, 1889-05-02

QauRnLSEg WHO Cdiuo Quloliy hltO tao
room. Myrtle was tall and slight like
her father, but with the bright complex
ion and vigorous strength Of her mother,
and with q striking beauty Of form and
feature possessed by neither parent. She
laid aside her wraps and, taking chair,
sat down near her mother. After a short
silence she said: "Sam has been telling me
that Mr.. Reed will not give father another
receipt for tho one which was lost. ]
thought this could not be true, or you
would have told me; but can under
stand that you wished to save me from
unhappiness as long IS possible. But
surely 1t cannot be true that he threatens
to foreclose on father. What bad man
he must bel Is 1t from revenge, because
I refused to marry himf" .....
"Yis," answered her mother; "spite,
and mebbe more'n than that. Thinks,
like enough, you'll tako i'm cow to save
the farm"
"'Cordin' to Jabex Reed" said Mr..
PetSgrew. "your fathers a liar an tryin'
to be thief"
"But, father, San, says you should re,
sst it. He says your word Is better than
Mr.. Reeds oath"
"Sam can do O good deal o talkin',
remarked Mr.. Pettigrew, "but 'twon't
amount to nothin'. Mebbe he's got three
thousand dollars to lend me-"
He hasn't, of course" replied Myrtle.
II know how gladly he would lend it II
he could"
"Wall, longs he amt got 1t don't see
"a hn do bot ~, 10 M r,ns,
ye an let ye marry Squire Reed an done
with it." .-...-. ...- .. .a.-- 81. ...
"Shame, Cyril" cried Mrs. Pettigrew.
Myrtle smiled. Never mind, mother;
poor father does not mean it. As for
me / will not believe, till I hear it from
his own lips. that Dir. Reed can be SO un.
just" '.. '-''.'
Pears likely you won't hev' to wait
long fore you do. That's him now,
hitchin' his horse by the front gate, or
I'm greatly mistook. Mebbe he's thought
better ont and come to bring the salts
faction piece, 'cordin' as he promised"
"Mebbe them apple trees III blow out
to-night-'bout as likely" grumbled
Cyril. ...
A sound Of stamping and scraping on
tho front piazza, and n loup rap on the
dcor, announced tho arrival of u visitor.
Myrtle opened tho door and admitted 8
man of about 60 years, of ordinary
height and size, with ruddy complex
ion, coarse iron gray hair and small,
light blue eyes His lips were fabby
and shapeless His chin was streaked
with tobacco juice. --. -.. ....-
Good day, Mr.. Reed" said Myrtle;
"we were just talking about you. Twas
telling mother that unless you told me
so. I would not believe you would be
cruel and unjust"
Mr.. Reed shook Myrtlc's hand as
though it wero a pump handle, and
winked knowingly Mt her. ...
20 course, o course" he answered.
How is tho old man. any way; pretty
spry, hey?"
Cyril gave 4 grunt; but neither an
swered nor looked at the man. Mrs
Pettigrew said stifIiy, 'Have a chair, Mr.
Reed" --.---
"Wall. dunno" turning TO Myrtle.
"Got fire In the front room? come
to see you" s........
mo, sir" she replied; "but I do not
object to the presence Of my parents"
"Wall, mebbe not. but I told yer
.'What j wish, particularly, inter
rupted Myrtle, sis to have this affair set
right. If you have not brought another
receipt to father, when will you send
oue?''
Easy now, easy-rd ikc to hev' a
talk all by ourselve& Como over and
set on the lounge" .. -...-.-.s
Ho seated himself. and Myrtle stood
near. ''Set down an be comfurble-Nof
Wall, s'cuse my scttin'. I'm tired
o course you an mo understands one
another. Thcr' amt no use O. maxim q
row, but yer pa didn't pay mo no money
thet day. Can't SEQ what tho devils got
into the old fellcr. Amt acted queer
lately, has hc:" ...-... %. ..........-.....
Myrtle did not reply to Mr.. Reed, but
turning to her father. who was still
seated, said;
Father. Mr.. Reed says you did not
pay him any aoney. Where, then, Is
the money which counted, in bills, and
placed in your wallet just rs you were
leaving homo for his house, ....--.
Mr. Pcttigrcw sprang to his feet
"Jabo Reed" ,"he cried. ''daro you look
me in the face and say thnt?"
Snow, now, Myrtle, whit did you
want to rile i'm up fer." asked Mr.. Roed.
Never mind. Mr.. Pettigrcw, Myrtle an
I'll settle this ere trouble. Mebbe you
dropped the money in the road. goin'
liong, or likely you como across some
sharper an he fooled ye out ont. Don't
slnme you nonc fur not wantin' to tell
ont, S'Poee you OLD folks goes out m the
back room an let me an Myrtle spark.
Wen come to terms. hey, Myrtle?" with
another wink.
'Mr. Reed" exclaimed Myrtle, my
father paid you the three thousand dol
lars. We know he did, and SO do you.
Since you are SO wicked as to deny il
you can have no heart to which can up
peal" Overcome with grief and repug.
nance she felt on the point of bursting
into tears. She left the room hastily,
not waiting TO see what effect her words
1ad produced.
Mr.. Reed scowied fiercely and grew red
N the face. ''Hoity. toity; wicked, hey"
ne snarled. "wall. guess I'll be goin'."
'.Iis, CO." cried Mrs. Pettigrew, "an
the quicker the better. Mebbe you'll
cheat us out o the farm, but shouldn't
think all the money ye could steal 'ud be
much comfort to ye. KNOWN thet all
hands. young an old. hates ye like 'pisin.
You was the meanest boy in school ]
amt forgot yer dirty tricks, an sens ye
growcd up ye amt improved. Pears to
me ye grow wuss every year"
Trembling with rage. Mr.. Reed waited
TO hear no more. AS he went out he
slammed the door. then opened it, and,
putting his head into the room again,
yelled, "Soon's the lawll git ye out, out
yell 60"
Sam Hosmer, Myrtle's lever, found 1t
necessary during the next few days to do
good deal in the line of consolation,
especially on behalf of Myrtle. He strove
to convince her that his frequent pres
ence was absolutely necessary to prevent
her from falling into the lowest depths Of
gloom, and though she laughed at him
f,.,l r.. IL L. L. n