The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-12-16
CONDENSED
CLASSICS
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JEROME
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Nv MARY E. WILKINS.
FREEMAN
Condensation by
Msrv e Wilkins-F reeman
Condensation by
Mary e. wilkins-Freeman

THOR a poor New England boy,
Jerome Edwards, the tragedy OF
u life began at the age Of ten. His
father, Abel Edwards, had gone thet
morning, with his wagon and old
nodding white horse, to his woodlot
20 cut wood for Doctor Prescott.
Doctor Prescott had an obsession Tor
owning land. When there was lack
of ready money to pay his exorbitant
bills, he seized with avidity upon
mortgage, and he foreclosed without
grace or mercy.
Doctor Prescott had held thousand
dollar mortgage upon the Edwards
house for years.
The old white horse coming home,
turning out at the beck Of q phantom
driver for the bad places in the coun-
try road, was met upon his arrival at
the Edwards cottage with wild shrieks
in a woman's voice, childs fright
ened sob, and a boys sober answers
to the eager questions Of small mob
Of men and boys following after.
There was an immediate rush to
the wood lot, but Jerome had reached
the spot the first Of all. On the shore
Of a black pool Of water, reputed
among the boys to be bottomless, he
found his fathers hat. Jerome
weighted it with stones and flung it
In. Then he bolted for home by an
other route. LET 'em say father
drowned himself now" he gasped out
as he ran.
Abel Edwards had been missing two
years when Jerome, studying the STU
alton day and night, knew the truth:
They could never, although they half
starved themselves, meet the interest
Of the mortgage. He made a plan.
He went to consult Squire Eben
Merritt. The squire was a notable
hunter and fisher, and had been bent
that morning upon fishing excur-
sion.
Jerome looked straight at the squire,
and made his little speech. He had
rehearsed 1t often. When he had fin
ished, the squire burst into great
roar Of laughter, and caught the boy
by the shoulder. "You don't mean
you planned this all yourself?"
"Yes, sir. I've been layin' awake
nights, plannin'."
"How old are Your A.
''Twelve, sir"
"By Jove!"
Then lovely, gentle little girl stole
Into the room. Her dimpled arms ant
neck were bare and her shower Of golt
curls fell to her waist. She wore ,
frock Of soft blue.
The squire told Jerome to call o.
Doctor Prescott and show his plan.
A small dark, very kind and quic
lady, who was the squires wife an
Lucina's mother, showed Jerome tn
door, and he went down the street
q daze. Jerome almost forgot the in
portant paper he carried. He he
never seen little girl like Lucir
Merritt.
Jerome called on Doctor Presco
who deigned to read his paper al
then summarily dismissed him.
hated him In strange way for m
to hate boy. On his way hol
Jerome encountered Squire Merr
coming out Of woodland road, w
great string Of fish. "What lu
SOM" he called out.
HE turned me out. I'd like to
him."
The squire laughed and ms
Jerome walk along with him to
sister Camilla's, who kept eide
maiden state in the old Merritt HOT
Jerome always remembered t
hour of tea-drinking and cake-eat
In the arbor with Squire Merritt
his sister and little Lucina, as
would have an especially beaut
turn Of his kaleidoscope of life.
Until he was much older, Jert
did not fully comprehend in what ,
Eben Merritt had solved his finan
difficulties. Then he discovered I
the squire had made great sacrif
of his none too large competency
buy from Doctor Prescott, and I
the Edwards mortgage into his
hands.
Now life began to look brighter
Jerome. He could not go to schoo
the ordinary sense, so he went di
to nature. He, In his scanty
time, roamed fields and woods.
Noyes, queer character who ost,
bly, was Doctor Prescott's coachl
but who had been permitted to
simulate, ard some said had
been taught much Of the doc
medical lore, taught Jerome Z
about simples.
Jerome attained q local III
celebrity. since he gave aid for |
Ing and with success.
Gradually Jerome's business
developed and strengthened. 7
was an exceptional chance for a
mill in the village. He went one
ming to Lawyer Means with a ret
that he should sell two hundred
sixty-flve dollars worth of his Ian
Graystone Brook, and came ,
with the deed. He then began to
for the mill.
In those days he worked like a