Montgomery County sentinel., 1880-12-03
2 9leasamt Storp.
A SLIGHT MISTAKE.

Katie ran into the kitchen singing, but
the song died on her lips when she saw her
sister Hannahs stern look, and her moth
er's tears falling over an open letter in her
lap.
"What is the matter, motherg" cried Ka-
tic. alas anything happened ?"
Nothing but what we expected" said
Hannah, before Mrs. Derwent could open
her lips to reply. "The agent writes that
we must give up the farm by next Monday"
The tears started to Kittie's blue eyes.
"And this is Wednesday" she said at
is too bad just hate that Mr.. Arle. Why
does he, with all his wealth, want to take
away our little farm? Oh, dear Can't any
thing be done?'
Mrs. Derwent only sobbed in answer, but
Hannah looked keenly at her young sister,
as she said meaningly;
"You are the one who can best answer
that question, Kate"
Kettles face turned crimson, and then pale.
"Oh, Hannah" she said imploringly,
"don't ask me to do that, for | cannot; no,
/ never can"
"You would rather see us turned out of
home than make small sacrifice, then?"
"a small sacrifice, Hannah? To me it
seems very large"
"Hcaven only knows what we are to dor
walled Mrs. Derwent ave haven't fifty
dollars in the world"
"Can't we borrow enough money from
Squire Davis to pay off this mortgage?"
asked Katie desperately.
"You must think Squire Davis has no
sense" said Hannah sharply. Gle would
know well enough that there was no chance
of our ever paying him back. We manage
to make enough off the farm to live, and
that's ALL"
"To think that should have to go TO the
almshouse in my old agep moaned Mrs
Derwent
"Oh, mother, surely not quite so bad as
that" said Katie.
"Perhaps you will kindly suggest some
plan," said Hannah, sarcastically. 81 know
of but one way in which to keep our home,
and that does not appear TO suit YOU
an think it over" said Katie, "and while
am thinking III catch that gray rooster
you said you wanted for dinner, Hannah
avery well; but Paul can't help you, for
I've sent him on an errand. And hope
you will think 10 some purpose, Katie"
Hannah began 10 wash up the breakfast
dishes as he spoke, knowing that her sister
understood very well what she meant by
her last remarks, for Katie sighed heavily
as she put on her straw hat and went out
10 the farm yard in search Of the gray rooster
which she found scratching in some straw,
utterly unconscious Of his impending doom.
But at the first futter of her apron which
she tried 10 throw over him, he fled, closely
pursued by the young girl, whose seventeen
summers had not given her dignity or taken
from her childish love Of racing and
climbing.
But running proved hard work in the hot
August sun, and, out Of breath ut last, Katie
stopped in a clover field, the frightened fowl
still safe distance of.
In Squire Davis great meadow she could
see the busy laborers loading the immense
wagons with new-mown hay, and just be-
yond the stone wall which divided his farm
from the Widow Derwent's, lay one of the
men under the shade Of a spreading oak
tree, his hat pulled over his eyes, and his
rake laying on the green grass beside him.
A sudden inspiration seized Katie, who,
putting her foot on the jutting stone wall,
spraDg lightly 10 the top.
"Manp she called loudly; "ob, man will
you please help me catch my roosterg !
know Squire Davis won't mind II If you
do"
The man thus singuarly addressed sat up
suddenly, his straw hat falling from his
head and thereby revealing a wealth Of
curly chestnut hair His clothes were rough
and ill-htting, II is true, but his face a refined
and handsome one and his bearing far above
that ofthe average hired man.
II will help you In any way can" he
said after a quick glance at the flushed,
pretty face Of the girl ON the stone wall.
add you say you wanted me 10 help you
catch roosterT hesitating just the least
bit.
"Yes, my sister wants him for dinner, and