The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-01-09

WOulu not, cOulu uOt. dSh hCi w Shd TO-
The kindest thing he could do for her
would be, he felt, just to take himself
out OF her way.
| She read the words over and over
again; stunned by them at first, their
meaning growing upon her by degrees,
till she came face to face with awful
certainty. All her world lay in ruins
about her; her sun had set; her star
had fallen from heaven. What should
she do? In this crisis the real strength
| Of her nature came out, She did not
sit down to mourn. She put on her
| things and went straight to a lawyer
in whom she knew it would be safe to
confide "a somewhat younger man
than her father, but his tirmest friend.
She handed him the letter, and waited
till he had read it through. Then she
asked, with calmness of voice and
manner which surprised Squire Esta-
brook into admiration of her
did you know about it before?|
Not a word.
rs there anything that can be
done?"
1T is possible there may be an eff
fort to pursue and find him. | should
not, however They could do him no
harm. He had only given his private
note to these people; and the simple
end of the matter is, that he has fail
ed, and can't pay them. He needn't
have run away-ought not to. for that
matter; it looks bad
But, of course, if he had staid he
must have given up all his property;
and they can take it now, can t they?"
she asked, speaking still with that
strange calmness which deceived
Squire Estabrook utterly as to the
depth of her emotion.
Il think'he has no property" he
answered He used his own funds,
without doubt, before those of other
people"
but there is the place-the hand
soonest place in the town. 1t is worth
ten thousand dollars, at least"
But it is not Mr.. Cromyn's."
He waited moment, watching the
startled look of surprise on her face;
her dilating eyes; her hands nervous
ly clutched together. Then he went
on
More than year ago your father
decided the place to you, and the deed
was put on record. don't know why,
unless to make everything sure for
you before he ran any risks. It was
before he began any of these specula-
tons. The property is yours, snug
and fast, and no one can take it from
you.
THANK God!" she cried, drawing
long breath of relief. THANK God
that it is in my hands! How can it be
sold to the best,advantage?'
Squire Estabrook looked at her
with secret curiosity. Did she have
some shrewd guess as to where her
father had gone, and mean to turn
the property into money and follow
him? Or was Cromyn's daughter
heroine?
- think / could find customer in
a week" he said, slowly. : know of
one or two men who would be glad to
purchase it.
Sellit then, as speedily as posi-
BILE. to the best advantage you can.
[ trust it all to your management.
And how will you have the money
invested?" he asked her with curious
interest, " Are you sure you can do
better with it than just to keep the
place as it is, and let IT'D"
"How?" she cried, with flashing
eyes. rs it possible you could Judge
of me SO meanly as to think [ would
appropriate it in any way but one?
, Every dollar of it must go toward
paying my fathers debts-reducing
! the number of those who suffered by
him."
IF l understand you rightly. young
lady, you propose to beggar yourself
for the benefit of your fathers cred
itors?"
1 propose to use my fathers money
in redeeming, as far as possible, my
fathers name from disgrace. If you
will not assist me, | will go to some
other lawyer. AS for beggaring my
self, | will agree never to ask bread at
your door"
She spoke hotly, and the lawyer
watched her; liking, in his cool, ana
/ lytical fashion, to see her face sparkle
SO with Indignation. He began to
admire and respect her both; though
usually he was very Indifferent to wo-
men. He smiled at last, and spoke
soothingly, as one would to an excited
child.
ea | will manage it for you, if you
are determined, ! only wanted you
to think twice"
:" had no need to think at all, -
she answered proudly.
rThen she went away from him
went home beginning to realize. now
the immediate need for action was
over, how rayless night had settled
down upon her life She knew that
to giveup this property was simply
ana clearly right-the only way; but
| how hard it was She had Lived In