Montgomery County sentinel., 1891-12-11
Misftllamenus.
AS A GllIT Or MUSTARD sllI.

1t was bleak December evening !,
freighted with 10y winds. blind with ME
blackness Of coming tempest. Rachel
Simmons drew her scanty shawl closer
around her as she hurried down the
street, where the wind had already y
blown out half the flickering gas lamps
"There is no light in fathers window, !"
she thought "Or, at ,least. none, hut
the faint shine Of the fire. Father is
getting more absent minded than ever.
To forget to tight the gas."A I =
She smiled to herself as. with her lit
tie key she opened the doer, On which
glimmered the white-painted sign, "a
partmcnts to Let" and hastened in.
Seba Simmons sat. before tho Gre star
ing in the bed of dying Goals, Rachel
went up to him, and placing one hand
on his shoulder, leaned down to kiss
him. faar3 e if l,,
"Thee's tired tonight, father, DEAR 2
she said, cheerily "Thee hasn't lighted
the gas, and look how low the fire is.,"
Friend Seba rubbed his hands togeth.
er nervously, .a
Eyes, l am tired, Rachel" he said,
"but thee has not guessed right. after
all. The gas is not lighted because the
gas man has turned it off. Hush |
don't blame the man. He only did his
duty"
Rachel colorod ff8fi 8.ldEf
Ia I'VE are behind only quarter" she
| said Z Z J. 8 r..r-4,,-.4.
~ destruction Of the poor Is their
poversg," quoted Friend Seba. Hast
the any candles in the house. daugh-
ter n .l#tzf,fI .ftr
Z III can run to the corner store for a
pound, father
''The had better And while thee is
about it, Rachel ordera pull of coal -
| put on the last at 3 o'clock :"
Poor father" wurmured Rachel, as
she hastened on her errand.
Goals = said the fat proprietor, "and
candles, Simmons, eh There's nine
dollars against them on tho books, Da-
vid. Better shut down on that sort Of
thing"
"Oh | guess it will do no harm to
90 little further, SIR said cheerful
David Postley, tall, rosy checked
young man "They're very nice peo-
pie and I'll see that you're none the
worse at the years end"
"Going security for EN-, eh p said
the grocer, Struggling his fat shoulders.
"Well, it's more than | would be will
ling to do" p
SHows the father, Rachel?" David
Postley asked, as he rolled the candles
up in piece of brown paper more care
fully than he would have done for an
ordinary customer.
Hes pretty we'll, thank thee, Da-
vid,", shyly answered the pretty Quak-
eress.
"What did he finally conclude to do
about that offer of Carson's to-day p
"What offer ?" Rachel looked up in
surprise ~
Hasn't he told you Carson, the
real estate agent, was around TO see him,
and offered him nine thousand dollars
cash down for that. old house you live
in"
Rachel took up her packet of candles
10 a confused way as new customer
advanced to the counter, and followed
by little lad bearing the pail Of Goals,
left the store.
"Fatber," she cried, as she hurried
into the house, and lighting one of the
candles, sent the errand boy back with
his empty pail, "what is that,hbout an
offer Of nine thousand dollars for this
house ? Did thee refuse it 2"
"Yes, Rachel admitted Friend Seba
"But will tell thee, daughter, why |
would not sell the place to Lyman Car
son. He wants il to establish a head
quarters for National Lottery. It is
conveniently close to the corner, and
they need building such as this one
could be altered into.
'But if we sell it, father, it is nothing
TO us what use is made Of it afterwards, Z"
pleaded Rachel. "We arc not the pso-
pie who open the lottery. Lotteries are
well, not quite right, perhaps, but if
they don't buy our house, they will buy
some one else's. Aud we need the mon
ey SO much. We are SO poor. father" Z"
"Rachel! My little girl"
Rachel had buried her face in her
hands. The next instant she flung both
her arms around her fathers neck with
a burst Of tears
81 know it !" she sobbcd "Thee is
right, father; thee is always right. 1t
would have been a wicked and sinful
thing to do. II is not good for US, for
mere matter Of gain to 6ght against
the standard ofthe lord In ever 50 tri.
fing a matter Thee knows best, father
We will starve before we will barter
away our souls. wv
Seba Simmons said not word. liz
merely sat quite still and stroked the
shining bronze bands Of her hair with
lOyiaO hand and when al last she wa