Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-03-27

her head. She cast i quick glance
around the room and noted that Estelle
was mending u linen pillowcase
There was lack of evidence of the
usual preparations for the first day Of
the new year. "~s
"Of course you're going to open the
house tomorrow as usual" said Mrs.
Smith abruptly. ..~-., !
Estelle flushed and bent closer oyer
the pillowcase she was darning. NO."
was her reply. 1.-The house doesn't
belong to me any longer" s....-
who owns itT" demanded Ellen
sternly. y.
"The man who owns the mortgage.
Haskins Bros. are his agents."
"And a pretty pair of rascals they
are! cried Ellen Smith. suddenly
bursting into tears over Estelle's trou-
bles. I'm not going to ask you how
it happened. dare say you couldn't
keep it-not with Haskins Bros. in the
deal-only you know l shall expect
you to come and keep me company
until you decide what to do"
Estelle laughed and cried all at once
as she took Ellen's toll worn hands in
her own. keep you company. indeed:
As If you could be lonesome with five
children! But understand. and will
come, Ellen. I am to settle the mat
ter day after tomorrow. and after that
they will give me three months to va
cate. The place really does not be-
long to me after tonight.
"You will have to sell of some of
the furniture, l expect" muttered e.
len difidently.
"Yes." admitted Estelle sadly. "You
know when father died. Ellen. he beg
ged me to hold on to the place at any
cost. He-he thought I might marry
some day. but, Of course. that is all
nonsense" Estelle blushed and turn
ed her head away; then. with proud
shake of her shoulders, she resumed:
"There was a tiny sum left in the
bank, so l mortgaged the house and
have been living on that. l know it is
thriftless, but there was no work for
me in Lanelea. and l promised father
to stay and always keep the house
open, but it will have to 60 now"'
"And. Of course. Henry Haskins will
1ngly let you have the money and was
nice about waiting for the interest be-
cause this is the finest property tn
Lanelea and worth waiting for" cried
Ellen Smith bitterly. If had only
known before l might have helped
you"
With an i'll framed excuse she has,
tened away, first exacting promise
from Estelle to come to her house and
help receive. Although it was draw
ing near mealtime and her hungry
brood would be watching for her mo-
mentary arrival. Ellen Smith made
her way toward the courthouse, where
she was fortunate enough to find Judge
Mason still in his Office.
Her interview with the rather stern
faced Judge lasted for an hour. and
when she left the Office her counte-
nance beamed with delight at a salts
factorily accomplished duty. II al
ways knew there was somebody Estelle
might have married. and from his face
when l mentioned her name know"
New Years day dawned cold and
cloudy. There was not much inclina-
ton to leave warm stoves and go a.
calling, but still there was an incen-
tive In the form Of alluring refresh
ments as we'll as alluring daughters in
many households.
Estelle shed bitter tears as she wan
dered through the lonely rooms. repeo-
ping them with beloved forms. reliv-
Ing old days when happiness had been
such drug in her youthful market
that she had carelessly flung some of
1t aside. Afterward she came to re-
alize that it was precious part of the
delicate fabric of bliss that is woven
into every ones life. Evan Mason had
left Lanelea and returned only a year
ago, gray haired and with legal honors
thrust upon him. She had avoided
meeting with him, and so they had not
met.
Estelle had thought perhaps some
one might come, but the storm was ex-
cuse enough. and there were no paths
dug around the Freeman place.
Just as dusk fell there came a re-
sounding peal at the doorbell. Estelle
lighted the lamp in the library. where
she had been sitting in the twilight.
and lighted the red shaded lamp in the
hall. As she opened the door man
came in as though driven before the
storm.
It was Evan Mason.
When they faced each other in the
library the Judge held out hand to
the woman he had so hopelessly loved
in the past
II came to bring you a New Years
gift. Estelle." he said gravely. The
mortgage on your house has been paid.
Nay. do not refuse me. You must know