St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-07-02

Hospitality in a Nutshell
By BELLE MANDATES

ISOLATED Literary Press
Your tone was so different" i
Wasn't it your beau?" asked Han
nah, timidly.
"Y-es-no-almost my beau" laughed
Irene. He asked me to wait here to
morrow. until he rode over and We
could ride home together
"Then we can have camel" said
Hannah. hopefully.
Yes; he shall stay for several
games"
In the morning the sun was shining
brightly, and after breakfast, while
Phineas fed the cattle, Hannah
churned so that 'Irene's beau" might
have fresh buttermilk to drink.
Il should think" said Irene, musing
ly, that you would be perfectly happy
in this dear, little place"
Hannah made no reply. Irene, look
ing up quickly, saw her wipe away {
surreptitious tear. The girls sympa
thetic questioning finally elected The
cause of her sadness.
l y
land I'm goin' to keep 1t from him a,
long as can, but you see there's beer
a mortgage for quite spell on 9TH,
Nutshell" We've kept up the interest
and thought we could always renew
it. but the man wrote us yesterday tina
| we must pay right Off Miss Simon.
brought me the letter from town. and
luckily, Phinny wasn't here. I cam
think yet but way will come"
How much is it?
-Four hundred dollars"
ooh, Is that all?" exclaimed Irene
II should think you might borrow tina
somewhere"
Its q lot to us. You see we've onl!
got a 20 here, and Phinny's too ol.
to work it-more'n a garden patel
for what we eat, and we amt no hand
to scrimp in our feed"
mo, indeed" agreed Irene. recall
ing her two sumptuous meals.
Though 1t seems a lot to us, sup
pose it's only drop In the bucket t
Mr.. Philip Maxfield. But he's goini
to foreclose."
Irene's face turned pale and thel
red. She turned to the window tt
hide her confusion.
| Il couldn't have believed 1t of himi
she thought. sadly.
AS she stood there. she saw horse
man coming down the road He wa
tall. straight, and sat on his horse uk
a cavalryman.
Here comes-my-friend. !" she said
It'll go to meet him"
Philip" she said,, before he ha,
dismounted, these are the sweetes
old people and this is the dearea
place!"
IN Is pretty" he admitted.
Would you take 1t away from then
wreck their home-for just $500?
81? Why. what can you NEAR
dear" s, Is
They say you hold a mortgage 70
that amount on the place and that 70
have written them that you woul
foreclose at once
my dear Irene, didn't even kno,
that I owned this tiny place. have s
much property! My agent. Carter, al
tends to all the business. He probabl
wrote them and signed my name."
You will let them renew it please
Philip"
Why, of course, Irene"
For how long?"
"For-forever, IL you wish, Irene.
"Come into the house." she sale
| joyfully. "Tie your horse first. 70
have to play several games OF casino.
He followed her. somewhat dubiou
as to what was expected Of him.
Mrs. HeWston. want to introduc
Mr.. Maxf1eld."
ooh, he's come for"
NO." smiled Irene. he's come fc
me-"
| While Hannah was serving the bu
termilk, Phineas came in and was II
troduced.
You're the gentleman who hold
the mortgage?"
| $50 It seems. didn't know It III
til now. Irene told me-
/ we may get q way TO pay It, sal
Hannah, anxiously.
/ What's the use?" said <Philil
quickly. you can renew 1t as ofte
as you please. I'll explain It to m
agent today. | would rather have
glass of this buttermilk every time
ride by here than the amount of th
mortgage"
The fash of Joy in Hannah wor
face was SO reflected In Irene's eye
as she turned impulsively to him, ths
he cleaned hope for the answer to til
question he meant to ask on the wa
home.