The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1903-12-19
WIDOW MORGAN'S INTEREST.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

only trick of his brain that caused those
dim pictures of happy childish faces to float
through his memory. Perhaps. Well,
they might float there; they should not
affect him.
The bell was pulling, but it did not ring
out in quite the hearty, free, Christmas
way the sturdy puller had evidently in
tended, but rather in jangling fashion, as
if it would if it could, but was really too
much out of practice in jolly ways to do
the thing right.
The old man could hear David open the
door; could hear his hushed protest, could
hear gay mingling of "Merry Christ
mas, cts all right" "He sent for
US" ''Merry Christmas "Where is
he?'' And then there was a trooping
across the great hall, and the library door
was thrown upon by David.
The room was swarming with children
in moment. There were only six OF
them, but they were very healthy, and
were so in the habit of filling up the rooms
they were in that they accommodated them
selves with great ease to the spacious libra
ry. They were shy enough, too, in the
presence of the hard, unsmiling old man,
but their chubby cheeks were red and
their eyes were swapping bright, and their
hearts were full of joy, so they hailed him
with a hearty merry Christmas. -
Quiet, subdued, and careworn, but full
of happiness and gratitude, the little widow
followed her boisterous brood into the Ii
brary. Then only did the hard old man
speak. He uttered one harsh word:
sWell?'
1t chilled the little woman, and startled
look sprang to her eyes, She turned a
trihe pale, and faltered as she stepped for
ward. Thinking it only his way, however,
she advanced nearer to him, and said, with
GLOW can we ever thank you sir?
For what?'' he demanded, with alb
rupt harshness.
For your kind gift faltered the
widow.
"What gift?'
HsThe amount of the interest on the
mortgage.
81 don't understand you madam. If a
Jest, it is d foolish one; if Il pretence, it is
an idle one -
But your letter." said the widow,
family.
''What letter.
The little woman, struggling at once to
smile. as if she t;lin would believe he was
Joking, and to keep back the tears that her
fears urged to flow, fumbled in her pocket
for the letter.
There, SIR she said, finally, as she
handed it to him.
He took it and read it, and bitter,
contemptuous scowl distorted his face
"And," he exclaimed, with biting
scorn, ''you were fool enough to believe
that | sent this drivel?'
The poor little woman glanced pitifully
at the staring children, and family bowed
her head.
''You in your senses he went on,
cuttingly, ''and believed that Ralph Thorn
dixie would have Christmas tree and
and he swept the group of children with
his cold eyes, and in tone almost OF hatred
added-''these things in his house Ibid
not write the letter 1t is what is called a
practical joke, l suppose "
He wheeled his chair around, as if to
intimate that the interview was at an end
The widow stared wildly at him for Il
moment started to speak, but changing
her mind choked back cry of despair
that rose to her lips, and with blinded eyes
turned toward the door, stretching her arms
out as if she would so protect her dear ones.
Halfway across the room she stopped and
turned back-the loving mother had con-
quered the insulted woman.
but the interest, sir, she said to him
in a slow voice.
lCUolJ ~. r.
"You will give me little time, will you
not p
'And why p
81 had the money ready, but | believed
the letter was genuine and-and we needed
many things, and [ bought them. |
would like little time, sir
II have nothing to do with your be-
liefs Or your needs. On the second day
of January the money will be due, and |
shall expect it..
The tone was so hard, so finty, that the
widow made no further effort, but pressing
her hands on her breast, turned silently
away, and rejoined the children, who were
huddled near the door. She took the
smallest by the hand, and was leading her
away, when the little thing suddenly drew
back and exclaimed
II fordot somefn -
There was no time to stop her, and she
had run to the old man side before they
could even call her back. Even her child
ish confidence was shaken, and she spoke
but timidly, as she drew little woody lamb
from under her cloak and laid it on his
knee.
81 buyed it for you,' she said gently.
He started up as if a serpent had stung