The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-04-24
I I.

loud ring at the front door. 1t was in
reality boy with a large official envel-
ope, addressed to Mrs Morris, who sim
ply said he was told there was no answer
to wait for
Ncrvously Mrs Morris tore it open, as
some people have way OF doing with
their kilograms.
1T is the mortgageI" she CRIED as she
undid the formidable document. 1t was
not her familiarity with law papers that
enabled her to so promptly identify it,
every fold and crease and blot of this
mortgage she knew by long and sad
| acquaintance.
"Are you sure 'tisn't an April fool,
mammiel" asked George, suspiciously.
Neither she nor his mother had from
! past experience any reason to expect any
favors from Harding or the rich property
owner he represented. Here was the
mortgage in her hands-there could be
no doubt of that-a small piece of paper.
after all, to have been such a dead
weight on the tiny home and the three
| that were in it. Careful examination
failed to discover any scrap of letter or
word of explanation accompanying it.
1T is too good to be true" sighed the
widow, still dazed by the event, "but
people are sometimes better than we
| give them credit for I've already more
than paid the original amount of money
which your poor father was obliged to
raise, when the interest is counted in,
and they may have been moved to do a
kindly, generous act, although" she
added, 81 would as soon look for sun
shine in a coal hole. If any one has been
really good it is not Mr.. Harding, | am
sure of that much; it must have bee n
the man to whom the money really be-
longed and for whom he works"
''If it amt some kind of a mean
april fool I'll eat my hat, =" said George,
with greater force than elegance, who
would not believe the evidence of his own
eyes, when that evidence was in Hard
ing's favor.
Presently that person himself made his
appearance. lie had the air of one who
had earned warm welcome and ex-
pected to receive it. Between gratitude
and doubt the widow smiled, and her
manner was so much more friendly than
ever before that Harding flattcrcd him
self that he had done a very clever thing
indeed.
eyes, my dear Mrs Norris I sent on
the mort gage ahead of me because l
thought you would like to get it into
your own hands at last
''Indeed, | am very glad if all my
trouble with it is finally at an end"
81 fully appreciated that fact and
wished to relieve you Of all annoyance as
soon as possible with plausible, self
satisfied look. ''But felt so sure your
own good sense would urge you to agree
kindly to my proposition, that at last
you would consent to make me the hap
piest of men, that | did not hesitate to
let you see with what perfect confidence
| was ready to carry out my part of the
contract to relieve you of all financial
troubles"
Mr. Hardingr' was all she could say
in her Indignant surprise.
"Perhaps have been too hasty-'
81 am sorry you have put me to the
disagreeable necessity Of repeating what
thought had said plainly enough be-
fore; | would rather give up this little
home of ours and take my children |
know not where than to accept any home
you could provide"
Rising as she spoke, with a very be-
coming colorin her cheeks, she indicated
that the interview was at an end.
"Then, madam" he replied, also ris-
ing, lit is my painful dutyto inform you
that the alternative of your own selection
must be enforced. If you will please to
notice this mort gage still lacks my sig
nature as agent with power Of attorney.
That signature shall be pleased TO atiix
on the payment of the balance due .
thirty seven dollars and fifty cents"
"But, | thought" stammered the
widow.
"You thought l was fool enough to
release you from the obligations of this
document before | knew you were ready
to marry mel Hardly. Have yon the
$37. 80 handy No; 1 thought not.
Then, madam, | shall foreclose without
any further delay, and"
Count that, will you, and see if there
isn't S37. 80 there"
1t was George who had heard enough
of the conversation to find out that the
mortgage was not paid off, after all, and
slipping out of the room had returned
minute later with small box full of
silver and copper, which he slapped
down rather unceremoniously on the
the table in front of Harding. Which
was the more surprised, the mother or
the lawyer, it would be quite impossible
to tell.
whats all this meanl" demanded
Harding with scowl.
"Never you mind what all this means.
Just count that money and sign your
name, and then if you ever bother my
mother again just look out for yourself,
that's all u
"Oh, George" was all Mrs. Morris
could say.
There was nothing for Harding to do
but to count the money, which was cor
rect to cent, and atfix his signature,
which he did with face that looked
like thunder cloud, and not without
mutterings that family suggested the
disagreeable commotion inside. When
he was at last out of the house, viciously
banging the door behind him as sort
of harmless malediction as he
went, George caught his mother in his
arms, and Rugged and kissed her till
both were fairly out Of breath.
81 earned and saved IL all myself