Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-03-25
be laughing. why, you look as scared
as il | had stolen the house. child:
Il tho .gbt it was paid forp'

Il tho ght it was paid fort"
"llow on earth did YOU suppose I coul
pay such sum down, aud buy the fur
plture as welli' he answered, sharply
81 eau tell ,cu it took every cent ha
in the bank as it is"
but the house expenses! What shal
we do about them?' asked she ,ookin,
bewildered.
lie laughed again.
"ls there no such thing as credit, Mar.
garel?"
She was silent
Get whatever you want at tue shops
child. Of course you will be as ecouomi
cal as possible; but still we must live
you know Once in three months, O,
once ia six months. I'll settle the ills
Then whatever We can have shall 20 to,
ward clearing of this mortage that seem.
to be such bugbesr in your eyes,
II will save in every possible way,
FL rry," she said earnestly. ut is foolish
suppose, but a mortgage is bugbear
to ME. Father had heavy one oD bis
farm. Harry, and the first thing remem,
Der as a little Child is seeing him sitting
on the grauary staircase near the bi. barn,
signing and groaning to himself. | was
frightened, and ran and told mother !;
and she kissed ne and begau to cry, be-
cause she said the interest was due on
the mortgage money that week. anG poor
father was unhappy because he could see
no way to pay it,"
"ADd did he pay it?' questioned Harry,
somewhat interested.
"Yes He borrowed the money ,ome>
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 bis
grave" she added, wiping the tears from
her eyes. You cannot wonder if am
afraid of mortgages, af.er that
But, pet, the two cases ar, entirely
difereut," said her husband, kissing her
cheek. Your father was poor farmer,
and found it almost impossible to raise
money, dare say. Now am thriving
merchant and if all goes well, | hope to
make enough h the coming year to clear
our home. Don't you ste? Come don
think of trouble any more. BE as careful
as you can in tie h ,use expenses, and you
will find that we shall ewn 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 lis knee, began to read
aloud.
The fire and lamp burned clearly, the
pretty French clock on the mantelpieee
ticked musically, and rang out its fairy
hour chimes once before bis voice ceased
to echo in her ear. Tue book was
lively and pleasant enc, and NJ ,rgaret
was able to discuss it with him intelli.
gently as they fingered before the blaze
for one delicious hali.hour before guing
up stairs.
Yet all the while her thoughtful eyes
were seeing visions in the crimson Goals,
aud Eer heart and brain were buslly ut
work. devising plans to ward off the evil
that. to her, seemed to be threatening
the peace aud comfort Of their little
dwelling. 30 long as any other person
held Cain thereon. ..
The chining bells Of the French clock
rang out ten, and Mar aret rose and
went about the room, putting 1t daiutily
iu order before leaving it for the night.
Her pretty lace was blooming aud happy
as ever, for at least she saw the way
clear before her to banisb, with the
energy God had given her. this brooding
cloud of evil from their domestic sky.
n ~ y
As thor married life began, 30 it went
on, in the new home for nearly three
years. The house expenses were care
:ully kept down b Margaret, who mad. !
one servant answer where many Of her
other ir'ends kept two, and ouce in three
months, or oltener in six, as the days !
went on. the accounts we're settled BY
the husband, cbeerfully enough at first,
but by aud by With sighs aud shakes OF
the head, winch Margaret seemed not to
notice, and Of which she certainly never
spoke.
During the last OF the three years. |
Harry's handsome face began to wear
look OF anxious care. Not q cent, 50
far had been laid aside IN nav IN A.