The Caldwell tribune., 1905-11-25
CHAPTER XIV,

a
was planned for ease and Iaziness 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 Cleeve.
and were lost In the woods of Latchell,
They beat into the ears Of the lonely old
man who sat In his parlor at Gratnor,
lis papers before him, trying to persuade
himself that he was happy at last, for
be had what the Psalmist prayed for
his hearts desire. He had longed ardent
ly for the lands of Sidcote. He had that
land now within his grasp: the place in a
few weeks or months would be his; and
not only that, but fve-sixths of Mary's
fortune as we'll. He ought to have been
O 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 1t
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 deIiberation
the wedding is over. 1 have just
come from the church. There was a
rare show of people-most as many as
on a Sunday morning"
"A-e they marriedw
"Yes, they are married. wouldn't
make quite sure till saw 1t with my
own eyes. Married without your CON
sent, aren't theyT'
Certainly. They have married with
out my consent"
"Fhen, 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 E7,657 13s Cd.
have been to lawyer at Newton-Ab-
bot and he calculated 1t for me. You
lent me, two days ago. a thousand
pounds, which I 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 thousand down, David,
In full discharge. 1t was an arrange
ment l owe you nothing"
Uncle, you are a man Of business,
believe. What arrangement do you
meanY'
'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 papersY
David! David" He fell back in his
chair He had tainted.
David went to the sideboard and got
some medicine. When his uncle recov-
ered he gave him few drops.
'You are simpler than l thought, un-
cle," he said. "Did you really believe
that l 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 demon!"
Il am what you made me-"
David! Davidw he moaned and wrung
Ills hands, ''tell me you are joking"
mot /! See now, uncle, / am going
away. l shall sell you the rest Of your
coupons, and l shall go away; but be-
fore | go I will have that money out Of
you, to the last farthing. 1t Is not for
myself, though; it Is for M y. You
thought to cheat her out of her fortune,
and to keep it to yourself; well, 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! villainl vii
iainv'
''The villain Is the man who lays his
plans to rob and plumber the helpless"
-. Kill me at oncev' said the old man:
kill me and have done with mer'
Kill you? Not l; killing would be
,Sooiish with such q chance as I've got
now for revengel AS for villain-who
Foobed me Of my land7 Youl When
went away who refused me the small
sum l wanted to start me In Canada?
1ou! When I came home, who offered
me the wages Of a laborer2 You! VII
iainE You dare to call any man a vii
lain!' David bent over the old mans
ehair with flaming eyes and purple
eeheeks MS hands held back lest he should
Oe tempted to kill him. There was the
same fury in his look as when, six years
before, he stood before him with uprais-
60 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
spintterings and oaths-he rushed from
ths room, as If he could not bear even
!" oe in his uncle's company.
And then the old man was left alone
SsSln' The wedding bells were silent,
S %na conscience left him alone to his own
INJECTIONS. When the new housekeeper
thought in the dinner he did not dare,
- ne would have done in Mary's time,
~ lay upon her the burden of his own
- isery and bitterness. She was fine
= large woman, who knew what was due to
'hSfSet, and Mr.. Leighan had to treat
0er with respect.
Now, sir" she said, "sit up and eat
.Souf dinner" It Is thus that they ad
.usess the paupers. Mary, he remember
,St M daily, had been wont to carve for