The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-11-23
NO IL.

NO. IL.
-.----------------=
what was going on below The man
had come from the grocer's where they
dealt, for Il bill Of twelve dollars, which
her mother was unable to pay He had
already called several times, and was
now threatening and insolent. Mary
stood listening while her mother meek
~ offered excuses, and asked for more
time in which to settle the bill. She
hesltatea nolonger afterthe man retired,
but made hasty preparation for going
cut. Hesitation had become fixed: She
would now see Mr.. Bostwick.
Not until she found herself seated in
the parlor of Mr.. Bostwick, and await
ing an interview with that individual,
did Mary's heart again falter. Now, in
face of the ordeal She had 50 dreaded,
she trembled and grew faint. There
were q few minutes of suspense, and
then she was face to face With the man
whom her fancy had invested with a
sphere of gentlemanly kindness and hui
manity. His hard. keen eyes looked
into hers beneath knitted broWs with
suspicious Interrogation.
8 Miss Wild,o she said tiaidly.
+" WI hat Miss Wild?''
All the girls fond illusion was gone
in Il moment. Could this, indeed be the
father Of Annie Bostwicko
g ana Mr.. Howard Wila's daughter"
The voice was faint.
ooh! All! Yes. Be seated, miss
Mary had arisen, and WAS still stand
ing. She sat down.
Well, Miss Wild, what have yott 10
say %
Nothing could have been cooler or
more unsympathetie than The voice OF
Mr.. BostWicK.
Mary's first thought after this reeep-
ton, was to retire without asking for the
help she had come to seek. But her ex-
tremity was toogreat. To abandon this
opportunity seemed like giving up ey-
erything. So in q kind Of desperation
she answered.
:" Ny father, sir left us very poor when
he died. You knew my father::'
WeN-Yes-slightly, in a business
way.''
Ir. BostWici1 spoke with the most re-
pellant Indifference.
. Neatly everything was taken i1o1is'-
us, sir, by the creditors-even my
ing to live upon and wanted to do
something to help SO rented a piano
for ten dollars a quarter and tried to
get music scholars. But I was young,
and had never taught music. People
did not like to send their children. At
first / had three scholars-then, only
two. have not been able to get money
to pay the rent on my piano, and the
owner threatens to take it away. II
that is taken away, sir, [ am helpless.
A few weeks ago, | obtained three new
l shall receive tWenty-four dollars, but
unless I have twenty dollars by to-mor-
row, at eleven O'Clock, my instrument
will be removed. If you would be so
kind as to let me have that sum for q
little over two months. you would do
me a favor for which 1 can never cease
to be grateful. The money received for
these scholars at the end of their first
term, shall be faithfully paid to you.''
!" 1t may be all just rs you say" re-
piled Mr.. Bostwick iceily but I have no
evidence to the fact beyond your word.
OF course, your late father had personal
To me you arc simply a stranger, and,
under the circumstances l cannot meet
your request. l am sorry, of course to
disappoint you but / never act differ
emily in these cases. If things are as
you represent them, you can have no
difficulty in procuring thesum required"
! Mary did not plead her case. On its
| simple statement her request had been
refused, and in such cold, hurting lam
guage that she felt stunned and humili-
ated. Rising, she murmured a faint
apology for having troubled Mr.. Bost-
wick, and withdrew. He made no eff
fort to retain her, though little sur
prised that she failed in importantly,
and not altogether satisfied with himself
for the manner in which he denied the
unhappy girl. He had taken all for
granted against her-nothing in her ia
VOr.
On the next day, at eleven O'Clock,
Mary Wild stood beside pupil at the
piano. Her dropping eyes, her helpless,
almost hopeless face were evidence of
! what she had suffered
Are you sick, Miss Nary" asked
the girl she was teaching, lifting, as she
spoke, pair of soft blue eyes that were
! full Of tenderness and sympathy.
| "My head aches.'
| Mary turned her head partly aside as
she answered, or rather evaded the
child's question. There was a pause
| and an intarmission in tho lesson In