Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-09-09

and shaking out her rIstling skirts
preparatory to going ont. She was
really OutragcouSly pretty.
At the door she met some one com
ing in. \ pale, forlorn looking old wo-
man, with q pinchcd face and an ap-
pcarance OF having cried for six
months.
rs this Miss DunningY' she asked.
| assured her 1t was. and she pro-
cccdcd timidly, Il called to see you
about that mortgage"
"Ah. yes" | said, Fastening to shut
the door on Lucille, who was lingering
in the hall in an unprincipled fashion
which could not approve.
"Wc'vc been unable TO meet our
payments lately" went on my visitor
In a depressed tone, and yesterday
your agent sent me word You intended
to forcclosc. Oh, Miss Cunning, don't.
Please don't be hard on us. My poor
husband has been sick in bed for a
year. and if we lose our little home it
will kill him."
Here the poor creature burst out
crying, and | reached for my handker-
chief, feeling somehow that being
capitalist wasn't such fun as I'd mag
tined.
"Oh, Miss Cunning" proceeded my
guest as soon as she was able to speak,
eff 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'd have n roof over our
heads. And now we must lose it all"
A fresh burst of Sobbng interrupted
her, and | swallowed a succession Of
what seemed to be cobblcStOnes.
tried to think what Mr.. IIigginson
would have done in such an cmcrgcn-
cy and wondered if he ever felt as
much like a chicken thief as l did at
that moment.
"Why. don't cry" | managed to say
at last. IN not deprive you Of n
home. | only bought the mortgage as
an investment, you know"
Here | was actually apologizing for
having money out at interest" The
poor woman went away little COM
fortcd at last, and | went to bed with
a nervous headache.
rather lost interest in my mortgage
reason. and when did doZe a little my
dreams were haunted by weeping old
ladies. | got bad habit of going In
to brown study at inconvenient times
and would start guilty when spoken
to suddenly.
One day got note from Mr. Adams
saying he was going to forcclose at
once and assuring me that I'd get my
money all right needn't worry.
Somehow | didn't find the assurance
comforting and went home without
any appetite for supper.
"NIay the Lord preserve me from
ever becoming a capitalism. cried Lu-
ellie, looking at my face as l 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 I.ucillc'S cousin, n young law
yer and the jolliest boy going. But
alas, when he came Bob was in the
blues too. He sighed like Il furnace
every few moments and finally an
nounccd that he couldn't stay.
Il want to see man named Adams
about a mortgage" he said, and | turn
ed cold all over.
Its the Saddest case | ever heard
Of" he went ON. An old couple who
Of hn1 ,.t, ri,
their home. 1t was bought n year OIL
so ago by some shark or other
covered my eyes with my hanC
just here, and Lucille coughcd in N
embarrassed way, but Bob noticed
nothing and proceeded in a troubled
tone:
"Of course they couldn't keep up the
interest. Whoever bought the mort
gage knew they couldn't. Such people
always figure on that, you know, anG
now the poor old chap has gone crazy
over losing his h0mc-clcan datfy, yol
knOw-and his poor wife will be turned
out unless something is done
There was Il dead silence for mo
mcnt when he stopped, and then | go
up without word, and going to my
desk unlocked the drawer where
kept the precious mortgage. wifi
trembling fingers | seized my pen ant
with few strokes cancelled the mort
gage. and as | did so load rolled of
my heart.
Here" | cried eagerly to the mysti
fed Bob. take this to that poor WON
an quick, tonight"
"Oh, Sara cried Lucille, ''yol
worked SO hard for that money"
$50 has She" | said. And ! an
young and strong, while she is old anC
helpless. oh, Lucille, if YOU knew
how I've hated myself lately"
Lucille took me in her arms and thel
explained things to Bob, while | criet
little, though couldn't help thinking
what Mr.. IIigginson would have sait
at my behavior.
. We got Bob off at last, as happy n:
lord, and then Lucille embraced m,
again.
"You were never cut out for a CAPT
talst. knew it all the time" sh,
cried triumphantly.
'Thank you, dear" said mcckly
"And say. Lucille, let's 90 to hca
Maudc Adams tonight"
why" she exclaimed, Der eyes a
big ms Sauccrs, 1.-THE prices are way NJ
in c.
'Who careS?" | said. I'm richie
tonight than I've been for years"
And we went Edgar Temple Ficl;
in Chicago Herald