The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-10-16
''But if you are really cramped for MON

'But il You are really cramped for mon
ey-"
"My dear Mrs. Dirk" said the rich
mans wife, "you have no idea Of the
perpetual demands on us for money
II will take you for twenty-five shil-
lings." Mrs. Dirk completed her SEN
tence as if the other had not spoken.
And the bargain was completed.
| Mrs. Lonsdale had not been in the
house q week before she took her hus-
bands cousin severity to task.
That horrid old man in the faded
olive-green suit has the best room
in the house," said she. "Tle very
best"
Eyes, said Mrs. Dirk, he is my moth
er's uncle. He was always very good to
my poor husband"
"But I'm told he only pays half
price?"
''That is my affair" said Mrs. Dirk.
"But is it true?" insisted Mrs. Ions
dale.
eyes, it is true, confessed the widow.
HE is very old, and can't go up and
down stairs, so of course he must have
| the tirst-hoor room"
"But he hasn't any property?"
He owns Carragee Farm, across
the mountains" said Mrs. Dirk, "but
nobody will rent it of him, because the
land is so rocky, and the farmhouse
was burned down last fall. when there
were so many fires in the woods. Beyond
that he has nothing"
Mrs. Lonsdale curled her lip.
"Such impudence," said she. 'No-
body has any right to live to be seventy
years of age without having laid up
some little provision for the future"
81 was thinking" said Mrs. Dirk,
s'that perhaps Cousin Mortimer Ions
dale would contribute little something
to his support, as we are equally re-
lated"
"You may be sure that he will not"
said Mrs. Lonsdale, with emphasis.
Every WE'LL" said Mrs. Dirk calmly,
"He shall never want while can help
him."
The very next week, however, old Mr..
Darrow was found dead in his arm chair.
And by will he had left everything he
possessed to his grand-niece, Mary
Dirk!
II wish you Joy of Garage Farm !"
chuckled Mrs. Lonsdale. "Of course
you'll have to pay taxes on it, so it will
| absolutely be money out of pocket"
cit was all he had to give," said Mrs.
Dirk.
Meanwhile the family was prospecting.
Sarah was engaged to marry thrifty
young farmer of the neighborhood.
Helen was earning good living.
Lizzy was contemplating the setting
up of small milliner's shop on her
own account-and Rosie was in high
favor at Millingham place.
Even Mrs. Lonsdale admitted that
her grave French cook could not excel
the syllabus, creams, delicate cakes and
delicious buildings which these young
damsels compounded. with the help of
new laid eggs and country cream.
I'm almost sorry our rooms are en-
gagged at Saratoga" said the city lady.
Il am getting rather to like Moon
Mountain. And your table is decidedly
good Mary"
But just as she was packing her big
trunks for the removal to the Mecca of
modern fashions, Mr.. Lonsdale him
self came down.
"Well?" said the lady airily, "what
is the news Mortimer?
''Bad news" said Mortimer, in q
hoarse accent. eve are ruined! The
business has gone to wreek-the CASH
Ter has fed to Belgium-and we haven't
a cent to call our own"
"Whereupon, naturally enough, Mrs.
Londale went into Mysteries.
When Mrs. Dirk came in, Naomi was
wildly loading her husband with re-
proaches. Mortimer Lonsdale stood
leaning against the mantel, with some
thing glittering in his hand. Mrs. Dirk
went up to him and took it away with
gentle authority
"Give me that pistol, Mortimer"
said she. "Get up Naomi, and leave off
crying and sobbing. If ever you need
ed to be woman, you need it now!"
ave are ruined!--we are rulned!"
shrieked Naomi, tearing her hair.
II never can redeem myself" said
Mortimer, huskily. "You had better
have let me shoot myself, Mary"
"Pshaw!" said Mrs. Dirk, CURLY.
Suicide is the last resort of coward.
Don't you know, Mortimer, that it is
always darkest just before daylight"
II don't know what you mean," said
he.
"Then listen to me. The old lawyer
has just come over from the Garage
Farm. He says that they have struck
a rich vein of iron on the rocky hills
there. A stock company want to buy
it of me for 95, 900, and I've agreed to
sell it. Uncle Darrow was as much
your granduncle as he was mine. Well
divide the money, Mortimer, you and T."
''But I've no right to it, Mary" fall
tered he.
'Not by law, perhaps" said the wild
ow, "but you have by equity-at all
events, half of it shall be yours. What
do want of $4,000? Half will be
great riches for me- The girls are de-.
ing we'll, and like to lead busy life.
Nay, Mortimer, you must take i'll"
He turned away his face.
MARY, said he, "you have heaped
Goals of fire on our heads!"
So Mr. and Mrs. Lonsdale settled on
a pretty farm on Moon Mountain, and,
strange to relate, their only son, Geof-
frey, eventually married pretty Essie
Dirk.
$50 that you have to adopt one of
Mary Drix's girls, after ALL" loosely
said her husband.
"She's perfect little darling!" said
Mrs. Lonsdale, who had softened
strangely of late.
And, in spite of the discoursging
prophesies of the world, the Widow
Dirk and her family had succeeded in
maintaining their independence.
Hurt His Good Name.
eyer mout offer me er hunnerd dol
lars ter vote fur yer in de convention
an it wouldn' hab no 'fuence wild me-"
said an old negro in reply to candi-
date who had asked for his support.
ooh, wouldn't offer you money"
rejoined the candidate. II believe in