Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1889-02-08


demanded, in language which was almost in
solent, tho immediate payments of the amount.
Then there was three months interest over
due, and this also they pressed and clanored
sor, till the OLD gentleman was nearly driven
out Of his senses, and, as n consequence,
drove everybody about the pl,ce out of
theirs
At last this state of affairs began to tell
upon his constitution, which, strong as he
was, could not at his age withstand such con-
slant worry. He grew to look years older,
his shoulders acquired a stoop, and his MEM
DRY began to fail him, especially on matters
connected with the mortgages and farm ac-
counts. lda too, became pale and Ill; she
caught heavy cold, which she could not
throw Off, and her face acquired a perma-
nently panied and yet lstless look.
One day, it was on the 18th of December,
things reached climax. When Ida came
down to breakfast She found her father busy
porting over some more letters from the
lawyers.
"What is it now, fatherF' she said.
"What is it nowf he answered, irrtably.
fWhy, it's another claim for GOO, that's
what it is. l keep telling them to write to
my lawyers, but they won't; at least they
write to me, too. There, I can't make head
or tail Of it. Look here, and he showed her
two sides of a big sheet of paper covered
with statements of accounts anyhow, l
have not got G200 that's clear. Idont know
where we are going to find the money to pay
the three months interest. Tn worn out,
Ida, I'm worn out; that's the long and short
of it. get so confused with all these fig
ures. I'm an old man now, and all these
troubles are 100 much for me.n
Va ,,C+ FOL hat fot hal 1,a
answered, not knowing what else to say, for
affairs were indeed desperate.
eyes, yes, it's all very well TO talk so, but
facts are stubborn. Our family is ruined,
mud we must accept it,"
Cannot the money be got anyhow is.
there nothing to be dones" she asked, des-
perately.
"What is the good Of asking mo thatl
There is only one thing that can save us, and
you know what it is as well as do. But you
are your own mistress. l have no right to
put pressure on you. You must please your
self Meanwhile think we had better leave
this place at once and 80 and live II cottage
somewhere, If we can get enough to support
us; if not We must starye, | suppose. l can
not keep up appearances any longer"
Ida rose and with strange, sad light of
resolution shining in her eyes came to where
her father was sitting and, putting her
hands upon his shoulders, looked him in the
face,
Gather" she said, "do you wish me to
marry that man"
"Wish you to marry himl What do you
meanr he said, not without irritation and
avoiding her gaze. at is no affair of mine.
don't like the man, if that's what you mean.
He is acting like-well, like tho cur that he
Is, In putting on the screw as lie is doing, but
Of course that is the way out Of it and the
only way, and there you are"
"Father," she said again, twill you give
mo ten days, that is, until Christmas day1
If nothing happens between this and then,
will marry Mr. Edward Cossey.'
A sudden light of hope shone in his eyes
She saw it, though lie tried to hide it by
turning his head away.
"Oh, yes" he answered, "aS you wish {;
settle it one way or the other on Christmas
day, and then we can 60 ont with the New
Year. You sec, your brother James is dead,
and have no one left 10 advise me now, and
/ suppose that l am getting old at any
rate, things seem to Ire too much for me.
Settle it as you like settle it rs you like"
and he got up, lc0yiHT Iii, breakfast half
swallowed and went or to moon aimlessly
about the park.
So she made up her mind at last, This
was the end Of her Struggling Shs could
not let her old father BE- turned nut Of house
and homo 10 stGrvo, for practically they
would starve. She kucy Acr hateful lover
well enough to be aware tis-i Ice would show
no mercy. 1t was a question Il the woman
or the money, and she We, tho woIran.
Either she must lot him take her 81 they
must be destroyed; there was no middle