Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-06-12
THE MORTGAGED FARM.

stool at her mothers 1eet ana DrOke tne
envelope.
On the first glance at its contents a shade
of disappointment dimmed her bright face.
Instead of reading the note aloud she glanc-
ed hurriedly over the brief lines, and then
silently, with quivering lip, placed it in
her mothers hand and turned aside to a
window. -.
This is what Mrs. Hilyard read: =
"DEAR MADAM:-I saw your son few days
since, when to my surprise he expressed himself
reluctant to apply his money to the redeeming OF
the mortgage, saying that he required it for a
speculation which promises to be more profitable
to him than the holding of the farm. 1 have
therefore, been compelled to dispose Of the mort
gage to gentleman of my acquaintance, who
consider it my duty to inform you thereof, in
order that you may lose no time in making
arrangements for removal.
Very respectfully, ABNER HARRIS"
Mrs. Hilyard returned the letter to its en-
velope with trembling hand and a dazed
beWildered look, as though unable to real
ize 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 passion of tears.
"Oh, mother, mother, what shall we do?
What will become of US ~
''The Lord will provide" said Mrs. Hill
yard, raising her overhowing eyes to the
motto on the wall, embroidered by Marion's
own hand. "Where is your faith, my child,
that it should fail you in the very hour OF
needW
"Mother, it is not 50 much the loss of our
home nor the poverty, and trial in store
which grieves me, but that Jack-your own
son, my own brother should have so chang
ed. Oh, mother, know that our Father in
Heaven will not desert us, but to whom on
earth can we turn when even Jack can be-
come worldly and heartless?"
At this moment a little blue-eyed girl
burst into the room with,-
"Mamma-Marion! here is Miss 'Melia
Anderson at the gate, in her buggy. She
says will you step out minute? for she
wants to tell you about old Mr.. Millard
being sunstruck and she daren't leave her
horse without somebody to hold him."
Marion was in no condition to listen to
'Melia- greatest gossip in the neighbor-
hood; so Mrs. Hilyard, drying her eyes,
was in civility compelled to see the infor-
NAL visitor. Marion, her head resting upon
the window sill behind the screen of cling
ing roses, could have heard every word
spoken; but, absorbed in her grief, she paid
no attention until the name of Walter Hin
ton struck upon her ear.
"It's true for certain; for Maria had it
from his own sister, Aggie Hinton. Says
Maria in her wild way, IF he comes back
with all that mOney'-you know his Uncle
year'-says Maria, If he comes back rich,
mean to set my cap for him. On which
Aggie answers, oh, you needn't for he's to
be married before long, and to real nice
pretty girl Of course, Maria wanted to
know all aboutit; but Aggie only laughed in
her mysterious way, until Maria says, i be-
lieve you are Joking when Aggie replies,
IF Walter isn't married before winter I'll
make you a present of my new earrings
which he has sent me- So you see it's GER
tain sure; and no doubt he'll bring his
bride to visit his family, and then, tell Ma
rion, we may look out for a grand party.
When the Hintons undertake to do things,
they always do it handsomely"
Marion stayed to hear no more. Gliding
out of side door, she crossed the garden,
passing little NJ Myra, who was fondling a
snow-White calf, her great pet and treasure,
and who called out to her to see how fast
Snowfall was growing.
Poor little sister! 1t would be as hard
upon her as upon her mother and herself to
leave the dear old home, with all the scenes
and objects endeared to them by the associa-
tions of their lives. For in that ample,
pleasant, old-fashioned farmhouse Mrs. Hill
ward had been born and married, and here
her children also had first seen the light.
Two years ago her husband-Who had
been too little practical to make a successful
farmer-had died suddenly, leaving his af-
fairs in very embarrassed state and the
farm burdened with a heavy mortgage.
Then Jack, good son and brother that he
was, had thought it best to 60 to the city,
taking advantage of situation offered him
by q distant relative, until the mortgage
should be paid.
Only two weeks ago he had written cheer
fully that the matter would be speedily set
tied to their satisfaction; and now, just as
they were expecting to hear that ttheir home
was their own again, came this cruel letter.
AS Marion had said to her mother, not
even the loss of their home went to her
heart with so sharp pang as did this evil
dence of the change in her only brother.
That Jack should have grown so worldly
and heartless as to consider his pecuniary
advantage before the qualification of his
mothers comfort, that he should allow
them to be actually turned out of the dear
old house, and 60 to reside in the strange
city, where they could never feel at home,
oh, this was the bitterest pang Of all "
So Marion had thought upon first reading
that letter and it was not until hearing
Miss 'Melia's words to her mother that she
awoke to the consciousness that fate would
have even q greater sorrow than this IN store
for her.
One year ago she had parted from her ac-
cepted lover, Walter Hinton, in anger on
both sides. Walter had become Jealous,
and spoken sharply to her, and in manner
which she considered herself justified in re-
senting. Walter was too proud to apollo
oiza and Marion too proud as we'll as too
delicate to make advances to reconcilia-
ton and so they had drifted apart, both
miserable. until Walter had broken the last
link by going out West: :.
She heard of him from time to time
through his family, but no word or message
to herself ever came. In all this while she
had looked forward, with a faint, yearning
hope to the possibility of his some time re-
turning, and of all being made up between
them.
But now this last hope was rudely strick-
en- to the ground. Walter was going to be
married. He had forgotten her, and was
lost to her forever.
"Oh, tits hard-so hard to bear!" thought
N1arion' ron as with hands tightly clasped, She
passed slowly under the apple boughs, of the
old orchard. "Life is bitter. 1t has ia ken
all from me it can have no more to give.
Only nv dear, dear mother and Myra! For
their sake I must be strong and try to bear
it ALL"
On the verge of the orchard, where the
high bank slOped abruptly to the meadow,
she came to a mass of tangled hOneysuckle,
fashioned into rustic arbor. Walter had
made it for her, and here, in fact, it was
that they had last parted. :,
Down in the meadow ran little path,
leading by short cut to Walters home, q