THE PORTREEVE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13220, 26 February 1907, Page 2

THE PORTREEVE.

(By Eden Phillpotts.) GHAITiiK V. BOOK 111. " Poor devil!" said Orlando. lie knew n good deal more about Primrose now th:m when he married her; but he loved her no less, (she had immensely strengthened and fortified his .own 'position, -happily for himself, he was of the sort thac is good material for a stronger hand. He never ceased to be himseli—impulsive, silly, vain, large-hearted; but her skill evoked' some' new melody from the instrument. She brought, out the best, concealed the worst, and. found him a man in every way well sui.ed to her. Their tastes were much akin, and she could always keep bim in a, good, temper. To preserve the fire of enmity burning in him against any human thing was more difficult ;/ bat this also ,'»he accomplished,' and Planning, to please, her, when she had gone out of her -way to please him, -would still blaze out into spurious wra h about Dodd Wolferstan. Yet the prosperous world and his,own easy fotime did much to make him gentle and large-hearted, so that sometimes Primrose felt (hat even.' : her s'rength would not be etjual to overcoming his inertia in. all directions. Morta'ly h:s code was las, but to do anything unsportsmanlike instantly shocked him, and a proposal in fhat direction had certainly weakened the mo-.it stubborn resistance of- which he was capable. This she knew, and was far too wise to inflict any unnecessary strain. But the time to strike grew ripe and the weapon : was in her hand. Utmost deftness marked her; rhoice. Twice, quite alone, "she had visited .Wolfrestan's.nurseri.esyand satisfied herself of their relation to 'the--rifle ranges.' The event recorded was.the remit, , As to price, she knew the exact, financial position of herhusbrnd, and, was aware (hat he might easily accomplish the sale without hurt to himself. . The • sum involved ' represented half of her own'marriage jointure.Primrose left Orlando at the edge of the camp on Bridgetstowe Common. -He rode to hjs tent and she proceeded to "Slanniug's " where the mill lay some miles distant on the little river Le-n:

And that night Mr Thatcher climber! up the tremendous hill behind Okehampton, and mopped his lie id and brat lied awhile before entering the sate .:nd knocking at the door of Dbdd's house. Ilet answered his summons and bade him welcome. "Hullo!*' said Wolferstan. '"Jis Thatcher—eh? What does he come'for, I wonder? Get the bottle of whisky, Ilet, I lay he'll want a drink." "A thirsty climb," confessed Mr Thatcher. " But us'll leave the drink alone for a minute. I'ni come on business, Wolferstan." " Ban't quarter day, yet." "No, an' that's not the matter. No man. ever paid his rent more regular than you. And a. low rent too." "■'l hat's as may be, master. "Twa.s- a fair rent for the land three year ago; but who have made the land wliat it is? To charge me for improving your property might bo a trick worthy (if the Duchy, but- nob worthy of you. Come now, what's amiss?/' ..Out with" it." " Nothing—nothing ab a. 1 ! —not from my point of .view ; but there's movements in the ;ir. No place stands still—least of all; this place. -Never such a lot of changes as there be always going on here. First, how does it stand between us? 'Tis like this. If I'm wrong say so. Come Michaelmas, you've the light to hold my land up to four year at the same rent." "Ye-j; an' of'course I'm going to do it. When the seven" year have run, if God -wills, I shall be in a case to buy your land. ' .That you'll be glad to hear, I know." "I always expected it; but how about things' if somebody else wants my land sooner? .Suppose I've had ;.n offer for it this day?" . " That's a startler. All the- same, I gel first refusal." "For that reason I'm here. We've beiii veiy good friends, and long may we bide so. But business is business. l\> be plain there's parties want that land,'Wclfeistan. and I wain you lliey'm very much sec upon it. The law says I can sell, and that the. owner won't be found by my agieel ment with you. Bu!, to protect" you, it very properly gives you first refusal. . I'm very sorry if it ain't convenient to you to buy, but I can't lose ready money "for friendship. More would you."'" Wolferst-n wa3 much" perturbed. He called in Ilet from the kitchen and told her the position. iShe also shoved concern. .

"Anything's better than that, after all you've done," she /raid. "We must strain every penny for ceitiin. What be you going to ux for the land, Mr Thatcher?"

" Now ire'ni' in tJie centre of (lie bush," answered their visitor. "And I • will have a spot out of the bottle, if 'tis the same to you." Wolfeistaa helped him, watched him drink, and waited for him to speak. But | his answer was indefinite. " Tis a case in wliich there's not much for me to say. Where land's the mutter j 'tis not so much what a m n axes as what , he's offered nowadays." I "Valued -at my rental you ought to get ' fifteeen hundred." Mr "1 hatcher laughed and shook his head. " And Okehampton growing by leaps and bounds? No, no! That's a lot too-low, Wolferstan. Even I—a man tpo, openhanded for reuse always—even I -wouldn't like to pail .under two thousand and upward. But, as Isay, 'tis the hunger of the parties settles the price. A bit of ground will often go a long w-iy above open market value, by reason of a man's whim cv a woman's fancy. I don't say it will be so with me—no such luck. But them in question want the ground, and they be rich and very much in earnest." "For house-bu'lding?" asked Ilet. " No, not th.it." " For gardening then ?'' " Not that either. Don't ax me anything about it. I can't- divulge nought in fairness an' justice. Bui there 'tis. I told 'em you had fiist call on it and that I'd see you. tin you've got to make a price. Then, if they go better, 'lis theirs: if they won't go higher, 'tis yours." - ' "I'd like to.know the law About that," declared Wolferstan. "Why, perhaps they'll only wait till they hear my prire and then oiler fifty more and so beat me. Surety that wouldn't be fair?" " Why not '! 'Tis merely sale by auc-' t'on. If you ffb over them after their ' bid, then they'll have to bid i'gain. I | want to be all far and above board as my nature is. Tf the land's goinir to turn into a good thing- for me—well —every doc: has his day." Silence fell between them and lasted for some moments. Mr Tliatcher finished his '■whisky, and brought out his pipe. "Might I trouble you for a lucifer match, ma'am?" he 'aid to I!et. She brought him a box and he thanked her and ho\jed the little girl was doing we'l. " I seed her down-along wt' vou la<-t week," lie 'ai'l. "A proper little f.iiy, wi' eyes like diniionds." Ilet smiled and her heart was warm at the praise. Wolferstan worked at some figure's. "Tf yon can ■ bide ten minutes, I'll iust go into it." h=. said. "I hate to l.nve anything like this hanging over me. 'Tis a very serious business indeed from my point'of view, imd "quite -unexpected. I should have to borrow, arid that's-a thing T hate. I must mortgage-theland to get it at all. But have it I must. "J'wotild mean a very great loss to- go cut' in six months now."' , M "I only hope you can go above them,

said Mr Thatcher guardedly. The sentiment was a safe one lrom every point of view. "Who be the parties?" asked Ilet. " I'm afraid I must name no names yet; not at this stage of affairs. They'in s.et on the land ; and this I'll any : they've got a very public spirited idea in Iheir heads, and Okehampton will be on their sidealso the nation." Dodd's pen scratched along. His face was contracted and great anxiety s:it upon it. . - ' . At last he sat up and spoke. "I'll give you seventeen litty. for the land," he said. "Nb more—not even oh compulsion V "Not a penny more. 'Twould be to cripple myself too much. I've got ideas as to the future, . and they go beyond market gardening, as you know. My thought vs's when the teven yeans was out to buy and build. But, even allowing for improvement in land.value, which is very uncertain, the place won't be worth much more four years hence. Anyway that's all I can dp about it. " Suppose,they say. eighteen hundred''" "Then they can liave it at that." Mr 'Hi itcher was disappointed. He had hoped' that Wolferstan would oiler two thousand, and that .planning would therefore have to pay still mole. " You must take into account the ways and means of borrowing," he said. "I might help you Uhere: 1 might even lend a bit myself on easy terms. You might, for instance, raise two thousand cheaper from me than seventeen fifty from another party." . " ' "I don't know nothing about that, and I won't; go into it, and I wont : borrow from you whether or no. That's my figlire, and if I've got to go, the sooner I know.;it the better." - Mr Thatcher perceived that his tenant was annoyed, lie'-rose and expressed a very re.il regret. ■■-.'-,., "Then I'm afraid 'tis all up. Two thousand was the figure named by me to begin talking about, and since you won't go better, I must see if they will. I've gut my 'say in the matter too. I ban't going to give the land awav." ~.''' He departed, and Ilk and Dodd'talked together: into the small hours of another day. Every theory of (his purchase'that ingenuity could devise, they put forward; and among others they hit the right- one; but those responsible 'for it they did not guess at. '.. • . •' ; CHAPTER VI. GOOD'-AND BAD.

-Next fsunduv Dodd and Ilet vent to th'iich that the\ might piav e in cstly about the cloud tint "had 'nsen m then lives Wolfeistan. lacked humoui and this -want often digues euoneous pei spectn e of ou look both upon mundane and spiritual mattei Xou the man ndoptel his Mastei o uoids, „nd not per ce.ving the lnditious dispaiit} of ideas, piayed th it thib cup might fioin him In the same biea hhe declaied to Cod that he ills lulling to dunk it if necesaiy Within ten minutes of leaving chuich, he found that he Mould haie to do- ,o Mi Ihatchei meJ him under the aienues of All Saints on the hill, and, having made an apologj foi touching busine»s upon the Louis Dav. infoiined Wolferstan that 'the p.-itjes, had offeied two thousand, and that he did not feel jut lified in lefusing Hie joungei run was in .1 lesigned mood for the and the motion of pi ayer lemuned i\ith him "If it's- got to be—it must b3, 'he ,aid "Times motive behind it" He spoke of Bod's motive, but Ilet misunderstood. "Of couise And I suppose Mi Tint chci (an tell us iiiov. wlia*- the motne is ,iiid ii hat's to be d/mc \u h that beiu tiful gaiden of jouis"' The (ranei reflectel "I should t'unk I nnuht m ti nhdence Don t Hume it mind The ninouncuiipnt inu t come fiom Imii, ind lies the soit as likes Ins tiumpet to be head Mi, to bf bought foi the n ition ' " The nation ! , What do the nation want lulli that sciap of giound'" asked Wol ferstan Ki shootirg The \uunois ha\e cast their eyes upon it, and (is discoveied that if my land be tin own into the rifle range, twiii make it sj good as anj th s side Dieter Then e\eiythwg will be Mtty and us shan't have 110 call to move the buto up ilorg " ' Ihe veiy thing' wo thought it might be!". exclaimed Ilet.

"Sir Thoni'S Carew, I suppose?'' "ifofc tit iill. That keen soldier, Cap-' tain Planning of Manning's. ' Ukehamptu.i have found the winner of the Queeu's Cup afoie to-day; and it shall again,' lie .says to me. So lie be going Id purchase my ground, and no doubt hit. ndine will ring in the land tome piesentiy, when 'tis known. But mind you don't say no word about it'yet. "Twuuld dim the glory if it leaked out." I!e; stole, a glance at Wolferstmi. She understood the thought in his mind, and how much more the statement must mean tlwn the speaker could guess. "Well,r land's' land," she said, "and there's plentyV-to be. got." "Plenty—plen'y. And time to turn round alio. You cun clear by inches. You'll lose on winter planting, I'm afraid, unless you can get some i new giound quick." * " Lose'. Lose enough—lore all the tons of farmyard stuff I've put into your ground. The crops be nought. 'Tis what's under 'em have cost the moiey. I wa'-n't one to e;it the eyes out of tie place, then give it back to you more niked than at first. I wasn't '. . . . lut 'tis gone, so all's s.'id." " You musjt take it in a large spirit. You must look all lound i : ,'Mr Wolferstan, if I may so say." ])odd laughed without "merriment. - " Yes, I look all round ,t," he answered. ,

Mr 1 hatcher was glad to leave them and presently husb uid and uife p ssed thiough the va'ley bj then lursery gar den nn their m,it homeward Ihe same thought blooded hi b->th the'r minds, ,ind ■when W&lferstui spoke, his, life undei stood the alhwou "To think'she! smelled that out! What .1 pnwei of wait mi;' Oi was it the idea woke up a sleeping wish' W>s it tho chance to hur.V' made her fee! the will to hurt' Or -Has the will always theie —only w anting; the chance '" | ' ' We must think as we pra\|to think, Dodd We mn«t tiy to ,ret ilimy nito» this, thought 'tis ciuel liaid Mibe twas but im accident and there's no inner meaning You kno-\\ he s a hot-hearfed young man. If. he wants to make a. str and get we'l thought upon, , whv shouldn't he' llieip may be no trabxe in it " | " Tis pood to heu you " he sud moie gently " Foi all I taught vou Ut come to diurch, jou'ie biggei heaited than mc re illy But I was temVe fiettel to heir 1 hatthei : th( <igh foi that matter, e felt somehow since fiitt th s came up tint 'twas all e\en if Wanning na, stiaisrht and'she had nought to do with it Us bad enough and a senous thiow back to futuie plans , but if she s, at bottom lien that m ikes it ten thousand times w oisl " " Take it foi giantel 'lies not,, and it_ don't look so bad And whetheilshc be oi no, w hat you s.ud ,b w c w cnl down to cli'Mih. still holds " i "What did I s,av'" , "You was m one of join trustful jnoods, when vou'm at voui stiongest, my c'eai Yrm said, ' Whethei it goes oi iem<tns 'I she will nf my God' And bin I that r o still' WhPthei 'tis took for <>pei hi"-h mota\e,s, or for <eciet wicked onei the outlook is the same " ' "Not so," he .msweied "In tlit one i ise 'tis thp foitune of wii , m theplhe' it means that I've slill pot an enem as gieedy and as patient ao the (J>'\e

Ihey'r rich and she h;is, her will always. This miglit happen again." "Afeard! liml's nut like you. Ban'!: right on your side? Granted the worst: that this is her thought and worked for spite. What then': What's (lie end of me wicked? Whose will comes out top at the last? Trust your U»d. In the end han't'lire man thai, does the wiong punished—not the man that suffers it? 1 scorn them! I pi y them! Think what poison bs in their hear.s." Her large views fortified him. " Kveu such things I've said to you, and now my bread return" (o me after many days," he answered.' " I'll not acorn them—l'll not even blame them, llet. What's the good of being a working Chrislian if the woiks get out of gear at the first stri'in. I'll go my way as I've gone it aforetime. I'll put a brave face on this reverse and read it as « healthy lesson. I'll not put one bad motive into (hem. I'll not thing of her in the matter. I'll say that he has done a sensible thing with h;s money, and be among them to pat hini on (he back. What d'vou think of that, llet?" " 'T'i.s what I knew vou'd come to, Dodd." "I've always been slow lo think evil, and I always wi;l be. There'll happen good out of this. Things was going so well—too well." " Things ought to go 'well when a man works liKe you work and has such a knack of pleasing people," she declared. " Tis a knacK, as you say—a gift and, like all good gifts, lrom the same High Place. Here's >lrs Pierce an' the little maid to meet us." • Old Henny happened to be slaying with the Wolferstnis tor a month, to' see how she liked it. In the event of her finding the life agreeable, it was understood that she would shortly come to live with them. " You'm late,'' she cried, "so me an' ba_bjy coined to meet 'e. The potatoes will all fall abroad if us ban't quick." "Land's gone mother," said Wolfeistan. "Oh, deir!—what ill fortune! I lay now you'll never find nough to suit 'e near enough to home; then you'll be off again." "Jfon't think it. We stop here, and I hope you will also." They discussed the situation during dinner, and afterwards husband and wife walked'out together, and Mrs Pierce made Abel's little daugh'ei* read but of the Bible. This was dtiily Sunday work, and the child had to learn a few word:) at the same time. Little Henny struggled with the long words and asked many questions. She was nearly five years old now, and had proved a, very, intelligent child. llet walked with Dodd half way down the hill. He was'going to his class. She said a-great thing as they parted.

"Mind and come back to lea. The Barkells walk 'over and Jane Perryman very likely. And, Dodd—'tis''funny I should choose ibis minute; but I've" put it off and off for fear I was wrong; and now I'll tell you. What you've hoped for is going to happen. There's a baby coming. That's good news, I 'suppose, for this morning's bad news, and: it will make 'e cheerful company this evening, I hope. Say you'm glad—but we 1 ! I know you are." "Really and truly?"

| "Not a doubt, Dodd." "Pr-'ise God—praise God for it!' t must put my arms round both of you! Here . oonie over this still a minute into | the field. I could shout and dance fo ioy! You clever woman ! Do 'e fee howHeaven balances a dim's lot and don't give him more good or evil than he. can bear at one time? Kiss .me! .Oh, Ilet, my dear, how small this do make the t'other, thing! What's the loss of the garden to the winning of this? Let me tell 'em, mind. If they come afore I get .back, say nought till I do."' He rattled on and immense joy sounded in his vo ; ce and-looked out of his eyes. His class had an easy lesson. He forgave offences, laughed and jested, nearly told thepi th-'t his wife was with child. Then he strode up the hill again: and arrived very hot and very happy. This dav should* be all good henceforward, because the thing that he had.inUOh desired was at last to happen:. He had aheadv affirmed his mind to disappointment %md given up hope as- the years passed: now the immense incentive of familv was destined to crown his work and 'strengthen his arm. He would look n.t Pierce's daughter hungrilyy no more. There was coming, one.to bmld .for.: one to leave ■;< name for;, one who would be proud of his father and to look to. it that, when the parent passed, the name of Dodd -Wolferstan should not be forgotten. (To be Continued.