The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-08-08

now as he stood looking down at the porch
floor.
After moment he stepped off the porch
on the farther side, and walked away under
the apple trees.
When Mr.. Faxon came back from his
brief stroll, his presence as he crossed the
yard, was observed.
A white-haired old man, who had come
to the open door and taken up the hickory
stick. turned back hastily, with few hur-
ried words, and the aged woman dropped
her knitting and rose up, with paleness
cropping out over her face
But, while Mr. Faxon hesitated on the
porch again, both came to the door. Sad,
startled faces they both had, but they were
civil. Their greeting was kindly as to a
friend.
"My name is Faxon," said the visitor
d"
eve know who you be, sir" said the
old man-Hwe know who you be though
we never seen you before. Will you come
in?
Mr.. Faxon stepped across the white
hall-foor into the quaint, cool and comtor-
table sitting-room.
The rough blue paper, like chintz, on
the wall, some "honesty," and dried grass
in opaque white vases upon the high, mar
row mantlepiece, unconsciously struck his
eve, while he took seat, his mind occu-
pied with other thoughts.
"We've been long expecting you, sir,
said the old lady, gently.
Her hands crossed on the spotless ging-
ham apron, her lip trembled little, but
the serenity of her manner was not much
changed.
But the old mans eyes swan in tears
He rested both hands on the hickory stick
between his knees, as he sat in corner,
and bending his forehead upon them, par
TALLY hid his face.
eyes, yes but it comes sort o sudden
now" said the old man.
Mr.. Faxon sat there in speechless SYM
pathy.
After little pause, old Mr. Derby
looked up, and met his eyes.
"Of course it's all right, sir. We don't
question your right to the place, but we've
been sort of unfortunate. I think So
don't you mother p
The old lady lay back among the cush-
ions of the dimity covered chair. She had
look of the physical weakness Mr.. Faxon
had not observed before. She did not
speak.
Her husband looked at her attentively.
A sudden flush went over his thin face.
at is not for myself care-it is her y
he cried, striking his cane violently upon
the floor. "She helped to earn this place,
when she vas young. There was no kind
of work but what the hands you see lying
so weary now in her lap, sir, was put to-.
She was up, early and late, always doing
for me and the children, God never made
better wife and mother. And now, sir,
it's hard that she should be turned out of
her home in her old age.
"Hush, hush DanielT' said the old lady,
softly. 0The Lord will provide; and it's
not long we have to stay in this world, you
know"
"Will you tell me the history Of the
place" asked Mr.. Faxon. GLOW did you
come to lose it ?"
at was mortgaged, sir" said the old
man at last, "to pay the boys college bills.
You see we had three children-Selwyn,
Roscoe and little Annie Mother and l
didn't have any education, but we said all
along that our children should have; and
by-and-by we fitted them off for college.
Bright smart boys they were-everybody
said my boys had good parts, though Ros-
coe was always little wild. | think
mother there loved him better for that.
He was more trouble, an she clung to him
close because others blamed him at times.
Annie, his sister, was always a pleading too
for Roc. He played truant, and he whip
ped the boys whntold on him; he was al
ways putting his bones in peril, and twice
he was half drowned-yet in spite Of all
he was ready for college when Selwyn was,
though Selwyn was steady as clock.
Mother and l had been scraping together
for years, and at last fitted them off.
"We went on denying ourselves, for IL
was just the hope of our lives to have the
bows graduate with all the high honors;
time went on, but many crops failed, and
there came a disappointment here and a
disappointment there, and failing to get to-
gether the money the boys sent for-es-
| peGially Roe-Re mortgaged the farm for
! five hundred dollars.
"They were nearly through, you see,
and mother and Annie thought that Selwyp
might be principal Of the Academy or
something when he came home, and Roe
would be lawyer, cause he could argufy
and speak SO smart in public, and the money
would be paid back easy.
"But from time to time there came ru-
mors didn't like, as to how Roe was up
in his old wild ways; and at last it came
like thunderbolt-Roe was suspended and
had run away to foreign parts. Well, L
pass over that, sir; [ tried not to be too
hard on the boy. Then Selwyn came home.
He had graduated well, but he had cough.
He didn't complain, but be was thin and
pale, and soon mother and | saw that the
son we had meant to rely on was an invalid
upon our hands The thought struck me
dumb. But mother was all energy We
travelled here with him, we travelled there.
| we saw all the noteu uOcIOrS east anu WesI'
We borrowed more money on the old place,
and we never paid any back. l had made
one or two payments at first, but they we're
but drop in the bucket. At last we
brought Selwyn home to die"
s'pon't, Daniel, said the mother, softly
"He wants to hear the rest. There is
only little more but it's no better, An
ME was Ike Selwyn-good and patiepti
delicate like too. We didn't mind it at
first, but her cheeks grew thin and too red;
a cough she had from child grew harder,
and though the best doctor we could get
came early and late, it was only year at
ter Selwyn died before we laid Annie down
among the SHOWS. Thank ye, sir, for your
pity Mother and l have shed most OF
QHr tears"
Mr. Faxon put his camhric handkerchief
back into his pocket,
"Your other son, Roscoe, Mr.. Derby;
did he never come home ?"
"Neverl It's nigh eight years since we
have seen Roe. He knew he disappointed
L Al xx,oc - aY.2'i