The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-08-23
TIlIIY's ADVENTURE

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an old brown farm house, situated
/ two miles away from the centre oI
the village of N. She was won
dering what made her father so quiet
and sober of late, and why she
caught her mother ever now and
I then wiping away 4 tear with a
stealthy hand.
/ She heard their voices now, as
they were talking in g low tone in
the kitchen, ami once in while she
caught the words, mortgage, " fore
closure election" and the like,
and she pondered very soherly upon
their meaning. Pretty soon her
father went out, to attend to matters
at the barn, and her mother called to
her to come In.
'Sit down, my child" she said, as
lilly entered, II want TO have lit
tie talk with you.
The girl obeyed, rightly thinking
that whatever was troubling her pa
rents was about to be revealed.
"Ye have been harrassed greatly
for some time pow," her mother be-
gan. with the fear that we should
lose our little hcme."
lose our home? Why, mother,
| thought father owned it; that it
was left to him by Grandfather Cliff
ford"
$50 it was, dear; and your father
received il free from incumbrance,
but in an evil hour he put a mort
gage of three hundred dollars upon
it in order to lend that amount to an
old friend. Not long after the friend
failed and the debt was los;. The
time for foreclosing the mortgage
ended years ago; but kind Mr.. Dey,
who held ii. has said repeatedly,
"never mind, Mr.. Clifford, as long
as YOU pay the interest, the money
can remain invested III the house. ?
He died. as you know, few weeks
ago, and the nephew who inherits
the property, says we must pay the
three hundred dollars within three
months or else leave the house"
There is only one hope. We
have thought of "a friend about thir-
tv miles from here, who may posi-
bly let us have the money, and al
low us to transfer the mortgage to
him"
Il do hope. he will, mother; it
would be sodreadful to have to leave
the old house
1t will be as God wills" replied
Mrs. Clifford; "but we must make
every effort we can to save it. We
think of taking the journey in our
own wagon to save expenses, and We
have decided to start tomorrow
morning. You viii not lie afraid to
stay here alone through the day, viii
you? We have arranged for your
Uncle John to come here and sleep
the night we are away"
''Ir viii he dreadfully lonesome
here with you both away; but am
not in the least afraid to stay" said |
'fjlly brayely
As they wished to Ike an early |
start in the morning. the family re-
tired very soon after Mr., Clifford re-
turned from doing his barn chores |
Tilly awoke at sunrise, and found !
that her mother and father had been |
up already quite a while. and the !
preparations for their journey were |
nearly made.
Don't leave the house except to /
go a short distance, and be very care |
ful, Tilly, about fire." said Mrs.
as they drove away.
Tllly gave the desired promise. !
kissed them good bye, and then /
went into the ho.se, to forget her
as best the could in doing |
up the morning housework.
She had a long day, all to herself, |
and many a little piece OF work that |
had been put by for a favorable time /
she had managed to finish. In the /
afternoon she happened to think of
sn interesting book. which one of I!
her school friends had lent her day |
Or two before, and she sat down by
the window to enjoy it.
She was SO absorbed in its con-
tents that she was startled when she
heard a sweet voice say:
Shall | intrude if / step in and I
rest myself few moments?"
Tilly looked up, and a young lady,
beautifully dressed. stood before her.
She had sweet, winning face, and
he most faultless grace of manner.
'he was instantly charmed with her
iisitor, and quickly replied;
Not in the least. Walk right in.
The young lady took the chair Of
cred, which was large cushioned
ecker, and sank into its easy depths
n utter weariness,
II was journeying with my
riends.r she said, "'and somehow
lave strayed away from them, and
ve have become separated" :"
Il daresay they viii find you"
aid Tilly, hopefully. and in the
you may rest here as
II