The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-13

.,,oer ana the ooys mad hired n neIgn..
bor 10 90 on with the haying, ana nao
dressed themselves in their best, mothe'
had ON her gray satin with pink ribbon
in her cap. and we girls had made our
selves inst too fine for anything. At last
the team appeared; black horses ana
souare. oilskin covered coach. A tall man,
,awnv and bearded, leaped from the seat
and came M the veranda steps. where all
the family were ranged 10 meet him. He
sbook hands with father, kissed mother
and then turned TO us girls.
Floss was the beauty Of the family and
,vas first presented for kiss, then Peggy
and last Of all myself, though was older
than Peggy. But was plain and quiet.
'"rhree fine gals" said my uncle Kit,
"and YER bows seem kind OF hearty, too,
hut II must be hard work toiling and
sweating on this rocky soil. 1 wish you
,yos all in Californy.n Then he paused
81 have friend, Noah Broadhead, in the
carriage ] would like 10 introduce you to
him. Brother VIII, aud If you can give
him a bite and sup and accommodate
him and me with beds for one night-well,
I'll be grateful'--
Certainly, certainly" cried my mother.
ASK him in and introduce him.
A gentleman dressed in spick and span
new clothes, clean shaver and really nice
looking was led up 10y Uncle Kit, and in
troduced all around as his friend, Noah
Broadhead.
| Thought had seen his face before, rs
there was something very familiar in the
expression Of his eyes-but could not re-
member where. At the timeit occurred to
me that it might have been in meeting or
at HarristOwn.
However we made very merry party. 1
had been so often leased and quizzed about
my "softness" that it was quite relief
when the mortgage, Uncle Kit and dinner
took up all thought and conversation. But
after dinner had n somewhat trying or
deal 20 go through.
The r.ct Of IL was Uncle Kit made a
speech. IL sec, Brother VIII" he said,
that. after all, You are much better of
than am Sensation, rs they say in the
newspapers.) You've a fine farm and a
fine family"
"And a fine mortgage, said my father
under his breath, but Uncle Kit didn't
hear him.
AS for me-" went on Uncle Kit, pm
not so rich as | would like TO he. am not
even 50 rich as you are" There was a
breathless pause here.
81 am bound to say that iii hadn't been
for a member of this family | shouldneyer
have learned how rich you are"
NV fathcrstarted, flushed and grew al
most angry; he thought he was being
quizzed.
Hold on till I've finished, Will" went
onmyunclc Yesterday morning thought
was twice as rich as you are, and it IS
through n member ofyour family, Irepeat,
that learned my mistake"
Who could it he that had told Uncle Kit
that we were rich? Every one looked ut
the other. Ny father evidently was much
perturbeG Mr. Noah Broadhcad's face
wore kind " amused smile, whether he
was secretly laughing at my uncle or at
my father or was amused NO being taken
50 suddenly into family condolences / did
not know.
"a member OF this family yesterday adj
mitted a tramp into this house." went on
the speaker.
1T must have been that sally" whis-
pered pretty Floss and Peggy, and all eyes
Immediately were fixed on me.
"The tramp was fed and rested, and be-
fore going away stocking-l believe it
was n stocking, Noah-was produced and
certain dimes, quarters and fifty cent pieces
counted out and given to this worthless
vagabond."
Mother looked reproachfully at me ]
dare not look at father; the two boys seem
ed puzzled Had my foolish generosity to
the tramp conveyed the notion 20 my uncle
that we were too well off to need his assist
ance? The idea seemed absurd, impossi-
BILE
"That tramp" went on my uncle, was
an old mate Of mine, and but for this money
would not have met me at Uarristown and
offered me the chance OF making big fort
une out OF your farm"
you're welcome to do that. Kit " said my
father, dryly, IF only you'll give me hall
Of it,.
"That tramp" continued Uncle Kit,
Showed me the finest specimen Of manga
nese that had ever seen-and understand
from him that he found it in your pasture.
Brother YOU wrote TO me asking me 90 lit
= .
got daughter in your house who is good
enough TO make the heaviest mortgage in
the world lighter than feather I'll tell
you what | will do. | Will take shares
enough in your manganese mine to lift all
tie mortgages in the village"
My rather looked stupelfcd for a mo-
ment, my mother stared at Linn and blushcd
FOR sheer joy. Even the boys seemed to
waken up 10 the good news and / was for
Z moment eyed with admiration By all.
So didn't get very much leased after all
about entertaining that tramp. Mr. Noah
Broadhead, who proiessed TO be a chemist
examined the manganese deposit down in
our pasture that very day and pronounced
it one of the richest in our part Of the
world
We still live on the old farm, bat We
hear no more OF mortgages, and it was only
Yesterday that Floss said 70 me, con, sal
ly, how lucky it was that you were 50 kind
10 that tramp"
But have never yet been able to per-
suadc myself that the tramp and Mr.. Noah
Broadhead were not the same person.
Springfield Homestead.