Little Falls transcript., 1886-04-02
/ ] / How II HAPPENED.
BY LIZZIE BRADLEr CORNISH.

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. It was a dismal prospect
Tor . 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
Efie to him; his articulation was imper-
feet, but she caught: 'Badinvestments,
mortgage bonds. Poor! Poor : = y =
Barker viii tell you. :" Afew 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. S't &g *'A.
. 'It is useless" she murmured, II
can make nothing Of anything" Then
suddenly she remembered, Barker will
tell you." The memory came with a
sigh of relief. vs.
A servant answered the bell.
Take this to Mr.. Barker" she Or
dered, land wait for an answer"
Ia 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 re-
membered that he had been with her
father frequently before she went to
school for the last time.
As he entered, Effie started. She had
thought of him as rather elderly, but
The man who stood before hertwas ex-
tremely handsome, and perhaps double
her seventeen years.
:You are kind, Mr.. Barker, to re-
spond SO promptly. I did not know
what to do, to whom TO turn. I 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 q startled look came into his
eyes, keen lawyers though they were.
care these all?'' he asked.
II believe so. Papa kept his papers
In that secretary; and, Mr.. Barker, ]
know from what he said, that there
were losses-that I shall not be very
we'll off: I do not mind" she said
quickly, "other people are poor, why
not I?"
''Some losses! Not as well off as she
had been!'' He regarded her queerly;
Poor child! Did she know that house.
lands, even the costly furniture was
covered with mortgages9 No, and he
determined she never should know. He
had no living relatives, and why should
be not do for this helpless girl what he
would have liked some one to do fol
sister or wife of his?
''There will be something left after
the debts are paid, will there not?''
The pretty pathetic eye looked
squarely into his. He could not answe:
This child-woman with evasion. II
you will trust to me, Miss Ford, I viii
do my best. Your father trusted M
upon several occasions" Che did no
add, if that father had been guided b,
his Judgment his daughter would no
now be penniless) land I am contidon
know more of the business than any
one else" He waited her reply.
"Oh, yes, and thank you, Mr.
Barker" With childish, trustfu7
motion, she slipped her hand in his
Barker's experience with women wa
bounded by aggressive little widows
md sou!-terrifying Sally Brasses', an'
there was a queer little futter in hi
manner as he bid her goodnight.
Mr.. Ford's affairs were in hopeles
tangle. Ruin was inevitable Suc]
was Barker's verdict after reperusa
Of the Ford papers. ''Poor little thing!'
be whispered to himself, ''she sha]
never know if can help it,
Out Of these deeds and mortgage
seemed to start the vision of home
Eden. where certain eyes looked int
his with bewildering love. Bah! Wha
have sentimental love-dreams in com
mon with an austere lawyers Officer
+ y 4
A puzzled face appeared at the otiic
Of Barker & Hawkins one day, not lon
after.
II am sorry to worry you; but Sc
here'' Ellie produced ship of pape
which she held toward him. 1t state,
the existence of note. covering te,
thousand dollars, principal and interest
held by one Isaacs & Tobias, brokers i
aneighboring city. a.-
#"When did you receive thisp'' H
avoided looking at the captivating fac
as much as possible. .@
To-day; and, Mr.. Barker, it must b
paid. The ten thousand you saved fe
me will just cover it. Will you do it TO
mep'' I'D. q ~ IA e, >... I, \ +
"Yes, Miss Ford. It is fortunate
however, that I changed the investment
By the new arrangement it has doubled
You can pay this bill and retain th
same amount. n: 4. sszY il II
b Il camp How nice! I thought
would have to go out as nurse maid 9
something. Mr.. Barker, when IS you
client coming, who owns the housed
feel as if I We're an intruder, some
how. ss* 81
..Yo on are not. The favor is to him