The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-05-12

De night % she Joined her stsDfa-
EtAes Se
1As soand ossAoofbeats grew faintee
EGnA fnaalH died into silsnce: tie los
Fraeter u rain On the chestnuts anA
Fhs low vail of mourning from the
negro quarters formed the only
requiem over the funeral pyre Of the
house Of Maxwell.
John drew nearer the ruins and
looked up at the frowning majesty Of
the six huge chimneys. "They must
come down." he murmured. and made
a mental note to 60 to town and get
the dynamite necessary for the blast
ing.
Out of the grove Of trees Uncle
Jake's voice came cracked with emo
ton. "Marse John, Aunt Sally she
done clar outer her cabin an it's
sweeter'n honey fob yo' comfort, sab;
70 bed an lot Of things from the big
house am thereof. Marse joint"
Maxwell forgot his own troubles in
allaying the grief of the old servants,
but when the gray morning dawned
and he still lay awake in his new quar-
tiers, all the comfort and hope that
Eleanor's promise had awakened In
him had departed.
He would be a cur indeed to snatch
the delicately-nurtured girl from her
home and let her slender shoulders
bend beneath the burdens that the
wife of a poor mana beggar, he
thought bitterly-must suffer! He
would not bind her to promise given
perhaps in the first warmth of SYM
pathy. He would go away-alone-
and Seymour could have the coveted
land.
Stern in this resolution, he rode
over to Leesburg that afternoon and
purchased quantity of dynamite, and
the following day, with the help of
the servants, he prepared to raze the
menacing chimneys to the ground.
When that was accomplished and the
old servants were placed in comfort.
able homes and all claims were adjust
ed-he would 60 away.
The women servants carried all the
precious crystal and china to place
of safety, and then the work of re.
moving the chimneys was begun.
One by one. they tottered and fell in
clouds Of choking dust, until there re.
NAMED only the great central chimney
the hearthstone around which gener.
atoms of Maxwells had gathered In Joy
,, and sorrow, in prosperity long ago,
and now in bitter ruin. Better remove
this landmark of a dead race of which
he was doomed to be the last
So unused Maxwell, as he stood alb.
sorbed in bitter thought while Uncle
Jake, near-sighted and half blind
Jed by tears. recklessly prepared the
last blast. The fuse was laid and they
withdrew into the shelter Of the chest
nut grove.
Il done leave cherry stick oh dinna.
mite there, Marse john" muttered the
old man with resentful triumph in his
grumbling tones. There won't no
folks PINT in here an say"
MY God, Jake, what"
Johns words were drowned in a
deafening roar followed by the black.
ness and silence of death itself.
When he regained consciousness his
eyes opened on the sunshine stream.
ing through the window of Aunt Sal.
ly's cabin: all around him were "a
miliar articles Of furniture and above
him bent Eleanor. Lee.
What happened-Uncle Jake?" he
asked family.
Uncle Jake's snow-crowned head
bobbed above the foot of the bed, his
lips stretched in toothless smile.
Here l is, Marse john" he
chuckled softly; dem lazy niggers
done left fodder bald yander in de
grove, an when de 'splosen came this
niger fell on de bald an amt hurt a
mite, sab. You was de only one"
I'm glad of that, Uncle Jake"
smiled Maxwell, and then he raised
his eyes to Eleanor's. What did the
doctor say?"
THAT you will be as good as new in
few weeks" returned Miss Lee
promptly. evading his tender eyes.
Maxwell groaned. THE DEVILS own
luck" he muttered desperately. Nell,
darling, can't hold you to your prom.
ise to 60 with mel am penniless. I
am not selfish enough to accept your
sacrifice"
A soft hand covered his mouth and
Eleanor's bright hair touched the oil.
low beside his head. I've set my
heart on making a rich marriage,
John. don't disappoint me, please!
Listen-two weeks ago heard my
stepfather telling that man who
bought the Lesson place next door,
that he was positive that there was a
vein Of coal beneath your place that
meant fortune to the man who &C.
quired the property.
II thought the matter over and de.
cided that he was the author of all
your troubles. It Is he who has baked
all your enterprises. He had hoped
TO discourage you and send you away,
that the place might become his /" Sha