The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1905-10-13
CHAPTER vi.

Mary said nothing. Her cousin David
was doubtless a great fool, but people
said unkind things about her uncle's
conduct toward him.
IF I had not secured his property,
some one else would. 1t Is still in the
family, which ought to be o great COM
fort to him, wherever he has gone.
George Sidcote Is another-well, he isn't
exactly a fool, like David; but he doesn't
get on-he doesn't get ON. / fear very
much"
"Uncle, spare hint"
Because he wants to marry You,
child? Is that q reason for interfering
with the course of business? When the
pear is ripe, 1t will drop!-if not into my
mouth, into some other mans. Business
before love, Mary"
IF l could give my fortune, he would
be out OF his difficulties"
Your fortune, Mary? Where is It'll
What fortune? You have none unless
you marry with my consent. Your for
tune? Why, it depends on me whether
you ever get II. / don't say that l shall
never consent. Show me the right man
NOT a s~pendthrift, Mary"
George Is no spendthrift."
Nor a man In debt"
IF George is In debt it is not his
fault"
"A substantial man, and one who
knows the worth of money; bring that
man along. and we will see. If not
well, Mary, l am getting on for seventy.
and l can't last forever, and perhaps
perhaps, l say shall leave You my
money when I die. You can wait till
then. Six thousand pounds is a tremen-
dous big lump to part with, when a mar
Is not obliged to part with it. And I ana
not obliged to give my consent. No, no;
and after I've lost three thousand-tbree
thousand! Besides, your comfortabl.
here; what do you want to marry for
What's the good of marrying? Better
stay at home and save money. I give you
your board and your lodging, Mary, while
you are here, for nothing; and your cloth.
ing, too-yes, you clothing" He spoke
as II many young people had to 60 with.
out.
"Yes, l know" She laughed thinkins
how much her uncle had given her fol
dress In the last year or two. "Well, I'M
Gle, but II l do marry without your
consent you will have to give the none,
to my cousin David"
"Yes, yes; Of course. What's the eoet
OF telling me thAtf But David In dead
no doubt, by this time, and hen tn,
money must remain with me, Of course
( But you won't do that, Mary; your
never be 90 wicked a. to do that. Re
sides, II you did. David's accounts witt
me have never been made up. and
: don't doubt that when we come to loo,
. into them II will be found that he eve
me a great deal still. I wal very soft
foolishly soft-with David"
Mary made 10 reply. Her uncle ha,
been, indeed. soft with David; so sof
: that he had sold him up and turned mir
out, and now possessed his land.
Mr.. Leighan sighed heavily, no doub
over his foolish ~softness, and becam
d silent. 1t was not often that he talke
SO much with his niece.
Six years before this, about half-pas
o nine one evening in the autumn of tn
o year 1880, George Sidcote, walking HON,
found Mr.. Leighan lying in the middle {
] the road on Heytree Down. His Don
was grazing quietly beside him, and b
+" was lying on his back senseless, with q
d ugly wound in his head, the scar {
which would never leave him. He hs
d fallen, apparently, from his pony. y
ia s~usicion of violence or robbery was q
tertained; first, because no ons e~,
l. heard of violence at C~halAcombe, ar
Is secondly, because he had not apparent
ls been robbed. So, at least, it seemed
k those who carried him home. for his poe
v cts were full of money, and his wat,
and chain had not been taxen.
a. For three days and three nights DAM
Is Leighen lay speechless and se1selesa, al
h but for a faint pulse he seemed dea
T. When he recovered Consciousness, 4
X first qustions he asked were concernll
er a certain tin box containing papers whi
l he declared was hanging in a bag fro
" his neck. Now Of that tin box no O.
h knew anything. Presently, when
counted his money, he swore that he W
Id twenty pounds short.