The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-10-20
JERRY'S MORTGAGE.


doorway to watah for her husband. He
came in sight ere long. walking YEARLY
and slowly, as if the fair summer picture
of mountains and green fields cleaned
upon eyes to sad too drink ir their beauty
and significance. A man certainly not
old in years, but with lines of care about
his temples, and painful droop to the
mobile, sensitive mouth, which showed a
harrasing anxiety--a constant, daily strug-
gle with fate. His wife walked down
the grassy garden path, and took his
hand in hers.
t'You are over-tired, Jerry. I have a
nice supper for you, and Cissy is full of
cunning little ways tonight. Cheer up,
DEAR
He looked down with a sorrowful smile,
and put his arms around her. 81 am
tired tonight, Louie-tired and discour-
aged. I have been to Cyrus once more,
but"
His voice broke, and Louie clasped
his hand more firmly. and raised it to
her lips.
"Never mind telling me, my dear. I
can guess it. He is determined to fore
close the mortgage2"
"Yes."
She walked silently up and down the
path with him.
"My own brother, Louiel 1t does
seem as if he might give US another
chance, but you know how he is about
money. Since he married that second
| wife of his he seems harder than ever.
Honest he is-no man could ever say
that Cyrus wronged him of cent, but
war to the knife to get his own''
They entered the kitchen, where Cissy
was beating a drum solo on her tin plate,
and casting eager glances at the plate of
fresh gingerbread. "Papa's baby" said
Jerry, and bent down to kiss her. He
sighed heavily as he took his seat, while
tear stole down his cheek.
"Ugly man to make my papa cry"
said Cissy, doubling up her small fist,
"I-I-jes' kill himl"
The 4-year- old tot had gathered en-
ough from her parents daily conversa-
tion to know that they were in some
trouble connected with ga man" whom
she remembered to have seen few days
before at their house. He had talked
loudly and fast, and the mental photo
graph left on the waxen tablet of that in
FAINT soul would have made an angel
weep.
tHush- sh, Cissy. Mammals daughter
mustn't talk SO. She should be gentle
little girl!' and Louie stroked the little
fist till it slowly uncurled.
"Martin Best told me to-day that Cy-
rus has just bought another yoke of OK
en-. and 5000 buggyl" said Jerry, bit
terly as he took forced swallow of tea.
"Well," said his wife, sit can t be help
ed, dear. But don't let us cherish hat
red, or say anything we may be sorrow
for. [ know it's hard-it's hardl" and
her lips quivered, as size looked around
the neat, home-like kitchen, and glanced
| beyond it to the vine-wreathed window
of the bedroom where her baby's eyes
first opened to the light. "You know
different people have different make-ups.
A great sob rose in her throat-she gave
one look at Cissy-struggled to restrain
her feelings, but the food-tide of grief
must have way, and, rushing to Jerry,
she clasped her arms about his neck and
burst into tears, jrst as shadow fell
across the doorway and visitor entered
In the morning sunshine, in the cor
ner of fionrishing field near thrifty
looking white frame house surrounded
by substantial ont buildings, man with
bushy head, gray eyes, was hoeing corn.
He was 50 busy that he neither saw nor
heard the approach of footsteps to the
fence.
"Cyrus Deane, do you know that you
are ascending your own soul right street
to perdition?"
He looked up, startled. A tall, gaunt
female was peering at him from pair of
glistening spectacles-a woman in rus
ty black dress and q straw shaker
trimmed with a bombazine cape and o
single bow of black ribbon. 1t was Miss
Mahala Truffett. She was that univer-
sal village character of whom the weak
and vicious so justly stand in awe-a wo-
man who speaks her mind-and very
startling way she had of doing it. Being
possessed of considerable property and
social position, she was allowed to exer-
else her privilege to her hearts content.
A tongue like forked lightning, when oc-
casion required, but heart Ger flowing
with love for the struggling and suffer
ing. Cyrus Deane shifted his hoe un-
easily. 81 don't see heow you make it
eout thet I'm a-goin' any Eastern other
folks. l haint done nothin' to disob-
leege you thet know Off
"4ou know what / mean. I was up
to Jerry's last night" She gave him
another steady look from those Rhada-
manthus-like glasses. His gaze fell be-
fore hers.
81 haiD't pizened none O. Jerry's crit
ters, nor set his barn afire, hev II"
you've pizened his peace O. mind.
You've worn him cut with worry, till
he's walkin' ghost. I set great store
by LOUSY Ann, I do, and when I see
; her gettin' that fit O. high stericks last
night, all along o your hardness and
. scrlnchin meanness, come as nigh bilin'
< over as ever did in NV Efei Your own