The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-10-16
He TOLD A NROPPER.
H&%~
But Helped His Sister to
Get Rid of the Man She
Didn't Love and Marry
the Man She Did Love.
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oMo*o*o*o*o*o%o &o&oMo&o#
When old Mr.. Bevans died at Niche
conk, Nathaniel Muddicombe, his grand
son, was the only heir. He was born and
brought up in England and had never
seen his grandfather Six months after
his death Mr.. Muddicombe appeared at
Nicheconk and took possession of the old
homestead where his mothers ancestors
had lived for generations and where
many Beyanses were born only to die off
and make way for the son of the dead
mans daughter, whom he had repudiated
because she married an alien and whom
he had cut off in will which he destroy
ed the very day of his death, the man in
whose favor it was having borrowed one
of his dogs to so hunting and accidentally
shot it. So the property went to the re-
pudiated daughters only child, she her
self having died few months before her
father.
Mr.. Muddicombe found that his grand
fathers estate held mortgage for S.. 900
on the farm of Squire Culver near by,
and interest was overdue. So he went to
see the squire about 1t and was bewitch-
ed by the squirrels daughter, Grace, as
ShCNe q SOuhlA9 ittSo ever ludnuReu u
dairy. Muddicombe said not word
about the interest either on his first call
or any other, but he began to make love
to Grace, who was in a sad quandary.
She was just 20, and three years before
Frank Layton, to whom she had plighted
her troth, had started for the Klondike,
and from that time she had never had
word from him, but had learned from the
newspapers that the vessel In which he
sailed was lost and that nearly If not all
on board had persisted.
Her father didn't know of her engage
ment to Frank, and therefore he en-
couraged Muddicombe. He was rich and
was putting the old homestead in SPLEEN
did order and exercising excellent taste
In preserving all the quaint characters
tics Of the house. He was a good
enough fellow in his way, but he was 40
years old, bald and sedate as a deacon.
Poor Grace didn't care just one little bit
for him and let him see it in as polite a
way as she knew how. Nevertheless he
perseyered, and the squire was happy,
for he saw how his daughters marriage
to Muddicombe might not only wipe out
the mortgage, but make her mistress of
the fine old homestead and the wife of a
rich man.
The time came when Muddicombe
spoke to the old man, who consented
cheerfully to his paying attentions to
Grace. Grace, knowing how her father
was situated, didn't say no, but asked
time to consider his offer, with which
she expressed herself as greatly fiatter-
ed and so forth. But to her 12-year-old
brother Ned she communicated her de-
cision to run away rather than marry the
solemn, shiny pated, stupid old fellow,
and Ned encouraged her, vowing that, if
the worst came to the worst, he would
go with her and before doing SO help
himself to some of the old mans cash
and a rife.
Grace put off Muddicombe week after
week until another six months interest
on the mortgage became due, and Mud
dicombe, finding he wasn't advancing
much in his suit, limited to the squire
that he was short of ready money and
that IL months interest would soon be
due. Thereupon the squire insisted that
Grace should hurry up and accept Mud
dicombe, and SO the very next day she
said yes, and Muddicombe expressed q
desire that the wedding should take
place within a MONTH
Three weeks passed, during which time
Muddicombe got lots of new furniture
into the homestead. Only another week
was left, and poor Grace was in dread
full state of mind. Ned went to the
postoffice every day to see if there
was letter, but there was no sign Of
Franks existence. AT last, however, he
came into the house one day Just at
dark, drew his sister into her room, clos
ed the door and said in a gasping whis-
per:
franks outside in the lane" As
soon as it was dark Frank and Grace
met, and, oh, how sweet it was! Water
to thirsty traveler-deliveranc to
sailor--food- to a starving
to sinking soul?
Take your choice. Nay, put them all to-
gether, and then you may imagine how
Grace felt.
As anybody who knows anything OF
human nature in petticoats and love
must admit, it is hardly necessary for
me to say that Frank and Grace under
the shadow of the hills renewed their
vows and made them as much stronger
as words could do it. When Frank told
Grace that he had made "a big haul' in
the Klondike and had over 100000 de-
posted in a bank, she was not sorry and
never for moment experienced q dread
of his leaving her for some fine lady.
She understood the value of that pleas
ant sum and told Frank how she appre-
ciated 1t and also intimated that he must
at once produce enough of it to pay the
interest en- the mortgage.
"The INTEREST,"" he said. "Why, I'll
pay off the whole principal as WELL"
That being settled, she told him about
Mr.. Muddicombe and how she had prom
ised to marry him, believing Frank was
dead and where they neither marry nor
are given in marriage.
But" said she, Il did it to save papa,
and now that you've come nj fling him
overheard and take You in spite Of all
your wealth. Come right inside now, and
I'll tell papa. and I'm just as sure as am
that love you that papa won't say
Tord against my taking back my prom