The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1866-01-03

NOlCe, why uou obiio VI Jou Con " 80.
Squire Gripe wanted with me Have
YOU no curiosity in the Bell family 2"
The father, mother and son, exchanged
embarrassed looks: for all conversation
on the subject of the dreaded mortgage
had been avoided among them by COM
mon consent since Emily came; and they
could not speak of the man who held it
except with direct reference to the one
subject. The sudden words they had ut
tered at the sight Of the squire at the gate
had been evoked by the excitement OF the
moment, and forgotten as soon as ut
tered. .I .e.
"Well, if you won't ask me-" said En-
ily, "I'll tell you without asking. Or
rather I'll show you. Come in the parlor
please"
She took hold of Farmer. Bells muscu-
lar arm with her two little hands, and
they all went in, There was a folded
paper lying on the table. FARMER Bell
stared at it as if were ghost. The
word Mortgage was printed on IT in
large letters, and there was some writing
underneath.
"He came to bring you thst, father."
said Emily. ss
"Bring-me-what?" ?" stammered Far
mer Bell, with white lips, his eyes mov-
ing from the paper to the young woman
like man in dream. "What is it!"
"Look at It and see," said Emily, ''you
ought TO know it, Y You have seen it be-
fora" ..f..-.. ,sfs. -r.-f... i.
Farmer Bell took the paper from the
table with trembling hands and opened it.
He looked at the top and read, "This In
dcnture - he looked at the bottom and
saw his own signature, and under it that
of his with Ruth Bell, and opposite each
little round seal with blue edge.
at is yours, father" whispered Emil
ly; ."tear it up" 10y"
"What p cried the farmer, finding his
voice at last. Mine? Where you get
it, Emily You can't have wheedled
old Gripe out of a two-thousand dollar,
tortgage, for al you're the winningest
bit of womaukind alive. Mine Emily?
Why, this is the mortgage on MY hodse !
Ha, ha, ha Mother what are you cry
ing about? =? God bless you, daughter,
l can't understand it, but l know
you're 4'' '1.
The old fellow broke down in spite of
himself when be got so far and drew out
his red silk handkerchief and wiped his
moist eyes that he might bend over and
look again at Tie nortgaSe;' which he had
put back on the table as carefully as If it
had been made of gold leaf Js.i
How Emily explained the presence
here. of the mortgage was very simple:
she had bought it some time before--in
fact on the day of its expira.ion-and asa
part of her bargain had stipulated that
the paper should be delivered TO her, at
Farmer Bells, by squire Gripe himself,
on Thanksgiving Day.
But to her present auditors this expla-
nation only served to create deeper mys-
terry where should Emily get SO much
money? .asa.r .a.as. -.
$50 the time has come" said she "wher
l must expose my secret-a secret that
have kept for three long years without
solitary contidante. When my mother
died she left me property worth few
thousand dollars which my father never
disturbed, and though he died insolvent.
you see | mad something. But as my
property was in Reyton here, and WAS
managed by an agent who never used my
name to tenants, it was supposed l was
penniess. When saw whats difference
my supposed poverty made in the manner
Of The 'biggetsey towards me, conclu-
ded not to disspate their delusion, so
that if l ever did marry, l should marry
an honest man, who loved me for mysel:
and that is Just what | have done" she
said, putting her hand contentedly in
Leonard's.
"You blessed little humbug" murmured
Leonard. }sf .Es a-a1 1ai"fa
"And now," said she, "what's to be
done with this ugly bit of paper q point
ing to the mortgage on the table.
at is yours, dear daughter" said Far
mer Bell "you have bought it with your
money, and | will pay it off yet. You'll
give me plenty of time. know, and plen-
ty of time is all | ask" e F
'Oh, don't be so sober !" cried Emilri
impaiently; and then she added, chow
much-eh-tme do you call-eh-plenty Of
time?" in such surprising imitation OF
oqul,e Gripe's piping, hestating voice
that il was irresisdbly laughable, and
Farmer Bell nearly choked himself over il.
Emily patted the farmer on his broad
back with mock solicitude, and when he
was quite recovered and stood wiping his
red face with his silk handkerchief Emily
quietly took the mortgage from the table
with the stove tongs, and holding it off At
arms length, carried it and put it in the
fire.
"Therev said she, that's the end OF
that thing. And now, father. I'm dying
to hear the end of that story you were
telling about the pumpkin JACKIE. lantern
whan Snuira eh-CIrine INTERRUPTED YOU"