Weston weekly leader. [volume] (Weston, Umatilla County, Or.) 1878-189?, 1885-10-02
A FREIGHT.

mothers anxious musing. "IIat hate
fal old Mr.. Grimform bid against US
mol cdy else would have been SO cruel
and the house is his"
Mrs. Morrison never answered
word, This sudden blow, striking at,
and utterly destroyi ing cherished hope,
was too much for her. She gazsd for
nssment into her daughters flushed, in
dignant face, and then dropped her
head upon two tremulous whits hands,
with low cry of misery.
In an instant Minnie was on her
knees before her, soothing, expcstulat-
ing, caressing and comforting, all in a
breath.
s'After all. house is but house,
mamma darling; it isn't as if we had
lost each other, you aad /; and though
you are so much attached to this one,
and it would have been very pleasant
indeed to have it for our owa, we will
SS1 Juot dS 1'uli VI dLotiCi AoiHC III
time, you know. Please don't fret tor
it, for my sake"
The mother looked up sorrowfully.
She drew the girls fair head close to
her breast and kissed her sweet lips
tenderly.
':It is for yeur sake that grieYe, my
dearest; should care but little if only
my own interests were at stake. But
we are known in this place and can
make a living. The few hundreds
which your poor father left, and which
[ have kept for you, would have been
well invested in the purchase Of this
house, which would then have been ours
beyond all risk. And this is such An
out-of-the-way place, and no neighbor
would have bid against VS.; it is the
most cruel disappointment that this
rich man-to whom our peer house can
be nothing-sheuld have taken it out OF
our hands. l xonder-I wonder did he
know"
The last words were spoken as if to
herself, but Minnie answered them In
stantly.
eyes, he did know, the old hard
heart. Harry Miller"-she biushed
charmingly as she spoke the name
Harry Miller ls his clerk and made so
bold as to tell him all about it. And
he said Mrs. Morrison could continue
his tenant if she chose, though he
should raise the rent. Ugh! how l hate
him!''
Mrs. Morrison sighed heavily. ---
''This was what | feared" she said
God knows how hard it is to pay the
rent even now; any increase OF our ex.
penses must needs eDcroach on cur little
capital, or break down my health by
additional toll. Oh, if he knew how
bitterly 1 am punished, would he nst
spare?"
And she arose aad went sadly from
the room.
Minnie did not follow her. She wa:
pondering in mute bewilderment hel
mothers words:
ooh, if he knew how bitterly I ar
punished, would he not spare:"
Furnished for what? Why shoul,
he know? Why should he spare? There
some mystery here-something tha
mamma keeps even from me. She sait
that IN her distress aud then went ava,
for fear should notice it and question
her. But | won't; III find it out with
out that, and see if can't help her
Let me see. Who can l question? Mr.
Grimform himself. lie must know wha
the mystery Is; I'll ask him.
With Minnie to resolve was to do.
Without giving her mother hint @
her daring intention, she put OH he
bsnnet and slipped quietly out of door
to visit the obnoxious Mr.. Grimform.
She had never yet seen this gentle
man, who. had indeed but lately com
to the place, but so confirmed was he
prejudice against him, and her convi,
ton Of his outward as we'll as intern;
hideousness, that when her lover al
sured her that his employer was rathe
handsome than otherwise, she consic
cred the statement a nero satirical r
mark.
"Of course he's as ugly as hateful
she assured herself.
So, when she came into his presen
at last, she was rather taken by su
prise. 1ron-gray hair and stern e
preston made him, perhaps, somewh
f formidable, but in the still handson
features and commanding figure the
, was nothing that fulfilled the premi
+ of his name.
/ Shc was little embarrassed, VIII
: he civilly inquired her business, as
how she should begin. but determin
very quickly to explain to him the pla
! facts OF the case, which she according G
did, ending with the question:
!. Did you ever know my mother? Ar
q il SO, how has she ever wronged yo
that you should hate her so?''
Her own nervousness had prevent
. her taking note OF his, but now, as
= raised her eyes to HIS face, she saw Il
=, it was very pale, and he was trembli
>. violently.
, "What is it," she cried, rising
-, pulsively. "What have 1 said
:. wound you? What have l doae:"
: He mstloned her to resume her Sc
e "Iou have done well, my child.
" had no idea who your mother W
- though she has faucled differently.
do not hate her, would net injurs he
and once loved her we'll"
" Minnie sprung up once more.