Middletown transcript., 1891-08-27
;mtht M;ta,tstttpt
TWO DEBTS.
ny GEORGE 1. PUTNAM.


on the other side. Ashbel had been
considered forehanded. His neigh.
bors said he " "speculated West. and
were astonished when his death re-
vealed the fact that he had sacrificed
all in an endeavor to save some shreds
of his financial reputation.
None we're more surprised than his
own family. This included the
widow. and Amanda and Israel,
twins, twenty years old. They were
crushed. They shrank from it as
from the presence Of the death-the
first one-in the family. For days
thew dared not speak Of it, but i
was always in their thoughts. AZ
last the widow reused her energies,
and summoned her children.
We can save the farm" she said.
80 'Manda, you can keep the district
school Israel and I will carry on
the farm. We must all stand togeth-
er."
For twenty years they were possess.
ed of that one thought, urged BY that
one motive-to pay the debt.
They stood together twenty years,
and at the end Of that time they owed
no nsn anything.
The mother looked scarcely a day
older. The work Of directing had
kept her faculties fresh and vigorous.
But son and daughter had passed
from anticipatiye youth into dulled
middle age. Tho debt. unserupolous
and avaricious, had left them no en-.
ioyment. It had robbed them Of
life's most desirable part.
When Amanda was twenty she was
called pretty. Gatherings had been
incomplete without her. After that,
she never attended another. The at
tentions Of young men, which came
unsolicited, were refused. Now she
had become thin and sallow. She
knew she could hope for no return of
loves pleasures. If q. thought of
marriage crowded itself upon her, she
shook it of as unWelcome. She could
give up her school now, and devote
her time to home, to her mother and
brother.
And Israel was free. He took a
long breath and stood up straight,
easing his CALLED shoulders Of tle
burden they had just cut off. Life
loodek pleasant suddenly. He would
make someneeded improvements on
the place. The house should have
coat Of paint. he stood in the sun
shine, and looking up through the
June foliage Of the NAPLES, thought
the seed-pods looked like the. legs of
so many elm painters dangling there
the sky. Then be laughed
1T himself, and said he must be
getting young and frisky.
When he was twenty be had
thought to be married. Now, at forty,
he thought Of it again. When he
stopped his visits to Harriet Downer,
he understood why. She had had
10 = company" he told himself since
,hen, and his heart gave a great
POUND at.the thought. Why should
he not 7 : !"
One day he came to his mother and
lister, and said, bluntly, / am going
o be married to Harriet Downer."
There was silence for q long NOM
mt then his mother said coldly,
We ku0w. it.
By the tone and attitude, Israel
lnc erstood that his mother and
sister would not welcome the woman
be meant to marry. He understood
that they thought the tie of constant
effort of the past twenty years as
binding as wedlock, and did not wish
it broken.
But once after that Israel spoke of
his marriage: "I am to marry
Harriet tomorrow. Shall you be
there 7"
And his mother answered, I" No."
But Israel would keep his vow to
Harriet. The twenty years struggle
mad cultivated in him the dogged
resolution inherited from his mother.
He married Harriet, and after a
week brought her home. No one ap-
,aarad tn greet them.
Mother" he called, as he went
through the house. In two remote
rooms he found his mother and sister.
Harriet is out there" said he.
And we are here; we shall stay
lere," said h is mother.
Israel look ed about dazed. He re
afterwards that he saw
tove with pots and pans and dishes,
md in the other room a bed, a table,
md chairs. The two women had
made all preparations for living by
themselves.
And this was the brides home
,omingl
Yet the married two lived a happy
ife together. Israel felt keenly the
mental misery bis wife must endure,
ind stroye to alleviate it by every
Kindly, attention in his power, and she
understood his motive, and resolutely
hid all traces of pain. Life for each
was as the other made it.
There was no communication be-
.ween the two parts of the house
and no messages passed. no visits
we're exchanged.
Thus for two years when . baby
vas born. Then one, day Harriet
aid to Israel, TAXA the baby, and
70 to your mother" He understood,
Ind taking the child in his arms,
vent and knocked at the door.
Who is it?" said his mothers
voice.
Your son and grandson" be re-
piled.
There was slight noise and a
pause within. Then Amanda said,
We are too busy to see you"
He returned, and laid the baby by
mot need to ques-.
sswife to come
Ha .had sou1e