The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-05-25
KITTY 1HORNE'S DUTY.

/" We might mortgage the place." said
Miss Hitty, signing.
"And retire to the almshouse, eh ?"
returned her sister
" But what alternative is open to us?
Shall we allow Tom to come to grief?"
''Tom richly deserves all the grief that
will fall to his share, poor fellow. Such
a schemerl Expected to make a fortune
for us all, forsooth, that we might faunt
in our velvets, drive our span, and fare
sumptuously every day! One dollar for
lis and two for himself, / reckon. What
should such boy know about specula-
tiou? It's the old story over and over
Specializing with other peoples money is
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 in
volved, nothing but money will extricate
him. There's my watch, the heirloom
from grandma Pentecost; there are fifty
diamonds bedded in the case, if there's
one"
Rose diamonds, every spark of them"
Not to mention the pearls and emer-
aids"
Doubletsand split pearls, dare say"
9 You are so discouraging, Liddy! We
must have the money. | don't suppose
that the watch would bring a tenth of
the sum, but it would help. Dear! dear !!
there's Hannah de Rothschild with ST.
100000 Of income, while you and | can't
raise So, 000 though we should break our
hearts-not even 10 save an old and
honorable name from contempt, and a
foolish young fellow from ruin. Alas.
alas!"
"You know, Hitty, it might have been
different" suggested Liddy, her eyes
wandering toward the old-fashioned
square mansion browning the hill within
sightwith its fringe of elms and spicy
orchards beyond. You might have
had enough and to spare, Hitty-enough
to keep Tom out of temptation"
"And it was temptation to poor Tom,
no doubt" returned Kitty, ignoring the
allusion, seeing so much money lying
idle, and such chance for doubling it
over and over, as ne fondly believed. 4"
"Pshaw! A Thorne had no business
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
saved his fortune, and left us all indie
pendent? If we mortgage the place, it
won't bring $4,000; and who could we
call upon to take the mortgage, and what
should we do afterward-live In q tent,
gypsy style? oh, Hitty, if only you
hadn't been so headstrong about Searle,
all this would have been spared usp
Don't speak of it, Liddy; it hurts
me still How could | know what would
be best" and Miss Hitty, pacing the
long room with head bent, paused at the
easement, and saw the sunset reddenine
upon Searle Hill, and touching the win
dow-panes into jewelry. 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 summers overflow of bloom,
the splendor that autumn wears. the
white magniticence borrowed from win
ter. If, twenty years ago, Hittv had
loved Arson Searle well enough to die
for him, if need be, she had loved little
Tom we'll enough to renounce happiness
ana children ana love Tor MS sake, and
to live on through the barren, hopeless
days without murmur. Tom had come
to her arms forlorn and helpless two
year-old baby, without father or neither,
when Hitty was eighteen, and her love
had grown with her growth and strength
ened with her strength. Toms mother
had eloped with her music master, and
had broken her fathers heart; and when
the old gentleman died, he had left a
respectable fortune, the interest for the
benefit of his two living daughters, the
principal falling to their children; and
only in case Liddy and Kitty died with