The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1912-08-03

wonder II you will mind If speak &c
you upon an important matters very
| important matter?" Her cheeks grew
pinker as she saw the surprise in his
eyes.
Il shall be most happy If there is
| anything 1 can do" he said
I've thought so much about tt
have you ever considered how unfair
" things are divided in this world ?''
she asked eagerly.
I'm afraid 1 haven't had much
time TO think about it." he admitted
pleasantly. I've always been SO busy
Linda froWned. BUSY enjoying
yourself?" she asked coolly.
Enjoying myself being very busy.
he corrected gravely. He wondered
why such a pretty girl should spoil a
charming adventure by assailing him
with sOcialistic sarcasms.
She explained breathlessly that she
often read about him in the newspa-
pers-of his milIions-his fads-his
pleasures, steam yachts, racing sta
bIes, automobiles, his half-dozen hand
some homes. Then she drew pic
ture Of the former owner Of Hillcrest-
Many OF the villagers who had depend
ed upon the estate for their bread
places in search of work, while the
others who could not go away simply
lived in idleness, waiting for the new
owner to come and provide work for
them. Meanwhile. the village was de
teriorating rapidly
The young man listened graVely and
once or twice his lips parted as If he
would interrupt her, but he did not
speak until she had concluded her ar
gument for her poor people.
What you have said is very true"
he said sOberly; 81 understand that all
the things you hope for are soon to
come to pass. Ny cousin has just ar
rived and he has many plans for the
betterment of the estate. 1 am TO
live here and have charge of the prop
erty and see that his plans are carried
out shall depend upon you to direct
my efforts in the proper direction"
Linda flushed crimson and prepared
for fight.
ooh, who are your" she asked
quickly. 81 thought you were Mr..
Joshua Hill"
He shook his head, laughing. 81
am only the poor relation am Carl
Hill and my cousin has very kindly
thrown a lot of his business in my
way. So you see that you really were
not far amiss when you brought up
the matter to me-"
81 am afraid 1 was very rude-I am
very sorry" murmured Linda You
see have been so much interested in
the people and"
81 hope you will not lose your In
terest now-indeed I shall count upon
your cooperation in putting the right
people back into their old positions.
That will be splendid. Father can
help, too. My father is the rector of
st. Paul's"
"Ah, Joshua has letter to Mr..
Gray. 1 was on my way to deliver it.
Perhaps you will show me the way?'
Linda showed Carl the way to the
rectory, but after that he did not need
any direction and the path through
the woods became well-defined before
another season passed.
Later on, when the big house was
occupied as, well as all the farms on
the estate and all the villagers par
ticipated in the prosperity of Hillcrest,
they had further cause for rejoicing
when Linda Gray married the million
aires cousin, the steward of the es-
tate.
cit would have been grand if Miss
Linda had married Mr.. Joshua Hill in
stead of his poor cousin" commented
one
Linda heard of the remark and
smiled proudly. 81 am ten times rich
er now than if I had married Joshua
HILL she told her husband.