The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-11-01

Ii was horrible thought. But il
came and it chung to her; and though she
tried hard not to make her letter 10 her
parents be without a CLEAN of hope, she
yet felt when it was written and sealed
that she had failed, and was still furth-
or depressed by the thought Of the eff
feet j. would have upon those to whom
it was to be sent; and especially upon
her father, who she knew would bear
the blow even less stoutly than her
mother.
Meantime the verbal sale Of the
mountain ranch had been concluded
between Mr. and Mrs. Parsons and tho
gentleman Of whom Mrs Parsons had
written.
They were to receive two thousand
dollars cash down and to give immedi.
ate possessions; and on the morning but
one following that on which Lucy S sec.
ond letter wes ma led. John Parsons
started to town with the decd made out
and signed by his wife.
He was to meet the purchaser at the
courthouse in Phippsbnrg. deliver the
deed and receive the money, provided
the title was found to be clear. OF which
there was TO doubt in the minds OF
either party: the abstract. which Blake
gave to Parsons when he bought the
property, having been shown as proof
of that fact when negotiat ons for the
purchase and sale were first begun.
The sky looked cloudy and threaten
ing when he left home but it would not
do to fail Of being a. the appointed
place on time. and he kissed his Grip.
pied boy and his wife and left in good
spirits. promising to be back BY dark.
On reaching town he put out his
horse. saw that he was properly fed,
and then started for the court house.
On his way there he had to pass tho
post-oflice. and, stopping to inquire if
there was any mail for him. was handed
Lucy's letter to her mother
He recognized the post mark and
opened it ut once not common pro-
ceeding with him, for his eyes were no
longer good. and even where letters
came addressed to himself instead Of
bis wife, he usually preferred to wait
until he got home, and then have her
read them aloud while he ate supper or
smoked his pipe and restel.
But now something impressed lin
with the thought that he had better
open the letter. He had feeling that
perhaps all was not right at the Slough.
Perhaps it was because it had been
only a few days since they had received
. letter from there. and so were no. cN-
pecting another 50 soon.
Tearing of the envelope he began 10
read. but had not proceeded far before
his hand trcmbled SO that he could not
hold the paper still enough to see the
letters, and he folded it up and put it
into his pocket
lie had read enough. however, to
understand what had befallen his chill
dren.
He knew that they were to be driven
from their home, rs he AMI they had 50
often been before. b. the mercilrss greed
Of soulless corporations. or combinations
Of rich men whose hearts had turned to
stone beneath the weight OF their inn
mense wealth.
For moment it seemed TO him that
he should die right there, and those
who We're looking saw him stay-er Ike
drunken man, but he rallied 1t once
and Went out without Il word.
The thought that the cottage on the
mountain side was still theirs, and
would afford an asylum for the children,
had come 10 him, and lie was Fastening
to tell the would-be purchaser that I'M
der the circumstances they could not
LET him have the place.
1t was fortunate that the bargain was
not closed, he thought. How lucky that
he had opened the letter instead OF wait.
ing until he got home.
They could all live comfortably in tho
cottage together, and he and Marty
should have those dearest always with
them the little while they should con.
tinue to live, and bv them TO close their
eyes when they died, and no one would
disturb them on the mountain side,
which was 50 secluded and lonely that
hardly anybody appeared to want 10
live there. Yes. it was very fortunate
that the bargain had not ben closed.
and he would pay the man for his
trouble aud ask to be released.
Entering the courthouse he went di.
rectly to the Recorders Office.
The gentleman whom he expected to
meet was already there, and in compa-
ny with the Recorder was looking over
the records.
Without 50 much rs bidding them
good morning, John Par.ons began TO
say that he had changed his mind and
wished to be released from his verbal
contract. but before he could make his
meaning understood the gentleman who
had contracted for the place, said:
''How is this, Mr.. Parsons? | find 3
mortgage on your place. understoo. /
you to say it was clear Of all incum-
brances."
IA mortgagen'
The words came in whisper from
| lips that were bloodless, whichthc other
did not notice, for his eyes were upon
the volume of records, and hs
| answered:
Yes. A mortgage for fifteen hun.
dred dollars with intcre t for six years.
unless it has been paid; making total
OF about the amount l was to pay you
for the place. The mortgage seems ia
have been given by Mr.. Blake to Mr..
Jones, Of San Francisco. and"
But he did not conclude the sentence,
for at that instant the two men at the
desk heard groan, and turning. saw
John Parsons fall to the floor as ii dead.
They picked him up aud laid him ON
bench, and one of them ran for the
doctor, while the other attempted to
pour some whisky down his throat from
| flask.
In a moment he revived. and when
the doctor came running in, followed by
a crowd of business men and idlcrs,
was sitting up with his head leaning
upon lis hands, his elbows upon his
! knees. As the crowd entered he looked
up for an instant and then resumed his
| former position, but that instant suiliced
to show to those present face SO hag-
gard that not one among them all
| recognized it as the face Of John Par
sons, the owner OF the mountain ranch.
The doctor advanced and laid hand
upon the wrist of the stricken man. AZ
if to feel his pulse.
Then John Parsons again raised his
head, and with an effort arose to hid
feet.
at amt no use, Doc,' he said, recog.
nizing tho physician as one who had al
| tended Johnny in his recent illness ~