The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-06-22
G Xxx ~

4
nah. timidly.
| "Y-es-no-aimost 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 a game!" 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 a
surreptitious tear. The girls sympa-
thetic questioning finally elected the
cause of her sadness.
| "Phinny don't know yet" she said.
and I'm goin' 10 keep II from him as
long as can. but you see there's been
a mortgage for quite spell on The
Nutshell" We've kept up the interest;
and thought we could always renew
il. but the man wrote us yesterday that
We must pay right off Miss SimonS
brought me the letter from town. and.
luckily. Phinny wasn't here can't
think yet but way will come" !:
| How much is it,
-Four hundred dollars"
oh. IS that ALP" exclaimed Irene
Il should think you might borrow that
somewhere"
Its a lot TO us. You see we've only
got 20 here. and Phinny's too old
for what We eat. and We amt no hands
TO scrimp in our feed"
No. indeed" agreed Irene. recall
ing her two SumptuOus meals.
| Though il seems lot TO us. ! sup
pose lis only n drop in the bucket to
Mr.. Philip Maxfield. But he's going
10 foreclose."
lrene's face turned pale and then
red. She turned TO the window TO
hide her confusion.
Il couldn't have believed II of him."
she thought. sadly.
AS she stood there. she saw a horse
man coming down the road. He was
tall straight. and sat on his horse like
a cavalryman.
| Here comes-my-friend." she said.
I'll go TO meet him"
Philip" she said. before he had
dismOunted. these are the sweetest
old people and this is the dearest
place."
1T is pretty" he admitted.
Would you take it away from them
wreck their home-fOr just 5000"
| Il? Why. what can you mean.
| dear
They say you hold a mortgage for
that amount on the place and that you
have written them that you would
ioreciose at once"
| My dear Irene. I didn't even know
that I owned this tiny place have so
much property. My agent. Carter. at
tends 10 all the business. He probably
wrote them and signed my name
You will let them renew it. please,
Philip"
Why. OF course. Irene"
For how long,"
| "FOr-fCrever. If you wish. Irene
Come into the house." she said.
| joyfully. Tie your horse first You
have 10 play several games Of casino"
He followed her. somewhat, dubious
as 10 what was expected of him.
| Mrs. HewstOn. I want to introduce
Mr.. Maxfield"
| oh. he's come for
| No" smiled Irene. hes come for
me"
| While Hannah was serving the but.
termilk. Phineas came in and WAS in
troduced.
You're the gentleman who holds
the mortgage"
SO Ii seems. I didn't know II IN
til now Irene told me-"
We may get a way to pay it," said
Hannah. anXiously.
| What's the use," said Philip,
quickly. You can renew II as often
as you please. I'll explain il to my
agent today. would rather have q
| glass of this buttermilk every time I
ride by here than the amount of the
mortgage"
The fash Of Joy In Hannah worn
face was SO reflected In lrene's eyes
as she turned impulsively to him. that
he CLEANED hope for the answer to the
| question he meant to ask on the way
home.
| America is the country for nerv.
! BUSINESS owing to the strenuous life