The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-02-15

II guess that'll do" she pronounced
at last. pushing the spectacles up on
her lined forehead. "You read II, Billy
Louise, n see what yuh think"
81 think It's all right, Marthy," said
Billy Louise, after she had read the
document twice. "It's bill Of sale /;
and II also wipes the slate clean Of any
possible | think Mr.. Seabeck Is very
| c-clever."
Whereupon Marthy signed the note,
with a spluttering Of the abused pen In
her stlffened old fingers and great
twisting of her grim mouth as she
| formed the capitals. Then Billy Louise
wrote her name with fine, schoolgirl
ease and little curl on the end Of the
last d. Seabeck took the paper from
the tips of Billy Louise's supercilious
fingers, returned with II to the desk
for a. blOtter, hunted an envelope,
folded the note carefully. and laid II
away inside.
~ believe that Is all, Mrs. Mellke.
hope you will suffer no further uneasi-
ness on account of your-nephew."
I'm liable t. suffer some gittln' that
five hundred dollars paid up," Marthy
returned with some acerblty. I'm
much obleeged to yuh, Mr.. Seabeck,
fer bein' so easy on us. II yuh hadn't
drug Billy Louise into 1t, I'd say yer
too good to be human"
'Hmmm-mm-nOt at ALL" Seabeck
stammered deprecatingly and left the
room with what haste his natural dig
nifty would permit.
That ended the Seabeck part OF the
whole sOrdld affair, except that he re-
mained for another hour, doing chores
and making everything snug for the
night. Also he filed the kitchen wood
box as high as he could pile the sticks
and brought water to last overnight
since Charles plan to pipe water into
the cabin had remained beautiful
plan and nothing more. Billy Louise
thanked Seabeck, when he was ready
to go.
81 know you were square, and you're
really big-souled, too. I'll remember il
always. Mr.. Seabeck."
"Will you?" Seabeck looked down
at her, with his hand upon the latch.
"Even If you are put in u position
where you must pay that note-you
will still-Hm-mm / see. Before
go, Miss Macdonald, should like your
permission to send a man down here to
look after things"
"No, you mustn't" Billy Louise
spoke with prompt decision. "Marthy
might think you were-yOu see, it
wouldn't do. I'll see about getting q
man. If you will take this note up and
leave it in the mailbox for me, John
Pringle will come up tomorrow. Wen
manage all right
you're quite right. But, Miss Mac
Donald, there is something else. I-er
should like to give you little-wed-
ding gift, since you hOnored me with
the news of your apprOaching-mm-m
marriage AS an old neighbOr, and
one of your most sincere admirers, who
would feel greatly hOnored by your
friendship I-should like to have you
accept this" He held something out
10 Billy LOulSe anu puilcu Opeh thO
door for instant escape. Good night,
Miss Macdonald. l think it will
storm" Then he was gone, hurrying
down the narrow path with long
strides, his tall figure bent to the wind
his coat Tapping around his lean legs.
Billy Louise closed the door and her
half-open mouth and let down her
lifted eyelids. Standing with her back |
against the wall. she turned that some
envelope-over twice, then |
tore off the end and pulled out the
contents. 1t was the note she and Mar
thy had signed no longer than an hour
ago. and written large across the face
of it were the words: paid, Samuel
Seabeck."
The-old-darling !" said Billy Lou
ise under her breath and went straight
In to show it to Marthy.