Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1895-10-21

grinding men, Hiram Basset was the
most unyielding, most Implying, mos
ayaricious schemer and grinder.
Yet, under all, lived the hope of hi.
life; still at times he prayed for hi.
fruition upon bended knees still he
wept, yearning, longing, loving tears
for the child he had never seen.
One evening Hiram sat alone in hi
empty little room, when there came {
rap upon the door. He cried "Come
in ~ and there entered woman.
She was young and rather pretty,
decently shabby, timid, and with eye.
TINT looked as though they had been
weeping.
"Nlr. Basset?' she asked.
Hiram nodded
81 am Anne Heldt," she said.
''Don't know the name.
perhaps you know James Heldt ?''
said the girl
James Heldt Yes, yes! The man
who has been trying to cheat me; the
man whose mortgage we foreclose to-
morrow"
The girl clasped her hands.
''No, sir she said che has been
robbed and he has been i'll. He'll
pay in time. Don't sell the little
house; it can be nothing to you with
your great fortune; to HIM it is all. -
"Womens way of looking Mt bust
ness, " said Hiram. "What's due must
be paid. do nothing unlawful.
'No, TO, said the girl, "but I ask
of you-mercy, Give him another
year. He is so old. He is soventy-six,
and this would kill him. 1t is all we
can do to live word from you would
put stop TO these proceedings. In
year we may nage-or-or-I may
be alone. Out OF mercy to him. You
are an old man yourself.
Don't see the argument. Good
many men older than owe me
| money no excuse for non-payment.
Who are youths wife?"
"His daughter, " said the girl. ooh,
sir, could you see him"
business is business" said Hiram.
The girl retreated to the door. She
saw 1t was no use.
My poor father" she sighed
The words touched Hiram; he lifted
his shaggy eyebr rows and looked at her
more kindly.
'a'If ] could would" he said, "but,
You see, want to save Cor my daugh-
ter's sake. Every mans relations
might beg money of me-I-I couldn't
let every mau off scot free-present
him with piece of property and say
Never mind the money ] may seem
hard, but it's for my daughters sake.
[ must leave her rich"
81 don't know who your daughter
! may be, sir, said the girl, "but were
| she | should have money so unmer-
cifully gained. A curse will come to
you for it, remember that"
Aud with these words she left.
Hiram was alone, not quite as COM
Portable as he might have been in
mind, but not one whit moved. The
case was no new one. An old seafar-
ing man had bought some years before
! a little piece of ground with small
house upon it, on which remained a
small mortgage. Since that time the
land, owing to certain improvements
in the town, had multiplied in value.
1t was not the policy of such man as
Hiram to be lenient in such a case. He
had been anxious to regain the prop
erty, and had seized the first oppor-
tunity of doing so.
The next day the mortgage was fore
closed, and in due time the property
was sold at its increased value to q
man who desired to erect factory
/ upon 1t. \ writ of ejectment was
served And again in the twilight
came a rap at Hiram's door, and the
young girl who had entered it once
before stood again before him
81 ask very little" said the girl.
"You have killed my father. He is
dying. I only want you to let him
die in peace. We are ordered to leave
the house tomorrow, and have no
place to go to. A month at farthest
and all will be over there is not
hope; don't turn him into the streets
to die. :"
There's the almshouse," said
Hiram. cit can't be helped"
''You can help it, said the girl.
IL don't choose to! / can't af.
ford it"
"You must. F."
The girl departed, but next day the
agent came TO Hiram complaining bit
terly. The little house was still oc.
cupied by its tenants, the doors and
windows were barricaded, and the wo.
man appeared with revolver and
threatened to shoot any one who en-
tered.
Hiram started to his feet in wrath.
'l'll show them who the house be
longs to, he cried, aud proceeded
with his agent to the little house.
Hiram marched up TO the door ant
struck at it heavy blow with hi,
cane.
"No more of that, said the agent
'We've been at it all day"
But to his surprise the door opened
Oh the instant, and the girl stood be