Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1897-12-03
os,eep, His little hand slowly re,

laxed about the watch Chain and Eel!
with a soft slap Ia the big hand under
meath. Through the thick coat his
little head felt pleasantly warm.
When lilly went home that after
noon she carried, tightly held against
her breast, little role of mortgage
money" that meant home and Roddy
Doc and all things beautiful to her.
She hid the most Of il away with care
full prudence and only resorted to it
under actual stress of need. For little
lilly Gamble carried on her narrow,
thin shoulders a wise head Of her own,
She went patiently about among the
neighbors seeking work, squaring the
thin shoulders and trying to look
"grown up" and capable. II was a
Encouraging quest for the most part,
but lilly kept persistently, stubbornly
Mt IL till she found, here and there,
little tasks to do that helped to make
Roderick Dhu's mortgage "spend."
But the little hidden hoard dwindled
in spite of lilly. There was the in
terest money--that came out of 1t
every month-and every month, with
precise regularity, lilly and Roddy
Doc, shining and clean, paid it to
Gershom Flint.
He came to anticipate their coming
with more interest than he would con-
fess to his logged old heart, 1t grew
TO be the one bright, fresh spot in his
lonesome existence - the sight of
Tilly's plain, honest little face and
Roddy Docs nestle on his knee. Be-
tween times, too, he kept the children
in view, quietly and with feeling of
responsibility that greatly astonished
himself.
Once he made them o call at the
shanty house. He had heard that its
owner was planning to tear it down
and rebuild in q short time. The
news disturbed him unaccountably.
lilly was ironing, pieced ont by the
salt box. The baby, pieced out by the
clothesline, was placidly making mud
pies outside the kitchen door. He
held one up to Gershom Flint with
prompt politeness, pressing it upon
him.
"No, thank you, I've had my din
ner, Roderick Dhu. Where's your
sister, eh?"
lilly appeared at the door, rolling
down her sleeves precipitately.
sob, Mr.. Flint" she said, won't
you walk right in? I'll wash Roddy
DOCS face an unite him. Won't you
take chair?"
Gershom Flint's keen eyes looked
over Tilly's head at the kitchens bare
ness and tiny dimensions. He noticed
how clean it was. He saw the salt
box. and it appealed with dumb pa
thos to him. And this was the home
they were going to be turned out of
mo. No, 1 won't come in" he
said, slowly. 81 was going by and
thought 1 would stop and see il my
ah-property was in good condition
or needed repairs HnysnfSg6 fAsAtt'
sort"
He looked down at the little mud.
pieman, with the wrinkles again
around his eyes.
| ic SSVho yto, bhouu suN ut
was in perfect repair. : / am entirely
satisfied" he added, gravely.
When winter arrived affairs in the
shanty house were sorely out of joint
The old contingency stared lilly in
the face, and new troubles augmented
her alarm. Roddy DOCS mortgage
that was all gone, and, oh, the interest
money! lilly wrung her thin little
hands in despair. The interest had
not been paid for ever so long. And
the last--not least--straw was the
shanty house itself. For they were
ordered out in three days.
1t was interest day, and lilly muf.
fled Roderick Dhu in her shawl and
led his little tagging feet to Gershom
Flints. Not to pay it--oh, no! Blu,
they must go and tell him they couldn't
yet.
II can't pay it, Mr. Flint" she
cried, TREMENDOUSLY. 81 can't. But il
you'll wait"
NO." Gershom Flint said, distinct.
ly, IL shall foreclose
"F-fore--what, sir?"
lilly did not comprehend the word,
but the sound of it terrified her. 1,
sounded like "'sylum" in her ears.
81 shall foreclose," said Gershom
Flint again. and that means the
baby belongs to me. When the inter
est is unpaid the possessor of the
mortgage has the right to the mort
gagged property. Roderick Dhu, come
here! Take off his shawl"
He held out his arms, and the child
leaped into them.
"Tilly come-Tilly tool" he cried in
his shrill treble. "Tilly come too"
lilly stood in fixed despair. Her
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