Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-08-31
AFTER MANY DAYS.


off the best room of Abram Linmar's 8 un-
pretentious farmhouse, listening hall
unconscious to the sound of voices, now
in stern demand, again in humble plead
ing and protestation. His long gray
hair and beard swept the snowy linen OF
the pillows, against which his bronzed,
suuken face seemed darker and more
hollow; his bony fingers beat the cover
lid in anger and sympathy, as his ear fol
lowed the words of the speakers, and a
glitter sparkled in his eyes, which had,
for five weary weeks, been glazed and
dulied with fever.
81 wish they d come in, )" he muttered
to himself 81 want to know all about
it; | was asleep at the first and can't
guess how it begun, bnt it is evident the
good people of this house are in deep
trouble"
lie had hardly ceased when the door
OF the apartment opened and Dame Lin
mar stepped In with the noiseless foot
vi the anxious nurse. Seeing that her
patient was awake and was looking
eagerly ana inquiringly at her, she ap-
preached the bedside and spoke to him
in voice a. sad aud mournfulas sorrow
can train womans tones to be.
Awake, sir9 Has the talking in the
other room disturbed you2"
st has not broken my rest, but what
have heard has disturbed my mind.
WhaS is it? only know that somebody
gives you till next Monday morning to
leave this comfortable home"
1T is about mortgage, sir. But
here comes my poor, old husband; he
will explain it better than can."
At the word the door opened again
and A0ram Linmar entered with bowed
head and firmly pressed lips.
"He's gone, Janet, and taken the
very last grain of hope l nurtured. Not
even the memory Of the service I rem
dered him two-and.twenty years ago in
saving his lie when he was at the mercy
OF the highwaymen availed anything,
and We shall have to leave the roof that
has sheltered Us so long, doubly dear to
me as the work of my own hands and
the scene of genial associations.
Farmer Linmar, excuse the imper-
tinence of my curiosity" said the low
rNOlC0 vi tuo luFdllu, KNOW d utGlS
OF your trouble. May I not know all g.
Alas, SIR" replied the hopeless
host, Z" the story is short as our future
stay within these walls will be brief.
Five years ago my son in New York, be-
ing embarrassed, borrowed from my
next neighbor, very wealthy man, the
sum of eight thousand dollars and gave
him mortgage on this-my farm of one
hundred acres. Instead of gaining re.
lief, my son became more embarrassed,
failed utterly, and, from the grief of his
disappointment, died. I have paid two
Thousand of the principal and now ten
der third thousand, and beg that my
creditor will not proceed to e1tremities.
But plead to stone. He acknowledges
that for years he has coveted my land,
separating, as it does, two parcels of his
own, and, indeed, he has made me many
offers for it; now that he has the power
to compel sale, he swears that he will
force the matter and outbid any COM
petitor, as he has the means at his COM
mand. Hesays that he offers me in return
all the money and interest I have paid
to him In consideration of my quietly
surrenderlpg possession, and I suppose
must. There's no other way"
And / have been charge on you in
such dire extremity" said the sick man,
feebly; " it would have been better for
you to have left me to die by the road
side, broken down and fever parched.
where you found me. Many precious
dollar you must have parted with in my
long illness for physicians and their nos
trums. am too weak to even thank
you properly"
"Say not so. The little you have had
in money or attendance will never help
to impoverish us. It was bread cast
upon the waters and it will return.
The good farmer said this almost cheer
fully, for he reflected how much better
off at worst he and his dame and daugh,
ter Marian were, than the homeless,
friendless old mau who lay in his care.
"After many days; after many days.
continued the SICK man, finishing thi
promise. Bat L am afraid. farmer,
that neither you nor I will live till it
comes back"
"Why, don't talk so, SIR broke in
Dame Linmar, "it's been a real comfort
for us to do the little we could for you.
We ars only paying debt We owe. Oar
,ro Frop, bopoo c;