Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-01-28

gOu oib otOsuct, uo"f Nuo -. cos
things rightr
NO, doctor this time with fiery
blush. It-you see-well mother can
not write without difficulty, and she
had friend OF ours write for her.
'Ah, yes, see. Nothing more pro-
per. And now l am awfully in
quisitive. but I always insist upon
learning all the symptoms. In this
case allow me my prerogative as q
doctor. In short, who is your young
friendP
Il did not say he was young, doctor.
Really you are too bad. He-well his
name is John Redwood, and he owns
small farm near ours. He Is not
wealthy, but
But will be il he keeps on in the in
dustrious way he has started, Of course;
that is what you we're going to say
broke in the listener. OF course he
could not raise the money, and equally
Of course you could not ask him to do
So
Certainly, we could not think of
such thing replied the school mis-
tress
Both sat silent for few minutes.
The doctor finally spoke in his CHEEKY
way.
We'll, my dear, I've been in brown
study-though this is an uncommoDly
bright one to-day-snd / think we will
dismiss the subject for the present
Only let me say this--I think see q
way out of the woods. Now, here is
bundle of 1 don't know what; odds
and ends, l suppose. You will find,
1 think, some congressional autographs
among them, some old deeds, perhaps,
and / don't know what not.
Perhaps I 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 Oldield, a de-
lightful Connecticut hill town, and
had become so great favorite with
the ecentric, kind 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
alife of leisure at his quaint country
mansion, indulging his antiquarian
and literary tastes. The bright young
school mistress was a ready assistant
delighting to be of service to her kind
ly host She found this morning in
the miscellaneous lot of letters and
documents a rich mine. There was a
page of John Randolph's plain and
precise hand, carefully punctu ated,
part OF an article which he had pub.
lished in the National Intelligencer;
then some ancient copies of deeds, of
small value as autographs; anon a
note in the dainty hand of Edward
Everett, accepting an invitation to
dine; there was letter from Edward
Stanley to Henry A. Wise, asking ad
vice about deed. This she had to
read to the doctor, who looked up from
his manuscript simply to say, Good
auto--index it, and resumed his quill.
She took up sheet, glanced at it, her
eyes widened, and she gave an excla-
nation of surprise.
The doctor resignedly laid down
his pen. Found gem2' he asked.
Not exactly but isn't it strange!
Here's letter addressed to Colonel
Holmes, of ROCKFORD. He was the
father OF Mr.. Holmes who holds that
fatal mortgage.
Eth! calculated the doctor, and
then after moments reflection, he
said, Not so strange, after all. You
see there is, or rather was a doctor up
there who l knew years ago. He is
dead now, I belleve--Dr. Merrill
perhaps you remember him. We kept
rpa desultory sort of correspondence.
He knew my passion for old furniture:
and few years ago he sent me an old
secretary which he had picked up
somewhere. There were some old pa
pers in 1t, which must have put in
that bundle of odds and ends.
Sue handed him slip Of paper
which he glanced at and then studied
attentively.
Miss Lyster said he, in business
tone. She was all attention. when
did your father die7'
-Four 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.
We'll, 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.
Holiness I suppose--to Abrm Lyster,
for the sum of $500, signed August 4,
II