The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-03-25

7*SsME# yoush, b.'n h. d d
thought herpre
ty; but her mouth to. day had shrewish
look, and there was vindictive snap in
her small black eyes. Her hair was
twisted so tightly that the wind was
powcrless to ruffle it, and in her starchud
calico gown and gingham apron there
was grim tidincss uurelievad by collar
or ribbon. She had been to the garden,
and she held in her hand stalk of rhu.
bard, from which she was pulling in a
preoccupicd way the silky red peel.
"ph, I've got II sort OF lien on it,
but that amt ownin' it," said the man.
without looking up. He was raking the
front yard.
"You hol the mortgage, don't you7"
said the woman, biting off a bit of the
rhubarb.
"S'pose l do2"
"Why. the int'res' amt ben paid for
three wears. You know that 'thout INV
tcllin' you"
"Well?' said the man, indifferently.
"Well! repeated his wife, sharply.
chow long you goin' to let it run on so?"
Jason stopped raking, and looked at
her uneasiy. "You don't mean. Mi
randy, that you want me to foreclose on
my own father and mother9"
"Why not! Business is business. re.
lation nr no relation; an if you Gid that,
tue place Il be ours to do as we please
with"
81 ain't SO sure about that. It's down
in black an white that, whether the
int'rcs is paid Or not, fathers al'ays to
have home here. Uncle Richard use'
TO hol the mortgage; an when he died.
some hvc or six years ago, father got me
to take IT, SOS it wouldn't 60 out o. the
family but 'tain't ever ben changed"
Then twas made out for he married
aginI" said Miranda.
"Well, what o. that2"
"Nuthin'; only in that case she ain't
counted in. An she a;n't your mother,
any way"
'Shes the oniv mother l ever knew
anything about, Mirandy. She's ben
mother to me ever since was three year
ola right-down good one, too; an as
Tor her not bein' counted in, she's jus' as
much rlght here as if she was; cause
sitter iather got hurt in the brickkiln.
there was good many years that he
WASH t able to do much, an all that time
she KEEP the int'res' paid up out of her
own pocket. Uuclc Richard toll me so. +"
Miranda, who had stood nervously
nibbling the rhubarb stalk, made haste
to change her tactics. "Oh, of course,
Jason, I'd al'ays expect you to he good
to her. But you know yourself faint
very pleasant havin' two heads to a
house; an' so long as Mother Sands
thinks she owns it all, l dasn't say a
word even if everything goes to rack an
ruin. Besides, she's glttin' too OIL to
have the care"
Jason listened with sort of helpless
Pauehce. lie was an easy tempered
man, ready to yield almost any point for
the sake of peace, aud his wife was we'll
aware OF his weakness. 1t was to please
her that he had sold his farm; and
though at the time he fully intended to
buy another, before he could decide on
one she had persuaded him to take a
! place that had been offered him by a CITY
! Trend rs drummer in wholesale grocery
store. 1t was business that seemed tC
her much more "gentcel" than farming.
| Meanwhile he had accepted his mothers
invitation to bring his family home 70,
visit. jus till can get time to look
up house." ne said.
But Miranda had always coveted the
pretty cottage, and before they had
been IN it week she had de.
termined to get possession of il
| Jason had never told her of the
Il, a. IL
would eventually belong to him, he had
not been troubled by the fact that the
interest was not always promptly
PAID; neither did he want the old folks
troubled, and it vexed him that Miranda
had chauccd to find the papers. But he,
reasoning III regard to the housek ecpina
seemed very plausible. His mother wa;
past seventy, it was time she had rest.
and she could have it as well as not il
she would only con sent to let ',lirandy''
take charge of things for white.
81 wish you'd speak to her bout it,"
said Miranda. "Saed be gOJl dcL
more likely to do it if you pcrposcd it
an if / did,
Jason did not covet the task, but he
knew the penalty Of refusing.
"She's in the Kitchen Miranda re.
marked, with another nibble at the
rhubarb stalk.
"No hurry about it," grumb!ed Jason.
But presently, with AN air Of forced sur.
render, he laid down his rake aud went
INTO the house. lie found his motbe,
making bread.
you see, mother, you're gettin'
Kinder along in years" he argued, "an'
you'd ought to let somebody else do the
helt of the work. Why don't YOU let
MIrandy, long as she's here? She's a
mrs rate housekeeper, an she'd ruther
do it AN not"
The little old lady lifted her head
with troubled look. 'Why, T shouldn't I
know what to do with myself, Jason, if ]
hadn't something to keep me busy I've
aFays ben USE to it, you know. But"
sine added, drawing in her lip, and
slowly patting the loaf she was knead.