-all together
will drive me mad,'
CHAPTER XVIII.
This was truly an suspicious evening
for me to present myself with my newly
recovered bag. However, ignorant of
the mOrniDp storm 7 walked elonp