The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-04-10

that direction. Children were strar
gilng into the guild room for Sunday
school Sanford saw a woman emerge
from the Freusdail farmhouse and I'd
toward the church. She entered il
ana SANFORD followed her I'm. taking a
Dack seat The woman went up ON n
dais and conducted the school
something about her convinced San.
iord that she was the girl who had
made him an Easter loan. There was
enough of the child left in her TO de.
note this. and there was unmistakahle
evidence in her manner
sanford remained in his seat while
the school was in session. and when n
collector came to him for his Easter
Offering he folded a Sl0O bill I'm a Bit
OF paper, on which he wrste in pencil.
principal and interest OF an Easter
Offering that should have been made
ten years ago"
Ihe contributions we're handed to
Mary Treusdail. but what became of
them Sanford did not know. He left
the place with the children and stroll
ed about near by till he saw Mary
emerge. She was moving in the ,li-
recton of her home on the hill whom
he Joined her.
Pardon me-" he said: Il am n stran.
ger here. Perhaps you can give me
some information that need"
She turned her eyes upon him. II
he had had any doubt of her identity
II was dispelled. There was the same
kindly. honest look in them he had
seen as boy and which had con
tributed 10 change him from a ragged
boy TO prosperous man.
That farm" he continued. pointing
to the hilltop-"why is it not prosper
Gus? Is there anything the matter
with the soilt"
Nothing My father. who formerly
owned II, had a succession of bad
years on account of the weather He
left the property TO me encumbered.
and it has since been all | could do to
pay the interest on the mortgage"
Il am an investor In farm mort
cages" said Sanford. What interest
do you payfr
"Six per cent"
Indeed, l find II difficult to loan at
8. How much is the mortgage?"
Five thousand dollars. but there is
also an accumulation of interest, which
brings the total up to something like
sixty-six hundred"
by this time they had reached the
farm, and Sanford paused.
Since you are stranger here" said
Mary, Il should be pleased to have
you dine with us"
Sanford accepted the invitation. The
family consisted of an aunt OF Mary's
and younger sister, in whom the
guest saw a duplicate OF the girl who
had befriendcd the ragged boy After
dinner lie made an inspection of the
farm, or pretended TO inspect it, and
Mary if she could give him the amount
of the principal and interest due on
the mortgage. She did SO. and he said
to her:
Il will consider it favor If you will
allow me to add this to my other
loans"
Mary was puzzled. She was not
aware that the loan was especially de-
sirable as an investment. However,
since the stranger asked as favor
what would be an advantage to her
she assented As soon as she had
done so Sanford whipped out pocket
checkbook and wrote her check for
the amount. telling her that the papers
day.
Sanford did not, seem inclined to
hurry away. and the afternoon was
well spent before he made move to
stranger in strange land. he had
better take tea with them, and this in
vitation. too, was accepted. During
the evening he and Mary were sitting
together before n little blaze on the
hearth, for the nights were still cool.
when she suddenly said to him.
did you put that hundred dollar bill
in the Easter Offering at Sunday school
this morningF
Il did"
what did you mean by what you
wrote on the wrapperg"
Ten years ago today little girl,
the daughter of a prosperous farmer,
met ragged boy on the road, took
him to Sunday school and afterward
loaned him the amount she was to
have given for an Easter offering. You
are that farmers daughter, and am
that ragged boy"
Mary's eyes were fixed on him for
some time without speaking. She was
trying to recall the incident Present
ly she said:
1T is coming back to me"
THAT Easter Sunday" he contin-
ued. "a revolution took place In me.
and you were the cause of the change.
needed heartening. and you gave 1t.
The heartening brought courage, the
courage a resolution to take hold or
the world and win. | am not very
rich man but | have a-plenty to return