The Marshall republican., 1911-11-30

~ timated what they would
49, bring in the market, and
vainly e~ndeavored to make that sum
equal the amount she needed to pay
the interest on the mortgage held on
her little place by Elijah Green.
Elijah was the local money lender
and note shaver. When Elijah had
concluded the pr~eliminaries of a loan
with you. you began TO realize why he
was rich. He could bind ysu TO more
different impossible agreements than
any one else. Elijah owned farm after
farm-all the result OF his shrewdness
In the money-lending line. AZ to shaw
Ing notes. he was credited with cut.
ting out everything but the date and
adding that 10 his discount.
When he induced Miss Sabina Pen.
nell to borrow Ave hundred dollars
from him and 10 give him n mortgage
upon her little place. he had really
acted mor decently than ever before.
He did not want Sabina's place. What
he wanted was Sabina herself. HE
had proposed TO her-proposed in
about tho tone and with about NJ
much sentiment as he usually mani.
tested when he offered to lend one.
third the value Of n farm for n mort.
gage on the whole thing. Sabina had
refused him. promptly.
She had refused him several more
times. and then Elijah apparently re
signed himself to his fate. But he
knew Sabina's circumstances: he
knew that when her father died and
left her entirely alone In the world
she would get into debt. So he kept
track OF her debts. which was not q
hard thing to do. when every dealer
in the town vas n debtor OF his.
At the psychological moment he OF.
fered to lend her Ave hundred dollars.
secured by the mortgage. He pointed
out TO her that he didn't need the
money and wanted to invest II, and
that so long as she paid the interest
on II she need never bother about
rcpaying II.
IT'S Just putting that much money
out ut interest, for me-" he smiled.
And II will relieve you OF worry over
what you may owe. 30 you can a
age your place and make It pay YOU"
When Sabina signed the mortgage
notes and received Elijah's check she
had her first almost-tender feeling
toward him. And when she went to
him and asked him To give her n III
tie more time IN the interest, she had
been really affected by his generous
agreement.
Don't let It worry you n minute,
Sabina," he said. PAY 1t when you
can. I don't consider II a real bust
ness matter-between me and you.
you know"
But 20 Sabina owed him ninety
dollars. Just for interest alone.
Now. Sabina was not tho CONVEX,
tional maiden lady In reduced c!rcg.,
stances. She was not a haggard. thin
w~oebegone m OF uncertain years
eking out an existence, fhe was JUS
twenty-five years o !. ncGt AID pret;s
and II took al G4as made teachin.
school to keep her. She had relies
OF her turkeys to pay the interest o
least How In the world she should
ever pay the principal OF the mort
gage had not occurred to her.
But Elijah, with ninety dollars In
terest coming TO him. was not tht
Elijah who had so generously loaneo
her the money. Elijah was telling beT
that times were hard and money was
close. and-although he hated to do 1t.
he simply had to have money to meet
his W obligations. SO, since the
mortgage was overdue. and the In.
terest was unpaid-why-
III do the best I can to raise the
money, Elijah" Sabina said. i've got
forty.nine turkeys. and when | sell
them"
But forty-nine turkeys won't bring
you over sixty dollars" Elijah said,
you'll get about ten cents q pound
for them, and mighty few OF them
weigh more than twelve pounds"
Sabina looked out into the orchard,
where her turkeys were strolline
about. Elijah leaned toward her:
Haven't you changed your mind,
Sabinaf" he asked.
Changed my mind? About whatf'
about marrying me"
Sabina turned to him. with her eyes
flashing.
.well. Elijah Greeni So that WA
why you made me let you lend me
that money. and that was Why yov
were 30 nice about the interest. and
that WAS
mo. no. mol" Elijah cried. squirm
ing. r never thought Of that. I lsnl
you The money because I loved you