Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-09-17

NaisL Lear. II YOU hHuN mlffteu
me you might have breu oses there
enjoying yourself, be said a little bit
terry. Now you are ashamed to so
because you haven't got decent shoes
TO wear and because If you spent a
penny Cousin Maria would frown and
! call u.s.
Cheats" finished Amy. with little
laugh. Never mind. Howard. I've
been to lots OF fairs. and I've got you
and baby. md that's enough for any
girl Only | do wish we could pay
Cousin Maria's note"
They started to 90 into the house
when man entered the front gate
and came brfskIy toward them. "Mr
and Mrs. Howard LaneT' he asked
abruptly.
YES" said Howard
I'm Tobias Bevis--Maria's brother.
Guess you've heard of me from your
father. Amy. amt It? You was a
little girl when l went away Your
father. my Cousin Sammy, mortgages
his house for $1,000 to send me TO
California 10 get back my health.
Well. got it back and went to Aus
tralia, and-rve been making money.
I've brought back Cousin Sammy's
money with compound interest. It's
here In this packet I'm sorry |
couldn't give 1t to him direct He WAS
one OF the best men In the world"
The mans voice trembled as he finish.
| ed speaking.
without questioning why this long
delayed loan was only now being re-
| paid, Howard and Amy ushercd To-
| bias Bevis into the house and listen
ed to his story.
II came here first. Maria wasn't
1 home. and | went 10 the minister. Mr..
Busby. and he gave me the particulars
! OF Cousin Samny's death. I'm sorry.
/ Amy, that your father lost his home
I on account of me. but III make II up.
IL can, to this little girl OF yours.
/ Did you say her name was Joyce?"
| He played with the baby while
! Amy and Howard counted the money
with trembling fingers and unbeliev.
ing eyes. twenty-five hundred dol
larsl What wealth. Perhaps there
would be enough left after Cousin
| Maria's awful debt was paid 20 give
| them a fair start In the world. Pay
ing the interest had always kept them
\ back
We must go tonight" whispered
Amy. and Howard nodded assent.
| Tobias promised TO care for the
baby until their return. and the happy
| pair FASTENED TO Maria's house, where
/ they found that spinster In state Of
perturbation over the discovery OF a
I piazza.
What In time has happenedy' she
\ asked tartly as she ushered them into
her sitting room.
We've come 10 pay the note" said
Amy proudly. ''wili you please bring
1t at once. Cousin Mariaf We must
get il of our minds
With compound interest,"" added
/ Howard.
Maria looked at them blankly. She
had never expected the note to be paid.
and she had not looked at 1t for years.
Slowly she walked to the china closet
and took down large blue china tea.
| pot. She thrust her hand In the top
and drew out a bundle OF yellowed
papers.
+ Her specialized eyes selected one and
brought Ii TO the table and laid 1t on
the red cover. There fl is she said
skeptieally. do you want TO pay the
/ whole OF it?''
II hope 1t isn't over $1,000" whisper
ed Amy prayerfully rs she turned over
the note
She stared uncomprehendlpgly at II
and gave it 10 her husband. What
does it say" she whispered tensely.
| Howard read and his face flushed
cousin Maria. do you mean to say
that this note Is only for S25-that that
is all Father Bevis borrowed from
| your be demanded hUtly.
Maria nodded dagedly. 81 guess
that's right" she said sheepishly
Somehow got to thinking how many
things could do with that money. IL
got to seem like whole lot. II
She paused helplessly, while Howard
counted out $50 and pushed 1t
across the table. Then he caught up
the note and set lighted match to It.
When II crumbled to ashes he looked
across the BACKED fragments on the
red cloth into Maria's scared eyes.
MARIA Bevis." he said grayeiy,
you've spoiled the three years OF our
married life. all for that paitry little
sum. II is paid in full. How are you
going TO pay US back for the agony
you have caused us? You have made
us the laughingstock OF the village
| and
Don't Howard" said Amy softly.
please don't. She Is sorry"
what would Rippledale say IL 1t
knew how much we really owed you?''
Howard added remorselessly
Maria's head dropped into her hands.
Tell EN-" she shifted miserably. Il
III