The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1898-10-15

She was glad that she was suffering;
1t was but just.
The next morning Miss Biggs donned
her old black alpaca gown, which she
had carefully brushed. Fortunately
the day, for the beginning of autumn
was cold enough to warrant her wear.
ing her winter cape, which hid the
worn spots in her waist. She had
freshened her bonnet with new ribbon
SO that, as she started to the station
next morning, she looked really very
well. The excitement of the occasion
gave color and warmth to her face.
Life was not so hard with $4,000 in
prospect. She stepped along briskly.
One of the uppermost thoughts in
Miss Biggs' mind during the trip to
Plainville was the stone which she
could now put to her fathers grave.
1t should be fine one, and she would
order it that very day in Plainville, as
soon as her interview with Lawyer
Penny was over.
She found the latter awaiting her.
He was an elderly man with kindly
gray eyes.
After he had made various explana-
tions regarding Miss Biggs' legacy, he
said, rather hesitatingly:
"My late client was about to fore
close the mortgage, but perhaps you
will be disposed to exercise little
clemency, and extend the time. II is a
sad case. If James Mayhem had
| lived"
Who" interrupted Miss Biggs.
sharply.
The lawyer looked It her in surprise.
James Mayhem. If he had lived the
mortgage would, no doubt, have been
lifted, but dying so suddenly, he left
his family in very Strengthened cir
cumstances. If time is given Mrs.
Mayhem will most likely be able to pay
the money. She is going bravely to
work, and her eldest boy will soon be
in position to help her. If you will
make easy terms for her. 1t will be
great blow to her to lose her home"
Lawyer Penny paused and looked in
quiringly Mt his visitor, but she made
no reply, and he went on:
II should be sorry to see them lose
time, Mrs. Mayhem will be here to-
day, and ii would be great relief to
her to know"
Miss Biggs stood up abruptly. II
believe l need remain no longer this
morning. You will foreclose at once,
as you were about to do for my cousin
Hiram. Good morning." and she
walked quickly out of the office.
Miss Biggs had walked some distance
when she remembered her intention of
ordering the stone for her fathers
grave, but she had passed the stone
cutters shop, which was several
blocks back. She would not retrace
her steps, for she felt strangely tired
and weak. She had eaten scarcely any
breakfast that morning. She would
return home on the noon train instead
of passing the day in Plainvillle, as she
had intended So she turned in the
direction of the station. When she
reached ii suburban train had just
come in, and the passengers were hur
rying across the platform. One Of
them, n woman, was pushed heavily
against Miss Riggs. She began to
apologize, but stopped suddenly, as
Miss Biggs looked up at her with
quickly suppressed exclamation. The
two women stared at each other few
moments, and then Miss Biggs brushed
hurried into her train.
Sallie Mayhem! And so thin, pale.
and aged! The blue eyes dim and the
yellow hair faded. How different from
the pink and white face which had
tempted Jim.
The weather changed suddenly that
evening. A cold and steady rain set
in. Miss Biggs found it so depressing
that she lit fire on the broad hearth
did so, that with those $4,000, it was no
longer necessary to deny herself such
little comforts. She settled herself to
enjoy the blaze, but she could not
rest. She felt peculiarly unquiet, and
tried to account for 1t by telling her
self that she was tired out after her
trip to Plainville, but as her unrest in
creased, she gave up the attempt of
trying to conceal from herself its true
tduSc' many ohc pun IhtO shape u
resolution which had been trying to
force itself upon her all afternoon, and
then going to bed, slept peacefully.
Among Lawyer Penny's letters the
next morning was the following:
''Mr. J. r. Penny-Dear Sir: You will not |
foreclose that mortgage. / wish you to |
make whatever arrangement will best suit |
Mrs. Mayhem Very truly yours.
SUSAN BIGGS."
81 declare" said Mrs. Sprague during |
the winter: "Susan Biggs ought to be
ashamed of herself to go on wearing |
those shabby old clothes when she has
so much money. She got all that
property of IIiram's, and she is just as
saving as ever. And it is disgrace
for her to leave her fathers grave
without stone. I've no patience with
such people"
The Mntter-Of-FnctG Girl.