The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-12-10

"I'll bet it's an April foolr" said
George, at the sound of an unusually loud
ring at the front door. 1t was in reality
dressed to Mrs. Martin, who simply said
he was told there was no answer to wait
for.
Nervously Mrs. Morris tore it open, as
some people have way of doing with
their kilograms.
at is the mortgage y 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 of this mortgage she
knew by long and sad acquaintance.
Are you sure 'tisn't an April fool
mammie?' asked George suspiciously.
Neither she nor his mother had, from past
experience, any reason to expect any IA
vors 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 dis
cover any scrap of letter or word of eX-
PLANTATION accompanying 1t.
at is too good to be true" sighed the
widow. still dazed by the event, "bnt peo-
pie 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 kindly, gen
erous act, although" she added "Iwould
! as soon look for sunshine in coal hole.
If anyone has really been good it is not
Mr.. Harding, l am sure of that much: it
must have been the man to whom the
money really belonged and for whom he
works"
"If it amt some kind of mean 'Arril
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 Harding's
favor.
Presently that person himself made his
appearance. He 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 man
ner was so much more friendly than ever
before that Harding flattered himself that
he had done a very clever thing indeed.
eyes, my dear Mrs. Morris, | sent or
The mortgage ahead of me because !
thought you would like to get it into your
own hands at last"
"Indeed, J am very glad il all my
trDnble with II is finally at an end. y
81 fully apr, ciate that fact, and wished
TO relieve you OF ell annoyance as soon as
possible" with plausible, selt-satisfcd
look. But | felt SO sure your own so ii
sense would urge you to agree kindly {.
my proposition, that at last you would
consent to make me the haEpiest of men.
that did not hesitate TO let you see with
What perfect Confidence ! vas ready TO
carry oct my part of the contract to re-
lieve you OF all finarc.al troubles"
" Mr.. HardingW was all she could say
in her indignant surprise.
" Perhaps have been too hasty-"
" am sorry you have put me to the dis
: agreeable necessity of repeating what
thought had said plainly enough before
| would rather give mp this little home OF
ours and take my children ] Know moi
where than TO accept any home YOU could
provide"
Rising as she spoke, with a Very becoTn
ing color in her cheeks. she indicated that
the interview was az 81 end,
Then, madahle,' re iepli, d, also rising
I" it is my painful duty to form you thai
the alternative OF yOaT own .elei ION mUst
lie enforced, Ii you will please TO no icI
this mortgage still lacks my Signature q.
agent with rover uf attorney That sig
nature I shah he pleased to ,af,ix on tht
payment Of the Laisnee due-thiriy sever
dollars aud fifty cent?
But ! ttaaeht-' stamn;eTea th'
widow.
You thou ht was Eco! en01gii 10 re
lease you from tine Obligations Of this do.
ument before | knew YOU were ready 4
marry mel Hardly. Have you the 81 $