The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1886-03-19
HOW 1T HAPPENED.

Effie 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 II, and one who was alb
solutely ignorant of business. The
Fords had always lived in luxury. But
on his death-bed Mr.. Ford called Ellie
to him: his articulation was imperfect,
but she caught: bad investments.
mortgage bonds. Poor! Poor
Barker will tell YOU" A few gasps and
it was over.
All day she had tried to bring order
tossed the little fringes from her fore
head, as if even their light weight were
an oppression.
at is useless" she murmured, 81 can
make nothing of anything" Then sud-
denly she remembered, "'Barker will
tell you" The memory came with q
sigh of relief.
A servant answered the bell.
''Take this to Mr.. Barker" she or
dered, ''and wait an answer"
1t came in less than an hour
mr. Barker will wait upon Miss
Ford at s." She glanced at the clock.
1t lacked five minutes of that 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 entered Ellie started. She had
thought of him rs rather elderly, but
the man who stood before her was cX-
tremely handsome, and perhaps double
her II 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, YEARLY.
''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 startled look came into
his eyes, keen lawyers though they
were.
Are these ALP" he asked,
Il believe so. Papa kept his papers
in that secretary; and, Mr.. Barker,
know from what he said that there were
losses-that L shall not be very well off.
do not mind" she added, quickly,
''other people are poor, why not I?'
''Some losses! Not us well off rs she
had been!' 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 sis
ter or wife of hisp
"There will be something left after
the debts are paid, will there not?"
The pretty pathetic eyes 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 on
several occasions" Che did not added,
if that father had been guided by his
Judgment, his daughter would not now
be penniless) "and | am confident l
know more of the business than anyone
else" lie waited her reply.
ooh, yes, and thank you, Mr.. Bark
err With q childish, trustful motion,
she slipped her hand in his. Barker's
experience with women was bounded by
aggressive little widows, and soul-terri-
flying Sally Brasses, and there was
queer little flutter in his manner as he
bid her goodnight.
Mr.. Ford's affairs were in a hopeless
tangle. Ruin was inevitable. Such was
Bankers 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 vision of home
Eden, where certain eyes looked into
\ his with bewiidering love. Bah! What
have sentimental love dreams in COM
mon with an austere lawyers office.
Apuzzled face appeared at the Office
of Barker e. Hawkins one day, not long
after.
II am sorry to worry you, but see
here!" Eilie produced slip of paper
which she held toward him. 1t stated
the existence of note, covering $l0,-
900, principal and interest, held by one
Isaacs 81 Tobias, brokers in neighbor-
ing city.
i"When did you receive thisp" He
avoiding 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
mep"
'Yes, Miss Ford 1t is fortunate,
however. that changed the investment.