The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-02-04

"But---" she began.
Don't worry about it," he inter-
rupted her; II have written to the
lawyers BY the way, you don't
know who owns TT"
"I-seem to have heard" she
said, "once; but" she went on. as IL
trying to remember, II am afraid
can't tell you the name. But why
do you want to buy TT"
Make 1t useful" he said shortly.
But how?"
Pull 1t down."
"Oh!"
Turn it into sugar refinery"
"You dare mott" she cried indig-
nantly.
81 dare" he retorted
at is abominable!"
well IT'S no use at present"
mo use! IL" She said no
more, but whisked out of the room
and shut the door with bang.
Spirit" muttered Floyd, as he
looked at the door as though his eyes
were Roentgen rays; and he lit a
cigar. II like spirit"
He did not wait for the post on
the following morning. but crept
early into the silent sunbeam-habited
house, where the air seemed to lie in
luminous strata.
"Ought to be somewhere here" he
said quietly, and he walked noiseless-
ly into the kitchen, where the cat
rose, yawned. and looked at him,
then at the boots he held in his hand.
"Ah, here we arei" he exclaimed
at last, as he descended a step into
a little brick-foored room. The
bump his head made in the white
washed ceiling is there to this day.
"Brushes-blacking Clean my own
boots? OF course! Welr'-brush,
rub, brush-'I wouldn't at the Carl
ton; but don't like to have jeweled
knobs in my boots. Confound It! 1t
hurts Hullo, puss!" he went on. as
he saw the cat sitting on the thres-
hold gazing at him.
Bang went down one boot. and he
picked up the other.
Mr.. Floyd"
Madam" And he bowed to her
profoundly, boot in hand.
What are you doing?"
Dirty work makes clean boots"
But I won't have It,"
"Oh, yes. you will. Miss Charteris.
till Annette"
There isn't any Annette" she
said excitedly. and she took a step
forward.
Thought as much," he said grim
ly.
"But---" she began, and then
she turned away sharply for there
came a rat-tat- at the outer door
"Postman," he said. Shall CO."
mo, of course not!" And she dart
ed off, to return in a minute. bear
ing letter in her hand.
You don't trust me-" he said as
he took it.
why should II" she exclaimed.
"Oh-just because you should"
He read that letter, and then read
1t again. 1t began: Dear Sir--in
answer to yours" end evidently
It was not quite satisfactory. since
soon after breakfast he started OF
for the country town whence 1t came,
to return only at nightfall.
They tell me" he said.
who tell you?"
He looked at her quite calmly.
THE lawyers who have charge OF
the abbey. They say that 1t is not
to be sold"
mo more 1t is.'
But" he continued. There,
please sit down. because have lot
l want to say" And she obeyed his
wish, subsiding into the lounge chair
in the corner Of the veranda.
What do you wish to say?"
"I want" he cried. II want
to buy that place."
ITO make 1t sugar refinery?" she
asked, and there was suspicion Of
q smile at the corners Of her mouth.
mo, no; l want to hear you play
the spinet again, want you, and the
place would be yours, and the land
which used to belong, don't you see?
And you could repair where you
chose and leave the rest. What have
/ made all my money for out there.
where everything is 30 confoundedly
new, If can't do this-for you?
Miss Charteris-Ethel-I am only a
rough 'un; but could you not take
me-for the sake Of the abbey?"
She turned her head sideways a
little and looked at him.
Perhaps" she said softly; per
| haps ! could"
And though the spinet of the olden
days was far away, he felt that there
was music just then which made its
cadence dull.