Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-11-19

hdcnel, Salu ne, taxing nef UfemD-
ling hand, and retaining it in spite Of
her effort to withdraw it, sit is every
thing to me, for love you dearly"
The eyes of the girl filed with a sud-
den light: "Thee thee love-me"
John read the answer to his question
before he put it, and drew the sobbing
Rachel to his breast.
How long they stood there neither
could tell, but at the sound of Mahlon
Stacy's heavy step on the veranda, Ra-
chel made her escape.
"What keeps thee in the house.
John?" inquired the farmer, entering
the room. "We have work to get
through with"
"Let that pass for a moment, Mr..
Stacy. have something to say. Who
holds now the mortgage on the farm q
"Why does thee ask?''
"From no idle curiosity. What is
his name, and where does he live?"
''His name is Frobisher, and he lives
in New York. Tt is his lawyer, Wood
ford. who has the business in hand"
"Woodford Not Charles Woodford !?
Sol In that case, make yourself per-
fectly easy. can arrange all that for
yoE."
:sIs thee serious, John Paul? Does
the think Frobisher would do it for
Mees"
"Why not? He never refused me
anything I wanted yet, from the time
we went to the same school"
"Thee must be out OF thy mind,
John. This Frobisher, they say, is
oe Ill
expect to influence him? If didn't
know thy habits, should say thee'd
been drinking"
"The man you speak of is worth
more than you say, in estate, but he'll
give you all the time you need. Let
me see. 1t is nearly eight. The mail
closes at ten. I have time to write
letter, hitch up, and get to the post
office in good time. You'll have an an
swer by tomorrow evening"" and with
ont further words he went out, har-
messed the horse, and drove to the vii
lage, leaving Stacy staring in amaze
ment. When he came back, the
farmer was still in the house, with
Naomi and Rachel, discussing Johns
freak. During that day and the next
morning Mahlon would glance at John
at times with an expression made up of
hope, and suspicion of Johns sanity.
At noon next day John quietly hitch
ed up the horse again and without ask
ing leave, drove off, with q re-assuring
smile to Rachel's inquiring looks as he
went This was hours before the mail
was due, and John had on his Sunday
clothes, too. He did not get back until
supper-time, and then handed a letter
to Mahlon, in the presence of the rest.
1t was postmarked "New York" and
the farmer opened it with trembling
hands.
"John,' said he, after he had read it,
and handed it to Naomi, &" thee made no
vain boast. Woodford says I can have
all the time want. Thee has done me
great service. l only wish knew
how I could repay thee"
perhaps you can, said John,
smiling, and taking Rachel by the
hand. "Suppcse you let me take care
of this young lady in future ?"
"Why, Rachel p cried Mahlon, in as
tonishment. 'Does thee and John :"
But Rachel's answer was not distinct
" audible, her face being so close to
John Pauls waistcoat.
"Has thee thought about means to
support wife?" inquired Naomi, with
a last futter of expiring loyalty to Alb
SALON. Browning.
"There need be no trouble on that
score;" returned John. "But have a
confession to make. I have in some
measure deceived you. When you asked
nv name, / Just said-John Paul.
"And has thee been using name to
which thee has no right 2" demanded
Naomi, severely.
"I have right to that name, but
there is more of it. / am John Paul
Frobisher"
''Frobisher !" exclaimed Mahlon, as a
light broke in on him. "rhen thee is"
s'I am, or rather was, the holder of
your mortgage. 81 say was" draw
ing O paper from his breast pocket and
handing it to Naomi. 81 have been to
West Chester, and made an assignment
to your wife. I hope she'll be lenient
creditor to you, Mahlon. You see, l
had been taking a pedestrian tramp for
health and amusement, and You came
across me just as had run sufficiently
to seed in the journey, and was about to
take the cars for home. This face of
Rachel's attracted me, and she's the
captive of my bow and spear, anyhow.
1 won her by fair fight, said he, laugh
ing.
They all sat down to supper. The
farmer said his customary grace with
great unction-"For what we are about
to receive, the Lord make us truly
thankful p and John, whose hand had
found that of Rachel somehow under
the table cloth, responded with fervent
"Amen |"