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

and shaking out her rIstling skirts
preparatory to going ont. She was
really outra gcously pretty.
At the door she met some one com
ing in. \ pale forlorn looking old wo-
man. with pinchcd face and an ap-
pcarance OF having cried for six
months.
''Is this Miss DunnIngY' she asked.
| assured her II 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 unprin"iplcd fashion
which could not approve.
'Wc'vc been unable to meet our
payments lately" went on my visitor
In n depressed tone, "and yesterday
your agent sent me word YOU intended
to foreclosc. Oh, Miss Dunning. don't.
Please don't be hard on us. My poor
husband has been sick in bed for
year. and if we lose our little home 1t
will kill him."
Here the poor creature burst out
crying, and | reached for my handier
chief. feeling somehow that being a
capitalist wasn't such fun as I'd imag-
tned.
"Oh, Miss Dunning," 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 Sobbing interrupted
her, and | swallowed n succession of
what seemed to be cobblcStoncS. l
tried to think what Mr. IIigginsOn
would have done in such an cmergcn-
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, "Tll not deprive you Of a
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
forted at last, and | went to bed with
a nervous headache.
rather lost interest in my mortgage
after that. | didn't sleep we'll for some
reason. and when | did doZe a little my
dreams We're haunted by weeping old
ladies'. | got bad habit of going In
to a brown study at inconvenient times
and would start guiltily when spoken
to suddenly.
One day | got Il note from Mr.. Adams
saying he was going to forcclosc at
once and assuring me that I'd get my
Somehow | didn't find the assurance
comforting and went home without
any appetite for supper.
''May the Lord preserve me from
ever becoming a capitalist" cried Lu-
ellie, looking at my face as | 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 Lucille's cousin, a young law
yer and the jollicst boy going. But,
alas, when he came Bob was in the
blues too! lie sighed like Il furnace
every few moments and finally an
nounccd that he couldn't stay.
Il want to see a 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
are clients of mine had mortgage on
their home. 1t was bought a year or
so ago by some shark or other"
| covered my eyes with my hand
just here, and Lucille coughed in an
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, and
now the poor old chap has gone crazy
over losing his h0mc-clcan daffy, you
knOW-and his poor wife will be turned
out unless something is done"
There was Il dead silence for mo-
ment when he stopped, and then | got
up without word, and going to my
desk unlocked the drawer where
kept the precious mortgage. With
trembling fingers | seized my pen and
with Il few strokes cancelled the mort
gage, and as | did so n load rolled off
my heart.
Here" cried eagerly to the mysti-
fed Bob take this to that poor wom-
an quick, tonight"
"Oh, Sara" cried Lucille, you
worked so hard for that money"
80 has She" | said. And | am
young and strong, while she is old and
helpless. Oh, Lucille, if you knew
how I've hated myself lately
Lucille took me in her arms and then
explained things to Bob, while | cried
little, though couldn't help thinking
what Mr.. IIigginson would have said
at my behavior.
We got Bob off at last, as happy as
Il lord. and then Lucille embraced me
again.
You were never cut out for a capi-
talSt. knew it all the time" she
cried triumphantly.
"Thank you, dear" | said mcekly.
"And say, Lucille, let's 20 to hear
Maudc Adams tonight"
why" she exclaimed, her eyes as
big aS sauccrs, the prices are way up
in c.
"Who carcs?" l said. I'm richer
tonight than I've been for years
And we went Edgar Temple Field
in Chicago Herald.