The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1902-11-06

hear folks say, AS honest as & Ma
rion.' But what else can l do? I'm
old-seventy next month! CANT let
my home go! l CANT take my wife
to the poorhouse"'
You'll have me, pappy, no matter
whut comes" Jimmy said, lifting his
head and throwing his arm about his
fathers bowed shoulders. So holding
him, he moved to where his mother
sat, lifted her to her feet and with his
free arm drew her to his breast. Then
he turned to his cousin and said clear
ly: Charley. it was good in you to
think of US this away. But I CANT
see things your way. Now Gilfs gone
bad, by the Lord, he shan't take old
Jim Marion with him. love the place,
every stock an stone an red clay hill
in it, next tony own people. But
won't keep it unless can keep it hon.
est
"Are you crazy" Charley broke in.
II can change the beneficiary in a
trice. Say, Uncle Jim, won't you trust
me? I'll certainly never take advan-
tage of your trust. Speak quick. We
have just three hours grace, and it
will take two at least to get hack to
the courthouse"
IL don't believe 1 keer to save
things except for Jimmy" Squire Ma
rion began brokenly.
Charley sprang to his feet and step
ped in front of his cousin. He was
white with anger and apprehension.
In high shaken voice he cried: For
Gods sake, Jimmy, don't doom your
father and mother to beggary. 1t
makes me feel like shooting you to
hear you bubble and pirate when all
their comfort, it may be their lives,
hangs on the matter of a minute"
'"They have got me-" Jimmy reiter-
ated. Charley flung up his hands.
You" he cried, with the intensest
scorn. What are you? What can
you do-without money or brains"
"Work-all day an all night" jim
my said sturdily. Charley drew back
a step, his face twitching. He bit his
lips hard before he went on.
Another thing, think of Cressy. She
will end by marrying you if you keep
the place. 1t is that which has stood
between me and winning her. l know
it. Remember. l am speaking now
against myself. l cannot do less in
face of all l owe my uncle and my
dear, good aunt. Speak to Jimmy.
both of you. If he still refuses to save
you, sign this deed and put it in my
power"
Mrs. Marion nestled close to her son.
Her husband broke away from them
and leaned from the open window.
Jimmy's eyes followed the fathers
gaze as it rested upon the familiar
fields, the trig barns, the deep, shad-
owy woodlands betting the clear land.
Could they give it up and go away,
strangers in strange land?
Stronger, more insistent was the
thought of Cressy. How should beg
gar lift eyes to her? No, not beggar
except for work! Somehow the word
was a tonic. He faced half about.
drew his mother in front of him and
said with many breaks: "Charley-I-L
CANT talk with you. But the Lord
help me-to show lean work with
you"
Squire Marion stepped beside his
son, linked arms and said: Ruin or no
ruin, Charley, I'll do as Jimmy says.
If the money must all go, let it! Lord,
what is all the property in the world
beside findin' that I've got real man
fer my son"
"The best man in the world" Cressy
cried, breaking tempestuously from an
ambush of half closed door. II had to
come home right behind you" she
painted to Jimmy. Tit is not true
what he said," nodding toward Char
ley. Now you have lost everything
else, l ask you TOTO take me-"
Amen. The Lord be praised!' Squire
Marion said, catching Cressy in his
arms. Charley darted away, swearing
under his breath. Jimmy? Jimmy
put his head upon his mothers Shout
der and cried for the first time since he
was ten years old.
Jimmy showed the stuff he was made
Of by working through FIVE hopeless
years trying to save the homestead,
mortgaged to full value. Cressy helped
him, singing about the place, her
face always sunshiny. her tempers all
blown away. Still there was rejoic-
ing, indeed, when Gill Magee came
back from the Klondike with money
enough to make good all his luckless
sureties had paid. Little Jim, aged
four, high in the arms of his doting
grandmother, held the Cancelled mort
gage in a candle fame and laughed to
see it burn. Across the hearth the
grandfather looked on with eyes that
did not see and murmured brokenly,
"The righteous shall not be forsaken
nor his seed beg bread"