Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-07-05
THE HOUSEHOLD.
THE MoRTGAG E

They were a grave looking group that gather
ed in Dean Lindsay's best room that lovely jun
morning. First there was Dean Lindsey him
self, always prominent figure anywhere, from
his tall muscular form, and bold, resolute face
At his right, their elbows leaning on the table
whereon lay writing materials with sundry fold
ed aud crossed papers, sat two mon, one o
them idly toying with pen which he held in hii
hand. He was slight, daTk-skined man. witt
short, buehy hair and wiskers-the latter of the
mutton crop style-and both OF them of the
color denominated as pepper and salt. He had
q bright, alert face, and clear, BLUSH gray eyes
and his name was Mark Seldom. and his calling
attorney at law.
The man at his eide offered the strongest pos
sible contrast. He was tall and loosely built,
with slight stOop in his heavy shoulders. He
had horid complexion, with small, sleepy look
ing pale blue eyes. beardless face. and long,
lank sandy hair pushed behind his ears, said
ears being modelled on generous plan as re-
garded size, and, il may use the expression.
placed in the most favorable possible light to
show advantageously. And as he carried his
head little down, they gave him the appear
ance of listening coverty without seeming inter-
ested. This mans name was Wilson-Amos
Wison-aud though You might not think it from
his dress or general appearance a rich man. L
mean Of course. rich for his locality. He might
not have been rich for New York, but for Dalton
small Western township, he was perfect
Crnsue.
Besides those, there was small colony of
young Lindsays, in assorted sizes. the largest
OF whom, pretty Della Lindsay stood behind her
mothers chair, her arm thrown over her ahoul-
der in pretty, protecting way. Mrs. Lindsay
had been an invalid since Harry's birth, four
years, and Della was practically at the head of
tho household 1t was moreover no light thing
to be at the head OF the household, there being
besides herself, seven children with which her
father and mother and Paul Leicester, who had
been with her father for the summer just eleven
III tho family Added to this the care of a
dozen cows, and added to this the fact that the
state Of their finances would not admit of their
keeping any servant And this question Of fl
nAnces brings me to the real sub iect of my story
"You will excuse me. Wilson. for being a little
down.hearted, about this thing" Mr. Lindsay
said, with faint smile ut seems like signing
away my hearts blood to give stranger a claim
Oh the old homestead
low red burned itself through Amos ilson's
cheek. Il wish you would not speak of me AZ a
stranger" he said hastily, with involuntary
glance at Della which no one but Paul Leicester
saw.
II mean any one not relative, Mr. Wilson,"
replied Lindsay soberly "You knew had hope
OF help from my cousin in New Orleans. mem
toned il to you"
well, the fact that l have applied to you |
shows that hope has failed me, and so we'll say |
nothing more about it, Perhaps youhad better |
write the deed now, Mr. Seldom"
MIR. Seldom bowed pleasantly dipped his pen in |
the ink aud for while the faint scratch OF the |
pen on the paper, aud the loud ticking OF the |
kitchen clock were the enly sounds of the house.
MIR. Lindsay leaned his face on his hand and |
looked steadily on the door No wonder he |
rhrank from the thought of his heritage being /
compromised but there was no help for 1t, and |
he had got to make up his mind to think of it |
ss it could be no longer really his but subject to
Amos Wilson's authority. He could hardly /
keep from groaning aleud He started with
nervous shudder and glanced up. Amos Wilson
leanrd little forward looking steadily at Della
with strange fire lighting his sleepy eyes.
ia nd I'M NnuP ain Mr
Lindsay, Seldom said briskly 'Yours and Mrs.
LiudsAy's"
His voice broke the weird spell which had
seemed to hold them and Paul Leicester got up
from his seat by the kitchen door, and came aud
stood by the table while the deed was being
Signed. and the money, seven hundred dollars,
counted out and given to Mr., Lindsay who in
turn handed over the mortgage OF tho homestead
t. Mr.. Wson. Then he turned abruptly and
wsnt out Mr. = .ldon looked after him with his
quick bright eyes, but no one else appeared to
notice 1t as being anything unusual that hired
maD should inttude lis presence upon such an
occasion.
And now that business il over will take the
opportunity of saying word about this same
Paul Leicester.
Fnst he was a stranger in Dalton q at is he
had been there but little over two months, ,hav-
ing come early in April. He seemed 30 anxious
Tor employment and offered to work so cheaply
Nllhal, and upon such easy terms-not asking
Tor payment until Christmas-that Mr. Lindsay
had thought 1t best to take him. He could not
work that farm alone, and was specially anxious
:" do great deal this season to try to recover
hi nself
MIR. Leicester was not very much used to farm
W 'rk, it was quite evident but no was 30 quick
an persist about everything he undertook,
tnat Mr.. Lindsay was delighted with his bargain
lie was extremely reticent at first, but by degrees
he had grown more free and once or twice sur |
prlsed them with such flow OF wit and spirits
that MIR, Lindsay had declared himself unable to
soc what put him there man Of his abilities
And now word in regard to Mr.. Lindsay's
embaTrAssments. For three consecutive sea-
sons the harvest had been extreme
ly light in this section, scarcely paying for the |
outlay OF money and labor, to say nothing of
Pohis. Then the expense OF living was consid- q
elable, for ten persons required no small amount
Of food to make no mention of garments that .
Will wax old Added to this was long and se-
we're illness, lasting all winter, and running him
behind to such an extent that he saw no other
way to 80 on with his work than to hire money.
lhls 1t was next to impossible to do, and after
some severe struggles with his pride, so far over
came it as to write to Julian Richardson a second
lousln, living in New Orleans and reputed very
wealthy. lie had never seen him, but had heard
that he was unmarried and somewhat eccentric
And so in this strait he ventured to appeal to
him. He wrote the first letter in Februarv but it
was unanswered. After waiting in state of
anxiety aud suspense two or three weeks he |
wrote again. This time his letter was returned |
lfter being opened, but without line or word
n answer; He struggled along month or two y
|
The final result have heretofore described a
The days slipped like golden sand, and the I
snmmer grew in beauty and brightness to Della Z
Lindsay. The sunshine fell into her heart as Il
slowly as it capped the green. blossomy hills +
The daily drudgery of toll became suddenly
Ightened and Illuminated by the same golden
glow, and the world grew dear, and life looked
only sweet and beautiful dream.
Into this supreme atmosphere one day a sud-
den cloud broke. 1t had been no larger than a
mans hand, for weeks she had not discovered it,
and was, therefore, totally III prepared for the
great darkness that came upon ner. She had re-
turned from long ramble ovtr the prairie, her
hands loaded with blossoms, and stood by the l
loor describing their names and habits to Paul Il
Leicester, whose grave face was softened into
rare, tender smiles, whenever the pretty eyes and ii
wild, rosy cheeks were lifted to his face. a
" Della, my dear, l want you moment" her n
10 her said, coming out into the entry.
Without word she followed him in, the bios -
SONS still in her hands, and some oil them \
trapped to the floor she walked.
Come in this way, my child" Mr. Lindsay e
said, passing before her and opening the parlor
where. sharply outlined against the sunset sky.
stood Amos Wilson, his back to the window, and
hs great ungainly form stood slowly in bold re-
ief against the light
Somehow the feeling of depression that had
30 weighed her down on the day the homestead
was morlgaged came upon her again, and she
felt her face grow white and ripid