The Black range. (Robinson, Socorro County, N.M.) 1882-1897, 1897-04-02

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again, and you ought not 10 it. You
must look on the brigh ter side of things,
wife, and never lose hope"
John, it is useless for us to try to
disguise our feelings any longer" Mary
replied. I'VE know and understand
each other too well for that, and we
know that there is nothing on earth for
us to hope for. l have all along af-
feeted a cheerfulness did not feel, be-
cause l thought it helped to tighten
your burdens little, but now we per-
fectly understand each other, and TO
dissemble longer is folly. know what
you suffer, John, for have seen it
from the first, and know that there is
no hope in your heart"
MARY, don't talk So" John pleaded
"The future does look dark and blank,
but it may not be so bad as it seems.
We must keep up courage"
Mary shook her head despondently,
and the tears she had with so much eff
fort restrained broke loose and flowed
thick and fast. John placed his arm
about her and drawing her to him laid
her head on his shoulder.
"Mary," he said, 81 know the pros
pect is discouraging, but there viii be
d way of getting through it. Next year
we shall raise good crops and have
plenty, and only few short months of
privation lie between now and then"
eyes, it may be as you say, John, "
Mary replied; "but how are we to live
through those few months? You know
we have no provisions, not enough to
supply our wants for another week,
and no money to buy more. There is
not a particle of flour or meal in the
house, and Louise has gone now to try
to get some from the store. Markham
has refused us credit, but surely he
won't deny her when he knows that we
must have it or starve."
For a little while a perfect silence
reigned. Mary sobbed on her husband $
breast like q heart broken child, while
John ga2ed vacantly out into the
gathering darkness, now and then
drawing his rough, soiled sleeve across
his eyes. A minute or two passed so,
and then John spoke.
1--WE must have money, Mary" he
said, "to tide us over this spell. 1t
won't take a great deal, and we must
get it,"
GLOW can we get it?" Mary asked
'lYe can get it in but one way, Mary,
and that is way that do not like. 1t
is a way that l have fought against
and hoped never to have to resort to.
We must borrow the money, Mary, and
give a mortgage on the farm"
"Oh, John! Johnw Mary cried, start
ing up. Don't speak of such a thing.
Surely you have not forgotten what we
passed through back there at the old
home?"
"No, wife, have not forgotten, and
! never shall"
"Then do not talk of mortgaging the
claim, for it is all we have left to us,
and to mortgage it is to lose it"
"But, Mary, we must live, and that
IS the only thing we can do to get pro-
visions We cannot starve.'
mo, we cannot starve; but it is hard
to lose our home and again go into the
world penniless.
John pretended to take more cheer
full view of the situation, and it is
probable that he managed to delude
himself to some extent. Anyhow, his
voice resumed a little of its old-time
ring and his eyes grew brighter as he
said:
"We will not need much money, wife,
and with a good crop next year we can
repay it easily Now here is an advcr-
tisement in this paper of money to loan
on long time and easy terms, Three
hundred dollars would tide us over
nicely, and as the claim is worth a
thousand, we can no doubt get all the
time we want on SO small an amount,
only SO we keep the interest paid. I've
been thinking the matter over, and IT
seems to me that if we gave a mortgage
for two or three hundred dollars we
wouldn't have anything to worry over"
1t was some time before Mary made
any reply to this, and when she did, she
said:
81 wish I could think your statement
correct, John, and could believe that
the debt would be 50 easily paid off;
but no matter about that, for the mort
gage will have to be given, and perhaps
we ought to feel thankful that we have
that means of prolonging our lives.
Who has the money to loan?"
"Soraggs."
''Thon you will 60 down tomorrow
and see about getting it?'
eyes, It had as well be done at once,
If we are to borrow it, there is no use
to delay. | will drive over and take
you with me, so that the papers can be
made ont and the business all complet-
cd tomorrow"
Soon Louise returned empty-handed
from the store, Markham having again
refused to let any goods so without
money Louise had been crying and
there were still tears in her eyes when
she reached her parents.
t,tYrt,c4 l. @l,o ,n,++orOs3 Tho Yv,o4ba,.