The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-07-16
THE MORTGAGED FARM.

here is Jenny Lane, punctual to the very
moment. Now we shall have good news
from Jack, 1 hope"
She ran out to the gate, flushed and eager,
TO receive the letter from the country carrier;
and, returning, seated herself on a low stool
at her mothers feet, and broke the
yelope.
On the first glance at its contents, shade
of disappointment dimmed her bright face
Instead of reading the note aloud, she
glanced hurriedly over the brief lines, and
then silently, with quivering lip. placed it
in her mothers hand and turned aside to
window.
This is what Mrs. Hilyard read:
DEAR MADAM: saw your a few days since,
to apply his money the redeeming of the mort
gage, saying that he required it for speculation
holding of the farm. have, therefore, been COM
PEELED to dispose of the mortgage TO gentleman of
my acquaintance, who proposes to take immediate
possession, and considerit my duty to inform you
thereof in order that you may lose no time in max
Very respectfully,
ABNER HARRIS.
Mrs. Hilyard returned the letter to its en-
velope with a trembling hand and dazed,
bewildered look, as though unable to realize
the blow which had so suddenly fallen upon
them.
Her ewes met Marion's, and the girl threw
and burst into passion of tears
sOh, mother, motherl what shall we do?
What will become of u.s."
1.-The Lord will provide" said Mrs. Hill
yard, raising her overlooking eyes to the
motto on the wall, embroidered by Marions
own hand. .'Where is your faith, my child,
that it should fail you in this the very hour
of need?"
"Mother, it is not so much the loss of our
no nv rial
which grieves me, but that Jacll-your own
son, my own brother-should have chang
ed Oh, mother, know that our Father in
Heaven will not desert us, but to whom on
earth can we turn when even Jack can be-
come worldly and heartless?"
At this moment little blue-eyed girl
burst into the room with:
.Mamma-M Marion! here is Miss 'Melia
Anderson at the gate, in her buggy. She
says will You step out a Minute, for she
wants to tell you about old Mr.. Willard be-
ing sunstruck and she daren't leave her
horse without somebody to hold him.
Marion was in no condition to listen to
Miss 'Melia-the greatest gossip in the neigh
borhood; so Mrs. Hilyard, drying her eyes,
was in civility compelled to see the informal
visitor Marion. her head resting upon the
window-sill behind the screen of clinging
roses could have heard every word spoken;
ton until the name of Wat Hinton struck
upon her ear.
It's true, for certain; for Maria had it
from his own sister, Aggie Hinton. Says
Maria in her wild way, If he comes back
with all that money-you know his Uncle
Samuel left him most of his property last
year-says Maria, If he comes back rich I
mean to set my cap for him. On which
Aggie answers, s.Oh, you needn't; for he is
to be married before long, and to real nice,
pretty girl OF course Maria wanted to
know all about it; but Aggie only laughed
in her mysterious way, until Maria says, Il
believe you are jokingl' when Aggie replies,
If Walter isn't married before winter I'll
make you a present of my new earrings
which he has sent me- So you see its a
certain sure; and no doubt he'll bring his
bride to visit his family, and then, tell
Marion, we may look out for grand party.
When the Hintops undertake to do things
they always do them Handsomely.
Marion stayed to hear no more Gliding
out of side door, she crossed the garden,
passing little Myra, who was fondling a
snow-white calf, her great pet and treasure,
. and who called out to her to '.see how fast
SNOWFALL was growing.
Poor little sister It would be as hard
upon her as upon her mother and herself to
leave the dear old home, with all the scenes
and objects endeared to them by the associa-
ton of their lives. For in that ample,
pleasant old-fashioned farmhouse Mrs. Hill
yard had been born and married, and here
her children also had first seen the light.
Two years ago her husband-who had
been too little practical to make successful
farmer-had died suddenly, leaving his
affairs in a very embarrassed state, and the
farm burdened with very heavy mortgage.
Then Jack good son and brother that he
was, had thought it best to go to the city,
taking advantage of sitaation offered him
by a distant relative, until the mortgage
should be paid.
Only two weeks ago he had written cheer
fully, saying that the matter would be
speedily settled to their satisfaction; and
now, just as they were expecting to hear
that their home was their own again; came
this cruel letter.
As Marion had said to her mother, not
even the loss of their home went to her heart
with so sharp pang as did this evidence Of
the change in her only brother.
That Jack should have grown SO worldly
and heartless as to consider his pecuniary
advantage before the qualification of his
> mothers comfort; that he should allow
them to be actually turned out of the deal
old house. and go to reside in the strange
city, where they could never feel at home
oh, this was the bitterest pang of all
. So Marion had thought upon first reading
that letter; and, it was not until hearing
Miss 'Melia's words to her mother that she
awoke to the consciousness that fate could
have even greater sorrow than this in stor,
for her.
One year ago she had parted from he
accepted lover, Wat Hinton in mutua
anger On both sides. Wat had become jeal
Gus, and had spoken sharply to her, and in
: manner which she considered herself justified
in resentihg.
Wat was too proud to apologize anc
Marion too proud as well as too delicate t.
make advances looking to reconciliation
and so they had drifted apart, both rnisera
BILE, until Wat had broken the last link b,
going to the West.
She heard of him from time to tim
through his fapailxr but no word MESA q