Year: 1873

/
The father, mother, and son exchanged
embarrassed looks for all conversation on
the subject of the dreaded mortgage had
been avoided among them by common con-
sent since Emily came and they could not
speak of the man who held it except with
direct reference TO the subject The sudden
words they had uttered at the sight of the
Squire at the gate had been evoked by the
excitement Of the moment, and forgotten
as soon as uttered.


"Well, if you won't ask me, said Emily
"I'll tell you without asking. Or rather
I'll show you. Come in the parlor, please"


She took hold Of farmer Bells muscular
arm with her two little hands, and they all
went in. There was folded paper lying
on the table. Farmer Bell started as if it
were ghost. The word MORTGAGE" was
printed on it in large letters, and there was
some writing underneath.


"He came to bring you that, father"
said Emily.


Bring-me-what9" stammered Farmer
Bell, with white lips, his eyes moving from
the paper to the young woman like man
in a dream. "What is itp


Look at it and see," said Emily, "you
ought to know it. You have seen it be-
fore.'


Farmer Bell took the paper from the
table with trembling hands and opened it.
He looked at the top and read "This In
denture - he looked at the bottom and saw
his own signature, and under it, that of his
wife Ruth Bell, and opposite each little
round seal, with blue edge.


"It is yours, father" whispered Emily !;
"tear it up"


"What ?' cried the farmer, finding his
voice at last. "Mine? where'd you got it,
Emily? You can't have wheedled old
Gripe out of a two-thousand dollar mort
gage for all you're the winningest bit of
womankind alive. Mine, Emily Why
this is the mortgage on my house ! ..Ha, ha,
ha Mother what are you crying about
God bless you daughter, can't understand
it, but know you're"


The old fellow broke down in spite of
himself when he got so far, and drew out
his red silk handkerchief and wiped his
moist eyes that he might bend over and
look again at the mortgage, he had put
back on the table as carefully as if it were
made of gold leaf.


How Emily explained the presence here
Of the mortgage was very simple she had
bought it some time before, in fact on the
day of its expiration, and as part of the bar
gain had stipulated that the paper should
be delivered to her, at Farmer Bells by
Squire Gripe himself, ON Thanksgiving
Day.


But to her present auditors this explana-
tion only served to create deeper mystery;
where should Emily get SO much money!


so the time has come" said she, "when
must expose my secret-a secret that /
have kept for three long years without a
solitary confidant. When my mother died
she left me property worth a few thousand
dollars which my father never disturbed,
and though he died insolvent, you see l
had something. But as my property was
in Reyton here, and was managed by an
agent who never used my name to tenants,
it was supposed was penniless. When l
saw what difference my property made
in the manner Of the bigger sex toward me,
l concluded not to dissipate their delusion,
so that if ever did marry, I'd marry an
honest man, who loved me for myself and
that is just what l have DONE" she said
putting her hand contentedly in Leonard's.


"You blessed little humbug !" murmur-
ed Leonard.


" And now," said she, "what is to be
done with this ugly bit of paperP" point
ing to the mortgage on the table.


1T is yours, daughter said Farmer Bell; /;
"you have bought it with your money, and
will pay it off yet. You'll give me plenty
of time, know, and plenty of time is all l
ask"


"Oh, don't be SO sober ~ cried Emily,
impatiently and then she added, show
much-eh-time do you call-eh-plenty
Of time ?" in such surprising imitation Of
Squire Gripe's piping, hesitating voice that
1t was irresistibly laughable, and Farmer
Bell nearly choked himself over it.


Emily patted the farmer on the broad
back with mock solitude, and when he was
quite recovered and stood wiping his red
face with his silk handkerchief Emily
quietly took the mortgage from the table
with the stove tongs, and holding it off at
arms length carried it and put it in the
fire.