The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1899-10-19

often said TO her:
''Huldah, you need never marry for
q home; when your fisher and are
gone there will be money enough to
buy you q small place, and you will
be quite independent.
But q series OF misfortunes had
fallen upon the Owens, and when the
debts were paid and the estate was
sett. cd only a few hundred dollars re-
NAMED. Besides the money, Huldah
possessed common school educa-
ton, excellent health, IN independent
spirit and strong common sense.
Many plans hoated through her
mind. There was one thing she
greatly desired, aud that was to be an
owner OF real estate. Why could not
she do with small village property
what the money kings had done with
railroads-buy dilapidated houses,
put them in repair and sell them at a
profit or keep them and live on the
rental?
After eating breakfast at a friends
house she started ont in quest OF q
bargain in real estate.
Every house she passed which
looked as if it were going to decay
she scanned with interest, and in
some instances inquired il the prop
erty was Cor sale. In view Of posi-
BILE purchaser, the price was generally
raised beyond the reach OF Huldah's
small capital. On the outskirts of
the village stood an old house which
she especially wished to possess. 1t
was large and surrounded by about
two acres Of land. 1t seemed in the
last stages Of decay. The :oof Of
the kitchen had fallen in, the fence
was nearly all gone, the well-curb
had rotted away, and the weeds made
wilderness about the place.
"If there wasn't so much land with
it," mused Huldah, II might be able
to buy it, but 1 do not want to 60 In
debt, and if the Hulsey heirs knew
that wanted to buy 1t they would
want fancy price"
She went home quite tired, and
with aaMuch clearer idea OF what $500
would not purchase than when she
started out.
Come here and welcome" her
friend, Mrs. Ramsdell, had said,
when the breaking up at the home
stead had left Huldah without shelter.
Thank you, kindly" the young
woman had responded, ''it will only
be for short time, for / must gel
settled"
In the same household was a lad
NIB. at ten years old, who did chores
fol his board. The chores lasted ell
day long, and even the few hour.
after supper which Donald wanted fol
study were begrudged and broken
The children of the family crowded
the patient little fellow away from thu
lamp and away from the fire.
Huldah made resolve that il ever
she had home OF her own Donald
should have a cosy nook by the fire
side. She had helped him with hi
examples, and he was grateful, fol
poor and homeless as he was he hat
set his heart on becoming q grea
scholar.
The evening that Huldah had beef
out prospecting man came to see he
about selling the Huisey property.
II nm one OF the heirs" he stated
"There are three Of us, and we ar
tired Of looking for buyer. 1t hasn'
been so we could rent it fnr a lon
spell, and we amt none of us Blu
could use bit Of cash right handy
now that cold weather is a.comin' Oh
ben over tc see Sary Ann an Johl
about it, an they reckon if you hev
mind to give us each hundred do
lars fur our sheer we'll sell out al
the plece'll be yourn."
Three Of them! One hundred dol
lars apiece! Huldah thought rapidly
It was very low figure. Still, sh
was shrewd enough not to seem to
eager.
II will look the place over in th
morning and let you know" I'll
said.
Bright and early she was maxim
her way through the weeds to the oil
Hulsey house. She found q good CO
lar, an excellent foundation wall al
timbers, and three or four rooms tn
could be made habitable without niue
expense. The land alone she knew
be worth more than the price aske
After ascertaining that the title W,
good, she concluded the bargain
soon as possible.
1t was early in September, but the
was much to do before cold weathe
She went to her friend and asked f
Donald.
II want him for my boy. she 9
planned. 81 will give him home Al
educate him."
Donald stood by, anxious to he
the decision.
"If he wants to co. said MI
Ramsdell. "I have no claim on hi
just took him in out OF charity, b
/ have enough OF my own"
do you want to be my boy, Do
ald?"
ooh, yes'm, il you please"
HuIdah was not q demonstr ati
woman, but she kissed the eager, U
lifted face. That caress made I
motherless boy her friend, willing
lay down his life in her service.
In the busy days that followed 6
found her boy q very efficient help
II was Donald who cleared the pls
Of weeds. 1t was Donald who help
to scrub and whitewash the room
1t was Donald who worked with
his might when the drayman broul
Huldah's furniture from her old hon
Donald, I do not want you to We
so hard. / fear you will injure 70
SELF" demonstrated Huldah, "ant
want You to have time for study"
II love to work for you," respol
ell the boy. "You never scold 1
and / want to see how we'll we
make the place look"
1T is wonderfully improved
ready. Since yoa pulled up tn
great weeds and burned them it lo
like another place, but we need = {
penter to put new roof on the "