The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-09-22
JERRY,S MORTGAGE.

Mrs. Deane put the finishing touches
to her tempting little supper-table (set
for three), tucked Cissy's napkin around
her neck, and lifted her into her high
chair. then stepped to the wide, cool
doorway to watch for her husband.
He came in sight ere long, walking
weariiy and slowly, as if the fair sum-
mer picture of mountains and green
fields cleaned upon eyes too sad to
drink in 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 q
harassing anxiety-a constant, daily
struggle with fate. His wife walked
down the grassy garden-path, and took
his hand in hers:
"You are over-tired, Jerry. have
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 arm around her. 6
am tired tonight, Louie-tired and dis
couraged. 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
l can guess it. He is determined to
foreelose the mortgage!"
YES"
She walked silently up and down the
path with him.
MY own brother, Louie! It 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 a cent, but
war to the knife to get his own."
They entered the kitchen, where
Cissy was beating 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-l-jes' kill him.'
The four-years-old tot had gathered
enough from her parents daily CONVEX
sation to know that they were in some
trouble connected with "a man. whom
she remembered to have seen few
days before at their house. He had
talked loudly and fast, and the mental
photograph left on the waxen tablet of
that infant soul would have made an
angel weep.
.'Hush-sh. Cissy. Mammals daugh-
ter mustn't talk so. She should be a
gentle little girlr' and Louie stroked
the little fist till it slowly uncurled.
''Martin Best told me to-day that
Cyrus has just bought another yoke of
oxen and two-hundred dollar buggy!'
said Jerry, bitterly, as he took a forced
swallow of tea.
"Well," said his wife, ''it can't be
helped, dear, but don't let us cherish
hatred. or say anything we may be
sorry for. know it's hard-i's hard ?"
and her lips Guiyered as she looked
around the neat, home-ike kitchen,
and glanced beyond it to the vine
wreathed window Of the bedroom
where her baby's ey es had 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 fiOodtide OF grief
must have way, and, rushing to Jerry,
she claspcd her arms about his neck
and burst into tears, just as shadow
fell across the doorway and visitor
entered.
In the morning sunshine, in the cor
ner of tlourishing field near thrifty
looking white frame house surrounded
bv substantial outbuildings, man with
bushy red beard and small, weasel
like gray eyes, was hoeing corn. He
was so busy that he neither saw nor
heard the approach of footsteps to the
fence. ...i.-- ..... --....
Cyrus Deane, do you know that
your a-sendin' your own soul right
street to perdition?"
He looked up, startled. A tall, gaunt
female was reering at him from pair
of glistening spectacles-a woman in a
rusty black dress, and a straw shaker
trimmed with bombazine cape, and
a single bow, of black ribbon. It was
Miss Mahala Truffett. She was that
universal village character of whom
the weak and vicious SO justly stand in
awe a woman who speaks her mind
and very startling way she had of
doing it. Being possessed of consid-
cradle property and social position, she
was allowed to exercise her privilege
to her hearts content. A tongue like
forked lightning, when occasion re-
quired, but heart o'erfiowing with
love for the struggling and suffering.
Cyrus Deane shifted his hoe uneasily.
al don't see heow you make it eout
tibet I'm a-goin' any EASTERN other folks.
hain't done nothin' to disobleege you
tibet l know OFF,
'.You know what mean. 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.
II hain't pizened none o. Jerry's
critters, nor sot his barn fire, hev I?''
'You've pizened his peace o. mind.
You've wore him eout with worry, till
he's q walkin' ghost. set great store
by LOUSY Ann. do. and when 1 see
her a-gittin' that fit O. high-stericks
last night, all along O. your hardness
and scrinchin' meanness, / come as
nigh bilin' over as ever I did in nv
life! Your own brother, Cyrus Deane.
The little, curly-headed chap that.
like enough, slep' on the same pillow
with you many night. What would
your mother ha' thought, eff she'd ha'
knowed heow different you'd turn
outr' =
Cyrus Deane drew down his bushy
eyebrows, and gave an energetic kick
Hn n c,,. oil hoxw1dop Il - .'.
"Jerry's he'd ez good q chance to git
along ez me. We started even. It's
his own look -eout! He ha'n't no hand
to nanage-never was : never could git
fOre-handed in his born days!'
1.-The morereason why you ought to
be merciful. He hai,s't he'd ez good .
chance ez you. The year that your
barns was groanin' an runnin' over.
his wheat got the weevil, an his corn
ketched the mildew. His cattle died,
an his tools was stole. He laid sick
with rheumatic fever, and he'd doc