The Southern herald., 1912-04-26

the place was empty. Carrlngkn
stepped within the room and ST hl@
bag on the mantel before making n
survey OF the house.
From one room to another be wan
dered. finding each ons empty aAz
forlorn. until be had covered the en
tire lower floor. Then he mounted the
broad stairway to the second story.
Darlington stopped short at th@
head Of the stairs. At right and Isft
Of him open doors showed vistas 81
empty rooms; but directly in front ol
him was a wide arehed doorway ~
mitting to a long bedroom faclnE
south. Here rich rug was spread en-
the bare floor, handsome draperieW
curtalned the windows, q tall mahog-
any bureau faced him. and in the mid
die Of the room was a mahogany for
post bedstead covered with a rich SIN
quilt
The bed was occupied.
While Darlington hesitated some
body came out Of the shadow uf thn
curtains and advanced toward him
quickly, throwing backward look
and word toward the occupant q
the bed as she came.
Some one has come to buy the
place. grandfather I'll be back IN =
moment"
Carringtbn was almost guilty %
staring at the beautiful girl who con-
fronteds him in the hall, even while
he barred his head and listened to her.
T don't know who you are She
murmussd hastily, ''but I'm going to
ask a fa8or Of you, NY grandfather
Is dyihg, and he has set his heart on
selling the. place before he does 90
that he 49, provide for me- WoulN
you object to ptst6nding that yult
have come to look at the place and
want to buy It? 1t would be harm-
less deception and would ease his last
hours" She spoke pleadingly, her
hands clasped tightly in front Of herr
Certainly" said Darlington. quick
ly; "and there won't be any deceptlon
about the matter. either. because 7
have come down to look at the Fletch-
er place with the intention Of buying
It. I thought the house was unocca-
pied. beg your pardon for intrud-
Ing" i.4
That does not matter In the least
We are very poor. grandfather and y
and the few rooms up here are all we
have to live in. Come and spdak. to
him."
I'm going-going fast, Rosel~
whimpered the old man as she caught
one Of his hands to her lips. Has
some one come to buy the placer"
eyes," answered Darlington inn
pulsively. I've come down from the
city to look It over and buy It What
is your price?'
The dying man turned his eyes to-
ward the stranger and smile WIG
ened his lips. TITS worth a good
deal more, but I'll take ten thousand
cash for II" he croaked.
Very WE'LL" decided Carringtons
"rll take it"
"Just give Rose here something to
bind the bargain-have It in writing
Wake me up when it's ready. TIl
sleep little while. Rose--you'vo
been a good girl. I'm contented to 60
now-the place is sold," he added He
sank back on the pillow and closed his
eyes, and did not breathe again.
Darlington found himself in the
unique position of comforting a per-
fectly strange girl in the loss Of her
only relative; but Rose Fletcher had
been through too much stress Of pov-
erty and storm Of affiiction to give
way to her grief after the first shock.
4, was over. In a few words she told
Darlington the facts Of their strange
existence in the old homestead.
Thomas Fletcher, the old man who had
Just died, was distant cousin Of the
former owner Of the place and had
come into the property short time
before. The former owner had been
laud-poor and when the aged heir and
his granddaughter journeyed to
Swampton to make their home in the
old place they found 1t a desolate
wreck of what they had expected to
find
So 1t happened that Alec Caring
ton was the only person to stand be-
side Rose Fletcher when the old man
was laid to his last rest in the family
plot. He 1t was who advised her ana
folnd home for her with the family
OF the minister in Swampton until her
grsndfather's affairs should be settled
up.
Because Carrington's client did nos
care for the old Fletcher place, Car
rington managed to purchase It him
self and made good his promise to Ito
old man, and who can say that the
Young real estate dealer did not have
visions Of a day when the old place
should be restored to its former com
Portable LONELINESS and that Fletch.
er should continue to live there il lhs
person Of Carrington's wife Roaiaf