Weekly Trinity journal., 1871-10-21

lives.
" 1t is fathers step, MOTHER said Lucy Par
ker, jumping up to open the door.
"Well, father, what luck?'
"Bad enough, child" said old Paul, meekly
shaking the powdery fringe of snow from his
overcoat. " Milton's down again with fever'n
ague; his wife's poorly, and Bruce has had
stroke, so he can't work no more"
And they didn't pay you the money? Paul,
you were a fool for lending it r' shreked
his wife shrilly "And what are we to do with
Lawer Martin writin' and writin' for the money
we owe him ?''
1--WE can do nothing, wife"
We shall be sold out at auction, and die in
poor house yet. Oh, Paul, why didn't you pay
more heed to what I've always kept teln' you ?''
"Not so bad as that, hope" said the old
man cheerily, though the muscles of his lip and
brow quivered
Father is it ST. John Martin, the Leeds street
lawyer, to whom you owe this money!"
Eyes what do you know about him p
"Not much but met his son at several par
ties last Fall, and II think, if you were to go
there and tell him just how it is, or write,
even"
"No use," croaked Mrs. Parker, despairngly,
other folks amt so ready to let go of their
money your father is, Lucy
May be it's worth trying" said old Paul,
hopefully, " we'll write this very night, and next
week We'll go up to Boston and see what answer
he makes u.s."
And then Lucy, blushing like a sweet pea,
ran to get the pen and paper, timidly trusting in
the efficacy of her plan.
/" For his father can be so very hard-hearted," )"
she thought, " and they are so very rich that
surely they will be willing to wait for this FIVE
hundred dollars until we pay it,"
The elegantly furnished little Office on Leeds
street did not often have such outre equipages
drawn up before it Paul Parker's mud-be-
splashed box wagon and shaggy old pony, and
the elegantly attired young lawyer, who sat at
the desk examining some papers, glanced up in
surprise as the blooming girl and bent old man
entered together, like May and December.
"Lucy p
Ninian l thought your father-I did not
know that"
"My father is detained at his country seat, and
am acting member of the frm Lucy. He took
me into partnership last week, and this is
He turned inquiringy, and with something of
start, toward the brown-f faced old man, who
stood modestly in the background Lucy intro
duced her father, and stated their business, with
profusion of very becoming bushes. She had
not expected to find her gallant young cavalier
Of the past Fall in the Office of st. John Martin.
We are in very Strengthened circumstances,
Mr. Martini" concluded Lucy, and my father
cannot at present hope to discharge this debt,
but an soon to have very good situation in
Madame Elvaine's school as music teacher, and
we can get along and pay a part at a time if your
father would be so kind to wait little"
Lucy stopped short her voice was getting un-
steady, and she was far too proud to yield to the
the fast coming tears in Ninian Martins presence.
The young man had listened in silence, but
now he took tin box from its shelf in the safe
and unlocking it disclosed sundry packages of
labelled notes, receipts, etc.
" Let me see," he sad rnnning his eye over
them, " 1t was note for five hundred dollars,
believe"
Yes, sir" answered the old man, " for five
hundred dollars"
" Is this the note?'
" Yes, SIR"
Ninian Martin tore it in two and laid the frag-
ments on the fire. Paul Parker and Lucy gazed
in astonishment as the young lawyer lifted his
dark eyes calmly toward them.
"Mr. Parker, you will please consider that you
have this day received payment for very old
debt. We have balanced accounts"
/" Sir don't understand you,' said the be-
wildered old man, " | don't remember"
But do. 1t is rather more than ten years,
Mr.. Parker, since you put that money at interest"
Sir ?'
81 will be more plain with you," said the
young man, smiling. " Perhaps Miss Parker is
not aware that am only the adopted of my
more than father. My real name is Nino Berlani.
Just ten years ago was begging in the streets
of Landhill, starved and penniless. A kind hand
you know whose, Mr.. Parker-extended itself
to me in the hour of need.'
The old mans face lighted up.
g do remember now 1t was a fifty cent
piece and told you to come back just week
from that time and
"And did not come. No, but tried my
very best to come, but was prevented by the
brutality of the man whose slave and drudge
was. Well, begged my way to Boston, having
run away from my tyrant ST. John Martin found
me one night in the street, perishing from cold
and starvation. He had just lost his only child,
a boy about my own age, and not unlike me in
naraOna1 and cnmahOw cd tn
take the sore, vacant place in his heart. | re-
solved that if it ever lay in my power | would
return your gift thousand fold. But never
dreamed that Lucy's father was my benefactor."
He turned to her with bright congratulatory