Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-08-25

the rest OF our personal property.
every liberal. Introduce me tc
him, when he comes, as an old friend
of the family, and not as a lawyer
Mr.. Alexander Campbell called in
the course of the afternoon, and was
made acquainted with Mr. Ahne'
Pierce, at whom he looked suspicious,
ly; but his eyes fell when he met the
old gentleman's gaze. Mr.. Pierce
glanced but slightly at the deed which
was offered for the consideration OF
the ladies', being occupied in studying
the counteDance of the man in whose
favor it was drawn.
81 can't decide upon it just now"
he said at last. LAS a friend Of these
young Understanding, as may say,
IN loco parentis-I must mal'e few
inquiries concerning the value of this
property, Suppose you come after
supper, Mr.. Campbell, and suppose
you bring that mortgage with You. /
have no doubt it is all correct, but
would like to see it.
Mr.. Campbell assented to this, and
withdrew. Abner Pierce filled his
pipe with nervous haste out also with
tobacco, and Mary brought him Il
light
II know that you have some good
news for us, she said, 81 can see it in
your face"
"Not bad, my child. | hope and
trust that it is very good a good
name, but a bad man, | said, and that
is true. Think I see my way out Of
this difficulty, and the money [ lent
you is safe. But you mustn't interfere
with me, young ladies', Or be surprised
at anything | may say or do, or object
to it. You must trust me, and LEI me
work in my own way"
After supper, when Abner Pierce
had enjoyed another comfortable
smoke, and ccnversed with the girls
concerning their mother, as he had
known her in her youth--a subject up
on which he grew quite eloquent AL
exander Campbell came in, bringing
the deed and mortgage, both of which
he handed to Mr.. Pierce for examina
tim.
81 have made inquiries concerning
the property" said the old gentleman,
"and am satisfied that 1t is not worth
more than the amount of the mort
gage, and would probably bring less
It sold at foreclosure Your ctfar is a
liberal one; but / must first look at
the mortgage, This appears to be
correct" he continued, when he had
examined the instrument. 1t is prop.
erly acknowledged, and the signature
is undoubtedly that cf Phillip Mer-
win. | suppose the young ladies will
have to 60 to the county seat TO exc
cute the deed
The girls countenances fell at this
saddened surrender OH the part Of
their champion,
"I'hat reminds me, said the old law
yer, picking up the mortgage again,
of an occurrence that fell under my
observance in Tennessee. Not that
the two cases are alike, as the Tennes
see case was undoubtedly fraudulent
; fair ; but there is a similarity in the
circumstances. Don't look 50 down
hearted, young ladies. What will be
NUT be, and it is useles, TO cry about
what can't be helped AS was
about to say, man died in Tennessee,
leaving a widow and one daughter.
The widow was about to administer
upon his estate when man who was
unknown came forward and presented
a mortgage similar to this, and for
exactly the same amount. 1t was ex-
amined by lawyers who lwere familiar
with the signature and pronounced
correct. Although there waJ some
thing strange about the affair, they
could find no flaw in the instrument.
1t was particularly puzzling to one of
them, who thought he had transacted
all the law business of the deceased.
He got hold of the mortgage and
brought it to me when | was in Nash
vile. [ happened to have in my pos
session Il very powerful maguifying
glass that had been presented to
me-the most powerful lens | ever say.
With this | examined the mortgage,
and soon discovered that forty had
been raised from four There was no
mistake about it. | could easily see
the marks Of chemical erasure, and the
difference in pen and ink, between the
'.raiscd' and the rest of the instrument.
How the rascal got into the Registers
office, | don't know: but the record
there had been altered in the same
manner. He ran away and it was not
considered worth while to follow him.
Strange circumstance, wasn't 1t Mr..
Campbell 7"
Mr. Campbell was fidgeting uneasi-
ly in his chair, and made no reply.
"tlere is the glass" continued the
old gentleman, taking it from his
pocket, sand you can see for yourself
how well 1t magnifes. Now, as |
LOOK at this forty why, bless me.
the same signs are visible that | saw
in my Tenn,ssee mortgage! | think
you ~il be obliged to drop this, Mr..
Campbell My Tennessee mans name
was A exander Bell, and he as added
camp to it since he came to Missou
rie."
Campbell, his face red as flames,
ro,oh n i o,,t n honl e., +t,o Joo,r,,pt