Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-08-25

CHAPTER XIV.

as JOyfully as if the whole of her life
was planned for ease and laziness in
stead Of hard work; as happily as if for
tune had poured into her lap all that
the earth can give or the heart can de-
sire. The bells rang out over the whole
great parish. They were echoed along
the black precipice of Lustleigh Cleeye,
and We're lost in the woods Of Latchell.
They beat into the ears of the lonely old
man who sat in his parlor at Gratnor,
| is papers before him. trying to persuade
himself that he was happy at last, for
he had what the Psalmist prayed for
his hearts desire. He had longed ardent
~ for the lands Of Sidcote. He had that
land now within his grasp; the place in
few weeks or months would be his; and
not only that, but iye-sixths of Mary's
fortune as well. He ought to have been
happy man.
Mary had left him for three weeks
only; already he had found the differ
ence between hired service and the ser
vice of love. Every day, and all day
long, he had turned to Mary for every
thing and never found her wanting.
Now nothing was right-not even the
position of his chair and table, or the
arrangement of his cushions, or the
comfort of his meals; and nothing would
would ever be right again. Perhaps it
would have been better if he had given
his consent, and suffered George to re-
deem his land, and so kept Mary.
'Uncle"-it was David who came in
slowly, and sat down with elaboration
the wedding is over. l have just
come from the church. There was q
rare show of people-most as many as
on Sunday morning"
"A-e they married?'
Yes, they are married. | wouldn't
make quite sure till | saw it with my
own eyes. Married without your con-
sent, aren't theyY'
Certainly. They have married with
out my consent"
Then, Uncle Daniel, since they are
married without your consent, I'll trouble
you for six thousand pounds-my aunt's
legacy of six thousand pounds-with
compound interest for six years at five
per cent. 1t amounts to FL ,65T 13s Cd.
| have been to a lawyer at NewtonAb-
bot and he calculated it for me. You
lent me, two days ago, a thousand
pounds, which | take on account of the
legacy, because you knew then that the
bans were up and the wedding fixed. The
balance you will pay over at once. Other
wise my lawyer will bring an action
against you. Halloo! uncle, what's the
matter?'
You took a thousand down, David
in full discharge. 1t was an arrange
ment. | owe you nothing
Uncle, you are a man of business,
believe. What arrangement do you
mcanY
You told George In this room that
there was such an arrangement. You
set him against me with telling him that,
David"
Where is the arrangement? Where
are your papers?"
David, DAVID He fell back in his
chair. He had tainted.
David went to the sideboard and got
some medicine. When his uncle recov-
cred he gave him a few drops.
You are simpler than | thought, I'M
Gle" he said ibid you really believe
that was going to give up this fortune
and to you-to you, of all men in the
world-when | knew all along that they
would marry without your consentT'
David, you are a demon"
Il am what you made me-"
David. David" he moaned and wrung
lis hands, tell me you are joking"
mot [! See now uncle, | am going
away. / shall sell you the rest of your
coupons, and | shall go away; but be-
fore ! 90 | will have that money out OF
you, to the last farthing. 1t is not for
myself, though; it is for MT. You
thought to cheat her out of her fortune
and to keep it to yourself; we'll, you are
wrong. You shall pay far more to me
than you would have paid to her, and she
shall have it all
You are killing me-oh! villain. vii
lain!''
THE villain is the man who lays his
plans to rob and plumber the helpless"
XIII me at once." said the old man;
'llill me and have done with me.'
xiii you? Not |; killing would be
foolish with such chance as I've got
now for revenge. As for villain-who
robbed me Of my land? You, When |
went away, who refused me the small
sum | wanted to start me in Canada
You! When | came home. who offered
me the wages of 4 laborer? YOU Vii
lain? You dare to call any man vii
lainr David bent over the old mans
chair with flaming eyes and purple
cheeks. his hands held back lest lie should
be tempted to kill him. There was the
same fury in his look as when. six years
before. he stood before him with uprais-
cd cudgel on the moor. And when he
had said all he had to say--for this was
not all, only the rest was incoherent with
splutterings and oaths-he rushed from
the room, as if he could not bear even
to be in his uncles company.
And then the old man was left alone
again The wedding bells were silent,
and conscience left him alone to his own
reflections. When the new housekeeper
brought in the dinner he did not dare
as he would have done in Marys time,
to lay upon her the burden of his own
misery and bitterness. She was fine
large woman, who knew what was due to
herself, and Mr.. Leighan had to treat
her with respect.
Now, sir she said, tsit up and ca.
your dinner. 1t is thus that they ad-
dress the paupers. Mary, he remember
ed daily. had been wont to carve for
him, to ask him what he would take
and where he liked it cut Now he was
told to sit up and eat his dinner He
noticed these little things more than
usual, because when a man has received
a heavy blow his mind, for some mys-
terious reason, begins to notice the small
est trifes.
He obeyed. and ate his dinner, which
was half cold. And presently, partly
because his mind was so troubled, parity
from habit he fell asleep as usual.
CHAPTER NXVI.
rTbara hroa n.