The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-02-05

ends. | suppose. 1ouwillf find, | think,
some Congressional autographs among
them, some old deeds, perhaps, and I
don't know what mott
Perhaps | shall find some nuggets
for you,' said the schoolmistress, as
she began asserting the papers.
Annie Lyster was the teacher Of the
village school in Oldfeld, a delightful
Connecticut hill town, and had become
80 great q favoritc with the eccentric,
k~ind-hearted doctor that it was now
the regular thing for her to spend her
Saturdays and Sundays at his home-a
welcome relief from her boarding place.
The doctor had given up active practice,
and enjoyed a life of leisure at his quaint
country mansion, indulging his anti
quarian and literary tastes. The bright
young school mistress was a ready as
sistant, delighting to be of service to
her kindly host. She found this morn
ing in the miscellaneous lot of letters
and documents q rich mine. There
was y page of John Randolph's plain
and precise hand, carefully punctuated,
part OF an article which he had pub
lished in the National Intelligcncer;
then some ancient copies of deeds, of
small value as autographs; amor a note
in the dainty hand of Edward Everett,
accepting an in%vitatation to dine; there
was II letter from Edward Stanley to
Henry A. Wise, asking advice about a
deed. This She had to read to the doc
tor, who looked up from his manuscript
simply to say, .'Good auto-index it,"
and resumed his quill. She took up a
sheet, glanced at it, her eyes widcned,
and she gave IN exclamation of sur
prise.
The doctor rcsignedly laid down his
his pen. Found a gem?" he asked.
mot exactly, but isn't it strange!
Here's a letter addressed to Cononel
Holmes, of ROCKFORD. He was the
father of Mr.: Holmes who holds that
fatal mortgage
"Eh!' CALCULATED the doctor, and
then, after a moments reflection, he
said, mot so strange, after all. You
see there is, or rather was a doctor up
there whom ! knew years ago. He is
dead now, l bclievc-Dr. Merrill; per-
haps you remember him. We kept up
a desultory sort of correspondence.
he knew my passion for old furniture,
and a few years ago he sent me an old
secretary which he had picked up some
where. There were some old papers in
1t, which must have put in that bundle
OF odds and ends. He had glanced
them over. and seeing two or three old
documents in the lot, sent them along.
writing that | might find an autograph
or two, | have never had time to look.
Tho secretary, by the way, proved to
be i nice antique. l think it came over
in the Maytlowcr-at least, it will bear
the saying so. 1t is down in the Cont
mental Room. Perhaps you have seen
it?'
Very likely; but you know haven't
the craze for old furniture" Miss
Lvstor had proceeded buk little farther
with her task when she again startled
the old gentleman with, "Wcll; this is
strange. Here is my fathers name"
Dear me-" said the doctor, in de-
spair; you will find your grandfather's
if you keep on; but let me see it,"
She handed him a slip of paper which
he glanced at and then studied atten-
lively.
Miss Lyster," said he, in a business
tone. She was all attention. ''When
did your father die?"
Pour years ago, sir, in August"
You said your mother thought that
mortgage had been paid?:"
That is what we supposed. but he
was never very communicative to us
upon business affairs"
'.Well, l believe it was paid. Did
you read this paper carefully? OF
course you did not. This is a receipt
from Israel Holmes-that's your Col.
Holmes suppose-to Abram Lyster,
for the sum of $500, signed August 4,
IS. What could it have been for eX-
cept that mortgage?"
The girl grew pale with excitement.
That was the day my father died"
said she. at may be as you think, for
l can't imagine any other transaction
that he would be likely to have to the
same amount. He had been to the
village that morning, and was taken i'll
Immediately on reaching home, dying
very suddenly of heart disease"
This is important, my dear. If
your tyrannical moncy-lender were
aware of the existence of this little slip
of paper he would not be SO fierce.
Now let him go ahead"
81 can not think that he knows of it.
His father soon died after mine, and in
some way"
''In some mysterious way" inter
rupted the doctor, ..the most important
acknowledgement OF the receipt of $500
was overlooked; in some mysterious
way, with other papers in Colonel
Holmes desk, it got showed into an old
secretary. fate seat it to me, fate sent
you here, and what is meant by it all is
that wrong is to be riehted, as it gem
orally is in the long run"
Miss Lystcr was too astonished to
speak. She was looking at the knight
in armor while her thoughts were rush
ing with lightning speed.
You can almost sec a smile on that
grim visor. can't you?" said the doctor;
81 think know of a knight of flesh and
blood. who, with this as his weapon,
will slay the dragon, and win-shan |
say his lady-love?"
"Oh, doctor! how can you be SO funny
over so serious a matterP'
But it is serious only on one side,
and that is the other side" he replied,
viii you permit me to manage this little
affair for you? After all, there may be
trouble, and there will certainly have to
be some legal formulas. But l think.
if rightly managed, the young man will
admit that the mortgage was virtually
cancelled by the payment of the $500 for
which this is the receipt"
elf you would assume the business it
wonld be a relief she answered, "for l
should not know how 20 proceed"
"Wcll, then, run away and see my
better half. 90 ont and dig chestnuts-