The Coolidge examiner., 1938-02-03

ting off, though Margaret and her
grandmother had much ado to keep
from weeping.
1T won't be long" said Marga-
ret. smiling brightly, as she got into
the car at last. ''We'n be coming
back after you very soon, you know.
and we're going to be together
ChristmaSi"
So they drove off into the dawn.
and the old people stood at their
mountain door, shading their eyes,
and watched them away.
Grandfather smiled as he came in
from the barn. Mother wasn't go.
ing to grieve after her girl after all
And she seemed to have forgotten
the mortgage entirely.
So Grandfather sat down with the
old Bible and opened it, and there
to his surprise was a long manila
envelope lying between the pages!
He took it up and turned it over Gu
riously. wondering how it got there.
Then he opened the envelope and
withdrew a document.
why. Rebecca. what's this?"
said the old man in great excite
ment. What is it? Is 1t some
thing Mr.. Sterling left behind?"
SIS it something Important" she
asked. Grandfather. with trembling
hands, was reading the document,
trying to understand what it meant.
"Rebecca!" said the old man. sud-
denly reaching out his arm and
drawing his old wife to his side,
"Rebeccal Do you know what this
means? 1t means our mortgage is
paid off! It's paid! Rebecca! Ev-
cry cent? We don't even have to
pay the interest! The farm is
saved!"
But I don't understand" said
the old lady. who did it? Who
paid it?"
well, I suppose that dear young
fellow" said the old man, brushing
the mist from his eyes and studying
the paper again. His name isn't
on it, but he's the only one who
could have done it. Margaret was
as much troubled as you and l. She
didn't have the money"
We'll, he is just precious young
man. How wonderful! And he knew
he'd done that all the time he was
urging us to visit him at Christmas!
Well, well have to go now, won't
we, john" she asked eagerly.
We'll, yes, guess we should CO."
he said thoughtfully.
II wonder why he does it?" said
the old lady. do you think he's
getting fond of our Margaret? Is
he dong it to please her?"
Il don't know. Rebecca," said the
ole man cautiously.
He sat down and wrote letter
to Greg, and the old lady went
about her housework with a song
on her lips.
The two young people driving
down the mountain had another glo-
rious day together.
Margaret had resolved to take the
beauty Of this one day and not let
it cloud the more formal days that
she knew must come afterwards in
the office when they should return
to the world of real work.
So they rode down the mountain
gaily, and continued their comrade-
ship throughout happy day, eyes
meeting in sweet understanding of
mutual likes and dislikes. happy
awareness of each other.
A few slow, lazy snowfakes were
zigzagging down as they neared the
city, with a promise OF more to
come, and the streets had slushy,
dismal look. Margaret glanced out
and suddenly realized that her
beautiful interval was over. Tomor-
row and the rest Of the days she
must go back to considering herself
an employee in reserved and dig
nified atmosphere.
"a man is coming for me tomor-
row." said Greg in sudden busi-
nessIike tone as they drew up at
Mrs. Harris house. II probably
shall not be back till late Sunday
night. So l shan't be seeing you till
some time Monday. If anybody
comes in Monday morning you'll
know what to say to them"
RIO BE CONTINUED