The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-04-30

have the very best OF nursing.
Mr.. Overton sighed and looked hope
| less at this announcement, and with
grave shaking of his head replied:
THAT I'm afraid is something i'm
| possible. Neither myself nor the chill
| dren know anything about nursing the
sick, and l know of no one L could get
| Tor love or money who does know"
| Miss Fink, who happened to be pres
ent, at once spoke up and said:
Don't worry about that, Mr.. Overton.
Neighbors are not so plentiful out here
that they shouldn't render each other
a little friendly service when they can.
| I'll stay with your wife and nurse her
through this spell, and be glad to do it,"
Mr.. Overton did not hesitate to accept
Miss Fink's services, though he made
a slight demur against her putting her
self out on his and his wife's account
| just demur enough to give tone to his
conduct and lend it an air of unselfish-
| ness.
| Three weeks went by, and the doctors
opinion proved so far correct that at
| the end of that time Mrs. Overton died.
But Miss Fink had been true and faith
| full as a nurse, and Mrs. Overton died
blessing her for her kindness. Mr.. Over
ton professed the warmest gratitude,
and thanked Miss Fink over and over for
the great service she had rendered him
and his during the trying event.
Nine months passed, and the mort
gage on Miss Fink's claim came due.
Miss Fink hadn't the money to
take it up, but she had suf-
fered no uneasinness about it, since
she had spoken to Mr.. Overton and he
had assured her that it would be all
right, for it was hardly possible that
Mr.. Overton could be hard on her after
ell she had done for him.
But it seems that, however long we
| live in this world, there are always some
disagreeable new features of humanity
coming to our notice. Miss Fink had
only passed through thirty years of life.
so it may be readily surmised that her
knowledge of humanity and its short
comings was very limited. She didn't
known Mr.. Joseph Overton even half so
well as she thought she did.
Five days after the mortgage fell due
Mr.. Overton called on Miss Fink. He
was smiling and affable, and showed
great interest in Miss Fink health and
well-being. But after time these COM
monplace subjects were dropped, and
Mr.. Overton approached one of much
more serious import.
Miss Fink" he said Il am sorry to
have to trouble you for that little
amount | loaned you, but / find uneX-
pcctedly that [ stand in the most Sc
rious need of it, and if it should be CON
venient for you to let me have it l
should be under many obligations to
you"
Miss Fink started and looked very
| hard at Mr.. Overton.
Why" she gasped, finally, 81 under
stood you to say Il couple of weeks ago
that the loan might run until sold this
years crops!"
81 did say so, Miss Fink, but some
thing unlocked for has turned up, and
| find | must have the money at once"
1T wi. be impossible sor me to pay
it now" Miss Fink replied, slowly and
sadly, for | haven't a dollar, and know
of no way of raising one. If you will
only let the mortgage run six more
months l will pay you well for it,
Mr.. Overton shook his head and
sighed.
I'D be glad to- he said, "but find it
impossible to do so. really must have
the money. l cannot get along with
out it,
Mr.. Overton went home and at once
took steps to foreclose the mortgage.
Miss Fink worried and pondered over
the matter day and night, and in no
way could she account for Overton's sud
den change of mind.
at can't be-" she said to herself, that
he is in such urgent need of the money.
It's curious about his conduct, and try
as | will | can't make it out. There
must be something at the bottom of it,
Miss Fink was right in her surmise
There was something at the bottom of
it. Overton did not want the money
at all. He wanted the land. AS stated
before, he loaned the money with the in
tention of getting the land, and some
thing had developed lately to strength
Ell his in his purpose.
A railroad had been surveyed through
the country and it had been located
right through Miss Fink's claim. This
much Miss Fink knew, but no more.
Mr.. Overton know a great deal more
He knew that town site had been To-
Gated on Miss Finli's land and that the
railroad company were going to pur-
chase so acres of it at good round
price.
In fact, Mr.. Overton had been in
strumental in bringing these things
about. He had secured the location of
the town site, expecting to be in posses
sion of the land in time to close the deal
with the company and reap the benefit
| of the transaction. Hence his haste
to close the mortgage.
To the agent of the railroad company
Mr.. Overton had been quite communi-
cative, though he had represented
things in the beSt light for his own
| interest In the pOnrSe of his ramorI. ..