Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-05-03
FACE TO FACE.
by X. +. FRANCILLON.

"Ah--you don't know law language
1t means, the man who lent your father
money has right to his money back,
or the land, And, as he can't get the
money, he means to have the land"
Have Leys Croft No"
"Yes, my dear"
.'But ii can't behave Legs Croft!
Why, it will Kill father! Poor father
/ know why he's so sad now. thought
it was about me. But Legs Croft; oh,
MIR. Marrish, you are wise; you always
know what is to be done. What shall
Ue do?"
d. "Ah. It's a hard case; an awful
hard case; and cruel, too. l wish
had that mortgage in my own claws"
"But who can he be?"
"Ah-that's what's not to be known.
It's done through the lawyers; they
know their own client, of course, that
found the money"
"Tell me-is his name Preston?'
"May be. Who knows? There's al
ways wheels within wheels. Only don't
say word to your father. It'll only
vex him and harass him; and-and-if
you don't please, he'll neUer know; be-
yond that the troubles gone"
.'Mr. Marrish," said the poor girl,
half in whisper. "God, He knows that
no loss but if lost father could be any,
thing to me. But Legs Croft is fathers
own very life; he'd sooner starve here
than Oh, you don't know what Leys
Croft is to father. You see twas here
he was born, and where he brought
poor mother home, and where she died;
and it's all his pride. And you say If
l don't please There's nothing
wouldn't do to keep Legs Croft for faith
er; nothing in the world"
"Nothing in the world?"
Nothing in the whole wide world
"What, Miss Patience, right OF
wrong; big or small?"
She looked still more alarmed. ''How
can l do good by doing wrongp That
would kill father still more sure"
Then, tbs not by doing wrong I'm
a plain farming chap, Miss Patience,
and | don't know how to put things
the pretty way. But that you won't
mind. Look you. If you'll be Mrs. Mar.
rish, there'll be an end of all this here.
Nay, don't you look SO scared. Put il
in plain, business way, if so you please,
though love you so, dear, I'd sooner
have you than hundred thousand
pounds. OF course don't look to youl
loving me all in minute, like ] love
you. Only if you'll marry me, I've go
enough to do more than Ste-I NEAR
those Prestons, ever would; and II
keep your father like a gentleman ant
you like queen. There's no way ou
of it else; no way at all. If / was t.
pay off this debt, 'twould be no good
there'd be more behind, and-but there
You see for yourself how tbs and hov
'twould be-
If he thought he had prepared tn
ground he was never more mistaken il
his life, and even he, being a morta
farmer, had been mistaken now ant
then. She was taken aback; she knew
what to say, but how to say it!
''Oh, why do you ask that? The onl
thing l can never don'
That glow, his only sign of passion
came into his eyes, and jealous fas
besides. Instead of answering her /.
the flash prompted, he silently and de
liberately counted twenty-four.
'.Mr. Marrish. you are our dear, onl
friend know that, God knows. Won
you be our friend for fathers sake
What you-what you have asked M
would be wrong. Don't ask me why
You know"
''No. do not know"
81 have promised never to be the wifi
of any but one"
"Whatr' he cried, forgetting to coun
another dozen. ''You are still think
ing Of"
Eyes. OF Stephen Harlow. There
never thought to name his nam
again" said she, flushing pale.
"What, of false"
s'Hush! you are not rny friend Il 20,
say another word. They have tried b
make me think him false, God know
who or why; but they may try it In vain
have tried to think so; but, though
think it, / can't feel it, do what will
knoW that Stephen Harlow is true +
me-"
She said 1t so simply that he almos
thought her crazed. But though b
failed that time, simply through shee
amazement and speechless rage at hay
ing read q woman so ill, it was nc
more than once that Enoch Marris
ever failed.
He did not come near Legs Croft 70
another day. But when be did, it wa
so humbly and wofully that Patienc
could not help forgiving him; and there
fore trying TO make him feel that he
seeming ingratitude was not her fault
but her misfortune. For though nc
even Legs Croft, or life, or aught O
earth, was worth breach of faith. an
though she never doubted her fathe
with his pride of blood and honesty
would think the same. still she had bee