The Baltimore County union., 1882-12-16

| Souiu hot unueIstdnu, Stoie oNer nei
face.
Early one Saturday morning, a few
days later, John Forsythe walked into
the dairy, where Mrs. Gray was skim
ming milk, preparatory to churning.
"Do you want to sell this place, Mrs.
Crey1" he asked, abruptly.
"Don' no as / do" said the widow.
"It's the only home I've had for twen.
ty-five years. An couldn't get moth.
in for it. The lands bout wore out.
Still, il had an offer Of fifteen hundred
dollars for it, I'd snap at IT,"
"l know somebody who'll give you
that" said John. "F'ive hundred, cash
down, and mortgage on the place for
the rest, due in two years, with inter.
est, at six per cent"
"It's bargain" said the widow
Where's the man 1''
"lIere I" said John.
"You ?" exclaimed the widow. "I
didn't know you had five hundred
cents"
"I've go, the cash ready for you,"
said John "and If you'll let me drive
you into Scdgewick this afternoon, we'll
have Lawyer Saunders make out the
deed"
al suppose I'll have to hold by my
word" said Mrs. Grey. "But you'll
never be able TO pay me the thousand
within two years. How can you save
anything on forty dollars month ?"
"rhat's my lookout" said JOHN
"You needn't worry about the amount
Of my salary. You have the farm as
security, and you can live on it till all
is paid. I've no use for the house, you
know, unless ! get wife to put in it. 1"
"Folks can't say he amt clever" I"
said Mrs. Grey, in telling her daughter
a little later of this offer. "T'd have
hated to leave the house righ, off. Bu,
what puzzles me is his having that five
hundred dollars put by. He must ave
been awful savin'."
Lydia smiled, but said nothing. She
might have enlightened her mother on
the subject had she SO chosen but she
preferred to keep her own counsel.
A week later, John paid 4 second visit
| W ttiC
"You said couldn't marry Lydia
until had home to offer her as good
as the one she's had with you," he said.
"Now you can't say I'm not able to do
so. She needn't make any change at
all, you see."
al see," said the widow, tersely.
$50 you'll consent to our engage
nt1" said John.
al suppose so, since you're both so
set on it," said Mrs. Grey, on whom
Johns five hundred dollars had pro.
duced marked impression. "Lyddy's
so stubborn headed she wouldn't think
Of changin' her mind il preached and
argyfied all night and don't want
her talked about"
"Neither do l." said John "and
I'm glad to have the matter settled
I'll go up and tell Lydia about il now,
If you have no objection.
go, you want to, said the widow.
"Like as not she's looking for YOU
hangin' over the gate, perhaps, while
the breads burning in the oven and the
cats on the breakfast.;ablc.
The wedding was set for the middle
Of October; but, to her mothers sur.
prise, Lydia began no preparations for
il.
"Why don't you begin your shop.
pin'l", asked the widow, who had a
natural longing for cruise among the
dry goods stores of Sedgewick. There S
no time 70 be lost. You'll have 10 be
pretty smart If you expect to get sewed
up by the middle Of October.
There's no hurry" said Lydia,
quietly.
"That money you've in bank will
come in useful 'nough now," said her
mother. "Thrcc hundred dollars will
buy you good set-out."
"Bctter than | need" said Lydia.
alt would be sheer extravaganza for III,
to spend that much"
"But you've got to have some finery
said her mother.
81 shan't want much. I'm prctt,
we'll supplied now with clothes"
"There's no call for you to be stingy
Your Uncle Nose left you the none,
for this very purpos. Don't you re
member the will said so :? And | wan
to see you well set out. Girls don't &c
married morc'n onct, rs 4 rule, and
you'd best make the most of tn
chance"
"I'll sec," said Lydia. "Therc'
time enough yetto buy and make double
what I'll get.'
. And though her mother frettcd ant
scolded about the delay, and began 4
think her daughter had grown parsi
monious, Lydia continued to put OF
going to Sedgewick to buy her wedding
clothes.
"Who were those men prowling roun,
: with you in the Creek Meddcr thi
I morning, John 2" asked Mrs. Grey, a
she met her future son. n-law, one even
ing in August, coming up the garde
path with Lydia, whose face looked nm
usually bright.
"They were gentlemen from the city,
; answered John. al sent for them {
decide as to the quality Of the coal O
this land"
"Coal on my farm !" exclaimed Mrs
Grey. al never suspected it,"
"My farm, you mean |" said John
al knew long ago that there was COS
on it,"
"Then you've played me a very di;
honest trick" said the widow, angrily
while her gray eyes flashed. "You &c
, from me, for fifteen hundred dollars,
bed Of coal that you're likely to max
i yield as many thousands--perhar
more"
"All's fair in love and war, you know,
n l.. r.