The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-10-08

onsdale fretfully as she looked around.
"Its all l have left" said Mrs. Dirk,
"and could have let IL half q dozen
times over il IL hadn't been reserved for
you, Cousin Naomi"
you'll take me at O reduction from
the usual prices, suppose 2" said Mrs.
Lonsdale.
II shall charge You Just what charge
everybody else, neither more nor less"
answered Mrs. Dirk.
'.But I'm relative" pleaded Mrs.
Lonsdale.
"What good does That do me p said
the widow, fixing her blue eyes fnll on
Mrs. Lonsiale. "My terms Tor n room
Of this size are thirty shillings week."
''But that is too much, whined Mrs.
Lonsdale.
''BOw much did you expect TO pay?
asked Mrs. Dirk with curious sparkle
In her eyes.
"In this wilderness, here" said Mrs.
Iionsdale, ''twelye hhiliings would
be-"
'Ii those are your ideas We never shall
come 10 terms, said Mrs. Dirk. "But
il you are really cramped for mOnoy-'
my dear Mrs. Dirk" said the rich
mans wife, "you have no idea OF the
perpetual demands on us for money"
81 vii! take you for twenty-five shil.
lines," Mrs. Dirk completed her sentence
III IL the other had not spoken.
And the bargain was completed.
Mrs. Lonsdale had not been in the
house O week before she took her hus-
bands cousin severely TO task.
"That horrid old man in the faded
Oiive-green suit has the best room in the
house," said she. "The very best"
"Yes," said Mrs. Dirk, "ho Is my
mothers uncle. He was always very
good to my poor husband"
"But I'm told he only pays hall.price?'
"That is my affair, said Mrs. Dirk.
"But IL it true?' insisted Mrs. IONS
dale.
"Yes, it is true, confessed the widow.
"He Is very old, and can't go up and
down stairs, 80 OF course he must have
the first-hoor ROOM"
"Iiut he hasn't any property?'
"Ile OWLS Carragce Farm. across tine
mountains" said Mrs. Dirk, "but no.
body will rent it OF him, because the
land IL 10 rocky, and the farmhouse
was burned down last fall when there
were 80 many fires in the woods. Be.
yond that lac has nothing"
Mrs Lonsdale curled her lip.
"Such impudence," said she mo
body has any right tolive TO DO 70 years
OF 80 without having laid up come little
provision for the future"
~ was thinking" said Mrs. Dirk,
"that perhaps Cousin Mortimer Ions.
dale would contribute little something
TO his support, as We are equally re-
lated"
"You may he very suro that he will
not" said Mrs. Lonsdale with EN-.
phasis.
"Vcry well, said Mrs. Dirk calmly.
"Ilo shall never Sant while | can help
him."
The very next week, however, old
Mr.. barrow was found dead in his arm
chair. Aud by will he had left every
| tuihF H' I'o5CbStu W iiiD biuhNihNoo
Mary Dirk
81 wish Won JOY of Carragee Farm 7
chuckled Mrs. Lonsdalc. "Of conrst
You have to pay taxes on it, 30 it vii
absolutely be money out of pocket"
at was all he had to give" said Mrs
Dirk.
Meanwhile the family were prosper
tn
thrifty Young farmer Of tho neiRhbOr
hood. Helen was earning good living
Lizzie was contemplating the settin
up Of II small miilincr's shop on her ow
account-and Rosie was i'll high favor q
Millinghnm place.
Even Mrs. Lonedale admitted that he
grave French cook could not excel til
syllabus, creams, delicate cakes an
delicious buildings which these youn
damsels compounded. with the help {
new laid eggs and country cream.
al am almost sorry our rooms are e.,
gagged u. Saratoga" said the city lady
81 mn getting rather to like Moo
Mountain. And your table is decided
good. Mary"
But just NJ she was packing her hi
trunks for the removal to the Mecca ,
modern fashion, Mr.. Lonsdale himso
came down.
"Well," said the lady airily, "what
3 the news, Mortimer
r "Bad news" said Mortimer in boars
: accent. ave nre ruined The bushes
has gone to wreck--the cashier has tle
5 to Bslgium-and we haven't cont I
call our own"
Whereupon, naturally enough, Mr.,
. Lonsdale went into Mysteries.
When Mrs. Dirk came in, Naomi wa
wildly loading her husband with re
proaches. Mortimer Lonsdale stoo
leaning against the mantel, with some
thing glittering in his hand. Mrs. Dri
went UP to him and took 1t away wit
gentle authority.
"0ive me that pistol, Mortimer" sal
she. "Get up Naomi, and leave o
crying and sobbing. Ii ever you needle
TO be woman, yon need it now"
"W6 are ruinedl--we are ruinedl
shriokcd Naomi, tearing her hair.
III never can redeem myself" sai
I, Mortimer huskily. "You had bett,
have let me shoot myself Mary"
"Psbawr said Mrs. Dirk curtl,
y "Suicide is the last resort Of the cowar
!. Don't you know, Mortimer, that it
!, always darkest just before daylight"
II don't know what you mean" sal
he
"Then listen to me. Tho old lawy,
has just come over from Carragee Farm
He says that they have struck a ric
vein OF iron on the rocky hills ther,
A stock company want to buy it of n
for E5, 600, and I've agreed to sell il
Uncb barrow was rs much your grant
uncle as no was mine. Well divide I'll
money, Mortimer, you and l."
"But I've no right TO it, Mary" fa
tered he.
"Not bylaw, perhaps, said the widow
+ "but you have by equity-at all event
half Of II shall be yours. What do
Z | mani ~ Nva thouaond ,,oun1up tn