St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1886-04-03
THE ATTIC STUDY.
It Contained the Paper Which
Lifted the Mortgage"

Miss Annie Lyster gave sigh of re
lief as she placed the last sheet upon s
huge pile of papers and pushed hel
chair back from the study table. The
doctor table presented that litter which
literary men delight in, and which nc
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 doctor 8
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-
at 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 afectionate than the stiff yours
truly winds it up, 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 he presently re-
moved a large bundle of papers and re-
turned to the study. The young wo-
man had finished her letter. There was
cloud upon her face and suspicion
of tears in her dark eyes.
'Well, well, no bad news, I hope?"
said the doctor. n 81 Ala
sA"Yes, am sorry to say, very bad
news. I ought to go home at once;
they are in great trouble there. Oh!
don't know what to do! lean not leave
my school, OF course, until Christmas
week; so there it is. e ia es#as i
sis it something you can, tell me
about, my dear?'' asked the doctor,
kindly. perhaps lean advise you; but,
v
your private AFFAIRS
''You are very kind, Doctor Warlock,
you are always kind. Yes, will tell
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 1
have little farm there, and we have
to get along quite comfortably
since fathers death, but the place is not
ours really-that is, it is mortgaged for
$500. Father died very suddenly, and
his affairs were so involved that all we
had left was the farm. That seemed to
be secure, but all at once this mortgage
was produced, and that has been a
cloud hanging over us ever since. |
have managed to pay the interest and
The taxes by teaching, and every thing
would go on as it has done, / suppose,
Il the man who holds the mortgage
would be content. But now he insists
IN having his money. We mightas we'll |
,hink of raising $5, 600, 900 as $500. Oh!
don't know what to do. Mother is an ,
Invalid, you know, and it would kill her ,
% lose her home, but it must come to
hat, / fear II
''You say the interest and taxes are I
,aid up; what rate of interest do you Y
'ay9" - Z .a sEs Ir
s'Six per cent and it has never run q
behind. We have been very careful '
bout that 6
Dear me, / can't see why in these
ines when money is so easy man
hould want better investment. I
''You don't know the man, doctor. 8
de is Q sort of country speculator, and
hough he is rich I suppose he has many r
chemes on hand and likes to keep his a
apital moving. But I believe if he "
hose he could let this investment re- "
aain. He doesn't choose, however. Fl
'esides bis father. and not he, advanced 81