Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1851-06-13


gave him little room for hope.
j certainly mean 10 get my three hundre
dollars, was replied.
Can you not wait until next harvest p
Il have already told you that | want my
money now,' said Dyer, with affected anger
If you can pay me. well; if not, | will get IN!
own by aid OF the Sheriff
'Tha, is hard saying, Mr.. Dyer returned
| the farmer, in subdued voice.
| Nevertheless, it is a true one, friend Bacon
true as gospel
4 haven't the money, nor can borrow it
Mr.. Dyer
'Your misfortune, not mine. Though
must say. it is Iitjle strange
'What is strange
'That n man who has lived in this commu'
nifty as long as you have, can't find friend
wiling to loan him three hundred dollars tc
save his farm from the Sheriff. There's some
thing wrong
Yes, there was som ihing wrong. and poor
old Mr.. Bacon felt il now more deeply than
ever. Another feeble effort at remembrance
was made, when Mr.. Dyer colIly referred him
to Grant the lawyer, vino had now entire con-
troll Of the business. But he did not got him.
He felt that to do so would be utterly useless.
Regular proceeding were entered upon for
the settlement of the mortgage, and hurried to
an issue as speedily as possible. 1t was all in
vain that Mr. Bacon sought to borrow three
hundred dollars, or TO find some person willing
to take the mortgage on his farm and let him
continue to pay the interest. 1t was season
when few had money to spare, and these who
could have advanced the sum required hes-
tated about investing il where there was little
hope Of getting the amount back again except
BY execution and sale. For. Mr.. Bacon. in
cousr qVerce OF his int'mncranco. was steadily
running Uehlnd-ha and all his neighbUrs
knew it.
The effect ofthis trouble on the mind of Mr..
Bacon, was to cause Lin to drink harder than
before. His cheerful temper gave place to a
silent moodncss, when in partial states of So
briefly, which were now of rare occurrence,
aud he lost all interest in things around him.
a greater part of his time was spent in wan
derng restlcssly about his house or farm, but
he put his hand to scarcely any work.
| Deeply distressed were Mrs. Bacon and
Mary Zach of them had called. at different
times on Mr.. Dyer, in the hope of moving him
by persuasion to turn from his purpose.
But, only in one way would lie aG:ee 10 an
am;cable settlement, and that was, by taking
the farm for the mortgage and three hundred
dollars cash; by which means he would come
into possession of property worth from twelve
to fifteen hunlrcd dollars. This offer he re-
peated to Mary, who was the last to call upon
bin in the hope of turning him his purpose.
No! Mr.. Dyer, said the young girl firmly,
even while tears were in her eyes. My
father will not let the place 60 at a third its
real value
lie over-esmates its WORTH replied Dyer
with some Impotence, and he'll find this out
when it comes under the hammer
'You will not, am sure You will not sacri.
| flee my fathers little place-the home OF his
chidren,' SAID Mary, in an appealing voice.
Il shall certainly let things take their course,
replied the tavcrn.keeper. Tell your father
| from me, that he has nothing to hope for from
any change in my purpose, and that he need
make no more efforts to influence me. will
| buy the place, as said, for six hundred dollars
its full value, or will sell it for my claim
And saying this, the man left, abruptly, the
room in which his interview with Mary was
/ held, and she hopeless Of making any impres.
sion on his feelings, arose aud retired from the
house, taking. With a sad heart, her way home
ward. Never before had Mary. gentle hearted
quiet, retiring girl, been forced into such rough
contract with the world at any point. Of this
act OF lnercession for her fataer, Mr.. Bacon
knew nothing. Had she dropped word OF
her purpose in his hearing, he would have ut-
tered Il positive interdcton lie loved Mary
As the apple Of his eye, and she loved him witt
a TENDER sekdevotcd affection. To him, she
was a choice and beautiful flower, and even
though his mind had become in certain de-
gree, degraded and debaSed by ntcmperance
there was in it quick instinct Of protection
when any thing approached his child.
Slowly and thoughltLlly, with her eyes ben
upon the ground, did Mary Bacon pursue hen
way homeward and size was not aware of tic
approach OF ioor-steps behind her, until man
stood by her side and Pronounced her name.
M. Green said she, in momentary surprise
pauSing AS she looked up.
Mr.. Green was "A farmer in easy crcumstan-
ces, whose elegant and highly cultivated place
was only short distance from her father
residence. Tie vas, probably, the richest mar
in tie nPighborEood of Brookvie though eX,
ceedlugy close in all money matters Mr.
Bacon would have called upon him for aid in
his extremity, but for Two reasons. One wa;
Mr.. Greens known indispositlon to lend money
and the other was the fact that he had seve ra
times talked to him about his bad drinking
habits at which liberty he had taken offence
and retorted rather sharply for one of his milo
temper.
The color mounted quickly to Mary'5 fac,
as she paused and lifted her eyes to the coun
tenance of Mr.. Green. The fact was, she ha
been thinking about him, and Just at the mo-
ment he came TO her side, she mad fully made
up her mind to call upon him before goln!
home.
Nell Mary said he, kindly and he etook he
hand. Mary's lips quivered, but she could ne
utter a word.
MIR. Green moved on, still holding her hant
and she moved by his side
'l'm sorry 10 hear said Mr.. Green, 'tha
your father is in trouble. learned it only a
hour ago
That is Just what | was coming to see yo
about replied Mary, with boldness Of speec
that surprised even herself
'lnde ID Then yCu were coming to see me
said Ar. Green, IN voice that was rather eu
cOuragng than otherwise.
Yer sir. But father knows nothing of m
purpose
'Oh! We'll, Mary, what is it you wish to sa
to me?'
The young girls bosom heaved Violently
Some moments passed ere she felt calm enoug
to proceed, Then she said
Mr.. Dyer has mortgage on fathers pac