Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-12-09

the worst OF it it's like any other bad
bargain; but young Hinton has money
and Luce you'd better change your
mind and send him word that you
like him we'll enough. I'll give you
a good start and you II find out that
you have n pretty good old dad after
all.
Lucia kissed her father. but re.
piled:
mot him. I can never marry
him"
The years crept slowly by and
brought their usual round OF bright
and cloudy days Lucia had grown
taller and more beautiful Her father
was still rs grasping as ever. Il
agree with you Luce" he used to
say; there's no special hurry; but
you drop them almost too quick some
times it seems TO me-" One day he
hobbled into tho room where Lucia
sat at work. and said in q severe low
tone: Il hear that you get letters
from that Ang Rowland. Is it trueP"
Il have received letters from him"
Lucia replied land he Is doing very
we'll / understand.
Il don't care how 10 is doing.
That Teller III die poor growled the
old man. He went outside and sat
down on the garden bench. III see
Cicely" said he. with crafty look
on his face. Cicely was the girl who
sorted and dealt out the mail ut the
village post Office. Not long after
this Lucia ceased receiving letters
with a California postmark.
Time passed and it was now nearly
ten years since Lucia and Angus had
stood at the garden gate and said
! gOod-by. Old Marsden had fallen
into a state OF dependency SO utterly
abject that Lucia was sometimes on
the point OF yielding to his wishes
| but she thoughts: 'rll wait awhile
longer; something has happened or
he'd never have broken his word"
One day her father called her to
him. He was unable to get about the
house now but lay propped up in his
chair all day with his eyes closed a
very unhappy old man. Luce" said
he. 'Fll make short work of it, The
last investment | made | staked all
ana lost 1t was the first time. Luce
and your poor father has made many
a bargain in his day. but this timo
has outdone them all. In n month
from now we won't have house to
cover our heads. hoped this sick
ness might hurry me off but see it's
going to give me time and I'll have
to go to the poorhouse. Luce unless
and tho old man looked at her pitiful-
ly. unless you save your dadr'
IN work for your cried Lucia.
''You shall never go to the poor
house" And she was more tender
in the care OF her father atter that.
One day as she stood near her IA
vorite bed OF flowers sadly thinking
how soon she would have to leave
them n voice broke the silence OF
her meditations Il beg your pardon
but your flowers look very pretty and
! had to stop to admire Them" and
looking up Lucia saw u tall. we'll
dressed gentleman stand ng at the
garden gate. Il raise great many
flowers myself " said the gentleman
and l always tn 20 an interest in
them. but live in II flower country
where they grow much more lux
uriantly than here"
Lucia gave startled LOOKOUT no;
how foolish; it couldn't be he. An
gus Rowland could never have de-
veloped into such a handsome man.
Il de 'lare Luce you don't know
me- " said the gentleman. with a
smile.
'Oh. Ang. I know you now. for
you speak with your old voice. but
you have been away long time. !"
You stopped writing and / read
in California paper that you were
married. F." said Angus but recently
l learned that it was false report.
and am here once more TO ask you
to be mine. :"
Father, this gentleman wishes TO
see you" said Lucia as she ushered
Rowland into her fathers room. The
old man murmured: Well have a
chair"
Il understand you have suffered a
misfortune. said the gentleman, k ind.
ly.
Tho old gentleman groaned. 'l'll
have to die in the poor-houso; there s
no help for it.
1T may not be so bad as that 81
said the gentleman.
The old man turned on him fierce
ly. What do you want with me- I'd
like to know? Amt it bad enough
TO be ruined. but a lot OF vultures have
got to come and hover around me be-
fore I'm GeadP"
Il have been investigating the
matter said the gentleman. and |
am sure that it is not so bad as you
think aud here is evidence that you
will not be turned out of your home
at any rate. +" and he opened before
the old man S eyes the cancelled
mortgage. The place is yours said
the gentleman. and all your
other property is sale for have been
making Investigations
Who are you cried old Marsden
shat comes at such time and saves
me from the poorhouse?'
ITS not so bad as that" said the
gentleman, smiling but my name is
Angus Rowland.
The remaining few months of the
old mans life worked a great change
in his character One day when thu
autumn leaves We're turn .ng he called
his children TO him. Good by
said he; Il am going. Yon are q
good boy Ang. and will make her
happy" and he closed his eyes for.
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