The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-21

1t can be charged with whatever jointure I may be pleased to give my wife. I have preferred you 10 my other creditors.
 Lady Raclxrent rode off with her maid and trunks and her bandboxes with scarcely a word of reply, plainly in n hurry to get the thing over with. After her departure Sir Condy went whistling about the house. seeming as merry as you please, and sent for Jason to come and have a settlement with him that evening
 Sir Condy exclaimed and put both hands before his eyes when he saw the pile of papers which Jason had arranged for him on the great dining table. The at torenys own bills and those of which he had become possessed made a formidable list; flor cash lent many times over; for bills paid at mllliners'a and linen drapers in short, to all sorts of tradesmen; and notes and bonds on which interest and compound interest had been pillng up. There were bills for spirits and ribbons at election time and the gen t1emen of the committees bills unsettled and their subscriptions ungathered: and servants wages for long, long time and many other items
 "Iow much Is 1t all?n said Sir Condy Add 1t up. Jason No. No, 1 don't want to see the bills"
 When Jason had added 1t all up, the baronet looked at it and said, laughing: Well, what in the world are We 10 do about it all? Put it off somehow. Jason; put it off"
 Sir Condy," replied the attorney, "the balance has been running too long al- ready l am distressed myself for money ! on account of you, and it must be set tied here and now
 Well. settle 1t then. If you can," re- piled Sir Condy How can I do it?' "'rhere Is but one way" returned Jason. | n hA goes to the land. l have purchaser all l ready, You can sell, although at a loss. l There is no other way out
 Then Sir Condy told Jason of his having l settled q jointure of G50o chargeable on the land, upon Lady Rackrent, whereat 1 the attorney was very angry. But Sir l Condy brought him up sharp and told :. him to hand over the deed of sale which l he had prepared. And whose name should l be in the deed as purchaser but Jasons S l own.
 "oh. murderl" cried Sir condy, reading i over the paper. Surely you would not 1 put thls in-'The Castle. stable and ap- 1 performances of Castle Rackrent?" Why not?" said Jason. "lt is all mine, and a great deal more, if I choose i to push for it"
 Sir Condy Just sank back In his chair and let his arms fall down as If stupe- l fled For the first time he realized his
 
 at last. Settle as you will l am both cred to death." and he signed the deed, saving: Take all and be content" Old Thady. who could bear the distress of his master and what he considered the 1 villany of his son no longer, had gone out into the town; soon there was a great crowd around the castle. called by the l report that Jason was turning Sir Condy out of house and home.
 | No Jason, No Jason, Sir Condy for ever" they cried and at the sound of their angry voices Jason turned very white and trembling
 Sir Condy drank off a glass of punch | and burst into laughter at the sight of the atorney's fears. What shall we do?' cried Jason. Why" said Sir condy, wi.h a twinkle in his eye. there is but one thing to do if you don't want them ! to hang you out of hand. Just go to the window-we will go together-and you can tell them that of nay own free will and for the benefit of my health l am going to the Lodge to live for the rest of my life"
 Nothing could have been further from Jason's intention than to give his former master refuge at the Lodge, but fear was strong on him, and he did as he was told Sir Condy standing by his side and ealing on the people to loo kin and see that they had been sitting over a bowl of punch together. quite friendly.
 So the next day Sir Condy went to live at the Lodge and Jason reigned in the castle. Faithful Thady and his old sister followed their master, and somehow saw 10 1t that he had food and his usual , amount of punch of an evening.
 Where now are all my friends?" said | Sir Condy one day.
 "Iure Your Honor has many friends yet" replied Thady
 "Is that so?" said Sir Condy. "Then do you know. Thady. l should like to see my own wake" So the baronet got into l bed, and it was given out that he was dead and would be walked. Sir Condy hoped and expected that his wake would equal the great "whillaluh" when old Sir l Patrick died. But the wake was q fail- ure; few of his former friends came to wake Sir Condy, and he got out of bed in disgust and sent the company about their business.
 But he failed in health and took to his bed In reality. While he was thus, word came that Lady Rackrent had been in- jured In a carriage accident, and was dying Judy McQuirk came in about this time to see Thady's sister. and Sir Con l dy hearing her voice. called her in and said: "Oh, Judy! Judy Is 1t you But you are greatly altered Judy"
 Sure and it's time for me-" said Judy. "and think Your Honor since last saw you-but that's long time ago-is some what altered. too"
 It was easy to see that in Judy, Sir Condy had faint hope that he might yet find some love and happiness; but when the woman had come out into the kitchen and they began to tell her that she might be Lady Rackrent yet. she replied: And what would I be Lady RaclSrent for when l I can do better? A lady without castle is no great thing; and perhaps MT. Jason will give me the castle. Oh, yes. you may stare, but I shall be head of the Rack rent estates yet. Yes I have an offer. can do better than Sir Condys"
 Scarcely had Judy gone than In came Jason himself with bag in his hand.
 "3r Condy." said he. "I am sorry to hear oe the accident to Lady Rackrent.
 ..I am much obliged to you" replied the baronet stiffly. "and so Is my lady. - There was d pause and then Jason com ing to the business in hand. offered Sir condy two hundred golden guineas, which he showered down on the bed out of his bag, if the baronet would sell him the reversion of Lady Rackenrent's jointure.
 "In case her ladyshlp dles," said Sir