Year: 1872

talking with Hetty, and evidently
giving her directions for what she was
making Hetty was gazing upon her,
eager and absorbed. Little Eva was
sitting at the table in her high chair,
working at piece of dough.


BY and by there was a spattering
of water heard in the next room by
Hetty.


"Ben has come" running hastily
forward and opening the door.


"Ben has tum y echoed the little
one, clapping her hands and lisping as
he came in, bright and smiling, what
she had in store for him. IL is made
a tate for 90, is"


He caught her up in his arms and
gave her kiss, while she laughed and
shouted, but his eyes were seeking the
stranger.


Hetty said, prettily :-"My brother
Ben" then to him :-"This lady got
caught in the shower, Ben, and is
staying till it clears up. She has been
so kind as to help me get dinner, and
has made some splendid biscuit


They both stood mute minute, she
with surprise at the real Ben, young,
handsome, and well.bread, he with
admiration, and a strange new feeling
he could not define. lie had hardly
made her welcome, when return of
his self-possession, and there was a
loud rap at the door. Hetty went to
the door, came back pale, and whisper
cd to Ben esquire johnson"


Mile drew quickly back from the
half open door. Ben went to his Wis
itor, closing the door after him, but
every word was distinctly heard by
Mile, for Squire Johns did not speak
in the suave tone she was accustomed
to hear him, but loud and pcremptor-
lily.


II am in haste, young man; just
stopped to say that the time for
the payment of the money due me be-
ing day after tomorrow, if it is not
ready | shall be obliged Immediately
to resort to severe measures"


"Impossible y exclaimed the young
man in a surprised and excited tone !;
you are very much mistaken. 1t is
not due till the 2Sth, it is now but
the 18th. At that time l shall sell
the piece of land | partly expect to do,
and hope with some other money
coming in, to be able to pay it,


"You are laboring under a very sin
gular mistake young man. Here is
your mortgage, you can see for your
self that it is due the 18th"


"Let me see it,"


The figures danced upon the page
He pressed his hands over his eyes
and calmed himself with great effort
lie grew ashly pale as he read.


"It reads so, certainly, but I can't
understand it." He went to the desk.
Here's memorandum my father
made of the circumstances, and it is
dated the 2Sth, and he was very sure
methodical man, and would not be
very likely to make mistake that
might be fraught with very important
and evil consequences to him. l be-
l.eve,-" a sudden suspicion coming
into his mind, as he detected a lurk-
ing triumph in Squire Johns oye,-
81 believe there's some villainy about
this matter, and that you are at the
bottom of il, he exclaimed excitedly
fixing his eye firmly upon the lawyer
who changed color in spite of himself.


"Be careful what you say, young
man, as you may get yourself into
trouble" he said angrily.


"Ics, sir, believe you arc a base
villain remember that you are the
lawyer who made out the mortgage
at the time, and know that for years
you have been aching to get hold of
this property. If there is any justice
in law, you shall be exposed "


"In the meantime you had better
have the money ready" coolly and in.
sultingly replied Mr.. Johns.


"That is impossible, you knew very
well that / could not raise 40 much
mcucy in two days when YOU laid your
plans"


"Then you know the consequences" A"


"And what isto become Of my young
sister p


81 neither know nor care. That is
your lookout"


The young man strove TO reprcss
bis passion. Squire Johns, by the
2sth l can pay this debt expect"


"Thst will do you no good. 1t
must be ready by day after tomorrow
or I take possession. might have