Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-01-10
CHAPTER T.
MATHEY SHEPPARD AT HOME


Poverty but not my will consents
[Shakespeare.l
The morning was dreary a one rs
could we'll be imagined. even for Eng
lish November. Ever since daybreak
heavy wet mist hung over the sodden
meadows and dripping trees and the few
remaining leaves dropped one by one.
II the burden of existence was too great
and the sooner they were trodden under
foot the better they would be pleased.
The garden. II such It could be called
which surrounded Brentborough House
shared IN the general depression-the
lawn. ragged and untidy, had little pools
of water here and there. telling of bad
drainage. and the few flower beds still
contained withered and mildewed stalks
of what had been mignonette, candy
tuft and other common ANIMALS. showing
that somebody, during the past summer.
had made an effort to brigh ten the
dreary place. however slightly.
Inside the house the air of desolation
was even greater. The big. bare hall,
with its few pieces or carpet its bits of
old fashioned furniture. the broad oak
staircase. guiItless of ordinary care or
polishing. the sitting-rooms thick with
dust, all told their own tale of leglect
and bad management, and over all was
the sign-manual Of either extreme pow
erty or parsimony.
From the appearance Of the owner Of
the place. as he hobbled slowly down the
stairs at o'clock and entered a small
room at the back OF the hall, one would
have said poverty must be the ruling
spirit His coat was green with age,
his shrunken figure looked as IL II want
ed more nourishment than II got, and his
sharp ferretlike eyes peered out from
shaggy brows with a keen and hungry
look, such as one sees in the faces of
starving children in the slums of our
large towns.
with the aid of his stick he tottered
over 10 the hearth rug in the small
breakfast room and rang the bell VIC
Iently. While awaiting a response he
surveyed first the CRATE, where not too
large fire was burning, and then the ia
BILE, where II was evident someone had
breakfasted already.
A gaunt, middle aged woman entered
presentely with tray containing small
brown teapot and covered dish of ha-
con, which she proceeded TO set upon the
where is my granddaughter" her
master inquired sharply, and the wome
Indifferent: Il don't know where she is
she had her breakfast an hour ago and
Look here will not have this. the
old man said angrily. 1T is just an
excuse for sauandering money. and moth;
FIRING two lots OF bacon. Martha do
you hear me?' as the woman walked to-
Yes, sir. 1 hear you fast enough. but
Miss Byng. she comes down. and orders
what she wants, and who's TO know what
You know well enough. woman! She
knows, too, the good for-nothing girl. or
she shall know before many hours are
over! Will be obeyed in my own house;
or I,ll-I'n turn everyone else out or y
then" muttered Martha, as she left the
room. allowing herself the doubtful sat
room door behind her. But scarcely had
she got to her own regions al the rear
Of the house when another peal OF TIE
erabIy she returned TO her master
Send Miss Byng TO me" he ordered
gruffly. and Martha answered: don
Find out. then Send one Of those
lazy hounds about the yard. who do Moth
ing but fstten their useless carcasses az
my expense. Tell her 1 want her al
Martha left the room once more. and
old Matthew Sheppard sat DOWN 10 ms
fire two knobs of coal and placed them
in the CRATE for future consumption. he
ate sparingly. as If he grudged himself
. the food, and his meal finished, sat
down beside the hearth, casting irnpa-
tient glances at the door and WINDOW
from time TO time. II was a comfortless
the curtains skinp AZ torn: the solid
mahogany sideboard and table were the
only pieces of furniture OF any value
and the chairs were plain wooden Wind
sor ones, without covering or any cush-
ions. except one old-fashioned armchair.
with faded cerfonne cover. in which the
old nan seated
It was close on 10 o'clock before the
door opened and a girl entered with an
! which seemed strangely out Of place in
that atmospk ere