Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-03-18
HOW 1T HAPPENED.

Effie Ford, with tear stained face,
sat amid a pile Of formidable docu-
ments. She was in deep ouIning.
Only one week before she had laid
away the remains of her only surviv-
ing relative in the shadow of the
old church It was a dismal pros
pect for girl of17, and one who was
absolutely ignorant of business. The
Fords had always lived IN luxury.
But on his death-bed Mr.. Ford called
Efie to him; his articulation was i'm
perfect, but she caught: bad IN
vestments, mortgage bonds. Poor!
Poor Z X x 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 toss the golden fringes from her
forehead, as If even their light weight
were an-OppressiOn.
cit is useless" she murnured, ST
can make nothing OF anything" then
suddenly she remembered, ''Barker
will tell you," The memory came
with sigh of relief.
A servant answered the bell.
''Take this to Mr.. Barker" she Or
d6r6u, ana await an answer.
It came in less than an hour.
''Mr. Barker will await upon Miss
Ford at five" She glanced at the
clock. It lacked FIVE minutes o. the
hour.
Barker was a 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 Fife started. She
had thought of him as rather elderly,
but the man who stood before her was
extremely handsome, and perhaps
double her II years.
''You are very kind, Mr.. Barker, to
respond so promptly. I did not know
what to do, to whom to turn. can
make nothing of papa's papers," she
sighed, YEARLY.
''Of course. What can you know
about law2" and together they turned
to the preplexing pile.
Barker ran his eye over paper after
paper, and startled look came into
his eyes, keen lawyers though they
were.
''Are these allf' he asked.
II believe so. Papa kept his papers
in that secretary; and, Mr.. Barker, [
know from what he said there were
losses-that [ shall not be very well
off. I do not mind, :" she added quick
ly, "other people are poor, why not
'Some lossesl Not as we'll off as
she had BEEN" He regarded her
qUeerly. Poor child! Did she know
that house, lands, even the costly
furniture was covered with mortgag-
es! No, and he determined she never
should know. He had no living re-
latives, and why should he not do for
this hel pless girl what he would have
liked some one to do for sister or wife
of his9
''There Will be something left after
the debts are paid, will there not?"
The pretty pathetic eyes looked
squarely into his. He could not an
swer this child-woman with evasion.
eff you will trust to me, Miss Ford, I
will do my best. Your father trusted
me on several occasions" Che did not
add, if that father had been guided by
his judgement, his daughter would not
be penniless) land I ara confident I
know more of the business than any
one else" he waited her reply.
"Oh, yes, and thank you, Mr.. Bar
ker." With childish, trustful notion,
she slipped her hand in his. Barker's
experience with women was bounded
by aggressive little widows, and soul
terrifying Sally Brasses, and there was
queer little futter in his manner as
he bid her goodnight.
Mr.. Ford's affairs were in hopeless
tangle. Ruin was inevitable. Such was
Bankers verdict, after reperussl of
the Ford papers. Poor little thing!"
he whispered TO himself; ''she shall
never know if / can helpIt'
Out of those deeds and mortgages
seemed to start vision of a home
Eden, where certain eyes looked into
his with bewildering love. BAIL What
have sentimental love dreams in COM
mon with an austere lawyers office.
Apuzzled face appeared at the office of
Barker & Hawkins one day, not long
after.
Il am sorry to very you, but see
here ]" Ellie produced slip OF paper
Which she held toward him. It stated
the existence OF a note, covering S10,-
900, principal and interest, held by one
Isaacs &Tobias, brokers in neighbor-
ing city.
"When did you receive this?n He
avoided looking at the captivating
face as much as possible.
To-day; and, Mr.. Barker, it must
be paid. The $4,000 you saved for me
will just cover it. VIII you do it for
me?"
Eyes. Miss Ford. It is fortunate
however. that I changed the invest
ment. By the new arrangement it
has doubled. You can pay this bill
and retain the same amount"
Il can9 Oh how nice! I thought