The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-07-11
THE GRAFTONS.
BY ESTHER sERLE KENNETH.

THE GRAFTONS.
By ESTHER sERLE KENNETH.
There was red flag at the door Of the
handsome Grafton mansion.
Ermine knew how 1t would be, months
before. They owed everybody, and
things had been steadily going from bad
to worse for years. A crisis must come
at last, and it had come.
They are down on us-they will take
everything, Mortie."
Mortimer was the next youngest, and
only boy-but brown-eyed handsome
boy.
who is the principal creditor, Ermine?'
George Gregory, the grocer.
He is a hard old fellow, said Mortimer,
ruefully.
1T is he who is coming to take the in
ventory. would rather it would be any
one else"
What difference does it make, Erminc?
I heard the butcher tell you, yesterday,
that We had lived of him for the last nine
months, and he looked savage as his own
meat-axe. Then there's the wine-dealer,
and mothers doctor, and the druggist
bill-ah, there's precious lot OF them, l
knOwi"
The boy threw himself despairingly
down upon q velvet couch.
Il had rather it would not be Mr. Gre
CORY, Mortimer, dear, said Ermine, be-
cause he is particular, hard, rough man.
He especially dislikes mother because she
is feeble and fastidiOus, and-and want
ed to beg them to leave us mothers fur
niture.
Il understand" said Mortimer-"th
furniture Of mothers ROOM"
YES"
There was moments pause.
What can We do about mother, En-
miner"
For proud, sickly, irritable Mrs. Grafton
did not know Of the red flag at the door
did not know that the crisis had come.
Il thought. dear Mort, that il I could
preserve her things, she need not know. "
-What?"
You see, Mortie, have known all along
that this must come, and, lying awake
nights, thinking what was to be done,
have come to the conclusion that we must
hire a house and stOre-a good looking
house, you know-let part OF the rooms,
and you and must keep the store.
Trader" cried Mortimer, curling his red
lips. You, Ermine GraftOn?"
Yes, dear-and you; for trade Is hon
orable. and living on Others, as we have
been doing for the last three years, Is not. "
= know. will do anything, my dear
what?-cOttOn and darning needles, or
pickles and sugar!"
Neither. Flowers"
THAT is better"
Il know greenhouse where can get
a stock In trade cheap. Then, / have q
taste for slipping and cultivating. In fact,
I have already picked out the house. 1t
Is next Phoenix Hall, where there are
dances every night oil winter"
-Ermine! FYremen!"
Yes, flremens balls. They like their
buttOn-hole rosebuds, and bouquets for
their girls. They will patronize me. and
their money Is hard and good, Mortie. 1t
will buy bread for you and 1, and Pussy
and Tot, and pay for mothers wine and
medicine"
do you think am going to be a bur-
den on you. Ermine? No. am going to
work"
At whSt3
-Shoveling coals!"
Hush, dear! We will talk about that by
and-by. What wish now is that could
get mother away, with the idea that we
preferred to give up the house and live
elsewhere. She knows her creditors are
constantly ringing at the door. and il we
to less pretentiOus house, I
should tell her It was to retrench; and she,
knowing as little OF money affairs as a ba-
by, would think that so the whole trouble
was ri3hted. Poor mother, she does not
know that We have absolutely no income!
For more than year we have been living
entirely upon credit"
Entirely, ErmineP"
Yes. 1t should not have been SO IL
could have helped It. / wished to give
music lessons, but mamma would not
spare me-
-She will have mysteries at the Idea OF
your keeping a shop. But Pussy might
lend, I suppose. since we are all to go the
same way.
yeung men, Mort? No, no! Pussy must
herself to her; and she need never know
that the shop Is ours. Mamma never
caves her room nowadays, or cares what
my OF US arc doing 80 long as her comfort
IS undisturbed. That part would be easy.
But she Is attached TO her surroundings
her bed and its hangings, her curtains.
carpet, sofa and pictures. How can
keep them for herr
Ermine rose and commenced pacing the
aoor. Suddenly the bell rang loudly
She started. and descended the stairs.
A Young man. entering, admitted bv n
hooked up and saw her pale,
strained face over the carved railing.
Miss Grafton2-
Yes"
She approached him.
Il am sent to take an inventory Of the
lurniture-a very unpleasant duty Iassure
you."
Ermine stared at him painfully.
IL thought, she murmured. at last,
that Mr.. George Gregory was to take the
L am George Gregory. also. You refer
10 my father, I presume"
Ermine turned YEARLY away. So this
young man was Of the same piece as the
buriy cheeee-monger who told her TO her
lace that her mother was spleeny. Some
how he had seemed different
He eas different
Pray believe me. Miss Grafton. this Is