Year: 1875

margaret


She was silent.


"Get whatever you want at the
shops, child. OF course you will be
as economical as possible; but still we
must live, you know. Once in three
months, or once in six months, III set
tie the bills. Then whatever we can
have shall go toward clearing off this
mortgage that seems to be such bug
bear in your eyes,"


81 will save in every possible way"
she said, earnestly. at is foolish,
suppose, but mortgage is a bugbear
to me. Father had a heavy one on
his farm, and the FIRST thing L remem-
Der as a little child is seeing him set
ting on the granary stairs in the big,
barn, signing and groaning to himself.
l was frightened and ran and told
mother; she kissed me and began to
cry, because she said the interest was
due on the mortgage that week, and
poor father was unhappy because he
could see no way to pay it.


"And did he pay it?" questioned
1ldi DOihChAldb lnbtlGbbOu.


"Yes. He borrowed the money
somewhere, and then, of course, there
was the interest to pay on that; and
so it went on, from bad to worse, till
father died, and the farm went back
to its owner. Mother said it had fair
ly worried him into his grave" she
added, wiping the tears from her eyes.
"You cannot wonder if l am afraid of
mortgages, after that"


"But, pet, the two cases are entirely
different" said her husband, kissing her
cheek. "Your father was poor far
mer, and found it almost impossible to
raise money, l dare say. Now l am q
thriving merchant, and if all goes we'll
| hope to make enough to clear our
home this year. Come, don't think of
trouble any more. Be as careful as
you can in the house expenses, and
you will find that we shall own our
pretty home, clear of any claim, be-
fore you know where you are"


He drew her down to the wide Grim
son footstool before the fire, and rest
ing her head upon his knee, began
to read aloud.


The fire and lamp burned clearly,
The pretty French clock on the man
tel piece ticked musically, and rang
out its fairy hour chimes one before
hs voice ceased to echo in her ear.
The book was a lively and pleasant
one, and Margaret was able to discuss
it with him intelligently as they lin
gered before the blaze for one deli
cious half hour before going up stairs.


Yet all the while her thoughtful
eyes were seeing visions in the crimson
Goals, and her heart and brain we're
busily at work, devising plans to ward
off the evil that, to her, seemed to be
threatening the peace and comfort of
their little dwelling, so long as any
other person held claim thereon.


The Ginning bells of the French
clock rang out ten, and Margaret rose
and went about the room, putting it
daintily in order before leaving it for
the night. Her pretty face blooming
and happy as ever, for at last she saw
the way clear before her 20 Danish,
with the energy God had given her,
this brooding cloud of evil from their
domestic sky.


AS their married life began, SO it
went on, in the new home for nearly
three years. The house expenses were
carefully kept down by Margaret, who
made one servant answer while many
of her friends kept two; and once in
three months, or oftener in six, as the
days went on, the accounts were set.
tied by the husband, oheerfully enough
at first, but by and by with sighs and
shakes of the head, which Margaret
seemed not to notice and of which she
certainly never spoke.


During the last of the threee years,
Harry's handsome face began to wear
a look of anxious care. Not a cent, so
far had been laid aside to pay off the
mortgage oil their home, and the
chance of success seemed less than ever
to him now, because, like all others in
business he began to see a time ap.
preaching which would "try mems
souls"


The evening reading was gradually
laid aside and during the summer
months Of the third year Harry be-
gan to sit brooding after tea, in his
armchair before the empty hearth, till
Margaret, without appearing to notice
his depression, came to him and in
duced him to accompany her on a
walk. At such times he strobe along
beside her, silent and sad, and return
ing home buried himself in the col
Dmns Of the "Banker's DaV Rookn till