The Press., 1922-11-16


 -shan't even keep chickens.
 "And I hope you don't mind my keepin my old downstairs room-it's a bit bigger'n the company room, so will hold all I'm entitled to take. What l things I don't want specially I'll sell as chance comes, giving you the re fusal of anything you may want. The old secretary, for instance-that comes l . down from yer great-grandpap- real an-teek, and worth money. Squire Bemis says he'll give two hundred for it any day"
 "You went to him?" Marcia inter- rupted, holding her temper hard.
 Mrs. Lane laughed foolishly. "1 ain't got nothin' against his money, she said Hell send for the COW and stuff this mornin'. put him off about the ecretary-somehow it keeps me so in mind of yer pappy. Many a night dropped asleep watchin' him. settin' in front of it, figgerin', figger- in, frownin' all the time"
 "You know what fOr-to pay debts for which he was not even bound inI honor," Marcia interrupted.
 Her stepmother sighed, murmuringl "Yes," then briskened to add:
 "After I get things all fixed I'm goin' to take in sewin'-yOu won't mind, I know want ter be inde- pendent, though do believe you'd clothe as we'll as feed me if you had to-"
 q would rather do it than have you turn seamatI ess," Mar,h' answered. swallowing lump i'll her throat. Tax. ing in sewing meant making her home the center and fountainhead of gossip, the more unsavory the better. She wanted to forbid it outright, but felt that it would be unwise. Better Mrs. Lane than q strange WOman-she could not possibly live alOne-eVen setting the Bemis complication out of account. So she gave in about every 1 thing but the secretary-that, she said in voice of steel, she must and would have for herself.
 Not only because she loved it-a tall, fine. piece of cabinetry, wrought from native walnut and ebOn with age. 1 She, had somehow an imperative sense . Of being bidden to keep 1t. Sitting be- fore it the old days came back--dear l days, when she had been her fathers 1 cOmrade and consolation for the mtS take of his second marriage. Then~he had told her about the debt. It ran back to his generous youth, when he ] had gone bail for a friend accused of l forgery, who had promptly run away, l never to return. His default took all the ready money Richard Lane had ] inherited; but he had not minded the l money loss so much as that of faith and trust.
 The land, unincumbered and titled as he titled it, meant comfort, even modest wealth, until the old judge died. He had carried the law and the county in his pocket for forty years. Honest himself, he had let those un- der him be lax until they dared to be- come dishonest. In the upheaval Mir. Lane was called on for the forfeited l bond, with interest. He had miSlaid the receipts for. the money paid in two inStallments. Squire Bemis had seen the payments, but his memory was so treacherOus he refused to swear to the fact, but had saved his face by offer ing to lend half the money, at usury, upon mortgage security. The OffeE was refused with smile that stung iiifKe a Ia ssh4 Followed years of driving striving, at last thriving, clOuded fur ther with great grief, a sad mistake and ending at an open grave.
 It all came back like a dream pie ture to Marcia, rummaging in the sec retary's intricate recesses. Especially . 1 the last days when she had seen the inevitable end, not knowing where tC turn for help or counsel. It had come :, to her miraculously it seemed from the gray house beyond the river ; Young Calder, its inheritor, had come ! back to it in time to ask renewal o.
 the Lane friendship for his father. Ht : had seen to everything. Marcia kneV
 the bills were all paid and would neve
 trouble her until she was ready fo
 them.
 But that in no wise abated her dut, | of diligence. She must know how sh
 stood to the last penny. So sh
 Searched-and found amazingly. Tn
 floor of one pigeOnhOle had sprung tn
 least bit From beneath it she dreN
 put the lost receipts, not only prOperl
 signed but witnessed by Neighbor .Bt
 mis in his own hand. She might hay
 tainted with joy, only young Calder
 leaning over her shoulder, said softly
 We'll forgive him-On cOnditiOn.''
 ''What?" asked Marcia, hushedly.
 That he takes stepmamma off ou ]