The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-02-17
sprague's wOres aDoa, her 70Cziu.

hprague's words about her IUUAtu.
poor and miserable
She vas al that she was suffering
II was bUi just.
The next morning Miss Biggs donnet
her old black alpaca gown. - hich she
had carefully brushed. Fortunately
the day. for the beginning Of autumn
was cold enough 10 warrant her wear
Ing her winter cape, which hid the
worn spots in her waist. She hac
fTeshened her bonnet with new ribbon
co that. a. she started 10 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 Bggs' mind during the trip to
PlainyiiIe was the stone which she
could now put TO her fathers grave
Il should be fine one. and she would
order il that very day in Plainvile. as
coon 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 hesitdtingly:
My late clieut was about TO fore
close the mortgage, but perhaps you
will be disposed &c exercise a little
clcmency, and extend the time. lisa
sad case. If James Mayhem had
lived"
"Who?" interrupted Miss Biggs
sharply.
The lawyer looked at her in surprise
James Mayhem. II he had lived the
mortgage would. no doubt, have been
lifted. bu, dying so suddenly. he left
his family in very Strengthened cir
cumstances. II time is given Mrs
Mayhem will most likely be able to pay
lie money. She is going bravely to
work. and her eldest boy will soon he
in position TO help her. II you will
nuke easy terms for her. II will be
great blow 10 her 10 lose her home"
Lawyer Penny paused and looked in
1nirinGly ~ his visitor. but she made
no rcplv. end be went on:
al should be sorry 10 see them lose
It. II you are willing to extend the
time. Mrs. MAYHEM will be here TO.
Jay. and il would be a great relief to
her 10 know"
Miss Biggs stood up abrunily. II
believe ! need remain no longer this
morning. You will foreclose at once.
MS YOU were about to do for my cousin
Hiram. Good morning" and she
walked quickly on, Of the office.
Miss Bigrs had walked some distance
when she remembered her intention Of
ordering the stone for her father's
grave, but she had passed tho stone
cutters shop. which was several
blocks back. She would not retracc
her steps. for she felt strangely tired
and weak. She had eaten scarcely any
breakfast that morning. She would
return home on the noon - ain instead
u passing the day in P'dinvillle. as she
had intended. So she turned in the
reached il a suburban trair had jus,
come in, and the passengers were hur-
wing across the platform. One II
hem. woman. was pushed heavily
against Miss Biggs. She began to
apologize, but stopped suddenly. as
Miss Riggs looked up at her with
quickly suppressed exclamation. The
TWO women stared at each other a few
moments. and then Miss Biggs brushed
past with a brusque movement. and
hurried into her train.
Sallie Mayhewl And so thin, pale
and aged! The blue eyes dim and the
yellow hair faded How different from
ihn pink and white face which had
tempted Jim.
The weather changed suddenly thai
evening. a cold and steady rain set
In. Miss Riggs found It so depressing
( that she lit fire on the broad hearth
Of her sittingroom, rejecting as she
did so, that with thoN $4,000. ii was M
longer necessary to deny herself such
little comforts. She settled herself 10
enjoy the blaze, but she could nor
rest. She felt peculiarly rnquiet. and
tried 70 account for it by telling her
self that she was tired ont after her
trip TO Plaintille, but as her unrest in
creased, she gave up the attempt of
trying 10 conceal from herself its true
Fi1alr She put iniJ shane a
asfl4 N ION aytfufr frI hon, 49,