Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-01-03

his great coat in the hall preparatory
to going forth on the days dreaded
business, Emily came out of the par
lor, and placing her hand upon him in
a fond, familiar way, said, "What
harm is there going to the door when
the bell rings?"
"None. dear. that 1 can see," re-
piled Mr.. Hamilton.
Kate thinks it dreadful"
NDoes she?"
+" Yes, and says if l go to the door,
We'll be the talk of the whole neigh
borhood."
If the neighborheod finds nothing
more serious to talk about, Emily, no
injury will be done. But why are you
so anxious about going to the door
when the bell rings z"
am net anxious about it, father
replied the girl. Just now / went
to the door because l happened to be
in the parlor. while Ellen was up
stairs. What would have been the
use of bringing her all the way down
when could step to the door in a mo-
ment T'
"True enough said Mr.. Hamilton.
"What would have been the use of
it ?"
"Then," added Emily, sit takes
long time to get to the door when
Ellen happens to be at work upstairs,
and persons who ring have to wait. |
can't sit still in the parlor, if | am
there, until servant comes. | must
go to the door. AS to the harm, l am
too dull to see It,"
"And | hope you'll always remain
too dull answered her father. AS
he said this the bell rang loudly.
Some one had given it vigorous jerk.
Shall | open the door," Emily
was already on tip-toe.
Certainly"
She came back with a letter. Mr..
Hamilton took it from her hand, and
broke the seal in evident nervousness.
Letters left for him at his dwelling
had come to be, in most cases, I'M
pleasant visitors.
An exclamation of surprise and pain
fell from the lips of Mr.. Hamilton as
his eyes glanced over the long, narrow
slip of paper which the envelope had
covered. Then he unfolded the paper,
and thrust it into his pocket in half
desperate, half despairing way.
"What is it, father?" Emily drew
her hands through his arm, and looked
up anxiously into his face.
Nothing that you can help, dear"
replied the father. endeavoring to raj
ly himself and assume an indifference
which he did not feel. Then he kissed
nd ~ 70 10,
through the days dreaded business.
We say FOUNDER" for Mr.. Hamilton
was in embarrassed circumstances. In
the morning, when he went forth to
| business, it was net often that he
knew where the money to meet the
days payments was to come from, and
| usually one-third of his time was spent
in seeking discounts. The bill Just
| received was from jeweler, to whom
he had given his two eldest daughters,
Isabel and Kate, permission to go for
a few articles, and they had, in the
course of six months, run up an ac-
count of nearly fifty pounds. No Won
der that its receipt by Mr.. Hamilton
occasioned an ejaculation of surprise
and pain. What hope was there of
release from embarrassment under the
steadily accommodating pressure of debts
like this? 1t was only on the day be-
| fore that milliner's bill of twenty
pounds had given him a shock, from
which his nerves yet had low, sick
ening culver. Like man struggling
| in deep water, he felt that even the
smallest additional burden laid upon
his shoulders must bear him under.
Half an hour after her father went
out. Kate was on her way upstairs to
dress for walk, when she heard the
bell ring. The sound arrested her steps.
Would Emily go to the door? Scarce
ly had the question formed itself in
her thought, when she saw Emily
emerge from the parlor.
Emilyr' she called, in a low,
warning voice.
But Emily, giving no heed to her
sister, opened the door A rough man,
with cold, hard features, looked stead
lily into her face for moment or two,
and then drawing from his pocket a
folded paper, said. - BE sure that you
give this to Mr.. Hamilton"
Something in his look and tone
chilled her. She felt that, in some
way unknown to her, this man had an
evil power over her father.
What is it?" she asked, as the
color left her cheeks.
1T is a summons" answered the
man.
"A summons" and she stepped
back. shutting the door almost in his
face.
"Who was it?' asked Kate, calling
down from her position on the stairs.
A man to see father" replied En-