Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1870-09-30

the head of Paul Parker, and plowed
deeper lines in his face. The little girl
at their freside had grown into tall,
handsome young woman. Once more we
enter the inner sanctum of their lives.
1T is fathers step mother" said Lucy
Parker, jumping up to open the door
"Well, father, what luck? p
bad enough, child" said old Paul,
meekly shaking the powdery fringe Of
snow from his overcoat. Millions down
ag'n with fever'n ague; his wife's poorly,
and Bruce has had stroke, so he CAM
work no more"
"And they didu't pay you the money
Paul you were fool for ever lending it,
shrieked his wife shrilly. "Aud what are
we to do, With lawyer Martin writin' and
writin' for the money we owe him 2"
eve can do nothing, wife,"
1--WE shall be sold out at auction and
Idle in poor house yet. Oh, Paul, why
didn't you pay more heed to wha I've al
ways kept tellin' your"
'.Not SO bad as that, hope" said tht
old man cheerily, though the muscles o
his lip and brow quivered.
Father, is it St. John Martin, tn
Leeds street lawyer, to whom you owe thiI
money!"
eyes. what do you know about him ?
"Not much, but met bis son at seve
raj parties last fall, and IL think, if yo'
were to go there and tell him just how i
it is, or write, even"
"No use," croaked Mrs. Parker. des
pairingly, "otber folks amt SO ready t
let 60 Of their money as your father is
Lucy"
"May be it's worth trying" said oil
Paul, hopefully, we'll write this yer.
night and next week we'u 60 up to Bos
ton and see what answer he makes u.s."
And then Lucy, blusbing like swee
pea, ran to get the pen and paper. timidl
trusting in the efficacy Of her plan.
For his father can't be SO very hard
hearted" she thought, ''and they are 8
very rich that surely they viii be willin
to wait for this Eve hundred dollars unit
we can pay it"
The elegantly furnished little Office o.
Leeds steeet did not often have such outr
equipages drawn up before it as Pau
Parker's mud-be-splashed box wagon an
shaggy old pony. and the elegantly attir
ed young lawyer. who sat at the desk ex
aiming some papers. glanced UP in sur
prise as the blooming girl and the ben
old man entered together, like May an
December.
Lucy p a5~ 4
'.Ninian thought your father di
not know that"
my father is detained at his countr
seat, and I am acting member of the firm
Lucy. He took me into partnership las
week, and this is"
He turned inquiringly, and with some
thing of start, to the brown faced Of
man, who stood modestly in the bacl
ground. Lucy introduced her father, an
stated their business, with profusion {
very becoming bushes. She had not ex
pected to find her gallant young cavalie
of the past fall in the Office of St. job
Martin.
1--WE are in very Strengthened circum
stances, Mr.. Martini" concluded Lucy
sand my father cannot at present hope
discharge this debt, but / am soon to hay
very good situation in Madame Elvaine'
school as music teacher, and we can g
along and pay part at time if you
father would be so kind as to wait lii
tie"
Lucy stopped short; her voice was gel
ting unsteady. and she was far too prou
to yield to the fast coming tears in Nina
Martins presence.
The young man had listened in silence
but now he took a tin box from its she
in the safe and unlocking it, disclosed sur
dry packages of labelled notes, receipts
etc.
"Let me see, he said, running his ey
over them, cit was note for five hundre
dollars, believe"
! '.Yes, sir" answered the old man, "fc
! five hundred dollars" 3
SIS this your note?''
| "Yes, SIR" ~ .r}4'
i Ninian Martin tore it in two, and lai
the fragments on the fire. Paul Parke
and Lucy gazcd in astonishment as th
young lawyer lifted his dark eyes calml
toward them.
="Mr. Parker, you will please conside
that you have this day received paymer