The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-10-16
use to Muooieompe.. ;,


"Of course" said Frank, at would BE
much simpler for me to shoot him. but
as you might object to that course as
being too klondikish I'll agreed to your
proposal"
SO they went inside and surprised the
old man, and each made clean breast
OF 1t, and the squire said:
How about the mortgage and the In
terest?'
'I'll pay en-" said Frank.
"YouT exclaimed the old man.
That's what | said" Frank replied In
that manner which is offensive to some
people.
How win you manage thatY" the
squire asked.
Draw check for the amount" said
Frank.
The squire stared. and Grace put her
handkerchief to her face. Then Frank
out and told about his success in the
Klondike. and the old squire swore he had
always liked his pluck and wouldn't have
anybody else in the world for a son-in-
law but him.
II Is no use going on, for the reader
can see we'll enough what Is coming.
Grace resolved to dismiss Muddicombe
very politely, protesting that she was
very sorry, but that she had tried to love
him and failed.
Next day Frank came bounding into
the house, for ii was a hot day, and the
door was wide open. Into the parlor he
went and found Grace there. They were
engaged in those silly antics in which
youthful lovers will engage when sudden
ly there was a footstep, and Grace saw
Muddicombe almost on the threshold.
What was there for her to do? She
didn't want Muddicombe to see Frank,
for she was in hopes of getting rid of her
middle aged lover and him out Of the
neighborhood without his discovering the
true cause of her Diminishing him. She
did what girls situated as she was do on
the stage-put Frank into the closet and
closed the door. She had just done this
when Muddicombe entered the parlor,
said good morning and sat down, Then
began exhibiting to her plans for the re-
construction of the homestead garden
after they were married.
Grace was in truly lamentable condi-
ton of mind as the minutes flew, for
Frank was shut in close and confined
space and might suffocate il he was not
presently released. Fortunately, she
heard the voice of Ned at the other end
of the passage, and saying, Excuse me a
moment" she left the room, hurried to
Ned and took him aside.
"On, dear Ned" she said, I'm in an
awful fix. When / saw Muddicombe COM
ing, / put Frank into the parlor closet
and he'll be suffocated soon If can't get
Muddicombe out of the way. Ned, dear,
can't you help me?"
Ned thought for moment, and then
in an awfully hoarse whisper:
Give me a minute, and I'll manage
it."
He rushed out at the back door, and
Grace returned to the parlor. In less than
minute Ned came in at the front door
on the run and entering the room almost
GREATNESS said:
"Mr. Muddicombe, the doctor-out In
the lane-wants to see you-in a great
hurry-guess something's the matter"
Muddicombe arose and saying, "I'll be
back soon," FASTENED away.
Grace released Frank at once, and II
was time. He was perspiring profusely,
as the place was about as hot as an oven.
go right away to the back piazza"
said Grace. Don't stay a second, as Mr..
Muddicombe may be back"
Frank did as he was told, and Ned
went along with him and explained how
the thing was done. Grace followed and
Rugged Ned and kissed him and vowed
she'd never forget his kindness as long as
she lived. Frank said:
Med, have you got a wheel?"
'No; wish / had" Ned answered.
well, you shall have the best that
money can buy the first time / go to
town."
Mr.. Muddicombe returned and said to
Grace that be wondered why the doctor
didn't stay after sending such an urgent
message. After he left Grace sat down
and with the assistance of Frank wrote
a letter informing dear Mr.. Muddi-
combe" of her change of mind and
breaking the engagement. Ned carried
the letter to the postoffice, and Frank
gave him a dollar.
Two days later Mr.. Muddicombe's law
yer received the full amount of the mort
gage on Squire Culyer's property, with
the interest, and communicated to the
squire that his client had departed for
England, directing him to foreclose, and
leaving the homestead on his hands for
sale. with all the furniture, land and ev-
erything else pertaining to it.
In week the homestead property was
Franks, and when he and Grace were
married a month later they made the
homestead their home.
Ned is married and manages his IA
theirs farm. There are so many young
Culvers and young Laytons that it looks
as though the whole neighborhood win
soon be oyerrun with descendants of the
two Enthusiastically Citizen.