The Yale expositor., 1908-12-11


usual for a young woman to kick be-
cause her steady company is making
too much money. There's something
else. Out with it. I'll keep my mouth
shut"
So then he told me a little-much as
he knew, / guess likely. Seems that
he was acquainted with the Teller they
call the butler-sort of a steward,
judged he was-over at the Page girls
house. And this butler was sweet on
the "maid"-the young woman valet
who took care of Agnes buds and
spare rigging. And one night this maid
happened to be in the conservatory"
which | presumed likely was the
heightened name for the preserve clos
et-and Miss Page and Hartley was in
the setting room. And Agnes was
laying into Martin for staying down
town and neglecting her.
The maid said she could hear only
part of the talk, but twas more than
average sharp and vinegary. Agnes
told Martin he was getting more mer-
cenary every day he lived. That all
| he thought of was the Office and ma
| king money She detested a mercen-
airy, hard money-grasping man. Said
money-loving was the worst vice there
was, and she thanked God she had
none of it, meaning vice, of course
she had money enough to sink a ship.
Then Martin he speaks up proud and
short and says he has been working
hard and had been trying TO make
money Said he had a good reason for
it, and some day he would tell her
what 1t was. She said he could tell her
now or hang his May-baskets on some
body elses door-or words to that eff
feet. He says VERY WELL" and she
| says something else, but the maid
didn't hear it because just then old
lady Page come in and give her her
walking papers for listening.
And So" says Lord james, "the en-
gagement was broke off. And a good
thing, too, say. Watts the use of 'er
lowering 'erself to marry man whose
father got is money in trader"
How did Vans dad get his money!"
asks.
by Inheritance" says he "Of course
Mr. Edward dabbles in shares, but,
Lord love you, only for the fun of It,"
How was the inheritance come by
in the first place." says 1. He didn't
| know, but l found out afterwards.
Grandpa Van Brunt was an alderman.
The Twins come back into the house
then. They come in slapping and
jawing. l judged that the mosquitoes
was living the Natural Life too. The
Heavenlies set down on each side of
the fireplace had wood fire going,
! just for sociableness-and smoked
and talked.
BY and by Van rummages out that
Natural book and spreads it open.
Martin" says he. 'hark to the
voice of the oracle. Come in here,
skipper, and improve your mind"
But me and his lordship was i'm
proving the dishes just then, and
when that was done. he had beds 10
make and had bread to mix and fires
to lay and wood to chop and couple
of million other chores to do. The
| Twins read and talked until they got
sleepy, which was about half past nine
or so; earlier than usual but neither
of 'em had rested we'll the night afore,
| guess. Anyhow, they went upstairs
to turn in and kept on with my work.
Lord James turned in too. He had the
back bedroom, the one over the
| kitchen.
Twas still as still could be. The
door and windows was open and there
want a sound except the mosquitoes
humming glad and thankful, and the
breeze whining in the pines outside
and the waves moaning along the bay
shore of the island. Once in awhile I'd
hear his lordship thrash over in bed
and fetch grunt or a groan in his
! sleep. He had one of the late Mar
cellus' cornhusk mattresses, and
wouldn't wonder II there was a cob
end or two in with the husks. A rake
across the back from corn cob amt
the most comforting thing in the world
even when a Teller is used to II, and
Lord James had been brought up
tender
Pretty soon / went to the back door
| 10 IHTOW Out SOIle HSn DOneS anu
things and then l heard somebody
tramping through the sand up to the
house. Neighbors are scarcer than
snakes finger-nails round Horsefoot
Ozone and / couldn't think who was
coming at this time of night. / amt
a nervous chap, generally speaking.
but remember how old Marcellus had
died in this very house all sole alone,
and the short hairs at the back of my
neck begun to bristle up. | callated
II anything would fetch a sot old cod
ger like Marcellus out of his grave,
the doings of the Heavenlies was that
thing.
But in a minute more the walker got
into the light from the door and l
could see him. And | was most as
much surprised as If he had been Mar
cellus himself. Twas Nate Scudder,
with his arms full of bundles.
(To BE CONTINUED)