The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-04-04
OVER THE BORDER.
By WALTER BEsANr

ice" he said, Ito Mathew humble ho
seems to think that he must not coma -
often as he did Aworthy man. however,
and perhaps, he is moved by the shame
of taking assistance.
Very likely, sir | said, WONDERING
what thing. short of the pillory, with the
fugleman and his pike beside If wonId
move Mathew to shame 1T is stronno
that men should thus court the annear.
ance of ingratitude. Did you ever sir
borrow money, sums of money ~
Mathew Humble?"
Lend. you mean, Drusilla," he replied
turning red with sudden anger.
No, sir | said borrow Prav pardon
ME, sir, had no intention to offend y
But you have offended, child" He
pulled his cheeks, and became scarlet
with sudden passion. "You have of.
Tended, | say. Not offended Do
you know what you have said2
Have words meaning for you? Should
|, Solomon Hetherington, Knight.
known and venerated for my wealth
from Tower Hill to Temple Bar. and
from London Bridge to Westminster
stoOp to borrow-to borrow, / saw. paltrv
sums-for he could lend none but paltrv
sums-of petty farmer? Not mean to
offendl Zoundsi the girl is mad"
Pray, sir, forgive me. am so ignor-
ant that | knew not
TO be sure, my dear, to be sure" He
became as quickly appeased as he had
been easily offended s'She does not know
the difference between lending and bor
rowing. How should she?'
And have you lent Mathew much
sir"
las for lending, l have, it is true.
placed in bis hands. from time to time.
sums of money for which | have no
security and have demanded no interest.
But let that pass. l am SO rich that can
afford to lose. Let it pass. And whether
he pays them back or not. do not greatly
care.
You gave this money to him" said,
''by drafts upon your bankers. suppose. :"
why, certainly. You do not suppose
that we London merchants. however rich
we are. carry our money about with us
That would indeed be a return to barbar-
Gus times"
Then there was the paper that you
signed in the presence of an attested at
torlAy and of Barbara. what was that.
father"
He laughed and made as if he were an
noyed. though he appeared pleased
Tut. tut. he said IA trife-a mere
trife; let an old man have his little whims
sometimes. Drusilla
But what was it. sir?" persisted
Mathew would have me call it mort.
gage. my father went on "A mortgage,
indeedi Because he wished his sister not
to know 1t was-ho, hol-a deed of gift,
child That is all 1t was when ! as
signed certain lands to him A deed of
gift We called it mortgage. but could
not prevent showing Barbara by laughing
-ha, habitat it was something very
different In addition to the money, !
have bestowed upon him field or so for
, the improvement of his farm. The gain
to him is great; the loss is small to me- A
mortgage, we agreed to call it. Hal hal
Duly signed and witnessed. Your father
Drusilla, is not one to do things irregu-
larly. Duly signed and witnessed"
This conversation made it quite clear to
me that Mathew had contrived an abomin-
able plot for our ruin For the supposed
deed of gift which my father wished to
sign. he substituted real deed of mort
gage. in which my father was to acknowl-
edge that he had received goo for which
he assigned his house for security, and
without. as afterward appeared, any
clause as to time allowed after notice
should be given of foreclosing How far
The lawyer was concerned in this con
spracy ! know not Perhaps he was in
nocent. Indeed. | am now inclined to be
lieve that he was innocent of any com
plicity. How far Barhara-perhaps she,
too. was ignorant of this wickedness
All that night lay awake turning the
thing over in my mind. | planned
thousand mad schemes, | would break
into Mathews room and steal the papers
/ would go round the town and proclaim
his wickcdness; would inveigle him into
surrendering the papers by false promise
Of marriage; | would seek the protection
of Mr. Carnaby. All these things | con-
sidered, but none Of them approved them
selves on consideration. because a forger
and cheat will always be ready, if he
escapes punishment for the first offense.
to repeat his wickedness. Lastly. | re-
solved upon seeking Mathew at the mill,
where | could talk to him at greater
freedom.
| went there in the afternoon about of
the clock. When l lifted the latch l saw
Barbara sitting on the settle near the
window working. Before her. as usual,
lay an open Bible. Strangei that one who
was so hard and severe could draw no
comfortable things from book which
should be full of comfort
She shook her long lean foreinger at me-
Il have known" she said, for a long
time the ruin that hangs over your house
l saw your father sign the mortgage. He
laughed and called it a deed gift, remem-
Der. Ali good money after bad. But my
brother. who was foolish enough to lend
the money, was not so foolish as to let it
go without security. A deed of gifti He
is cunning, your father, and would de-
ceive me if he could, doubt not" She
turned over the leaves and found some
thing that seemed to suit the occasion
and my dement's. "'He hath made thy
vine bare My brother is full of COM
passion He hath made it clean bare.
Thy punishment hath begun"
Il wish to see your brother alone"
do you come in peace or in enmity7
If in peace, you must first make submis-
sion, and confess your deceits as regards
the boy. who is surely dead Nothing
else will satisfy him. You can begin with
me- Wbere is the how"