The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-03-31

ed, and ran and told mother and she kiss.
ed me and began to cry, because she said
the interest was due on the mortgage
money that week, and poor father was un-}
happy because he could size no way to pay
it,n -sra
"And did he pay it?" questioned Harry,
somewhat interested.
eyes. He borrowed tile money some-
where, and then, Of course, there was the
interest to pay on that; and SO it went on,
from bad to worse, till father died, and the
farm went back to its owner. Mother said
it had fairly worried him into his grave"
she added, wiping the tears from her
eyes. "You cannot wonder if am afraid
of mortgages, after that"
"But, pet, the two cases are entirely diff
ferent," said her husband, kissing her
cheek. "Your father was q poor farmer, and
found it almost impossible to raise money,
I dare say. Now I an thriving merchant,
and if all goes well, hope to make enough
the coming year to clear our home. Don't
you see3 Come don't think of trouble any
more. Be as careful as you can in the
house expenses, and you will find that we
shall own our pretty home, clear Of any
claim, before you know where you are"
He drew her down to the wide crimson
footstool before the fire, and resting her
head upon his knee, began to read aloud.
The fire and lamp burned clearly, the
pretty French clock on the mantelpiece
ticked musically, and rang out its fairy
hour chimes once before his voice ceased to
echo in her ear. The book was lively and
pleasant one, and Margaret was able to
discuss it with him intelligently as they
fingered before the blaze for one delicious
half-hour, before going up stairs.
Yet, all the while her thoughtful eyes
were seeing visions in the crimson Goals,
and her heart and brain were busily at
work, devising plans to ward off the evil
that, to her, seemed to be threatening the
peace and comfort of their little dwelling,
30 long as any other person held claim
thereon.
The Ginning bells Of the French clock
rang out ten, and Margaret rose and went
about the room, putting it daintily in order
before leaving it for the night. Her pref
ty face was blooming and happy as ever,
for at last she saw the way clear before her
to Danish, with the .energy God had given
her, this brooding cloud Of evil from their
domestic sky.
As their married life began, so it went
on, in the new home for nearly three years.
The house expenses were carefully kept
down by Margaret, who made one servant
answer where many of her other friends
! kent two; and once in three months, or Of
; tener in six, as the days went on, the ac-
counts were settled by the husband, cheer
fully enough at first, but by and by with
sighs and shakes of the head, which Mar
garet seemed not to notice, and of which
she certainly never spoke.
During the last of the three years, Har-
ry's handsome face began to wear a look Of
anxious care. Not q cent, 80 far, had been
laid aside to pay off the mortgage on their
home, and the chance of success seemed less
than ever to him now, because, ike all 9TH
ers in business, he began to see q time ap-
preaching which would "try mems souls"
The evening reading was gradually laid
aside, and during the summer months of the
third year Harry began so sit brooding Of
ter Itea, in his armchair before the empty
hearth, till Margaret. without appearing to
notice his depression, came to him and in
duced him to accompany her on a walk. At
such times he strobe along beside her, ST.
lent and sad, and returning to his home
buried himself in the columns of the
Bankers Day Book till it was time to 60 to
bed.
And all this time the true wife held her
peace. She noticed everythlng-she guess
ed more; but, till the ice was broken by
him, it was not her place to speak.
So 1t went on till that dreadful autumn
season of crash after crash, ruin after ruin,
old and long-established houses topping
into the gulf; and carrying q thousand mi
nor ones with them in their fall. Men
looked at each other with pale faces, ask
inc, "Who will 90 next?" and all through
tho country, wave after wave, the wide
spreading stream Of desolation rolled.
During that one last hideous week Of
suspense, Harry Graham came and went
between his store and his home, saying
nothing, suffering everything. On the sat7
urday evening he went out, alone, for q
stroll after tea. But in half an hour he
was back again, having made up his mind
in that brief time to tell Margaret all.
He found her in tho parlor. She sat be-
side the window, bending over small
package in her l..D. At lis sudden entrance
she starte. ami hid the package in her
pocket, Llushing SO violently that at sany
,thcr time he would have noticed and won
| Tered Ut it..
But now his mind was full Of his own
| troubles, and he had no leisure to notice
rides.
He went straight up to his wife and took
9TH her hands.
"Margaret," said he, ri an ruined man.
! This panic"
! And then he broke down and burst into
tears. He fell upon his knees beside her
chair.
"Oh, Margaret" he sobbcd, III thought 1
could give you pleasant home! And now
we shall be bcggars! !"
Margaret put her arms around him. draw
ing his face down upon her breast.
When he was calmer, she kissed him and
asked him to sit down beside her and tell
her all.
She listened mutcly.