Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-06-08
FROM GLOOM
ITO SUNLIGHT


~ 4i W ' CT w ats 81 tttIItSt. So TIA
tent: that he carried the others weak
er viii with him.
"2 have worked hard all my life
said .Arley Ransome-"worked as few
men have ever done before-from sun
rise 10 sunset. and often through the
long, Silent night. / have worked be-
cause / love mOney-because l an
ambitious: because l have had an end
IN view. You know, my lord, that,
besides p%racticing as a lawyer, l have
been, and am now, Il money lender;
1t is no news to you that l advanced
the mortgage money on Navensmere,
and that. unless You can pay it, the
estate becomes mine. The castle. the
estate, the plate. the pictures-they
are all mine. Now. listen. my lord.
/ lave made q fortune-yOu Inherited
one, / have made one"
You might we'll do, so. lending
money at Il hundred per cent"
"Never mind how it has been made
I have made it, said the lawyer;
"and my fortune amounts to two hun
dred thousand pounds. 1t has been
honestly made. You have gamDled.
my lord: l have spcculated-and my
speculations have all turned out well.
l have two hundred thousand pounds,
and-f have Il daughter" His voice
! sank, as though he were somewhat
ashamed of his words; then he con-
tinued: Il have made money because
| love il; l want to make u position
because | am ambitious. | have spent
my life toiling in these gloomy Offices:
hope BIS Frightened them. Would
that I had a son to carry out my
dreams. my hopes, my plans. If 1
he'd a son to succeed me, my lord. l
would foTeciose at once and make him
master of Rayansmere."
Thank YOU interposed Lord Cara
ven.
Il have a daughter, and she Gast
take the place / would fain haSfe given
to my boy. Ny lord. l make you this
offer. You are a ruined 4faan-you tell
me there remain fgr you no hope,
nothing but deatgf Now, / VIII give
you life, liberty, wealth. l will make
o greater than any OF the Earls of
Caravept nave been yet. l will give
my laughter a doWry Of two hundred
thousand pounds if you will marry
her"
Lord Caraven lost his self-possession
for half a minute; then he proudly
said:
81 have known the time when I
should have ho~rsewhipped any man
who dared to make such a proposition
to me. / imagine all fine feeling has
become extinct in me. Can you not
II all this for me without asking
me TO initrry your daughter?
"No.'' replied the lawyer, quietly.
"As L have told YOU, If l had a son.
he slioH..a haseAheea naasterzof RAY
ensmere: failing that, my daughter
must be Its mistress"
sYou must know that, although 1
am n ruined man, there is an immense
difference between the Earl of Cara
ven and the daughter of a money lend
err said the young nobleman. speak
ing calmly. There can be no happi-
ness in marriage where there is SO
great an inequality"
"The advantages and the losses are
euual,'' said 4Ariey. There are men
who, in my place. would not act as I
am doing, who would think twice be-
fore Offering wife and fortune to one
! pardon me-so little deserving them"
You cannot care much for your
daughter to be willing to sacrifice her
to u spendthrift," said the ear.
MY lord. each n among us has
his price. l want title, rank and posi-
ton for my daughter. You can give
them to her. You want wealth-she
will bring that to you. Will you give
me an answer
II should not purchase a picture
without looking at it," said the earl.
81 cannot promise TO marry a lady
whom l have never reen."
you shall see her, my lord-at once
If you will. She is at the Hollies, lei
Kew. II you please, we will drive
down there"
II do not know-it is not right do
fashion. Even if I married your
daughter, / am quite SURF that l
should not like her"
Every one likes Hildred,'' said Mr..
Ransome.
"Hildred! That is a pretty, quaint
name said the earl. 81 do not mind
going to the Hollies with You, but i
make no promise. II ! should not like
your daughter. she would be very mis-
erable.,
CAS- you will, my lord; I shall urge
no more. I am determined my daugh-
ter shall marry into the peerage; my
whole heart is set upon it. You are
not the only nobleman on my books,
You will have the money ready for me
or give up Ravensmere at the appoint.
ed time"
While the lawyer urged him Lord
Caraven had been firm In his refusal
Now that he stood face to face with
bitter, black ruin, shame and dis
grace, with ignominy and death, he al
once began to waver.
II will go down to Your place with
you,' he said.
"As you please, my lord" was thu
i cautious answer.
CHAPTER II.
The Earl Of Caraven was OF tn,
whole rather surprised when the cal
stopped. The Hollies was of far great
er extent than he had thought--a pref
~ villa with grounds beautifully lai,