Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-05-10
HITTY THoRNE's DUTY.

1--WE might mortgage the place"
said Miss Hitty, signing.
"And retire to the almshouse, ehPn
returned her sister.
But what alternative is open to usP
Shall we allow Tom to come to griefP"
"Tom richly deserves all the grief that
will fall to his share, poor fellow. Such
a schemer! Expected to make fortune
for us all, ,forsooth, that we might ilaunt
in our velvets, drive our span and fare
sumptuously every dayi One dollar for
us and two for himself, reckon. What
should such boy know about specula-
ton? It's the old story over and over.
Specializing with other peoples money
is Il little indiscreet, to say the least. |
should have chosen sackcloth and ashes
rather than velvets won by such
means"
Certainly. But now that Tom is
involved, nothing but money will eX-
tricate him. There's my watch, the
heirloom from Grandma Pentecost;
there are fifty diamonds bedded in the
case, if there one"
Rose diamonds, every spark of
them"
"Not to mention the pearls and en-
eralds." .s.....
"Doublets and split pearls, l dare
say"
"You are so discouraging, Liddy!
We must have money. l don't suppose
that the watch would bring tenth of
the sum, but it would help. Dear!
dear! there's Hannah de Rothschild
with two millions of income, while you
and / can't raise $4,000 though we
should break our hearts-not even to
save an old and honorable name from
contempt and foolish young fellow
from ruin. Alas! alasn'
"You know, Hitty, it might have
been different suggested Liddy, her
eyes wandering toward the old-fash
ioned square mansion crowning the hill
within sight, with its fringe of elms and
its spicy orchards beyond. "You might
have had enough and to spare, Hitty-
enough to keep Tom out of tempta-
ton"
"And it was temptation to poor
Tom, no doubt returned Hitty, ignor-
ing the aDusion, - seeing so much
money lying idle, and such chance
for doubling it over and over, as he
fondly believed"
to be tempted. Was our grandfather
tempted at the time of the embargo,
when he could have had false papers
made out, as everybody was doing, and
save his fortune, and left us all indie
pendentP If we mortgage the place
it won't bring So, 900; and who could
we call on to take the mortgage, and
what should we do afterward-live in a
tent, gypsy styleP o Hitty, if only you
hadn't been so headstrong about Searle,
all this would have been spared usr'
Don't speak of it, Liddy; it hurts
me still. How could | know what
would be best?" and Miss Hitty, pac-
ing the long room with head bent,
paused at the easement, and saw the
sunset reddening upon Searle Hill, and
touching the window-panes into jew
elry. The twenty years of happiness
which might have fallen to her share
up yonder had proved twenty years OF
silent endurance merely. She had
watched the seasons as they passed over
the Hill with an interest which she had
hoped would die, but which had only
strengthened with the years-the lovely
dallying of the spring-time, the sum-
mer's overflow of bloom, the splendor
that autumn wears, the white magnifi-
cence borrowed from winter. If, TWEEN
ty years ago, Hitty had loved Arson
Searle well enough to die for him, il
need be, she had loved little Tom well
enough to renounce happiness and chill
dren and love for his sake, and to live
on through the barren, hopeless days
without murmur. Tom had come to
her arms forlorn and helpless two
years-old baby, without father or
mother, when Hitty was eighteen, and
her love had grown with her growth
and strengthened with her strength.
Toms mother had eloped with her
music-master, and had broken her
fathers heart and when the old gentle
man died he had left respectable fort
une, the interest for the benefit of his
two living daughters, the principal fall.
ing to their children; and only in case
Liddy and Hitty died without leaving
direct heirs could anything more than
the merest trifie revert to poor little
Tom. Hitty had been engaged to An.
son Searle year when old Mr.. ThornC
shutfied off the mortal coil and this un.
just will came to light, and Searle him.
self was at that time only young law
JSA WIN WIFI
no great amount of funds at his com
mand.
"And nothing for little Tom but thi,
paltry hundred dollarsr' groaned Hitty
when the will had been read and the
estate administered.
"Of course / shall never marry >
said Liddy, who was plain and old
looking for her years, and whose on'
lover had Tilted her years ago, wher
the bloom of youth, at least, had beer
hers. There wasn't the smallest DANCE
that Liddy would threaten Toms in
terests by marrying.
No, you may never marry, Liddy,'
sighed her sister; "but II love An
son, and oh! | love little Tom, tom,
little motherless Tom! / cannot rol
him of his patrimony, and / cannot liv,
without Anson. How can / wron,
Tom to pleasure MYSELF What will h,
have to go out into this hard worlC
with, if-if-n
Rush, you silly girl; he will hav,
his head and hands, like other men
and then-you may never have an,
children TO stand in his way.n
" But how unhappy il would max,
me to see them enriched at his expense
to see him earning his bread by tn
sweat of his brow, while they Jared lik
the lilies OF the field TO have Tom env,