The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-09-12
TWO DEBTS.


When Ashbel Dean died, and his
earthly debts and credits were
looked into, it was discovered that
the credit page was nearly as spot
less as the sheet that had covered
Ashbel still toim, while mortgages
tor the tull value of the farm were
recorded on the other side. Ashbel
had been considered betorehanded.
His neighbors said he "speculated
West" and were astonisked when
his death revealed the fact that he
had sacrificed all in an endeaver to
save some shred OF his financial
reputation.
None were 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 death-the
first one-in the family. For days
they dared not speak OF it, but it
was always in their thoughts. At
last the widow reused her energies,
and summoned her children.
I'VE can save the farm" she
said. Manda, you can keep the
district school Israel and | will
carry on the farm. We must all
stand together"
For twenty years they were pos
sessed of that one thought urged by
the one motive-to pay the debt
They stood together twenty years,
and at the end of that time they
owed no man 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 anticipative youth into dulled
middle age. The debt, unscrupulous
and avaricious, had left them no en-
joyment 1t 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 attention OF young men, which
came unsolicited, were refused. Now
she had become thin and sallow.
She knew she could hope for no re-
turn of loves pleasures If
thought OF marriage crowded itself
upon her, she shook it off as un-
welcome. 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 the
burden they had just cast off. Life
looked pleasant suddenly. He
would make some needed improve
ments on the place. The house
should have coat of paint. He
stood in the sunshine, and looked
through the June foliage of the
naples, thought the seed-pods
looked like the legs OF SO many
e'hn painters dangling there painting
the sky. Then he laughed at him
self, and he said he must be getting
young and frisky.
When he was twenty he had
thought to be married. Now, at
forty, he thought Of it again. When
he stopped his visits to Harriet Dow
ner, she understood why. She had
had no company" he told himself,
since then, and his heart gave a
great bound at the thought. Why
should he not.
One day he came to his mother
and sister, and said bluntly, 81 am
going to be married to Harriet Dow
ner."
There was silence for a long mo-
ment rhen his mother said coldly
eve know it."
By the tone and attitude, Israel
understood that his mother and
sister would not welcome the woman
he meant to marry. He understood
that they thought that the tie of con-
slant 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 81 am to marry Har-
riet tomorrow. Shall you be
theree ?"
And his mother answered. "No."
But Israel would keep his VOWS to
Harriet.
The twenty years struggle had
cultivated in him the dogged, reso-
luton inherited from his mother.
He married Harriet and after a
week brought her home. No one
appeared to meet them.
Mother" he called as he went
through the house. In two remote
rooms he found his mother and sis.
ter
Harriet is out there" said he.
And we are here we shall stay
here" said the mother
Israel looked about, dazed. He
remembered afterwards that he sa \