Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-01-12
JOHN PAUL.
Confined from last Week

~ NAAN AVAAitAr AAAAlAtOA4 anu HIS WIG NEft
already there, and Absalom renewed
his request, Rachel made no delnur
for Naomi said it would relieve thei
horse with one less in. John smiled t
himself The aunt favored the court
iug.
The summer months came and went
Absalom Browning came and went one,
a week, and sometimes twice, and Johr
Paul remained or the farm He grew
to be fayorite, and his activity anC
physical strength, with his good nature,
made him popular with the young men
around. Absalom did not like him
however. With Rachel he rot along
famously. She had been his friend from
the first, never forgetting his opportune
championship. Then he read so beauti-
fully, and was full of tales of adventure,
for, according to mis- own account, he
had travelled a great deal. In his
wanderings he had picked up deal OF
knowledge too, as leaked out bit by bit.
and he babe fair to make good farmer,
SO the farmers liked him too. But, Nah
lon, whose spirits had been getting low
er and lower, at length grew quite
gloomy, and his gloom was shared by
his wife, and even infected Rachel.
The cause Of this trouble John Paul
learned one day from the talkative clerk
at the store where the Stacys dealt,
and with it he got some of the family his
tory, Ii appeared that Rachel TAYLOR,
the younger sister Of Mahlon's wife,
had eloped and married with Gordon
Forsyth, a gay and wealthy Young gem
tlemen from New York, who had acct
IDENTITY met and fallen in love with her.
Rachel had been "disowned' for marry
ing ''out ofmeeting' but worse followed
Forsyth who was on the downward
course, soon got tired of his pretty wife,
resumed his dissipation, and was
drowned two wears atterward, leav
ing his widow with a one-year-old
child. Rachel Forsyth did not long sur
viYe her husband, who proved to have
been in his death bankrupt. He had
managed to get Mahlon Stacy, who be-
lieYcd in him, to become bondSman in
q case involving, it afterwards turned
out, q questionable transaction. Nah
lon paid the judgement, but was
obliged to mortage the farm, which had
been in the Stacy family for four gener-
ations. He had adopted little Rachel,
sent her to the West Town school to be
educated, and bit by bit accumulated
money sufficient to discharge the mort
gage. The bank in which he kept his
savings broke, and he had not only lost
his store, but was unable to meet the in
tercst for year. The mortgage was in
other hands-a rich New orker held it
and proceedings to foreclose had been
begun. If Rachel married Absalom
Browning, who was rich himself and
rich man ; son, there would be no diff
Guilty. They say that Rachel hangs
back, concluded the clerk Il rayther
CUES, she'll give in at last That the
The way Mahlon'll pull through, in my
John came home after hearing all
this, and found Absalom Browning there.
The young Quaker was got up quite
>martly-in pain clothes, to be sure, but
his shad-bellied coat was of the finest
broadcloth, and his broad
brimmcd hat of the very best beaver
lie remained to supper, and was treated
with marked consideration by the far
mer aud his wife Rachel seemed lit
tie embarrassed. John glanced at her
a little curiously, but She avoided his
eye. The hired man went out after he
had eaten his supper attended to the
horses and cattle, and, this done, came
into the house. Il was usual for the
family to sit together for an hour or
two after supper before retiring to rest.
1t was their main recreation from daily
labor. But the old couple had retired,
and John retired also, leaving The
younger couple together.
John sat at the window in the dark,
looking out on the night and thinking.
In little while AbsaIom Browning left,
and he heard the wheels of his wagon
driven after the fashion of Jehu, the son
of Nimshi. Then he heard the light
step of Rachel on the stairs on her way
to rest
The next morning John went out
early 10 see to the horses and cattle.
When he returned to breakfast he OBJ
served that Mahlon was curt and mono
syllable of speech, Naomi gloomy, and
Rachel distressed. John ate his meal
silently, and then went to the field with
Mahlon. But he soon made an excuse
to return TO the house. Rachel was
alone there, seated with her face buried
III her hands. and so intent on her
thoughts that she did not hear him come
in
What is the trouble, Rachel?n he
asked
The girl started mp, and the blood
rushed to her face, but she made no
renly. is it to be wedding?" he
continued
John Paul. thee thee IS"
"Or did You send Absalom B about
bis business last night?"
'What is that to thee, John? Uncle
is displeased with me, auntis sorry, and
now thee What is it to thee
| have or mott?
Rachel, said he. taking her tremb-
ing hand. and retaining it in spite of
her effort to Withdraw it, lit is every
thing to me, for love YOU dearly"
The eyes Of the Girl filled with sud-
den light Thee. thee love me."'
John read the answer to his question
before be put it. and drew the sobbing
Rachel 10 his breast
How long they stood there neither
could tell. bat nj the sound Of Mahlon
Stacy 5 heavy step on the Yeranda,
Rachel made her escape.
"What keeps theein the house, John9f
inquired the farmer. entering the room.
eve have work to Get through with.
.'Lct that pass for moment, Mr..
Stacy | have something to say. Who
holds now the mortgage on the farm?'
"Why does thee ask?''