The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-01-20

and he Dade falr 10 make Soou laIniel, sI
the farmer liked him, too But Mahlon
whose spirits had been getting lower 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 history. 1t
appeared that Rachel Taylor, the younger
sister of Mahlon's wife, had eloped and
married with Gordon Forsyth, a gay and
wealthy young gentleman from New York,
who had accidentally met and fallen in love
with her Rachel had been "disowned'
for marrying ''out of meeting but worse
followed. Forsyth, who was on the down.
ward course, soon got tired of his pretty
wife, resumed his dissipation, and was
drowned while drunk two years afterward,
leaving his widow with one -year-old child.
Rachel Forsyth did not long survive her
husband, who proved to have been at his
death bankrupt. He had managed to get
Mahlon Stacy, who believed in him, to be-
come bondsman in a case involving, it af-
terward turned out, questionable transac-
ton. Mahlon paid the judgment, but was
obliged to mortgage the farm, which had
been in the Stacy family for four genera
tions He adopted the little Rachel, sent
her to the West Town school to be educa-
ted, and bit by bit accumulated money
sufficient to discharge the mortgage. The
bank in which he kept his savings broke,
and he not only lost his store, but was un-
able to meet the interest for year. The
mortgage was in other hands-a rich New
Yorker held it-and proceedings to fore
close had been begun. If Rachel married
Absalom Browning, who was rich himself
and a rich mans son, there would be no
difficulty. "They say that Rachel hangs
back" concluded the clerk II rayther
guess she IL give in at last. That's the way
Mahlon IL pull through, in my judgment. "
John came home after hearing all this,
and found Absalom Browning there The
young Quaker was got up quite smartl y
in plain clothes, to be sure, but his shad-
bellied coat was of the finest olive-colored
broadcloth and his broad-brimmed hat of
the very best beaver. He remained to
supper, and was treated with marked con-
sideration by the farmer and his wife.
Rachel seemed to be a little embarrassed.
John glanced at her 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. 1t was usual for the
family to sit together for an hour or two
after supper before retiring to rest. Itwas
their main recreation from daily labor.
But the old couple had retired, and John
retired also, leaving the younger couple to-
gether.
John sat at the window in the dark,
looking out on the night, and thinking.
In a little while Absalom 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
to see to the horses and cattle. When he
returned to breakfast he observed that
Mahlon was curt and monosyllabic of
speech, Naomi gloomy and Rachel distress
ed. 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 in her hands, and so intent on
her thoughts that she did not hear him
come in.
"What is the trouble, Rachel ?" he
asked
The girl started up, and the blood rushed
to her face, but she made no reply.
"Is it to be wedding?" he continued
"John Paul, thee's-thees-'
Cor did you send Absalom B. about his
business last night ?"
"What is that to thee, John? Uncle is
displeased with me, and aunt is sorry, and
now thee must-what is it to thee whether
have or not?''
"Rachel," said he, taking her trembling
hand, and retaining it in spite of her effort
to withdraw it, ''it is everything to me, for
l love you dearly"
The eyes of the girl filled with a sudden
light. "Thee thee love-me!'
John read the answer to his question
before he put it, and drew the sobbing
Rachel to his breast
How long they stood there neither could
tell, but at the sound of Mahlon Stacy
heavy step on the veranda, Rachel made
her escape.
"What keeps thee in the house, John p
inquired the farmer, entering the room.
awe have work to get through with
"Let that pass for moment, Mr. Stacy
l have something to say Who holds now
the mortgage ON the farm? ?"
"Why does thee ask p
"From no idle curiosity. What is his
name and where does he live?"
"His name is Frobisher, and he lives in
New York. 1t is his lawyer, Woodford,
who has the business in hand'
"Woodford! Not Charles Woodford?
Sol In that case make yourself perfectly
easy can arrange all that for you"
"Is thee serious, John Paul? Does thee
think Frobisher would do it for thee p
"Why not? He never refused me any
thing wanted yet, from the time we went
to the same school"
"Thee must be out of thy mind, John.
This Frobisher, they say, is worth a million
of dollars. Does thee expect to influence
him? IfI didn't know thy habits, should
say theed been drinking.
''The man you speak of is worth more
than you say, in estate, but he'll give you
all the time you need. Let me see. 1t is
nearly night. The mail closes at ten. 1
have time to write letter, hitch up and
get to the postofice in good time. You'll
have an answer by tomorrow evening" " and
without further words he went out, har-
messed the horse and drove to the village,
leaving Stacy staring in amazement. When
he came back the farmer was still in the
house, with Naomi and Rachel, discussing
Johns freak. During that day and the
next morning Mahlon would glance at John
at times with an expression made up of
hope and suspicion of Johns sanity.