The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-05-15
TITLES ADVENTURE.

| lille OlluOIu was SltIIuS OuC CVGu'
ing in the doorway of her humble
home, an old brown farmhouse, situa.
ted two miles away from the center
of the village of N. She was
wondering what made her father so
quiet and sober of late, and why she
caught her mother every now and
then wiping away the tears with a
stealthy hand.
She heard their voices now, as they
were talking in low tone in the
kitchen, and once in awhile she
caught the words, mortgage, fore
closure, election, and the like, and
she pondered very soberly upon their
meaning. Pretty soon her father
went out to attend to some matters at
the barn. and her mother called her
to come in.
"Sit down, my child" she said as
Tillie entered, II want to have a lit
tie talk with you."
The girl obeyed, rightly thinking
that whatever had been troubling her
parents of late was about to be re-
vealed.
"We have been harassed greatly
for some time now," her mother be-
gan, "for fear we may lose our little
home"
"L,ose Our home Why, mother,
1 thought father owned it, and that
1t was left to him by Grandfather
Clifford
$50 it was, my dear and your
father received it free from encum-
brance, but in an evil hour he put
mortgage of three hundred dollars
upon it in order to loan that amount
to a friend. Not long after that the
friend failed and the money was lost.
The mortgage could have been fore
closed years ago, but kind Mr.. Day,
who held it, has repeatedly said !:
Never mind, Mr.. Clifford, as long as
you pay the interest the money can
remain invested in the house, He
died, as you know, few weeks since,
and the nephew, who inherits the
property, says we must pay the three
hundred dollars before three months,
or leave the house"
'Oh. mother Will it be possible
for father to pay it?" asked Tillie,
anxiously.
"There is only one hope. We have
thought of friend, about thirty miles
from here, who may possibly let us
have the money and take the mort
gage"
"I do hope he will, mother it
would be dreadful if we have to leave
the old home"
cit will be as God Wills" replied
Mrs. Clifford, ''but we must make
every effort we can to save it. We
are going to take the journey in our
own wagon, to save expenses, and
have decided to start tomorrow morn
ing. You will not be afraid to stay
here alone through the day, will you
We have arranged with your Uncle
John to come here and sleep the night
we are away"
"It will be dreadfully lonesome
here with you both away; but I'm
not the least bit afraid to stay" re-
piled Tillie, bravely.
AS they wished to make an early
start in the morning, the family re-
tired very soon after the father came
in from doing his barn chores.
Tillie awoke at sunrise, and found
that her father and mother had been
up for quite awhile, and the prepara-
tions for their journey were nearly
made.
"Don't leave the house, except to
go a short distance; and, Tillie, be
very careful about fire." said Mr..
Clifford, as they drove away.
Tillie gave the desired promise,
kissed them goodbye and then went
into the house to try to forget her
loneliness as best she could in doing
up the morning housework.
She had long day all to herself,
and many little piece of work that
had been put by for favorable time,
she managed to finish. In the after
noon she happened to think of an in
teresting book which one of her school
friends had loaned her day or two
before, and she sat down by the win
dow to enjoy it. She was so absorb
ed in its contents that she was star
tied when she heard a sweet voice say
"Shall 1 intrude if step in and
rest myself for few moments ?"
Tillie looked up and young lady
beautifully dressed stood before her.
She had sweet, winning face and
the most faultless grace OF manner.
Tillie was instantly charmed with her
strange visitor, and quickly replied
'Not in the least; walk right in. "
The young lady took the chair
offered, which was cushioned rocker,
and sank into its depths in utter
weariness.
81 was journeying with my
friends, "sheexplained, "andsomehoW
have strayed away from them and we
have become separated"
"I dare say they will find you,
said Tillie, hopefully, land in the
meantime you can rest here as long
as you wish"
"Thank you this is such clean
coy little home, it will be real treat
to stay here awhile" replied the
young lady.
The two girls were soon chatting
as familiarly as though they had