Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-05-31
The Last of the Leveridges.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

band as he drove away from the
dO0ryard ON his way to the station to
fetch Aline Register, her dearest
visit witb.a purpose.
She would have preferred her hus-
band driving something quieter than
those fiery chestnuts, but they were
three OF kind, and perhaps the brutes
understood their fiery master as we'll as
he understood them.
At any rate, she had other occupa-
ton than watching him any longer.
There were flowers still to be put into
Altne's room and her own dinner tot
iette to make.
For her own sake, as well as Aline's,
she wanted to patch up that old af-
fair" With Rafe Stillman at the 9th
er end of the globe it had mattered lit
tie. But with Rafe back home, her
next door neighbours country neigh.
every incident in her own past that
did not concern him personally, the fu-
ture haG it's breakers.
She had not married the last Of the
Iseveridges unwarned. Prophecy had
held up it's CHASTITY finger, she would
regret it." 1.-The Leveridges were not
as other men," but with toss Of her
pretty head she had assured the croak-
erS that that was one thing she loved
hlm for
Across the long, sloping approach to
hiS own outer gate; adowE the dusty
gray highway with it's vivid border of
bushes; into the twilight gloom Of the
forest growth that marked the boun-
dairy line between the Leveridge and
the Stillman places, Leveridge guided
hllarated by the spirited resistance to
control manifested by his beautiful
brutes.
Suddenly, with snorts Of terror, they
swerved, carrying the vehicle we'll out
of the road. They had taken fright at
a thoroughly commonplace object-an
old man standing on the roadside inno-
Gently engaged in winding bits Of
Irvine about the saddle glrth that had
treacherously broken, leaving him dis
mounted from the horse that improved
his opportunities by grazing. 1t was
his own stableman. A fact which Lev
erldge recognized with heavy outfash
OF temper.
''You internal old idler, why are you
not at work?''
The old man DOTTED his ragged hat
Aeferentially.
81 told missus l didn't think ha0
time to go, but she say l must"
Leveridge leaned toward the old
man with darkening eyes: go where?'
''Over to Mis- Stillman's."
''FOr what?"
''TO carry letter."
$40 Mrs. StillmanT
''I don't know, SIR Missus JUS give
me this an she say I worn't to wait
for no answer"
with confding frankness the old
man extracted a note from the crown
OF his brimless hat, and put it into
the hand eagerly stretched out for 1t.
LeyerIdge turned it over with unsteady
fingers. 1t was sealed with looseness
that invited treachery.
Il used to be accounted a gentle
man." he snarled, in an undertone-
faltered a second, and in another one
was in full possession Of the contents
OF the hastily sealed envelope:
MIR. Leveridge goes out this morn
zng. You had better come over early
dc you want good day with the
snlpe."
The address and the signature were
brief to curtness. "Mr. Stillman," and
an e. Leveridge." Horace replaced
the intercepted note in it's envelope,
aud sat staring at it so long that his
wlfe's messenger ventured to ask:
rs you going to deliver 1t, Mr. Hor-
ace2"
NO" The man in the drag handed
back the note. you are to deliver 1t
according to your mistress orders
IT'S enforced composure-"you will go
as fast as if the devil was squirting
yOur beast. Deliver that note and
come back here to me. 1, too, have a
note for you to deliver. 1t is only a
mite by the Cypress Walk. Five shil-
ltRgs II you are back here in half an
hour; dismissal from the place II you
are not"
"I'll be here, sir"
Eeyerldge Strengthened himself IN
the drag as the old man cantered out
OF sight. He had some few prepare
tons to make OF course, he should
have to kill Stillman. AS we'll then
and there as at any other time. He
laughed unpleasantly. 1t was odd he
should have his gun under the seat OF