The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-30
A NEW ENGLAND DEBT.
BATTLE OF TWENTY YEARS
AGAINST A MORTGAGE.

Hands to Discharge the Fathers
Ob,i4ation - Freed from That the
Man Seeks the Pleasures OF
welded Life and Breaks the Family
Tie.
george Putnam in Harper's Weekly.
When Ashbel Dean died and his earthly
,,hits and credits were looked into it was
uncovered that the credit page was nearly
= sn7tless as the sheet that had covered
/ ,sbbeIs still form, while mortgages for the
t,ll value of the farm were recorded on the
amer side. Ashbel had been considered
t,re5anded. His neighbors said he 'specu>
lated west" and were astonished when his
bath revealed the fact that he had sacrificed
ali in an eudeavor to save some shred of his
financial reputation.
None we're more surprised than his own
family. This included the widow, and
Amanda ana Israel, twins, 20 years old.
They were crushed. They shrank from it
&C from the presence of death-the first one
IN the family. For days they dared not
sneak of it, but it was always in their
tSouqbts. At last the widow reused her
energies and summoned her children
Eve can save the farm she said.
Israel and I will carry on the farm. We
must all stand together"
For twenty years they were possessed 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 man any
thing
The mother looked scarcely a day older.
The work of directing had kept her faculties
Il Ilt,rc Il H.
had passed from anticipative youth into
dulled middle age. The debt, unscrupulous
aud avaricious had left them no enjoyment.
1t ad robbed them of life's most desirable
part.
When Amanda was 90 she was called
pretty. Gatherings had been incomplete
without her. After that she never at
tended another. The attentions 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 thought of marriage
crowded itself upon her she shook it off as
UNIV elcome. 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 bis
CALLED shoulders of the burden they had
lust cast off. Life looked pleasant suddenly.
on the place. The house should have a coat
Of paint. He stood in the sunshine, aad,
Looking up through the June foliage of the
m .ples, thought the seed pods looked like
tee legs of So many elfin painters dangling
ta,re painting the sky. Then he laughed az
himself and said he mus be getting young
and risky.
When be was 20 he had thought to be
married. Now at 40 he thought of 1t again.
When he stopped his visits to Harriet Dow
nei she understood Why's She had had no
company" he told himself, since then, and
his heart gave great bound at the thought.
Why shoald he nots
One day he came to his mother and sister
aud id bluntly: 81 am going to be mar
Rod to Harriet Downer."
There was sileuce for a long moment;
then his mother said coldly: "We know
it"
BY the tone and attitude, Israel under
stood that his mother and sister would not
welcome the woman he meant to marry
He understood that they thought the tie of
constant effort of the last 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 harriet to-
morrow. Shall you be rhere9"
And his mother answered, mo-
But Israel would keep his VOW TO Har-
riet. The twenty years struggle had cult
waited in him the logged resolution in
herited from his mother.
He married Harriet and after week
brought her home. No one appeared to
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 here"
said his mother.
Israel looked about dazed. He remem-
bered afterward that he saw a stove, with
pots and pans and dishes, and in the other
room a bed. table, and chairs. The two
women had made all preparations for living
by themselves.
And this was the brides home-comlngl
Yet the married two lived happy life
tog sther. Israel felt keenly the mental
misery his wife must endure, aud strove 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 between
the two parts of the house, aud no messages
passed, no visits exchanged.
Thus for two years, when G baby was
born. Then one day Harriet said to
Israel, Take the baby, and 90 to your
mother" He understood, and taking the
child IN his arms, went and knocked at the
door.
who is itF" said his mothers voice.
"Your son and grandson, !" he replied
There was slight noise and a pause
within. Then Amanda said: eve are too
busy to see you"
He returned and laid the baby by his
wife. She did not need to question him by
word or eye.
Two years more went by. One morning
Israel called his wife to come down into the
garden. He had some vegetable wonder to
show her.
But can't take the baby out in the
dew" she objected.
Leave him where he is. He'll do no
Marin for five minutes"
Then toddle, toddle away-the little feet
Knew the path that was forbidden them
straight on through the unused passageway
TO the door at the end. He pushed and
shuft1ed babilv against it.
WI hats that queer noise at the door,
'Mandan
Sounds like dog ;" said Amanda.
but when the door opened in tottered a
naoy, triumphant, happy, eager. Every
line of his baby face, every curl, had been
Deen craven In the widows heart for forty
years, aud it suddenly opened to show her
the likeness
Its Israel over againIn she cried. And
~ moment she was on the floor caressing,
kissing the little one
Bllghted Amanda leaned on her broom
pewlldered, looking at this strange happen
ing. And Israel and Harriet, fastening
after the child. stood in the doorway wit-
Messing the first step in reconciliation.
Come to mamma Israel - said Harriat