The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-03-03

VIII w WoINu itos aAhdu lue phpef IL y
written on"
"Oh, it's hardy the old man moaned.
"In my old age tool 1 never did think
l could be brought to any Of them COW
erin up tricks. I've been 80 proud to
hear folks say, AS honest as q Mar
ion.' But what else can 1 dor I'm
oltl--seventy next month! / can't let
my home gol can't take my wife TO
the poorhouser'
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 10 where his mother
sat, lifted her to her feet and with his
free arm drew her TO his breast Then
he turned 70 bis cousin and said clear
iy:' Charley, It was good in you to
think of us this away. But can't
see things your way. Now Gill's 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 II, next tony own people. But !
won't keep II unless can keep It hon
est
''Are you crazyr Charley broke In.
II can change the beneficiary in n
trice. Say, Uncle Jim, won't you trust
me? I'll certainly never take udvan.
tage Of your trust. Speak quick We
have just three hours grace, and II
will take two at least 70 get back to
the courthouse"
IL don't believe keer TO save
things except for Jimmy" Squire Mar
ion began brokenly.
Charley sprang to his feet and step
ped I'm 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. II
makes me feel like shooting you to
hear you qulbble and prate when all
their comfort. It may be their lives,
hangs on the matter Of minute"
"They have got me-" Jimmy reiter-
ated.
Charley flung up his hands. your
he cried, with the intensest scorn.
"What are you? What can you do
without money or brnins?"
"work-all day an all night" Jim.
my said stnrdily. Charley drew back
step, his face twitchlng. He bit his
lips hard before he went on.
Another thing-think Of Cressy. She
will end by marrying you II you keep
the place. 1t is that which has stood
between me and winning her. l know
It. Remember. am speaking now
against myself. l cannot do less In
face of all | owe my uncle and my
dear, good aunt. Speak to Jimmy,
both OF you. II he still refuses to save
you, sign this deed and put 1t 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 II rested upon the familiar
fields. the trlg barns, the deep. shad
owy woodlands betting the clear land
Could they give 1t up and 60 away
strangers in a strange land?
Stronger. more insistent was the
thought of Cressy. How should a 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 I'm front Of him and
said, with many breaks: "Charley-I-
I-cant talk with you. But the Lord
help me-to show Lean work with
you"
Squire Marion stepped beside his
HrtI- Dsrlfa
no ruin, Charley, I'll do as Jimmy
says. II the money must all go, let It,
Lord, what is all the property in the
world beside findin' that I've got a
real man fer my sonT
"The best man In the world" Cressy
cried, breaking tempestuously from
an ambush of half closed door. ~
had to come home right behind you"
she painted to Jimmy. "It-it is not
true-what he said" nodding toward
Charley. Now you have lost every
thing else 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 uiS ueuu upOH ulS ulOlueI .
shoulder and cried for the frst time
since he was ten years old.
Jimmy showed the stun he was
made of by working through FIVE hope
less years trying to save the home
stead, mortgaged to its full value
Cressy helped him, singing about the
place, her face always sunshiny, her
tempers all blown away. stlll, there
was rejoicing, indeed, when GIN Ma
gee came back from the Klondike with
money enough 10 make good all his
luckless suretles had paid Little Jim.
aged four, high in the arms of his dot
ing grandmother. held the cancelled
mortgage In candle flame and
laughed to see 1t 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"