Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-08-21


comr"Wity and his townsmen were
nrol n family whose ancestry ran
back Two centuries.
With his god-headed cane the col
"nel was battering away at II tree.
Upon ii was tackled some kind of
document. He tore it to ribbons with
his swiShng blows. he shook his leo
nine head I'm wild excitement and
dashed into the house.
81 know" abruptly spoke one of the
onlookerS. I'll wager the poster was
notice of foreclosure. You know
that has been threatened for some
time. Too bad A fine old gentle
man. and his daughter Is about as
near to an angel as you find them.
What's that 80
Ii was the sharp startling echo OF
a shot within the house The two men
rushed thlther, 10 find the colonel ly-
Ing PROSTATE in the lower hall. Be
side him was an Old-fa shiOned musket.
The fire-eating colonel, goaded 10 in
sane rage by the threat Of expulsion
fr4 = house. had probably rushed
Z AIRS To secure the means OF guard
in. against invasion. The firearm
had accidentally exploded. the shock
had sent him headlong Within a few
hours II became known that to col
onel had suffered n brain conclusion
that had robbed him OF his reason. He
was rushed To sanitarum and his
daughter. who was visiting friend.
was sent for.
1t was a sad homecoming for Mabel
WorthngtOn. knowledge of the
loss of their last piece Of property was
as nothing TO her beside the rOrelOrn
condition OF her father. After few
days Mabel aroused 10 rearrange the
tangled threads OF her broken life.
There was no hope VI saving any
thing from the wreck. A just claim
covered the old mansion and all II con-
tanned. The holder ~ the mortgage
had been unusually patient and in
dulgent His death had necessitated
the settlement OF the estate and The
foreclosure had ,es,l1 t. Mabel,
learned that young physician. one
Morton Dale had been left the place
by legacy. A friend of Mabel. Mrs.
ENmore. a widow had Insisted that
Mabel should make her home with her
until she could rearrange her disor-
dcred living plans.
"'rhat won't take long said Mabel.
sadly. MY duty is plain. I shall find
n position somewhere. rent small
house and make n new home for ia
Their. His care shall be my one
thought in life now. As 10 the old
home, ! shall make no claim"
''Dr. Morton Dale"-that was the
name on a card brought 10 Mabel by
Mrs. Exmore's maid few days later.
She wondered what purpose the
stranger could have in visiting her.
Mabel entered the paror. to find
young man. faced. courteous,
subdued and respectful In his manner
towards her.
Il have come to explain To you,
Miss Worthington." ne said. that
understood nothing OF the condition
Of the property my uncle left me UNI
TIL came here. Ny uncle was an old
time friend of your fathers and am
sure never intended that the borrowed
money should bring him any hardship.
| truly sympathize with YOU. I shall
not occupy the house. and I wish YOU
would continue To make II your home"
ooh. could not think ~ thutr' dis
scented Mabel
"Ihen M loast take charge Of The
furniture: that is certainly richtfullv
yeur own. Miss Worthingtou. ] have
been summoned I'M consultation over
your fathers case at the sanitarium.
! do NOT wish 20 encoura gc false hopes,
hut l. helieve that an operation will
restore his reason"
Mabel would not hear of returning
70 the old homo or Of accepting any
of lis contents. She remained with
Mrs Exmore. hut there Doctor Dale
called frequently 10 report the prog
rcss ~ the invalid under his charge.
one day he appeared with suppressed
animation in his face
Miss Worthington." ~ said "the OPP
Grafton has succeeded. and your father
Is restored 10 reason. My medical as
soclateS, however, agree with me that
II is absolutely necessary that he new
or know of the foreclosure. All that
and his accident is blank 10 him. and /
must remain so. else there may be- a
recurrence ~ his trouble. have pro-
vided against II rs far as possible. .
am satisfied that II my uncle had lived
he would have cancelled the mortgage
on your home. II is there that your
father must return | shall convey
the place 10 him and in doing so feel
that I am simply doing my duty"
In vain Mabel demonstrated. hut her I
joy and anxiety over her fathers re-
covery Influenced her to blindly follow /
the dictates Of this determined lover.
for such Morton Dale had become. and /
q little later both went hand i'm hand
20 The presence Of fhe restored father (
to ask his blessing on their union.