The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-27
PRIZE DETECTIVE STORIES, No. 35.

she gave a chuckling little laugh. 81 de-
clare, / wonder what ailea the man. lie
use TO be spoonin' around bout twenty
or thirty years ago; but was young and
smart then, and we was rich; and any
way i was fsncyin' som'un else myself.
So | said 10 him today, 1 says, what
ever ails you, Mr.. Corvin? j guess may
be you used to want me for the sake or
my money! ! says; "but now," l Gays,
you've got the money, and what under
the canopy would you be wanting OF
met" 80 / laughed. But / thought to
myself, Nhinks ], well, guess l would
MT marry q man that was the cause OF my
dear boy Tom gettin' drowned, not TO
speak OF what folks said about my poor
brother Matt not that i believe myself II
was Jest Mr.. Corvin's fault, you know;
but one feels things that way. dldnt
tell him that; It's no use hurting folks
feelin's."
"what did he say?n
"Well, he sort o. come out then; he
says, That's Jet it,, he says; you ain t got
no money, an hate TO have 1t that way.
but what can do he says. Here I've
been lendin' you money these ten year 5
back, Nancy he says, 'on the security
of your land an cattle an stuff, be says;
am now you amt got nothin more 10
pledge, and I'll have TO foreclose on that
mortgage tomorrow, he says. An what
thought was, Nancy, " you'd have me,
III WOulQ U1okt IL III nc
says for i was alays fond O you, you
know; an now I've been widower five
year, an everythin' ready for you, ef
you'll come, he says. AN ef you don't,
upon my word, don't see how you're
a-goin TO get on anyway, he says.
"Hs hasn't got this house, though, has
HEP" asked the child.
{" No, lovey, he amt: an that's what
told him; an said I'D starve in it
sooner'n sell II, for it was Billop's house
ever sence twas built, an don't consid-
er I've any right TO make away with ii
while live. An / told him, may be
the folks around would give me work TO
do; anyhow, marry, i couldn't. By'n by
he said, SWELL, I'm sorry TO foreclose, he
says; 'but 4 can't help 1t; need some
cash to put into new investment he
says; an then he went on to tell about a
man had come TO town with new inven-
tion--some way OF making crops grow
with Electricity, but / didn't understand
how twas. Mr.. Uorvin, he wanted to
buy the stock OF the invention, and had
TO have cash. SO be said Of 1 wouldn't
marry him, and didn't have the money
for the mortgage tomorrow, why he'd be
sorry, but he'd Jest be obliged to sell up
the farm an fixin's. SO said, well, eff
you have TO do IL, sell away, MIR. Cor
vim i says; AN, don't you bother bout
Nellie an me- 1 says; Il guess the
Lord'll look out after US, some way:' an
then l told him I'D have to be gettin' the
dinner ready, an asked him would he
stayf But he said no, an SO off he went. T"
"Do you think the Lord will take us
to Heaven, now we have no moneyY'
Nellie inquired.
"Oh, well, / guess we'll get on all right
down here for spell yet, lovey," Nancy
replied, cheerfully.
"Ill trot over TO the village tomorrow,
and see ef maybe can't get somethin' TO
do cookin', or sewin, or such like.
There's good long bit between you an
me an stsrvip', my pet; an we 'ays got
the old house to live in, you know
thanks be!n
Nellie made no rejoinder, and they sat
silent. \ he fire fell into red embers, on
cushion OF white ash. The wind rose
without, and the boughs OF the great
trees swept across the roof OF the house
with a swishing sound, as IL cnressing
the venera BILE building over which they
bad stood guard so long. How many
generations OF Billops had that soothing
sound hushed to sleep! Nancy was be-
ginning to nod, when suddenly she felt
Nellie start slightly and saw that she had
lifted her head, and was listening in
tently.
"What is II, Iovey? Rats?n
"Musicl'' whispered Nellie. "There-
don't you hear7p'
Nancy uttered faint cry, and sat rigid.
Music! 1t was unmistakabe. At first
a light and airy strain, rising and falling
with the breeze, like the notes of an aeo-
liar harp. 1t was a fitful, undulating
call, as OF fairy minstrels signalling with
elfin horns. But presently II assumed
measured form; ii gathered itself into
diatonic melody, warbiing delectably.
What made It? Where did Il come from?
After moment Nellie jumped up, ran to
the window, and threw it open. L. came