Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-02-19

Lucy and of the stipulated interest, and
directing in case he should die without
leaving will, the amount of the original
loan should be taken from his property
and paid to her.
AS Esther read the note her face
clouded. A sense of injury filled her
heart with bitterness.
''No wonder Lucy could be generous
on my poor Harry's money! shall
not pay i'll She has had her money
back long ago with such exorbitant
interest, and it would be robbing my
childrenw
Without waiting to consider the
matter in cooler frame of mind she
drove to her mothers cottage.
She shrank from telling Lucy herself
for down deep in her heart lurked q
memory of the exceeding love anC
kindness which had redeemed her girl
hood from lon eliness and regret. Still
cher children should not be robbed"
Her aged m other loved Lucy almost
as dearly as she did Esther, and 1t was
a painful errand for her; but her i'm.
perious daughter had always ruled her,
and she took to Lucy Esther's message
that the interest had already more than
paid the principal-that it was usury,
and she would pay no more.
Lucy listened quietly, but the great
gray eyes kindled with suppressed fire.
"Did Esther send this message, Mrs.
Norman?"
the old lady commenced to crv softly.
It was the bitterest moment of q life
which had had lis full share Of sorrow.
Lucy answered.:
"Tell Esther to keep the money. |
can live without it. But, Mrs. Norman,
E3ther's husband, my dear cousin
Harry, would have been poor man
had it not been for my money, gave
it to him to help him along. Esther's
charge of usury is cruel and unjust. l
never cared for money, and what Harry
thought | do not know"
Mrs. Norman rose, and extended a
trembling hand to Lucy.
do not blame me Esther made me
come; but it is the hardest trial of a
life which has had many"
Lucy took the withered old hand in Il
kindly clasp.
[ know it must be so. [ believe you
are as sorry as [ am. The hardest thing
70 bear is that the wound comes from
Esther. It isn't the money. it's the break
ing up of the dear old ties, for [ can
never forgive Esther for charging me-
as innocent as babe in the affair
with usury."
Lucy set herself to work to find out
what resources she could fall back up
on. Now that her outside income was
cut off she would have to give up the
charities which had become part of
her daily life, unless something was
speedily done, She set to work in earn
est to make her land produce a golden
harvest the choicest fruits were sent to
market-the rest were transformed in
to some tempting shape and sent away.
Every morning brought its demands
for persistent industry and brought her
q rich reward; not alone in money, but
in bright eyes and rosy cheeks, and a
1.-THE suppleness of figure. Lucy was
interesting at fifteen-at twice that age
she was positively pretty.
The change at Trevor Hall was the
subject of much comment, and, occur
ing so soon after Mr.. Trevor's death,
many shrewd surmises were made. But
the ones most interested made no sign,
and 1t remained conjecture.
Esther and Lucy rarely met and when
they did 1t was as strangers.
Lucy's spirit was a gentle one, but
the deep sense of injury in having the
most unselfsh act of her life thus re-
warded reused her Indignation. She
secretly longed for the children's pres
ence in her home, but she fought
against the feeling.
About two years after young Mr.. Ire
vor's death, gentleman called at the
Hall and sent up his card.
Lucy went into the parlor, expecting
to see some mature dealer in farm pro-
duce.
Her cheeks were rosy from exertion,
and some stray locks had escaped from
her smoothly-brushed brown uair, and
curled tendril-like around her white
forehead.
A gentleman rose as she entered, and
introduced himself as Vincent Reynolds,
the former friend and legal adviser OF
her cousin, Mr.. Henry Trevor.
Lucy requested him to be seated, Sc
cretly wondering that he should call
upon her. He did not leave her long
in ignorance.
"Miss Trevor" he said, "my errand
today is probably an unnecessary one;
but in accordance with my dear friends
wish [ am here. Years ago he left with
me package to be opened two years
after his death. 1t was unsealed yester
day, and proved to be legal document
which secured to his cousin, Miss Lucy
Trevor, the sum of ten thousand
pounds, IN payment of borrowed money
for which she had no security. An &C
companying note says that his dear
wife has no doubt fulfilled his wishes in
the matter; but to guard against accident,
he wishes me to see if all is right at the
specified time. have come to see you
this morning to ask for information"
Lucy Trevor rose agitatedly.
Il beg that you will let this matter
rest L cannot give you an answer"
Vincent Reynolds rose also.
Il am sorry to disobey you, Miss
Trevor, but [ must know the truth. If
you do not tell me, L must go to Mrs.
Trevor for information. [ am as much
bound by Mr.. Trevor's letter as though
he were my living client and had given
me verbal instructions"
Lucy made one more effort.
Il do not need the money, Mr.. Rey-
nolds. and will be very grateful sif you
will say no more about it."
Miss Trevor, 1t would be a precious
treasure to me-a lady's gratitude-but