The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-08-17
.,,, .o.n. cen, ma word Jou intended

don't Please don't be 20 hard On
us. Ny poor husband ha. been sicx
in bed for a year, and il we lose our |
little home il will kill him."
Here the poor creature burst ont
crying, and reached for my hand
kerchiei. feeling somehow that being
a capitalist wasn't such fun as I'd
Imagined.
"Oh, Miss Dunning," proceeded
| my guest. as soon az she was able TO
speak, "if you knew how hard we
| worked to build that house. We put
the savings OF years into it, thinking
that in our old age we've have a roof
over our heads, And now we mast
| lose it all"
A fresh burst OF ,obbing interrupted
her, and / swallowed a succession OF
what seemed 10 y, cobblestones. l
tried 10 think what Mr.. Higginson
would have done i'll such an emer-
gency, and wondered il he ever felt
as much like q chicken thief as J. did
ut that moment.
"Why, don't cry" / managed to
say ut last. "I'll not deprive you OF
home. I only bought the mort
gage "a an investment, you know.
Here I was actually apologizing for
having money out at interest" The
poor woman went away a little COM
forted at last, and went to bed with
q nervous headache.
rather lost interest in my mort
gago after that. / didn't sleep well
for some reason, and when / did doze
a little my dreams were haunted IL
weeping old ladies. got bad habit
of going into brown study at incon-
venient times, and would start guilt
lily when spoken to suddenly.
One day 1 got note from Mr..
Adams saying he was going to fore
close ~ once. and assuring mo that
I'd get my money all right needn't
worry. Somehow / didn't find tho
assurance comforting. and went home
without nuy appetite for supper.
"May tho Lord preserve NE from
; ever becoming a capitalist cried Luz
ellie, looking ri my face IS 1 sat try
, ing to read after supper. "You look,
my dear, for all the world like Judas
; Iscariot after he was found out. A
funeral would be cheerful beside you.
Thank goodness Bob is coming to-
night
Bob is Lucille's cousin, young
, lawyer, and the jolliest boy going.
: But alasl when lie came, Bob Was in
the blues. too. He sighed like fur
naac every few moments, aud finally
announced that he couldn't stay.
IT want TO see O man named Adams
! about a mortgage ho said, aud ]
|, turned cold all over.
). cts the saddcst case 7 ever heard
' Of" he went on. "A1 old couple who
: are clients OF mine had mortgage or
their home. 1t WIS bought ycay OF
go ago by some shnrk or other"
covered my eyes with my hanf
= just here, and lucille conghed in al
" embarrassing way. But Bob noticed
:. nothing aud proceeded in troubled
" tone:
: "Of course, they couldn't keep III
- the interest. Whoever bought tLt
~ mortgage knew they couldn't. Sucl
i" people always figure on that, 20,
~ know, and now the poor old chap ha
70 gone crazy over losing his home
10 clean daffy, you know-and his poe
10 wife will be turned out unless some
=. thing is done"
VI There was dead silence for nc
er ment when he stopped, and then
G got up without word, and, going t
my desk, unlocked the drawer wher
kept the precious mortgage. Witt
y trembling fingers seized my pen an
H. with few strokes cancelled the mort
8 gage, and rs did so load rolled o.
4, my heart
20 Here" cried eagerly to the mys
H. tilted Bob, take this to that poo
o; woman, quick, to night"
ooh, Sara" cried Lucille, "yo
OF worked so hard for that money"
y $50 has she," said. "And L al
~ young and strong, while she is oil
-. aud helpless. Oh, Lucille, if 20
~ knew how I've hated myself lately.
y Lucille took mo in her arms, an
then explained things to Bob, while
-. cried little, though 1 couldn't bel
W. thinking what Mr.. Higginson woul
No have said at my behavior.
10 We got Bob off at last, as happy 8
=. lord, and then Lucille embraced N
-. again.
- ''You were never cut out for cap
= talist. I knew it all the time" 81
- cried, tr1umphantly.
90, "Thank you, DEAR" said, meekl,
he "And say, Lucille, let's go to he,
~ Maude Adams tonight"
"Why," she exclaimed, her eyes
u big rs saucers, 1.-THE prices are way I
~, in g."
-! "Who cares?" I said. "I'm rich
" might than I've been for years."
And we went.