Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-26
Copyright, 1895, by Irving Bachelier.)
Continued from Wednesdays Starr
CHAPTER w

Copyright, 1895, by Irving Bachelier.)
Continued from Wednesdays Starr
CHAPTER ".
well, now, Mr.. Morford, don't jest like
you should talk that way" said Nancy to
her visitor the next morning. Its a real
Gle; and real mir'cles is like religion
1 think they be. So don't like you should
poke fun at it. You city folks don't never
want to be serious eff you can help it, l
know; but there tits. 1t dropped right down
out of heaven. through our chimney. an
jest at the very time we needed 1t the
worst. too; and then there was my poor
brother Mats voice a-sayin' he'd sent it a
purpose to pay Off Mr.. Corvin, and free the
mortgage. An that's what I'm a-goin' to
do the first minute Mr.. Corvin calls here
this day; an my sakes! won't that man
jest be surprised! 1 guess he won't b'lieve
where we got 1t, no more'n you do-may
be less"
Mr.. Morford, it should be said was the
young man with the patent electrical in
vention. who was making the rounds of the
neighborhood to get subscribers to his
stock. When he had knocked at the door
that morning Nancy had supposed it must
be Corvin, come for his mortgage money,
and opened to him with her rosy face
dimpling with pleasant anticipation. Ex-
PidHdtioHS Hdu eNSueQ, Mr. NOF1OrQ naO
introduced his business, and had soon Gre
ated SO pie asant an impression that the con-
versat1on became easy. Nancy was far too
full of her miracle, and far too IMMERSED
IN worldly caution. to withhold the story:
though Mr.. Morford wore city clothes, and
had rather satirical expression about the
corners Of his mouth occasionally, still
there was something about the look in his
eyes, and his general bearing. that inspired
confidence. At all events, she unfolded her
guileless heart, and in the course of half
an hour had told him at least as much of
her history as the patient reader has learn
ed in all these painful days. Nellie, after
studying the young man with the silent
profoundly of childhood for ten or fifteen
minutes, had also decided to like him, and
had presented him with a bunch of COR
geous sugar-n APPLE leaves.
I'm not skeptic, Tor an infidel Miss
Biliop, said Mr. Morford. Il like to see
the bottom Of things If I can; and there
are miracles enough without needing to
have solid money fall out of the sky. Have
you searched the garnet and"
searched? Well. jest you ask Nellie. Eff
there's a square foot O. space inside this
house OF outside of it that she amt poked
An there amt no trace of nothin', nor no.
body, not nowheres. An then as for the
music an the voice, 1 don't know how you'd
get around themi
Matthew Billop disappeared mysteriously?
that his manner of death was never
known?'
Yes, but he's dead. poor Matt, guess"
said Nancy. with sigh; ''ef he warn't. I'd
heard from him before this: an then
again, eff what some thought was true
that he'd head foul play from-well, from
any one, I'd heard of it. too, from his
sperrit, eff no ways else. I was thinkin
last night, after he'd sent that money, that
ef he'd been murdered. he'd said so then
But al! he said was, Pay Corvin.' he says.
an, n be at peace so 1 guess he died
a
brother to me, an arlays loved him right
nearly, vet l don't mourn after him like
would eff he hadn't been man past his
prime, as had lived an had his fling an
don't doubt is happier now than eff he were
here with us. But it's different bout Tom;
L never can get used to losin' that dear
precious boy. He was the cutest, smartest
best boy ever did live. an couldn't have
loved him more not eff he'd been my
An l amt never felt the same woman
sence lost him; an it may be wickedness
but do say amt never been able to for
give Mr.. Corvin for the part he took in
runnin' Tom to his death In course he
didn't mean it; but still Mr. Coryin
might sold me up an don't bear him no
grudse bout not payin' the money he
the debt was lost with Matt, and men O.
bus ness naturally don't pay more'n they
nave to; but when think of my darlin'
money in his pockets that he'd never in
this earth put there himself Well.
Mr. Morford. 1 don't know what you'l
think of an old woman like me to be cry-
ing bout it after these nine years: but
love my Tom jest the same as eff I'd seen
him yesterday"
Then you feel quite sure the boy never
stole the money! said Mr. Morford. after
pause, in a gentle tone.
That boy steal? It'll be the happiest day
of my life, Mr.. Morford, when l meet him
in heaven, and hear all the angels standin
roun there say, You was right, Nancy;
there aln't none innocenter than him
here!"
ut ought to make him happy to hear you
say that, wherever he is" said Mr.. Morford
getting up and walking to the window. 1T
would be good thing if you could find the
l. .. U. for the money your brother lent
Corvin, wouldn't it?" he added, presently
turning round.
WELL I'm thankful enough to be able to
pay him, without his paying me; and land
sakes!' she observed, with laugh, Il guess
IT 'ud go agin' the poor mans grain to
have to do It,"
He'll be here in a few minutes" said
Morford Il just saw him turn in at the
foot Of the hill Now, look here, Miss Bill
lop; if I were you, when you pay him the
money, 1 wouldn't tell him anything about
how it came to you; just let him guess all
he wants to. It's none of his business; and
maybe the spirit Of your brother may have
some other surprises in store for him, that
would be interfered with if you were to say
anything now. While you're doing your af-
fair with him, I'd like Nellie to show me
round the place bit, outside Will you do
1t. Nellie? I saw jolly cave underneath