San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-09-28
aMrs. Trowbridge, I believer"

"Mrs. Trowbridge, ! believer
A graceful bow was the lady's an
swer, and the visitor added:
"Mr. Truesdell."
al am plea'ed to see you, MIR. Irues'
dell" said the widow, as with motion
Of the hand she invited him to resume
the scat from which he had risen on
her entrance.
81 haze called, madam, to look at this
property, which, as l understand, Is
for SALE" said the gentleman.
"Yes, sir; I will show you the prop
erty with much pleasure. But must
first ask you to excuse me for a few
moments. My little boy will entertain
YOU until I return" and Ruby came
forward with ready confidence, and sig
nified his willingness to make himself
agreeable.
a hope you will buy our place, SIR
he said, when they were alone. II my
dear papa had lived we would have
kept it, but now mama says we cannot
"How long has your papa been dead?"
asked Mr.. Truesdell.
"Three years, sir. Did you ever see
my papaG"
"No. I have been living more than
a hundred miles from here, and have
made no acquaintance in this vicinity
until lately" the visitor answered, smil-
ing.
mamma has told me of some cous-
ms of papa's that I have never seen,
and when T first looked at you l thought
you might be one of them, because it
seems to me you look like papa. He
had side whiskers, just like you have,
and his hair was the same color, and he
was about as large as you. Here is his
picture" and he pointed to very fine
oil painting on the opposite wall.
Mr.. Truesdell was standing before
the picture, studying it with much in
terest,. when Mrs. Trowbridge an
nonnced that he might now see the
house and grounds. An hour or more
was spent in this way, affording an OPP
portunity for such casual and inciden-
tai remarks as the occasion called for.
Ruby was one of the party, of course.
as this little boy your only child,
madam ?" asked Mr.. Truesdell.
"The only one living. I have lost
two dear little girls, one younger than
Ruby, and the other two years older"
IL have two little girls" said Mr..
Tluesdell, "and had one boy, who, if
living, would be about the age of yours.
He died three years ago, soon after the
death of his mother.
Don't you think, mamma, this gen.
tleman looks like papa9" interposed
Ruby.
swell, yes, little, perhaps" said
his mother, smiling.
II am much pleased with the general
appearance of the property, madam"
Mr.. TruesdeD remarked, "and may see
you again in regard to it,"
"You probably know, sir, said Mrs.
Trowbridge, "that my interest is less
than half the real value. A mortgage,
now overdue, holds the larger share"
Mr.. Truesdell did not intimate that
be had lately become the owner of the
mortgage, but simply remarked that if
he concluded to buy the property the
mortgage would, of course, give her no
further trouble.
q wish you would buy the house, and
come here to live, and let mamma and
ne live here, too" exclaimed Ruby,
ooking up wistiuLly into the face of
Ir. Truesdell and at the same time
irnlly grasping his hand.
If the mother could have got hold of
he boy at that moment she would have
,iven him en- impressive shake, but he
vas on the other side of Mr.. Truesdell,
nd any attempt to stop him with words
night lead to something worse, SO she
imply said:
L have several other pieces of prop
rty, some of which have been trying
0 dispose OF, with the hope of saving
his, but the best bids, thus far, have
cen very low"
Are these pieces Of property also en-
umbered?"
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