The Osceola times., 1886-04-03
THE ATTIC STUDY.
It Contained tho Paper Which
Lifted the Mortgage"

Miss Annie Lyster gave a sigh OF re-
lief as she placed the last sheet upon a
huge pile of papers and pushed her
chair back from the study table. The
doctor's table presented that litter which
literary men delight in, and which no
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, dfTusing a
pleasant warmth, for the morning had
been frosty. Just then the doctors
slow step was heard on the stairs, and
soon he entered bis attic study.
Miss Lyster was still staring at the
armor in deep thought.
"Therewas letter in the mall" said
the doctor, who loved to tighten the
gravity of age with his little joke.
VERY good. Doctor" said Miss Lys-
ter, with doubtful appreciation; "but it
would be better yet if thcletter were for
me-"
at is for yours truly as you will no
doubt find at the end Of 1t; but no, the
writing Is masculine, a man in the mail
after all, and probably something rather
more affcctionate than the stiff yours
truly winds 1t up, ehph and he handed
her the letter, which she fastened to
unseal
Meanwhile the doctor hastened into
an adjoining room and busted him
self with the contents of an old
chest, from which he presently re-
moved 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, | hope"
said the doctor.
''Yes, | am sorry to say, very bad
news. | ought 10 90 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
weeF; so there it is.
''ls it something you can tell me
about, my dear?n asked the doctor.
kindly. perhaps can advise you; but,
of course, l don't wish to interfere in
your private affairs"
You are very kind, Doctor Warlock,
YOU are always kind Yes, | will tell
you about it, though you have enough
10 think of without being bothered with
the troubles of poor me. You know my
home is in ROCKFORD. Mother and
have a little farm there, and we have
managed to get along quite comfortably
since fathers death, but the place is not
ours really-that is, il 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. i
have managed to pay the interest and
the taxes by teaching, and every thing
would 20 on as it has done, ! suppose,
if the man who holds the mortgage
would be content. But now he insists
on having his money. We might as well
think of raising So 900, 900 as $500. Obi
] don't know what to do. Mother is an
invalid, yon know, and it would kill her
TO lose her home, but 1t must come to
that, | fear"
"You say the interest and taxes are
paid up; what rate OF interest do you
payp" ~ ..e-
..Six per cent and It has never run
behind. We have been very careful
about that ~ .
Dear me, 7 can't see why in these
times when money Is so easy q man
should want a better Investment. y
You don't know the man, doctor.
He is a sort Of country speculator, and
though he Is rich suppose he has many
schemes on hand and likes to keep his
capital moving But | believe If he
chose he could let this investment re-
main. He doesn't choose, however.
Besides his father. and not he. advanced
the money and it is part of his
patrimony. "esrs
Young and marriedP" queried the
Not so very young. and-unmar-
ried." replied the schoolmistress, with q
downward glance. &. l-
Unmarried, but not because he
hasn't asked, eh? 1t is the old story
over again. the hard-hearted miser,
who, because. he cant get loving
glance from y a pair OF bright eyes
threatens vengeance upon the pretty
orphan ana SICK InotneI anu ~ ioi w.
That's the diagnosis, eh9" said the doc
tor. with mischieyous smile. Come.
come. in these days that sort OF wooing
isn't the thing. There's no romance
in that as Tom Hood says. But your
letter was addressed in a masculine
hand. Haven'tyou big brother, now.
who can set things rightP'
mo, doctor" this time with a merry
blush. .lt--you see-well, mother can
not write without difficulty, and she had
a friend of ours write for her."
"Ah. yes, see. Nothing more
proper. And now am awfully inquisi-
tive. but l always insist upon learning
all the symptoms. In this case allow
me my prcrogative as doctor. ~
short, who Is ycur young friends'
II did not say he was young. docter.
Rally ron ara too bad. He--Well, his