National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-11-18

my expenses, L lald by TO meet tins note
with"
THAT story wont do, my fine fellow.
Where is it 2"
" Burned up with all the rest"
Il don't believe word of it and .
more than that, don't care a whit for
it, either. Pay the note, or the land |
must. There's no redemption, do you
mind, after the setting of this days sun.
Read your bond here it is read it. Pay
or play-that's all"
4" But my wife and child"
What have 1 to do wi your wife and
child, I'd like to know. You're paupers
| don't support paupers Go to the
town, | must have the money tO-doy"
You have the power to help or hurt
me, Robin, and my family / know.
But"
What is the like o. you doing with
way wi you spendthrift fools. Marry,
cheat the public, he-and starve, if you
please st0rre, then III have the money
or the land. I'm busy; can't talk no
more. Times Il )ney wi me. Get the
five hundred dollars or not-the land will
pay it."
But look you now, uncle"
q will look at five hundred dollars, or
look to the land, tell you. Nothing
else"
Mark Manning returned to his wife
and infant with heavy heart, but he
was not totally dispirited He would go
to work, earn more, keep his head up
and laugh at old Robin hard -fsted ugli-
ness yet When the sun went down
that day, Mark kissed his wife and baby,
and said
Martha, we haven't got much tonight
III this world, saving our health and this
little one. It's hard case, but we won't
murmur. | can work a little harder
Fortune will smile on honest purposes
and devoted industry, and though we
shall be under the weather for time,
we'll believe that all will come out right,
and for the best, in the end. Old Robins
note lies i'll the bank, and tomorrow he
will take possession of the poor remains
of the homestead.
Before Martha could reply, a gentle
rap was heard at the door of the dwelling
they temporarily occupied, and Mark
partner entered to sympathize with his
friends.
"Of course YOU haven't paid the note,
Mark, he said, at once.
" No, Charles, | hadn't dollar
" am sorry for this. The LAYING over
of that note-though Robin is secured,
twice over by his bond and mortgage
viii hurt our credit in market seriously" :"
Il thought of this, Charles but miqM
is riqh, you know, too often. l can work
hp vi
acknowledged superior in business tact
and details. So we must go at it again a
little more earnestly, and j will shortly
recover from this blow. I lose my place
of course-that can't be helped, for the
old man drew the bond in such way
that | have no right of redemption left
even.
You should have been insured,
Mark "
That's what old Robin says. But |
couldn't have insured the bank notes that
are burned
& Still you would thus have had some
thing to have paid the note with, and the
land would have been left at any rate"
"Yes-yes It's too late to mourn
Charlie. Come Give me your hand
anu ltl dSsi't " l''l tStt All LII
the future, will act more advisedly y
and Mark put forth his hand cordially,
to grasp the palm of his friend-who was
his rent friend, in spite of himself.
When he withdrew his hand, paper
that he noticed Charles held in his own,
as he extended it towards him, fell to the
floor. Mark picked it up, opened it
mechanic cally, and found that it was his
cancelled note for five hundred dollars.
due that day to old Robin Weston
"Why, Charlie, what is this p
Don't You recognize 1T 2 asked his
partner.
ITS my aote-and paid How came
you by ?'
Il went to the bank to-day, ten min
T. utes before two o'clock, and paid it, that 5
! all"
= But where-how did YOU get the
. money, pray p
"On this insurance policy, responded
!, his partner, instantly taking from hi,
pocket document that told the story
briefly. when ! advised you to get
; your house and furniture insured, Mark,
said Charles, land YOU talked about the
9 improbability of u building being burned
down in twenty days, ] thought If you
would take such risk, You were not st
. careful n man Il, You ought To- he
3 therefore applied for policy Of n thous
I and dollars on your house, the next day
. and five hundred dollars upon your fur
| niture. Your property was burned VI
= in less than half the twenty days. tn,
insurance was Immediately paid me b,
. the company, | paid your five hundred
e dollar-nOte out of it, aud here is tn,
a balance, one thousand dollars, with whicl
q you can rebuild you house, for you lane
+ is saved from the grasp of your uncle,
] as you call him. Now trust you vii
: he more cautious in the future -
Y Mark Naming and hls wife never saw
so happy an hour before, or afterwards
. IN their existence as that which FOLLOWED
y this tortunentc and timely explanation
Verify Charles Acton had been his part
1 ncr's friend
At quarter past two o'clock, on til,
, afternoon Of the day upon which Mark
e note matured, Weston was promptly q
the bank, To learn about it. All hi
It papers had been duly prepared for takinJ
A formal possession of the forfeited estate
= and his surprise and chagrin may be con
1 cpived when he was informed by Tin
G cashier that Mr. Manning's note ha,
o been paid, and taken up. before tw,
g o'clock, honorably.
e He was foiled But then he chucklo,
# over the operation" after nl He hn,
:, made twenty-five per cent upon his loan
G any way He got five hundred for fou
II IN one year, and that wns not 40 bad
lie went homo. and early the next morn