Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1869-12-02


l shall be obliged to resort to severe
measures"
'Impossible.' exclaimed the young
man in a surprised and excited tone,
"you are very much mistaken. 1t is
not due till the 2Sth; it is now but
the 18th. At that time, if / sell the
piece Of land partly expect to do, !
hope, with other money coming in,
to be able to pay it."
sYou are labOring under singular
mistake, young man. Here is the
mortgage; you can see for yourself
that it is the lSth.''
"Let me see it,
The figures danced upon the page.
He passed his hands over his eyes
and Gained himself with great
effort. He grew ashy pale as he read.
at reads so, certainly; but l can't
understand it." Hewent to the desk.
"Here is memorandum my faith
er made of the circumstance, and it
is the 2Sth. He was a very sure,
methodical man, and would not be
likely to make mistake that might
be fraught with very important and
evil consequences to him. believe"
"a sudden suspicion coming into his
mind, as he detected lurking tri-
umph in Squire Johns eye-"I be-
| lieve there's some villiany about this
matter, and that you are at the bot
tom of it," he exclaimed, excitedly,
fixing his eye firmly upon the law
yer, who changed color in spite of
himself.
"Be careful what you say, young
man, as you may get yourself into
trouble," he said angrily.
eyes, sir, believe that you are
base william! remember that you
are the lawyer who made out the
mortgage at the time, and / know
that you have been aching to get
hold of this property. If there is any
justice in law, you shall be eXposedw
SIN the meantime you had better
have the money ready cooliy and
insultingly remarked Mr.. Johns.
"That is impossible, as you know.
You knew very well that Icould not
raise SO much money in two days,
when you laid your diabolical plans"
'Then you know the consequences
Sand what will become of my
youngsisters?"
81 neither know nor care. That is
your lookout"
| The young man strove to repress
his passion. esquire Johns, by the
2sth l can pay this debt, l expect"
"That will do you no good. 1t
must be ready by day after to-mor-
row, or take possession. might
have shown you mercy but for your
insinuations. Now, none!"
/ "That is false! liar! villain! and
you know it. You never showed
mercy in your life. You have won
your ill-gotten wealth by robbing
the widow and the fatherless. If you
take this property, may it bring you
a curse with it, you dastardly
scoundrel!"
The Squire was a small man as
well as coward; and while he was
being ANONYMOUSLY elected from
the house by the angry and excited
young man, Hetty was crouched
down close to Mile, pale and fright
ened. Eva was sobbing in her lap,
and Millie-it would be difficult to
describe her feelings.
Ben did not come into the room
for some time afterward. When he
did, he looked haggard and aged, and
was passing through hastily, as if to
escape notice, when Mile, business
like and straightforward little girl
that she was, began:
"Mr. Hazwell, | want to talk with
you few minutes. There would be
no use in pretending that / didn't
hear what you and Squire Johns have
been saying, for / heard every word.
/ think know Of some one who can
help you; but first may ! ask you a
few questions?"
Ben at first looked displeased and
naughty; but her kind, straight-for-
ward manner disarmed him. He
bowed assent.
"What is the amount of this mort
gage?"
"Two thousand dollars and inter-
est" was the brief reply.
"What is the total value of the
farm?n
"My father valued it at two thou
sand dollars"
"Are there any other mortgages"
"NOne."
"Very well; am quite positive /
know some one who can loan you
the money. / am Mile Warner.
Call on me tomorrow, at my cousins,
Mrs. Sanford's."
Ben's dreams were very strangely
| mixed up that night with mortgages