The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-03-06
THE MoRTGAGED FARM.

"Six o'clock" said Marion Hlyard,
looking up suddenly, as the tall, old
fashioned clock in the corner rang out its
shrill announcement; ''six o'clock, and
oh !! mother, here is Jenny Lane, punct-
ual to the very moment. Now We shall
have some good news from Jack, I hope"
She ran out to the gate, flushed and
eager to receive the letter from the
country carrier, and returning seated
herself on low stool at her mothers
feet and broke the envelope.
On the first glance at its contents a
shade of disappointment dimmed her
bright face. Instead of reading the
note aloud she glanced hurriedly over
the brief lines, and then silently, witha
quivering lip. placed it in her mothers
hand and turned aside to q window.
This was what Mrs. Hilyard read:
''DEAR MADAM:-1 saw your son few days
since, when, to my surprise, he expressed HIM
self reluctantly to apply his money to the re-
aeenlinE Of the'mortgage, saying that he re-
auired it for speculation which promises to
10 more profitable to him than the holding of
The farm. have, therefore, been compelled
% dispose Of the mortgage to a gentleman Of
ny acquaintance, who proposes to take imme-
aiate possession, and consider it my duty to
inform you thereof, in order that YOU may lose
''very Respectfully, ABNER HARRIS"
Mrs. Hilyard returned the letter to
is envelope with trembling hand and
dhzed, bewildered look, as though I'M
able to realize the blow which had so
suddenly fallen upon her.
Her eyes met Marion's and the girl,
threw herself upon her knees by her
mothers side, and burst into a passion
of tears.
ooh. mother, what shall We do?
What will become of us?"
1.-THE Lord will provide" said Mrs.
Hilyard, raising her overlooking eyes to
the motto on the wall, embroidered by
Marion's own hand. where's your
faith, my child, that it should fail you
IN the very hour of need?"
''Mother, it is not SO much the loss Of
bur home nor the poverty and trial in
store which grieves me, but that Jack,
your own son, my own brother
should have so changed. Oh, mother,
[ know that our father in heaven will
not desert us, but to whom on earth can
We turn when even Jack can become
worldly and leartless?"
At this moment a little blue eyed girl
burst into the room With
Melia Anderson at the gate with her
buggy. She says will you step out a
minute for she wants to tell you about
old Mr.. Willard being sunstruck: and
she darent leave her horse without
some one to hold him.
Marion was in no condition to listen
to 'AIelia-the greatest gossip in the
neighborhood, so Mrs. Hillyard, drying
her eyes, was, in civility, compelled to
see the informal visitor. Marion, her
head resting upon the window sill be-
hind the screen of clinging roses, could
have heard every word spoken; but alb
sorbed in her grief, she paid no atten.
ton until the name of Walter Hinton
struck upon her ear.
Its true for certain, for Maria had ii
from his own sister, Aggie Hinton. Says
Maria in her wild way, If he comes
back with all that money'-you know
his Uncle Samuel left him most of his
property last year-says Maria, If he
romes back rich mean to set nv cal
for him. On which Aggie replies, "Oh
you needn't, for he's to lie married be-
fore long to real nice pretty girl Oh
course, Maria wanted to know all about
it; but Aggie only laughed in her mys.
FERROUS way, until Maria says, L believe
you are joking? when Aggie replies, II
make you present of my new earrings
which he has sent me- So You see it's
certain, sure; and no doubt he'll bring
his bride to visit his family, and then tell
Marion we may look out for grand
party. When the Hintons undertake
to do things, they always do it hand.
vomely."
Marion stayed to hear no more. Gid.
ing out Of side door she crossed the
garden, passing little Myyra, who was
fondling snow-white calf, her gredt
pet and treasure, and who called to he1
to see how fast Snowfall was growing
Poor little sister! 1t would be as
hard upon her as her mother and her
self to leave the dear old home, will
all the scenes. and objects endeared tx
them by the associations of their lines
For in that ample. pleasant, old-fash.
ioned farmhouse Mrs. Hflyard had beer
born and married, and here her chill
aren also had first seen the light.
Two years ago her husband-wht
had been too little practical to make :
successful farmer-had died suddenly
leaving his affairs in a very embarrassed
state and the farm burdendd with .
heavy mortgage. Then Jack, good sol
and brother that he was, had though
it best to go to the city, taking advan
tage of situation offered him by a dis
tant relative, until the mortgage should
be paid.
Only two weeks ago he had write,
rheerfully that the matter would b.
specially settled to their satisfaction
md now, just as they were expecting t.
hear that their home was their owl
again, came tits cruel letter.
As Marion had said to her mother
not even the loss of their home went t.
her heart with SO sharp pang as di'
this evidence of the change in her onl
brother. That Jack should have grow
50 worldly and heartless as to conside
his pecuniary advantage before the graf
ification of his mothers comfort; tia
he should allow them to be actuall
turned out of the dear old house, an
60 and reside in the Strange city, wher
they could never feel at home; oh, thi
was the bitterest pang OF all!
So Marion had thought upon frs
reading that letter; and it was not unit
hearing Miss Melia's words to her moth
or that she awoke to the consciousness
that fate would, thave even greater sol
row than this in store for her.
One year ago she had parted from h<
accepted lover, Walter Hinton, in ang<
on both sides. Walter had become jea
Gus and had spoken sharply to her, an
in a manner which she considered he
self justified in resenting. Walter ",
too proud to apologize, and Marion t.
nrO,11 no uo11 too 1o1in 70 tn 1yo a,