The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-04-17
A FINANCIAL FEAT.
How a Simple Girl and a Lawyer
Accomplished 1t.

Fife Ford with tear-stained face sat
amid 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 dismal prospect
for girl of seventeen, and one who was
absolutely ignorant of business. The
Fords had always lived in luxury. But
on his death-bed, Mr.. Ford called Efiie
to him; his articulation was imperfect,
but she caught: bad investments,
mortgage bonds. Poor! Poor I"
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 golden fringes from her fore
head, as if even their light weight was
an oppression.
at is useless she murmured. Il can
make nothing of anything Then
suddenly she remembered: 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 for an answer"
1t came in less than an hour.
Mr.. Barker will wait upon Miss
Ford at five" She glanced at the clock
1t lacked five minutes of the 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 en-
tered, Efiie started. She had thought
of him as rather elderly, but the man
who stood before her was extremely
handsome, and perhaps double her sew
Cnteen 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 weariedly.
''Of course. What can you know
about law?" and together they turned
to the perplexing pile.
Barker ran his eve over paper after
paper, and startled look came into
his eyes, keen lawyers though they
were
Are these all?' he asked.
81 believe so. Papa kept his papers
in that secretary; and, Mr.. Barker, |
know from what he said, that there
We're losses-that | shall not be very
well off. | do not mind" she said
quickly, 'other people are poor, why
not Ip''
Some losses! Not as well off as she
had beenn' He regarded her queerly.
Poor child Did she know that house,
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
sister or wife of his?
There will be something left after
the debts are paid, will there not?'
The pretty pathetic ewes looked
squarely into his. He could not answer
this child-woman with evasion. IF
YOU will trust to me, Miss Ford, will
do my best. Your father trusted me
upon several occasions" (He did not
add, if that father had been guided by
his Judgment his daughter would not
now be penniless) land am confident
i know more of the business than any
one else" He waited her reply.
80, yes, and thank you, Mr.. Baker. +"
With n childish, trustful motion, she
slipped her hand in his. Barker's ex-
perience with women was bounded by
aggressive little widows, and soul-ter-
rifying Sally Brasses', and there was a
queer little tutter in his manner as he
bid her good night
Mr.. Ford affairs were in hopeless
tangle. Ruin was inevitable. Such
was Bakers verdict after reperusal
of the Ford papers. Poor little
'thingr' he whispered to himself; ''she
shall never know if can help it.
Out of those deeds and mortgages
seemed to start the vision of n home
Eden, where certain eyes looked into
his with bewildering love. Bah! What
have sentimental love-dreams in com
mon with an austere lawyers Officer
A puzzled face appeared at the office
of Barker e. Hawkins one day, not
long after, XII. ....
Il am sorry to worry you; but sec
here!' Ellie produced slip of paper
which she held toward him. 1t stated
the existence of note, covering ten
Thousand dollars, principal and inter.
est, held by one Isaacs e. Tobias,
brokers in neighboring city.
when did you receive thisP' He