The Caldwell tribune., 1905-09-23
CHAPTER. vi.

+4-s-ssza C1AH1nh VI. q
Mary said nothing. Her cousin David
was doubtless a great fool, but people
said unklnd things about her uncle's
conduct toward him.
If had not secured his property,
some one else would. It il still In the
family, which ought to be & great COM
fort to him, wherever he has gone
George Sidcote is another-well, he isn't
exactly fsOI. like David; but he doesn't
get on-he doesn't get on. / fear very
much-" --.- .-.-..-s--~-~.
Uncle, spare himp' -
Because be wants to marry you,
child? IL that q reason for interfering
with the course of business2 When the
pear ls ripe, 1t will drop!--h not into my
mouth, into some other mans. Business
before love, Mary"
IF could give my fortune, he would
be out of his diGlculties."
"Your fortune, MRryP Where is it7
What fortune? You have none unless
you marry with my consent. Your for
tune? Why, 1t depends ON me whether
you ever get it. don't say that shall
never consent. Show me the right man
not a spendthrift, 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
we'll, Mary, am getting on for seventy,
and l can't last forever, and perhaps
perhaps, say shall leave you my
money when I die. You can wait till
then. Six thousand pounds Is q tremen-
dous big lump to part with, when a man
Is not obliged to part with it. And am
not obliged to give my consent. No, NO
and after I've lost three thousand-three
thousand! Besides, your comfortable
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, your clothing" BE spokl
as If many young people had to 80 with
out.
"Tes, know" She laughed thinking
how much her uncle had given her fol
dress In the last year or two well, un
j, Gle, but If l do marry without you
| consent you will have to give the none!
/ to my cousin David"
"Yes, yes; Of course. What's the goo
Z of telling me that? But David is dead
no doubt, by this time, and then tn
money must remain with me, Of course
{ But you won't do that, Mary; you'll
: never be SO wicked as to do that. Be
q sides, If you did, David's accounts witt
. me have never been made up, and
: don't doubt that when we come to loo
q Into them it will be found that he owe
@ me a great deal.still. l was very soft
= foolishly soft-With David.".
/ Mary made no reply. Her uncle ha
q been, indeed, soft with David; so sof
that he had sold him up and turned hir
: out, and now possessed his land.
] Mr.. Leighan sighed heavily, no dout
y over his foolish softness, and becam
i silent. It was not often that he talke
4 80 much with his niece.
Six years before this, about half-pas
q nine one evening In the autumn of th
n year 1880, George Sidcote, walking hom
+ found Mr.. Leighan lying in the middle
7 the road on Heytree Down. His pom
q was grazing quietly beside him, and
" was lying on his back senseless, with
4 ugly wound In his. head, the scar
- which would never leave him. He ha
4 fallen, apparently, from his pony. \
- susicion Of violence or robbery was el
tertained; first, because NO one eV'
l. heard Of violence at Challacombe, an
Is secondly, because he had not apparent
"a been robbed. 30, at least, 1t seemed
X those who carried him home, for his poe
p ats were full of money, and his WatC
" and chain had not been taken.
n For three days and three nights DAM
Is Leishan lay speechlsSs and ssnSSieSS, ar
n hut for q faint pulse he seemed dea
4. When he recovered consciousness, Il
X argt Qustlons he asked were concsrnir
- a certain tin bog containing papers whit
7 hs declared was hanging In 2 bag fro
y bjs neck. Now Of that tin box no Of
n knew anything. ~ Presently, Tnsn
: | counted his money, he swUcS saas no WI
d twenty pounds short