Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1895-12-20
MisCellaMenMs.
FINDING A HEART.

IL was not tue SORT OF DAY one would
look for in New England the last weel
in December. The thermometer stood
at So degrees and the sun fell warmly
on the bare, wet earth, drawing up little
breatbs of vapor on the sunny slopes.
There was look of wearinoss on tho
face of nature as if the quiet were the
coma of exhaustion Ii certainly was a
reaction For "a hours the rain had
fallen in torrents, breaking up the ice
and choking the streams. The wind
had been almost gale, and field and
highway were strewn with evidences Of
the storms power.
AT the gate of handsome house stood
its owner, Mr. Ambrose Winchester
accounted one of the wealthest men in
the town. He seemed to be taking 10
the magnitude of the storm AS his eye
swept over his well kept domain from
the thrifty orchards in tho rear and the
woodland beyond TO the smooth meadows
in front, where miniature river seemed
to have sprung into existence
A young man in a buggy drove up
and stopped.
Good morning, Mr.. Winchester p
said he
Good morning, Hutton p said the
other grulfiy.
"l've driven over this morning, Mr.
Winchester, to ask you to extend the
time on that payment I've done my
best to raise the money
ut doesn't matter, Hutton I've
made up my mind to foreclose that
property"
Hutton grew pale.
Surely, you wouldn't do that y
There was entreaty in his voice and
eyes. "You know the factory shut down
to half time all summer Even at that
| was saving toward the payment when
my wife's long illness began. Doctor
and nurse bills ate up what I'd saved
for you
"Same old story A man has no right
to get married until he can support a
family, doctors bills and all I've no
sympathy with such nonsense. People
marry on nothing and then expect other
people to support their families. Sooner
they find out it cant be done the bet.
tor. Now, | take good care Of my fam
lily without anybody elses help. and |
always expect to II you can't do as
much, then it's your fault, not mine
See ? | shall foreclose, and now let US
have no more words about it.
With this the farmer strobe into the
house, the young man driving on slowly
with bowed head
The farmers little girls, Ruth and
Mabel, came dancing out, and their
mother followed them on TO the porch
"Now, be sure and leave grandma's al
4 o'clock. so as to get here before dark, y
Eyes, mamma, we will" they prom.
Used glibly aud started Off on a run.
Grandma Winchester lived about a
mile away, and on an unfrequented road
but the children had made the trip often
since they we're quite small. SO now
they chatted happily along the familiar
path possessed with childish interest
in everything around them, even TO the
washouts the rain had made ia the road
and cutters But when they neared
Blue creek they stood in sheer surprise
The little summer brook they had
sometimes waded across had grown to
an angry torrent aud overlooked its
steep banks and was rushing madly
along, bearing ice, foam and branches
Of trees In fact. tree had lodged
against the bridge, and its limbs so
nearly covered it that it was difficult
for our little travellers b get across
"Oh, how the bridge trembles !" cried
little Mabel
cts all this ice pushing against it, P"
said Ruth.
The wind began 10 rise. aud the blue
gray clouds settled down darkly obscur-
ing the sun, which had made the day
seem 80 fair. The children shivercd in
unison with the change and quickened
their pace.
At 5 o'clock that afternoon the two
little girls stood appalled, at the Blue
creek crossing The brook had swollen
more aud was now a raging torrent
The place spanncd by the bridge was
the narrowest, and the narrow planks,
with the frail side ratings. held TO each
bank az il by thread.
"Sec. Mabel, We must hurry" said
Ruth, or our bridge will be gone
Take ms hand, and we'll ruu across
quick"