The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-04-03
THE ATTIC STUDY.
It Contained the Paper Which
Lifted the Mortgage"

Miss Annie Lysteg gave a sigh of re-
lief as she placed the last sheet upon a
huge pile of papers and pushed her
chair back from the study table. The
doctor table presented that litter which
literary men delight in, and which no
discreet housewife, however fond of
orderly array, would dare to set to
rights. Her own table looked more
tidy, though there were few blotches
of ink on the pretty crimson cover The
bright October sunshine was streaming
in through the skylight, diffusing a
pleasant warmth, for the morning had
been frosty. Just then the doctors
slow step was heard on the stairs, and
soon he entered his attic study.
Miss Lyster was still staring at the
armor in deep thought.
"There was a letter in the mail, said
the doctor, who loved to tighten the
gravity of age with his little joke.
Every good, DOCTOR" said Miss Lys-
ter, with doubtful appreciation; "but it
would be better yet if the letter were for
me-"
ut is for yours truly as you will no
doubt find at the end of it; but no, the
writing is masculine, man in the mail
after all, and probably something rather
more afcctionate than the stiff yours
truly winds itup, ehP" and he handed
her the letter, which she fastened to
unseal.
Meanwhile the doctor fastened into
an adjoining room and busted HIM
self with the contents of an old
chest, from which. lac presently re-
moved large bundle of papers and re-
turned to the study. The young wo-
man had finished her letter. There was
cloud uponher face and suspicion
of tears in her dark eyes.
''Well, well, no bad news, l hope?'
said the doctor.
"Yes, l am sorry to say, very bad
news l ought to 90 home at once
they are in great trouble there. Oh! ]
don't know what to do! l can not leave
my school, of course, until Christmas
week; so there tits"
lis it something you can tell me
about, my dear?n asked the doctor
kindly. "Perhaps lean advise you; but,
of course, | don't wish to interfere il
your private affairs. "
"YOu are very kind, Doctor Warlock
you are always kind. Yes, will tel
you about it, though you have enough
to think of without being bothered with
the troubles of poor me. You know my
home is in ROCKFORD. Mother and
have little farm there, and we have
managed to get along quite comfortably
since fathers death, but the place is no
ours reallY-that is, it is mortgaged fol-
$500. Father died very suddenly, anC
his affairs were so involved that all w,
had left was the farm. That seemed tt
be secure, but all at once this mortgag,
was produced, and that has been
cloud hanging over us ever since.
have managed to pay the interest ant
the taxes by teaching, and every thin;
would 60 on az it has done, l suppose
if the man who holds the mortgag
would be content. But now he insist
on having his money. We might as we
think of raising $4,000, 900 as $500. Oh
/ don't know what to do. Mother is a
invalid, you know, and it would kill he
to lose her home, but it must come t
that, fear"
You say the interest and taxes ar
paid up; what rate of interest do 20
pay?"
six per cent and it has never ru
behind. We have been very carefl
about that"
Dear me, l can't see why in thes
times when money is so easy q ma
should want better investment.
You don't know the man, dOcto
He is a sort of country speoulatOr, an
though he is rich suppose he has man
schemes on hand and likes to keep h
capital moving. But l believe if b
chose he could let this Investment +,
main. He doesn't choose, howeve
Besides his father, and net he, advance