The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-07-14
HOW 1T HAPPENED,

Clark w. Bryan. in Good Housekeeping.
|
HOW 1T HAPPENED.
Ellie Ford, with tear-stained face, sal
amid a pile of formidable documents.
! She was in deep mourning. Only one
week before she had laid away the re
mains of her only. surviving relative in
the shadow of the cross-crowned church
over the hill. 1t was a dismal prospect
| for girl of II, and one who was alb
solutely ignorant of business. The
Fords had always lived in luxury. But
on his death-bed Mr.. Ford called Effie
to him; his articulation was imperfect,
but she caught: Bad investments.
mortgage bonds. Poor! Poor
Barker will tell YOU A few gasps and
it was over.
All day she had tried to bring order
out of chaos. At last, with sigh. she
tossed the little fringes from her fore
head, as if even their light weight were
an oppression.
''lt is useless" she murmured, II can
make nothing of anything" Then sud-
denly she remembered, s'.Barker will
tell YOU. The memory came with a
sigh of relief.
A servant answered the bell
Take this to Mr.. Barker" she or
| dered, land wait an answer"
1t came in less than an hour.
Mr.. Barker will wait upon Miss
Ford at s." She glanced at the clock
1t lacked five minutes of that hour.
Barker was lawyer in the same
town. She had always known him,
and she remembered that he had been
with her father frequently before she
went TO school for the last time
As he entered Ellie started. She had
thought of him as rather elderly, but
the man who stood before her was ex-
| tremely handsome, and perhaps double
her II years.
You are kind, Mr.. Barker, to re-
spond so promptly. / did not know
what to do. to whom to turn, / can
make nothing of papa's papers," she
sighed, wearily.
| ''Of course. What can YOU know
about law?" and together they turned
to the perplexing pile.
Barker ran his eye over paper after
paper, and startled look came into
his eyes, keen lawyers though they
were.
Are these all?' he asked.
Il believe so. Papa kept his papers
in that secretary; and, Mr.. Barker, l
know from what be said that there were
losses-that l shall not be very well off.
| do not mind" she added, quickly,
''other people are poor, why not I?''
''Some losses! Not as well off as she
had beenr' He regarded her queerly.
| IL
lands, even the costly furniture was
covered with mortgages? No, and he
| determined she never should know. He
had no living relatives, and why should
he not do for this helpless girl what he
would have liked some one to do for sis
ter or wife of his?
There will be something left aftel
the debts are paid. will there not?"
The pretty pathetic eyes looked
| squarely into his. He could not answer
this child-woman with evasion. Il
you will trust to me. Miss Ford, | viii
do my best, Your father trusted me CT
several occasions" Che did not added
if that father had been guided by hi
Judgment, his daughter would not now
be penniless) land | am confident
know more of the business than anvon,
else He waited her reply.
''Oh. yes, and thank YOU. Mr.. Bark
er.n With a childish. trustful motion
she slipped her hand in his. Barker
experience with women was bounded b,
aggressive little widows, and soul-terri
flying Sally Brasses. and there was
queer little fiutter in his manner as h
bid her goodnight.
Mr. Ford's affairs were in hopeless
tangle. Ruin was inevitable. Such wa
Barker's verdict, after a reperusal Q
the Ford papers. poor little thing.'
he whispered to himself; .'she shal
never know if can help il"
Out of those deeds and mortgage
seemed to start vision of hom
Eden, where certain eyes looked int
his with bewildering love. Bah, Wha
have sentimental love dreams in con
mon with an austere lawyers office
| A puzzled face appeared at the offic
of Barker & Hawkins one day, not lon
after.
81 am sorry to worry you, but Sc
herer' Effie produced slip of pape
which she held toward him. 1t state
the existence of a note, covering SO
600. principal and interest, held by on
Isaacs & Tobias, brokers in neighbol
ing city.
..When did you receive this?n H
avoiding looking at the captivating fac
as much as possible.
To-day; and, Mr.. Barker, it mus
be paid. The $4,000 you saved for m
will just cover it viii you do it TO
meP'
"Yes, Miss Ford. 1t is fortunate
however, that changed the investment
, By the new arrangement it has doubled
You can pay this bill and retain th
: same amount"
, II can? How nice! thought l woul
have to go out as nurse-maid Or
something. Mr.. Barker, when is you
client coming who owns the house9
feel as if / were an intruder. somehow.
You are not The favor is to him.
, have his word for it
, She still fingered. MIR. Barker. 70
| have been so Kind and good. / wish
/ could do something for you If l ca
/ ever will you let me?n
| Yes. Miss Ford.
Effie left the Office with a queer, dis
r satisfied feeling at her heart Down tt
| browsing street, filed with lazy sha,
! ows, she strolled. As she turned co
/. | ner she collided with a rakish-lookin
E youth. He recovered himself with a
f apology. There was such a frank loo
s in his bright, blue ewes that Ellie toe
, to him at once He accompanied b,
: as far as the gate, opened it, and, wit
q bow, turned toward the open plaz
e ..What a very, Gerry nice, accommoda
: ing boy,n was Effie's mental eommen
: 4 She met the ..very nice boy frequen
3 " after this. He was 1S and quite idl
4 He obtained a conventional introdu
g tion-Bert Gwynne was his name-an
!. he constituted himself Effie's veritab
b double. On the street. at church, NJ
: Bert Gwynne was always present an
r he assumed the attitude with such a
j course-it-is-agreeab air th
Q Effie became incensed and determine
b to give him piece of her mind.
II One day he commenced to poke fl
3 at .4Old Gabe Barker. Then the d
t nsmite exploded.
: ssHe's not old. she flashed.
O. Forty II he's an hour, insisted Il
d provoking.
Il say he's not. declared the frar
little lady ssAnyhow. he's not = pr
= suming boy; great acrimony in I
& last words
,eI He'll make you marry him after
while; now you see. He bought