Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-10-09

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me of l know not what, before l get
them back. Don't ask me any more.
don't tell any one what have said.
must have told some one or | should
have died. Don't speak to me about it;
l must Think must think. Oh. never
in all my life before did l have to think
so hard"
He could eat no dinner; this morning
business had taken away all desire for
food. He made pathetic illusions to the
workhouse.
Come. uncle" said Mary, "you will
make yourself i'll if you fret. You have
said for six years that you had lost this
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 judgment"
"All what. uncle?'
"All the trouble that has fallen upon
me-the fall from the pony, the loss of
the papers. the very paralysis; he says
it is judgment for my taking his land.
DO you think that it is judgment,
Mary? Perhaps I 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
it. If l hadn't lent him the money on
mortgage, another would; il l 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 word of
comfort.
well, uncle" she said. eve are
taught that we bring our sufferings upon
ourselves; and be sure, If everybody was
good, there would be n 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 1 bought it. l can't be.
lieve that. Why don't other people get
judgments. then?"
Patience, uncle Think-whatever
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 a woman under
stand about property? David laughed.
There's something come over David. He
Is just as slow as ever in his speech,
and in his ways, but he's grown clever
No one could have guessed that David
could 80 on as he went on here this morn
ing"
What has David to do with it, un-
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 little thing. If
| George would do it, l would would
i would-no; because should only
lose the money another way"
You mean you would give your con-
sent, uncle?"
"No-no; I can't do that. couldn't
| yesterday; much less to-day, Mary"
"Well, 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.
If had the use of my limbs. I'd dog
and watch the villain. | would find out
where he had put the property. would
tear 1t out of his hands if I could get it
no other way. Old as l am, 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 ont Of Sidcote as you drove
David out of Berry"
ITS business, girl; it's business, How
can 1 help it?"
well, then, uncle, If you are in real
trouble. send for George, and let him
advise you"
George. advise-me. Mary, my 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 | will do it. if l can"
w III you ~ tnlS, girl. Hush. don't
tell anybody. It's this: David has got
secret that | want to find out. Now"
his voice sunk to a whisper, David was
always very fond Of you, Mary; and he
is that sort Of man MS 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 I
was playing 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 start
and 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, l know you
now! l will remember-I will remember
i will remember Here the terror
went suddenly out of his eyes, and he
looked about him in bewilderment