THE MORTGAGE
FORECLOSED
THE
MORTGAGE FORECLOSED
A STORY OF THE FARM
BY
E. H. THAYER
CHICAGO
HOMEWOOD PUBLISHING COMPANY
COPYRIGHT, 1892.
BY BELFORD-CLARKE CO.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
COPYRIGHT. 1893.
BY W. B. CONK.EY COMPANY.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
THE ARRIVAL, ........ 9
CHAPTER II.
FARMERS' WIVES BUYING GOODS, - . - - 20
CHAPTER III.
LEARNING SOMETHING VERY FAST, .... 27
CHAPTER IV.
THE WAT TO KEEP BOYS AND GIRLS AT THE FARM. 37
CHAPTER V.
THE FARMER His WIFE His DAUGHTER AND His SON, 45
CHAPTER VI.
LOVERS' TALK, 53
CHAPTER VII.
THE MORTGAGE ON THE FARM AND HOW IT GOT THERE. 61
CHAPTER VIII.
HOW TO GET HID OF THE MoilTGACK ON THK FAHM, - 74
CHAPTER IX.
THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER, 85
CHAPTER X.
WHY SHE REFUSED TO MARRY MAJOR HOLBROOK, - 90
CHAPTER XI.
LOVERS ON THE LAKE, ----- 101
v
2133195
VI CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XII.
ON THE OCEAN DANGEROUS RESEMBLANCE, - 108
CHAPTER XIII.
THE SHIPWRECK, 116
CHAPTER XIV.
POISONED, - 122
CHAPTER XV.
THE WILL, is A FORGERY, - 129
CHAPTER XVI.
THB DECEPTION, 138
CHAPTER XVIL
Is AN UNKNOWN LAND, 144
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE WILL IN COURT, 153
CHAPTER XIX.
THE EVIDENCE, AND THE JUDGE'S ADVICE TO THE
FARMERS, 160
CHAPTER XX.
THE THRILLING STORY TOLD BY MRS. WINTERS, - 174
CHAPTER XXI.
GROUNDWIG'S INFAMOUS DEMAND, - - - - 183
CHAPTER XXII.
PERJURY EXPOSED, - 192
CHAPTER XXIII.
FREE WOOL THE VERDICT, 205
CHAPTER XXIV.
A GHOST'S DISPATCH TO A DEAD WOMAN, 217
CHAPTER XXV.
MANNING ENCOUNTERS GROUNDWIG, .... 224
CONTEXTS. Vli
CHAPTER XXVI.
GOD'S GIFT OF DREAMS, 230
CHAPTER XXVII.
I FORGOT ! I FORGOT ! 236
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Is IT CHARLES MAXXIXG OR HARRY WINTERS ? - - 242
CHAPTER XXIX.
SHALL, THE IMPOSTER SUCCEED ? 250
CHAPTER XXX.
CLEAR THE TRACK TO BRADFORD JUNCTION. - - 256
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE RACE AND THE RESCUE, 264
CHAPTER XXXII.
A RETROSPECT A MARRIAGE THE WHITE LIGHT, 273
THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
CHAPTER I.
THE ARRIVAL.
" Lightning expresses, even if they are on branch
roads, don't stop long at small places. So you will
have to hurry up a little, my good woman. There
now, step lively, my little man. No one to meet you?
Well you will have no trouble in finding your friends,
if you have any here, because you can peep in every
door-way in the village in half an hour. All aboard."
Thojugh there was no person in sight to go aboard,
the cull was made just the same, from force of habit.
Off the train moved, and in a moment it rounded the
curve, and was out of sight.
Something had so disturbed the lady as to cause
her to weep. It may have been the .conductor's
reference to friends that came not, or it may have
been the sudden realization of the fact that she and
her little boy were among strangers. The village
\vu.s quiet and still, as if the houses were tenantless
and the former occupants had gone to church or to a
merry-making in the beautiful grove near by. The
country store was open and the stranger, holding her
boy tightly by the hand, walked in. The proprietor,
finding she did not wish to purchase any goods, invited
10 THE MORTGAGE FOBECLOSED.
her to a seat. She appeared bewildered, despondent
and somewhat dazed, and was evidently wrapped
up in thoughts she could not drive from her, even
had she so desired. The bright-eyed, curly-haired,
fair-cheeked, little fellow by her side sought to cheer
and comfort her by soothing words, tenderly and
sweetly spoken, and she soon roused from her seem-
ing lethargy, and embracing her boy lovingly and
endearingly, assured him that now, and at last, she
was weeping for joy! They Avere the tears of peace,
contentment and self-satisfaction. The tears of sor-
row had given way to the tears of joy. Flowing
almost together and at the self -same moment from
the self-same fountain yet between them was a
gulf as wide as that which separates time from eter-
nity.
The lady assured the store-keeper that she was a
stranger in the village, that, in fact, she was a stranger
in the State, and had neither friend nor relative, as
far as she knew, in all the great, grand West. She
and her boy would like to remain a few days, if she
could find a home with some of the good people of the
village. The man called in his wife, and telling her
what the lady wished, the pleasant and cheerful little
woman soon arranged that the new comers should
occupy the spare room over the store and take their
meals at the store-keeper's table.
Less than forty houses constituted the village, and
yet had the strange lady searched the broad West
throughout, she would nowhere have found a place
better suited to her loneliness and friendlessness. She
had traveled more than a thousand miles, that she
THE ARRIVAL. 11
and her boy might not be separated by the strong
arm of the law. Her guiding star had directed her
to this beautiful valley, and, for the first time for
weeks, she began to realize there was still much in
life to live for.
The following morning she looked about the vil-
lage, and was charmed with the beauty of the sur-
rounding scenery. She admired its loveliness, and
was delighted with the pretty, little crooked stream
which ran along the valley, as if playing hide-and-
seek with the adjacent, grassy bluffs, then, losing
itself in the friendly groves, to reappear on the dis-
tant prairie, where, like a silvery serpent, it wriggled
and twisted itself along until lost in the far-away
lake.
Every day the stranger and her boy could be seen
taking long walks in the country. With each pass-
ing hour she seemed more and more delighted with
all she saw. She would stop at the farm houses to
rest, and she never left without having made a friend.
All the villagers came to know her, but none of them
knew her history or cared to know it. They only
knew that a woman of her intelligence and refine-
ment, brought up in an Eastern home, amid wealth
and affluence, must have a history of absorbing in-
terest, or why should she leave home and kindred to
dwell among strangers? But no one sought to share
with her that secret. There was no village gossip to
shun, no mutual friend into whose ears she might
tell her story, if story she had to tell, nor did she
want such a friend to listen and perhaps to betray
but all were friends now, all were neighbors, and all
12 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
delighted in making her contented and happy a
condition in life the kind-hearted and generous-
natured farm people knew so well the value of.
Mrs. Winters might have told a story of thrilling
interest, and yet her past life was like ^the placid
waters of yonder stream, while the life she had yet
to experience was like the seething, boiling cauldron
in the turbulent river when at flood height, and after
a night of tempest.
But just now she is exceedingly happy. Her mind
was made up that her home should be in this beauti-
ful valley. Here she would live and here she would
die. In her walks she had often stopped at a farm
house where it seemed difficult for the hard-working
owner to make both ends meet at the end of the year.
He had quite a large family to provide for, but the
number of mouths to feed could not have contributed
to his unfortunate circumstances had there not been
a controlling cause elsewhere. The several members
of the family were industrious workers, toiling from
early morn until late at night. She had heard the
farmer express a desire to sell his place. She thought
to introduce the subject of buying and ascertain the
cause of his ill luck, and if the circumstances were
not too discouraging, she would purchase the farm.
" Farmer Chase/' said Mrs. Winters, one evening
as the sturdy old yeoman came in from his work, " I
have often heard you say you would like to sell your
farm. I want to buy some such a place as this, but
before I talk of buying I want to know why you wish
to sell."
" I will tell you candidly. I have had so much bad
THE ARRIVAL. 13
luck in the past eight or ten years that I have been
compelled to run in debt, mortgage my farm, and I
see no other way than to consent to its foreclosure,
let the holder of the mortgage have the farm, and I
will pick up the little I may be able to save, take my
family and start for the far West, where I can enter a
homestead and begin life again way down at the
bottom."
" Farmer Chase, you say you have had bad luck.
In what way has such luck manifested itself? You
have a nice farm, the crops look well, the yield bids
fair to be large, you and your boys do all the farm
work, pray tell me about your bad luck your crops
have not failed have they ? "
" Xo. I have been very fortunate in raising good
crops every season, my land is exceedingly fertile and
yields most bountifully, but the price of farm prod-
uce has been so low right along, year after year, that
really the profit has not been sufficient for me to buy
those necessaries of life which we must have to exist
even half-way comfortably."
" Then it is not the farm that is to blame for your
ill luck, but something else that happens after you
and your family and the farm have all done their
duty. Have you any idea why the price of farm prod-
uce is not sufficient to support your hard-working
family?"
" Xo, I have not," continued Farmer Chase; "some
six 3 r ears ago I put a mortgage of five hundred dollars
on my farm. I have paid the interest everyyear,but
I have been compelled to increase the amount of the
mortgage until at the present time is is nine hundred
H THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
and fifty dollars. I have been running behind about
one hundred and fifty dollars each year, and I see no
way of even starting again on a farm unless I can sell
my property for enough more than the mortgage to
enable me to buy an emigrant's outfit and sufficient
supplies to last my family until we can get settled
again. You know when a farm is mortgaged within
a few hundred dollars of its selling value, it is diffi-
cult to realize any more than the amount of the
mortgage. A foreclosure usually wipes out the farmer's
entire possessions, and I know of scores of cases where
farmers who have spent a quarter of a century in hard
work on the farm were compelled to part with all
they had and go out into the world, wife, children
and all, homeless and penniless. This may be my
fate."
" Farmer Chase, something is wrong, radically
wrong somewhere, when in a rich and fertile farming
country like this, where the crops never fail and the
yield is ever bountiful, that men and their families
must, after years of incessant toil, give up the fruits of
their hard labor and move outside of civilization and
begin life over again. It is not the soil you say that
is to blame for this thing, nor is it the lack of proper
management of the farm, nor is it because willing
hands do not toil and dig the livelong day through,
and ofttimes far into the night. Farmer Chase, I
know the cause as well as I know the leaves on yonder
oak. I know that the farmers of this great West, like
the operatives in the Xew England factories, are being
robbed of their earnings by the unjust tariff laws of
the land. But I will not discuss the cause of your
THE ARRIVAL. 15
ill luck just now. I like your farm. I know it will
suit me. I have a little income from other sources
and will not be dependent entirely on the profits of
the farm for a livelihood. Your price is reasonable,
and you can make me the deed, and if you desire to
give possession at once I will take your crops at a fair
valuation.' 5
The bargain being closed, Farmer Chase gathered
around him those members of his family too young to
go into the world by themselves and earn a living,
and at once made preparations for seeking a new
home. They visited the little church-yard and bade
a long farewell to the loved ones sleeping there;
they took a last look at the little church where the
babea had been christened and baptized; one fond
gaze at the red school-house, a tearful adieu to the
old homestead, then embracing the grown-up children
who would stay and struggle on to make a living, hop-
ing to pull through, and a cordial handshake with the
neighbors, a trembling good-bye to all, and Farmer
Chase, at the age of three-score years, started his little
emigrant train on a journey of seven hundred miles,
to make himself a new home in a new land. Some of
the neighbors who went a piece with the old man, to
encourage and cheer him, said it was a generous
country that would donate to unfortunate farmers
land for a homestead.
V generous government indeed," remarked Mrs.
Winters, "to enact unjust and oppressive laws that
make it impossible for the average farmer to earn a
living on the farm. Laws that force him to mortgage
his home to obtain the means to support his family,
16 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
and when sold out on the mortgage, and turned adrift,
offer him a quarter section of land in the wilderness
almost a thousand miles away! "
This remark was not directed to any one, and no one
replied. The old farmers looked at each other in
amazement. Here was a woman talking, and it looked
as though she knew what she was talking about.
Some of her listeners were but other Farmer Chases.
They wanted to hear more on a subject which came
so near their own homes, and they had not long to
wait.
"Why not," continued Mrs. Winters, " take off
that part of the tax on 'the necessaries of life, which
goes as donations into the pockets of the wealthy man-
ufacturer, and, by so doing, permit the farmer to spend
his old age where he has earned the moral right to
spend it, on the homestead God made for him, under
the roof where he had raised his family, instead of rob-
bing him of his earnings by an unjust tariff on every-
thing he buys? Why drain his brow of the sweat
which comes from honest toil and then send him
adrift to pick up a stray piece of land outside the
borders of civilization where he has the choice of
working himself to death or starving to death?
" It may be generous on the part of the govern-
ment to so donate its farms, but it would be far more
just were it to repeal some of the laws which are driv-
ing those farmers to accept of its bounty. It would
only require a reduction of about one-half the tax on
the necessaries with the tariff on raw material abol-
ished, to enable nearly every farmer in the land, whose
home is mortgaged, to look ahead to the time when
THE ARRIVAL. 17
he would be out of debt, with the prospect of accumu-
lating a competence for his family in case of his
death, or laying by something for himself in his old
age."
A bad feature in connection with Farmer Chase's
forced removal, was the fact that he was leaving
behind two sons and one daughter, all of whom were
married and all struggling to keep their heads above
water, and the old farmer could not see why his fate
might not be theirs in a few seasons more. If things
did not improve, if farm produce brought no better
prices, and if the necessaries of life kept up, they,
too, would be compelled to submit to foreclosure of
the mortgages on their farms and make new homes
in the new West. While there were many farmers in
that neighborhood comfortably fixed and well to do,
yet to many others the outlook was gloomy in the
extreme, not only for the time being but for the
future. So when any person came among them,
even though a woman, and gave sensible reasons with
the proof, for so much ill luck and bad fortune, all
were ready to listen, though many were slow to be-
lieve and act.
Mrs. Winters bought that particular farm, not
only for a home, but its seclusion suited her feelings,
and it afforded her a hiding place, as she often times
termed it, from a mysterious somebody, whose com-
ing she thought improbable and yet constantly
dreaded; and the location was in the very midst of
the clear people for whose welfare, as a class, sha had
determined to devote her life's work.
She was, however, unused to a farm. Since her
18 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
school days she had busied herself, as a labor of love,
in looking after the comfort and happiness of factory
operatives, and, thus engaged, she had familiarized
herself with many of the labor problems, some of
which she had solved and settled in her own mind
and to her own satisfaction. She was a firm believer
in the theory that a high tariff for the purposes of
protection, not only did not benefit labor but was a
positive injury to it. She had studied the subject
in all the phases it presented itself, and the more
she studied and investigated the practical applica-
tion of it as exhibited in the industries specially
protected by the tariff, the more firmly impressed
was she that labor, on the farm or in the factory, in
the shop or mill or mines, had nothing to gain by a
high tariff, but everything to lose.
The correctness of these sentiments and these doc-
trines was so firmly imbedded in her mind, that, when
compelled on a moment's warning to snatch her child
from sudden danger and flee from her home and the
graves of her kindred, it did not take her long, after
reaching her new home, to realize that the huge indus-
trial interests of the great agricultural regions of the
West were fettered and shackled by the -same gall-
ing chains that the tariff was forging in the East.
She made up her mind that, though woman she was,
she had a mission to perform among the farmers, and
perform it she would, no matter how great the sac-
rifice.
The farm Mrs. Winters purchased was on a side
hill, with the buildings very near the brow. From
the house to the river, which meandered in plain
THE ARRIVAL. 19
sight, was a gentle slope. Had the place been
selected for its picturesqueness and beautiful natural
scenery, it would have been all that a devoted ad-
mirer of nature could have desired. The highway
ran about a hundred rods from the house, and be-
tween the house and the road was a wide lane, on each
side of which was a row of thrifty maple trees. The
river was not a large one, though it was dignified
with a large name. But it was a beautiful stream,
and when not disturbed by the spring and fall
freshets, was as placid and smooth as crystal. The
eye seemed never to weary in gazing upon the scarcely
perceptible current, as it moved so gently and so
noiselessly along, while its banks, lined with luxuri-
ant grasses, reflected beneath the waters, apparently
resting against the shadows of the clouds, made a
picture of exceeding loveliness. A short distance on
the prairie was quite a large body of water, which was
known as the lake. On the sides of the lake was a
slope or beach, formed by the' sand washed from the
water's bed by the wind of summer and ice of winter.
Nestled so gracefully in the lap of the prairie, the
lake seemed to be only a temporary visitor, and one
might easily imagine that, when completely rested, it
would start off for other climes where it might refresh
other prairies and gladden other hearts.
CHAPTEK II.
FARMERS' WIVES BUY GOODS, AXD TVHY THEY
DIDN'T BUY ALL THEY XEEDED.
The nearest neighbor Mrs. Winters had, lived a
mile distant. He was a well-to-do farmer, who had
served his country in the Civil War, and at its close
married the girl of his boyhood's choice and moved
from his Eastern home into the settlement. His
farm was a large one for that section of the West,
and having brought considerable money with him, he
accumulated more each year, until he was consid-
ered one of the most forehanded men in the county.
He had been fortunate in his investments and lucky
in his speculations, and indeed everything he touched
seemed to turn to gold. He interested himself in
everything that was going on around him, and took
the laboring oar in pushing neighborhood improve-
ments. He contributed quite largely toward build-
ing the only church in the settlement, he subscribed
generously toward the preacher's salary, and he vol-
untarily added quite a sum to his own taxes, to make
larger and more comfortable the contemplated new
school-house. He exhibited much taste in the con-
struction of the buildings on his farm, and was con-
stantly suggesting to the neighbors how easily and
cheaply certain improvements could be made in and
about their homes. His wife was a lady of culture
and refinement, taking pride in assisting her hus-
20
FARMERS' WTYES BUT GOODS. 21
band in carrying out his plans, and encouraging the
neighbors to do numerous little things which served
to make home pleasanter and more attractive to its
inmates. A little, curly-headed, golden-haired girl,
with the blackest of black eyes, and the reddest of red
cheeks, and the prettiest little mouth one would
care to see, who was now fairly in the fourth sum-
mer of her little life, made up the balance of Major
Stephen Holbrookes family.
It did not take long for the two families to be-
come quite intimately acquainted. Their children,
Henry and Mary, often played together, and the two
women frequently met at each other's houses, and
oftentimes planned many a pleasant surprise for
those neighbors whose circumstances in life were not
the most prosperous.
When Mary was ten years old, her mother died.
Left at this early age without a mother's tender care,
she naturally looked to Mrs. Winters as the person
she had the right to love as a mother, and Mrs. Winters
returned that love in the most generous manner.
Mrs. Winters never grew weary in her efforts to
help lighten the burdens of her neighbors. The more
she went among them and familiarized herself with
their manner of getting along, the more she was con-
firmed in the opinion that the difficulty in the way of
their prosperity was not the fault of the farmer or his
family.
She saw that the farmer worked long hours, and
all the members of his family who were large enough
to count as help, performed their share of the drudg-
ery. The husband followed the plow from sun-
22 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
rise, through all the long day, to sunset, and the wife
would be up and at work with the break of morning,
and toil through all the hours, almost without a mo-
ment's rest, until bedtime. The children had they 1
tasks to do, which kept them busy until the hours of
school, and upon their return in the evening they
would take up the unfinished work of the morning,
and never complete it, until they were children no
longer. The same drudgery, over and over, day after
day, the same routine of work, the only variation or
change was simply from one hard task to a harder
one.
Mrs. "Winters pitied these families. She felt that
the farmer and his family earned rest, recreation and
luxuries, which some one else was enjoying. She
knew that half this labor on the farm went to main-
tain the nation's policy of a high protected tariff.
To use the fruits of the farmer's toil for such a pur-
pose was extortion, made in the name of law, and not
made because the necessities of the government re-
quired it. She had resolved she would do her part
in opening the eyes of the farmers and the members
of their families to the great outrage the tariff was
inflicting upon them. So she set to work to convince
them that the remedy was in their own hands, and
that they were themselves to blame if they did hot
apply it and become free men and free women.
One morning, late in the fall, several neighbors were
going to town to purchase family supplies, more
particularly clothing for winter wear, and Mrs.
Winters, desiring to make a few purchases, joined
the party. They found the stores largely stocked
FARMERS' WIVES BUY GOODS. 23
with goods, so much so that they expressed surprise
at the merchant's affording to buy so heavily, because
they knew trade was dull and but few goods were
being sold.
One of the ladies, Mrs. Wilber, desired to purchase
three cloaks, one for herself and one for each of her
two daughters. The price of each cloak was nine
dollars. This price admitted of her buying but two
garments, remarking, as she paid the money, that one
of the daughters would have to wait another year
for a cloak. She bought thirty-six yards of carpet
for thirty dollars, and she paid sixteen dollars for
woolen dress goods. Twelve dollars was spent for
hosiery and underwear. The entire bill came to
seventy-six dollars. There were quite a number of
articles of real necessity Mrs. Wilber needed for
herself and family, and she did not know how they
could get along without them. She had bought a
third less carpeting than the rooms required, she
was compelled to get along with two cloaks when
three were just as essential as two, and she had pur-
chased less than one-half the underwear she had ex-
pected to. She sat down on a bench, half sick and
completely discouraged. Things she had promised
the children, and things that were necessary to make
them fairly comfortable during the winter, she could
not buy, because of the high prices she paid for the
goods she did buy, and which she must have, and
for the purchase of which she had been saving money
the whole year long.
Mrs. Wilber, sat there sad and in tears. Mrs.
Winters went to her, and readily divining the cause
24 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
of the tears, sought to comfort her. She tokl her
that another year things might come round all right,
so that by practicing self-denial a few more months,
she could make the purchases she and her family so
much needed.
"There is not the least bit of comfort or conso-
lation," remarked Mrs. "Wilber, " in your words. It
is the same thing, over and over, each year. I am
forced to scrimp and manage and economize and
work and save all the year through, expecting to
make my children more comfortable and supply
them with the wearing apparel they actually need
and should have. I encourage them to stay with me
on the farm, by promising them that things will be
better another year, and that we have passed through
the worst. Nor do I know who is to blame. The
crops are excellent every year. Our granaries and
barns are full. Our stock always do well and are as
fat as anybody's, and sell as well as any of our neigh-
bor's. But the prices keep low, and the things we
have to sell bring such a slight advance on the cost
of producing them, that there is very little left with
which to buy necessaries for the family. The Lord
is certainly good to us. Yet I see no silver lining to
the cloud that constantly hovers over my head. I
thought this year, when the crops yielded so bounti-
fully, that I could certainly buy those articles my
children so much needed and which they had gone
without until to go without longer means shame and
suffering for them and for me. I find I can not do
it. I tell you, Mrs. Winters, I am discouraged. I
am willing to work like a slave to wear my finger
FARMERS' WIVES BUY GOODS. 25
ends to the bone to welcome sunken cheeks and
pale lips and fevered brow to make any sacrifice
that will secure for me and mine these necessaries
that we so much need. I see no prospect, even in the
future, for better things. The farm is mortgaged,
and no matter what comforts the family must be
deprived of, the interest must be paid, and one of
these days I can plainly see the home must be sold
to pay off the mortgage."
"Mrs. Wilber, I feel for you, and I pity you from
the bottom of my heart/' replied Mrs. Winters, "and
while you look about you in vain to find where the
blame lies, let me tell you that you yourself are
partly to blame for "
" I partly to blame for my children being illy clad
and illy fed, Mrs. Winters! I to blame for the sac-
rifices we all make that we may live comfortably! I
who toil more hours than a slave toils for his master! I
who every day deny myself things which are neces-
sary to my health and comfort, I who "
" Now, wait a moment, Mrs. Wilber, and hear me
through. I am sorry I have wounded your feelings,
but it is only in wounds sometimes that the remedy
can be applied. You have now reached that point in
making self-denials that you ought to be willing to
listen. Will you hear me?"
"I know you are a sensible woman, Mrs. Winters,
and that you have gone through lots of trouble, and
I have no doubt your experience will be of great
benefit to me, and I assure you I will not only listen
to what you have to say, but if you can point out
where I have been guilty of negligence, or where I
26 Till ED.
have made mistakes, I will be ever ready to admit
my faults and do better as I learn how to do bet-
ter."
"Mrs. Wilber, you have nothing to grieve at or
lament over. You have been a noble and true wife
and a most devoted mother. When I said you were
partly to blame for the trouble which seems to over-
whelm you, I meant you had not used the influence
you possess to remote the cause of your trouble."
Mrs. Wilber was perplexed. She did not take
kindly to the idea that she was in any manner to
blame for the ill luck which befell her family. Nor
could she understand wherein she could wield .an
influence that could help to rid her of the trouble
she had complained of. So she made bold to ask
Mrs. Winters to explain her meaning.
CHAPTER III.
LEARNING SOMETHING VERT FAST.
" You speak, Mrs. Winters, of my influence," said
Mrs. Wilber, "I did not suppose I had any influence
except such as grows out of the drudgery in ijiy
kitchen. Pray tell me in what way a poor, weak
woman like me has auy other influence with whom
and how can I use it?"
"\ will tell you," replied Mrs. Winters, "and I
want you to mark well what I tell you. You have
just purchased a bill of goods. You are sorely dis-
appointed at the prices, and at your inability to buy
more for your money, and you feel the worse because
you know you can not treat all the members of your
family alike. You have bought two cloaks, and you
needed three as much as you did two. You paid
eighteen dollars for the two. Now, Mrs. Wilber,
the tax levied by the government on those two cloaks
amounts to ten dollars and eighty cents. The tax on
the carpet you bought is fifteen dollars, on the dress
goods six dollars and seventy-two cents, and on the
underwear, five dollars and forty cents, making
a total tax on your purchases of thirty-seven dollars
and ninety-two cents. The greater portion of this
tax you have just paid is for the purpose of protect-
ing the manufacturers of those goods against the
manufacturers of other countries. If you were per-
mitted to buy those goods wherever you wanted to,
27
28 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
you would save three dollars on each cloak, twenty-
five cents on each yard of carpet and thirty cents on
each dollar's worth of dress goods and underwear you
use."
"I do not understand you/' remarked Mrs. Wil-
ber. " Is not this a free country, and have I not
the right to go where I please and spend my own
money ? "
" Yes, you have," said Mrs. Winters. "You buy of
the country merchant. He is not permitted to go out-
side the United States and buy the goods he sells
you without paying a large tax on the things he buys,
and this tax he must charge to his customers."
"Even admitting that, how do you make out," said
Mrs. Wilber, "that if I could buy where I wanted
to, I could save three dollars on a cloak and twenty-
five cents on each yard of carpet, and yet pay that
tax?"
" This is the way it is done, "answered Mrs. Win-
ters. "The amount you would then save does not
go to the government,, but to the wealthy manufact-
urers who make the goods you have just bought.
They have persuaded the law-makers that they
could not operate their factories if the people of the
United States were not compelled to buy of them,
and in order that they should so buy, a tax is put so
high on goods made in foreign countries, that you
and everybody else in the United States must pay for
the American-made goods you buy, the selling price
of Europe with an average tariff of some forty-seven
per cent, added. In other words the tax on that
cloak is five dollars and forty cents two dollars and
LEARNING SOMETHING VERY FAST. 29
forty cents, if it is of foreign make, goes to the gov-
ernment to help pay the current expenses, and three
dollars goes to the American manufacturer Or in
other words if the tax on the cloak was only a gov-
ernment tax for the use of the government, you
would save three dollars. That three dollars is your
gift outright to protect a man in a business that he
insists will not be profitable unless you give him that
three dollars, and you are compelled to pay very
nearly a like proportion to him or somebody else on
nearly everything you buy."
" Don't the manufacturers of the goods I have
bought make them as cheap as any other country
can
" KJ! Not in every instance. Other countries, as
a rule, pay no tax on raw material, which is the most
expensive item in the cost of the goods. To illus-
trate: Were the tax taken off wool and the tax on
woolen goods reduced one-half, you could have
bought the goods for which you paid seventy-six dol-
lars for about fifty dollars, and still contribute some
fifteen dollars outright to the manufacturer for his
protection. Such contributions would enable him
to make his business so profitable and his sales so
extensive that he could pay the highest wages to his
workmen and receive an income from his capital of
ten times the per cent, your husband receives on his
investment.
"This reduction of the tax on those few articles
you have purchased would give you twenty-six dol-
lars more to spend, enabling you to buy the other
cloak your daughter so badly needs, and instead of
30 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
going home to explain to the other members of your
family the reason you could not bring them the
things they so much wanted and expected, you could
make their hearts rejoice when you untied the bun-
dles and laid before them the goods so necessary to
their comfort and pleasure.
" Such a reduction of the tax and the admission of
wool free, would have permitted the manufacturer
to sell to one family one other cloak, fifteen yards
more of carpet and sixteen or eighteen dollars worth
more of woolen goods and underwear. It is more
than probable there are one hundred such customers
situated as you are, to one who can buy what they
want, so instead of there being an over production of
such goods, and the discharging of hands for want
of employment, there would be a demand at home
and abroad for all the goods made and steady work
for all who wished to work. Instead of so many
woolen mills going into bankruptcy, they would be
running full time and giving employment to thou-
sands of operatives that are now idle, and making a
better home market for farm produce."
" All you say looks reasonable," said Mrs. "Wilber,
"and I believe every word of it. I would be awful
dull if I couldn't see that such a tax is unjust and
unnecessary, and that it is no better than robbery to
take what belongs to my family and what we
together have earned, and give it to some rich man-
ufacturer. Now that is wicked. The greater part
of what the government demands it don't need, and
if it did it don't get it. I can't see anyreason why
the manufacturer couldn't get along just as well
LF.A1IN" VERY FAST. 31
with the tax largely reduced. He could if he had to.
I suppose he wouldn't accumulate a big fortune
quite so rapidly. But for that reason ought my fam-
ily to 'go without the necessaries and comforts of
life? But pray tell me how I can help to change
such a wicked law. I don't know one of the men
who make the laws, and if I did I wouldn't dare to
go to him and tell him I thought the law was the
outrage on the farmers you prove it to be."
"I am coming to that pretty soon/' replied Mrs.
Winters, "but before I do, there are some other
points I desire to present to you, and as I have no
doubt the shopping experience to-day of the other
ladies is similar to yours, I will wait until we are
ready to ride-home, and then I will answer your ques-
tions and explain other matters connected with your
purchases."
It did not take Mrs. Winters long to ascertain that
not one of the three ladies making up the party
was satisfied with the purchases they had made. The
story of each was Mrs. Wilber's story over again.
When Mrs. Winters told them it was the high tariff
or tax which prevented their buying the goods they
needed and expected to buy with the money they
had, they were eager to listen.
"I tell you, ladies, you wives of farmers," Mrs.
Winters proceeded, "it is this high tariff you hear
so much about, and which you take so little interest
in, because you think you can't understand it, that
is preventing you from clothing your family com-
fortably and supplying them with the necessaries of
life. I need only refer to your own experience of
32 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
to-day to illustrate the truth of this statement. Not
an article have you bought but the tax was from
forty to seventy per cent., and at least one hundred
dollars of the three hundred you have spent goes as
a gift outright into the pockets of the wealthy man-
ufacturers, while only a small portion goes into the
treasury of the government."
" But my dear Mrs. Winters, " interposed Mrs.
Tyler, " is not this tax necessary to permit the man-
ufacturers to pay fair wages to their employes, and
must not the laborer have living wages to enable him
to buy what the farmer has to sell? Had we farmers*
wives not better pay this tax than not have a home
market for farm produce?"
"I admit/' responded Mrs. Winters, "that is the
argument constantly dinned into the farmers' ears
by the manufacturers, but it has no weight at all
when put along side of cold facts. A few days since
Gregory & Jones, the proprietors of an extensive
cloak and shawl factory, went into bankruptcy,
throwing eight hundred men and women out of em-
ployment. Why was it? For the very reason Mrs.
Wilber was compelled to get along with two cloaks
for her family when she ought to have had three.
She could not buy the three because they were taxed
beyond her means in order to protect the manufact-
urer, who in turn failed because he could not sell
the goods be manufactured. It didn't seem to be
protection he needed, but customers, and he was pro-
tected so much and there was so much of a tax on
everything that entered into the make up of his
goods, that even all the protection he received only
LEARXIXG SOMETHING VERY FAST. 33
resulted in his asking so much for his goods that the
masses of the people could not buy them. Gregory
& Jones were protected into bankruptcy. Protection,
it will be seen, prevents other countries from bring-
ing those goods here, and it also prevents the home
manufacturer from making goods that everybody
could buy. If protection shuts up the woolen mills
whereby an hundred thousand operatives are forced
into idleness, how does such protection help the
farmer to sell his produce? Could these woolen fac-
tories have the privilege of buying the raw material
they use wherever it is the cheapest, they could
sell their goods as cheap as any other country, and
they could sell so cheap that they would supply other
countries with woolen goods instead of having other
countries supply this, as they do every year with
millions of dollars' worth.
"Gregory & Jones would no doubt have sold annu-
ally half a million dollars' worth more of cloaks and
shawls, could the price have been thirty per cent,
less, which they could have done with the tax
removed from wool, and thus not only have prevented
their failure, but they would have done a profitable
business, and the eight hundred employes would
have been kept at work. The retail merchant would
not have his shelves loaded with unsold goods, and
best of all, the people for whom such goods are man-
ufactured could have bought them.
"Every neighborhood has scores of families situ-
ated as you ladies are as regards making such pur-
s. Multiply your number by such thousands,
and the manufacturer will be'Mi to realize that there
34 THE MORTGAGE FOEECLOSED.
is more profit in taking the tax off his raw material
and making his goods so cheap as to bring them
within the reach of the great majority of people,
than in any benefit he can derive from a high pro-
tective tariff.
"Now, ladies, believe me. I have investigated
this matter with the greatest possible desire to get
at the facts. While I know there are many intricate
questions connected with the operation of the tariff,
which are difficult to understand, and concerning
which people may honestly differ; yet there is no
denying the truth, which stands out boldly and runs
through the entire schedule of articles whose price
is increased by the tariff, that the farmers are being
taxed to death for the benefit of a few individuals,
without, in any shape or manner, directly or indi-
rectly, receiving the least benefit to themselves.
" The farmers pay two or three cents tax on every
pound of sugar they buy. There is a tax on nearly
everything not raised on the farm that goes into the
pantry or on the dinner table. A tax on medicines,
drugs, dye stuffs, spices, paints, glass and oil. Tax
on brooms, brushes, thread, parasols, furs, school
books, paper, pens and newspapers. Tax on cloth-
ing, bedding, blankets, shawls, cloaks, wraps, under-
wear, cotton cloth and table linen. Tax on tin
plate, which is a special burden on the farmer,
because there are so many articles about the farm
that tin is used for. The tin pans for milk and
cream, tin cups and tin cans for canning the vast
soil products, such as potatoes, tomatoes, beans,
milk, meats and fruits of all kinds. And there is
not a pound of tin mined in America. Every agri-
LEARNING SOMETHING VERY FAST. 35
cultural implement, from the hoe to the threshing
machine, is taxed. If the object of the present tar-
iff system were to oppress the farmer, there is no way
to improve it. It is absolutely perfect.
"Farmers 7 wives, let me say to you that it is this
tax for protection of the manufacturer which is
undermining your health and keeping you doing a
slave's work. It is this tax which makes your daugh-
ters dissatisfied with farm life and is driving your
sons to the cities and towns. It is this tax which
has put the mortgage on your farm, and unless the
change comes which is contemplated by the friends
of tariff reform, the tax will compel the sale of the
farm and turn its occupants, homeless and houseless,
in their old age, out into the world to commence life
v.new. Hardly a grievance the farmer can complain
of but the cause may be traced to the tariff. Hardly
a wish ungratified but the tariff is to blame.
"The farmer's family is entitled to something
more than a bare living. They can not be -content
with simply keeping out of debt. If there is no
mortgage on the farm, that is no reason why they
should be willing to contribute a portion of their
to make the rich man richer. There are
manifold. comforts, conveniences and luxuries which
would enjoy and could have were the principles
of tariff reform to prevail. His children could be
better educated. His daughters may desire to
dress a little better than they are in the habit of
doing, and they should be permitted to do so. The
are enthled to frequent holidays and a liberal
amount of spending money, and they should have
both. The farmer and his wife should be relieved of
36 THE MORTGAGE FOHFCLOSED.
the drudgery now so common, and more frequent
visits with relatives and friends should be exchanged.
The truth is, the tariff deprives the average farmer
and his family of fully one -half the comforts and
pleasures of life which they ought to enjoy."
"Pray tell us, Mrs. Winters," said Mrs. Tyler, who
had grown quite interested, " what we can do to get
rid of this horrid tax?"
"Do? You can do everything," said Mrs. Winters.
" Mrs. Wilber has asked me the same question, and
it is time farmers' wives everywhere were interesting
themselves in the question and the answer. I will
tell you. Go home and quietly and calmly talk this
matter over with your husband and your grown-up
boys. Keep before them constantly the fact that the
tariff is a tax which is robbing them of a greater por-
tion of the profits of the farm. Tell them it is a
mill-stone around their necks, making their lives
miserable, and that it will drag them from bad to
worse, unless they exert themselves to. throw it off.
Bid them, as they love their families and would see
them lifted out of the perpetual gloom which sur-
rounds the home and the farm, to vote for men for
office who favor tariff reform. If their party does
not pronounce for the reform, tell them they have
clung to their party long enough. Tell them the
question is no longer ' shall the party win, 'but 'shall
the farm prosper.' Convince them, as you easily
can, that the party which stands for a high protective
tariff must go or the farm must go!
"It rests with yon, wives, mothers and daughters,
in a measure, to decide which shall stay and which
shall go."
CHAPTEB TV.
THE WAY TO KEEP COYS AXD GIRLS OX THE FARM
Henry Winters was eight years old when he began
going to school at the country school-house, located
about a mile from his home. He was quick and
eager to learn, and he had no difficulty in keeping at
the head of his class. There was, however, no one
pupil any more a favorite with the teacher or with
schoolmates, than another. A country school-house
filled with farmers' children is an excellent place to
find absolute equality. No one scholar is better than
another. Not a shade of aristocracy is there. The
books and slate and writing material of each pupiL
are alike. The little tin pails and willow baskets,
uhich contain the dinner, are similar. \And in a
much more marked degree than in the city the intel-
lects are alike. Xone are dull. All are bright.
There may be more awkwardness in the school-room
in the country than in the town, but it is the awk-
wardness of nature, and it has much to do with defin-
ing the line between the children brought up on the
farm and those brought up in the city.
It is not claimed that this particular school was
made up of children absolutely good. There were
bad boys there boys who were mischievous, boys
who were vicious, and boys who were ungovernable.
There were girls with fiery tempers, ugly dispositions
and evil natures. It may be that it takes such chil-
"37
38 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
dren to rob the school-room of the dull and prosy
monotony which makes sluggards and idlers. If
directed in the proper channel, and taken in hand
at the right time,, and not allowed too much freedom
or too wide a scope in which to expand, the bad crop-
ping out in a school-room of bright, active, zealous,
earnest little children may be turned to excellent
purposes.
At this school Henry Winters and Mary Holbrook
received their early book education. There was
nothing peculiar about these children. Their youth-
ful lives were the lives of the vast concourse of
such children who preceded them in the school-
room. It happened that in their early youth they
became fond of each other. Together they walked
hand in hand to and from their studies. They had
their little quarrels, but they were brief ones. They
had their days and weeks of separation, and they
were sad ones. And even in early childhood when
chasing butterflies and gathering wild flowers, and
long before either knew the meaning of love, they
were lovers devoted, constant and true. The love
of little children! When in all the long life is love
purer, nobler or dearer?
As a rule on the farm, too much work is required
of children during school-days. Parents do not
make allowance for the exhaustive nature of the
tasks put upon their boys and girls in the school-
room. Keeping still is tiresome, learning lessons is
tedious, and being as good as the teacher requires is
wearisome. In the morning before starting for
school the children's task should be light and easy,
BOYS AND GIRLS ON THE FARM. 39
and as little of it as possible less of it than is cus-
tomary. Upon their return in the afternoon,
instead of being put to doing chores about the house
and kept busy until supper time, they should have
their hours of rest and recreation, and within certain
prescribed rules allowed to go and come at will.
Much of the dissatisfaction with the farm and farm
life commences in early childhood, and comes from
the drudgery imposed upon the children. This
drudgery grows with their growth, and dislike for the
farm increases with their years, and hence it has
come almost to be the rule and not the exception,
that boys and girls brought up on the farm, particu-
larly the boys, insist on leaving home as soon as they
become of age, and going to the city or town to
live.
In the majority of cases parents mean well, and
they would do differently if their circumstances
would permit. They claim, and oftentimes justly,
that the children must work between school hours
and during vacation, in order that the family may
make the two ends meet. That claim is most
always a valid one, which fact being admitted, there
is something wrong somewhere to account for such a
condition. "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat
bread " was spoken of man, not of woman or chil-
dren. If the cause of this toil and drudgery by the
young members of the household is traced to dire
necessity, then there is something out of gear some-
where, which requires the attention of somebody. If
farm life is so irksome, so exacting and so obnoxious
as to drive the rising generation into the cities, then
40 THE MOKIGAGE FORECLOSED.
it behooves good men everywhere to find the remedy
and if possible apply it. The evil is surely becoming
a serious one, and every year is growing, and already
stands in the way of that honest and economical
management of the affairs of both state and nation,
which the people have the right to expect, if the
rulers are to be men of strong hands, healthy brains,
stout hearts and noble manhood.
A majority of the men who make the laws and
execute them should come from the farm, the work-
shop and the ranks of the day laborer. Physical
development is as essential as mental, in honest
rulers. It takes muscle as well as brain to make the
laws the best adapted to the welfare of a muscular
and brainy race.
The farm is the nation's hope and strength and
its grandest bulwark. If the .farm decays, liberty and
law must become part and parcel of the ruins.
Instead of oppressing the farmer the law should
bolster him up. Does it? Does it not rather bind
and fetter him and hold him in the coils, oppress
and strangle him, singling him out as a class to be
plucked and squeezed for another's benefit and
another's gain, until his fertile acres stand only for
the debt he owes! Is not the tax his country puts
on everything he buys worse than shackles on his
limbs, requiring him to not only toil himself all the
hours of the long day and to the verge of exhaustion,
but must compel him to require his wife to keep
even step with him, and his children with hardened
hands and moist brows to follow closely after?
It must not be understood that the toil and
BOYS AND GIRLS ON THE FARM. 41
drudgery and persistent effort to escape the pangs of
poverty, are universal on the farm. By no means.
But there are enough of all these to cause alarm and
insist on a remedy. The rising generation must see
a prospect of the tax for protection abolished, or it is
only a question of time when the farms will become
great landed estates, owned by the few and rented
to the present owners.
In order that the boy should be persuaded to
remain on the farm, his work must be easier than
his parents have experienced, lie must become
satisfied that the tendency of public sentiment
favors the removal of so much of the tax as goes into
the pockets of the owners of the protected indus-
tries, or otherwise farm life will be distasteful to
him and lead the next generation to take up its
abode in the cities as, to a great extent, the present
one is doing. The farmer's son can not help seeing
that so much of the tax as is levied for protection
about equals the amount the farm runs behind each
year, and he is not to blame for engaging in some
other business, if this system of plucking is to con-
tinue. If the boys are expected to stay on the farm,
their fathers must unite and secure the repeal of
the obnoxious and unjust features of the tariff
laws. If the nation would have a stalwart race
of sturdy men to till the soil men who own the
land they cultivate and the homes in which they
live then must Congress remove a large share of the
tax on the necessaries of life and on the implements
of the farm. If the laws can not help the farmer in
his efforts to feed the world, they should not put
42 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
obstacles in the way of his making a decent livi
for himself. The law must deal fairly and justly
with him and not rob him to enrich his neighbor.
With the competition the farmer must encounter,
he is more in need of protection than the industries
which are protected. He does not, however, plead
for protection, he simply asks that he shall not be
required to take the little profits which arise from
the sale of farm products and hand them to the
wealthy manufacturer. When law ceases to prott.ct
the manufacturer, it will cease to rob the farmer.
When law ceases to rob the farmer, he will not orjy
thrive and prosper, but he will do so without making
slaves of his family, and when his family cease to De
slaves, his sons and daughters as a rule will stay on
the farm. Not all of them, and always, because
there are railroads to build and operate, there are
universities needing practical presidents and profess-
ors, there are ships to build and great mercantile
interests to be looked after, and as the farm has
furnished such men heretofore, it will keep on doiug
so hereafter, unless long-continued, unjust taxation
shall result in laying waste the farm, and blot it oat
from the list of American industries.
At the age of fifteen, Mary Holbrook was sent to
a young ladies' seminary in an Eastern town. She
had been a diligent student in the country school,
and found it an easy task to keep pace with her
class in the seminary. From the grand old school
of nature she had graduated with high honors, and
the lessons learned in the groves and fields served
her well with her new-found companions. She
BOYS AND GIRLS ON THE FARM. 43
quickly became a favorite with . all. An interesting
and fascinating conversationalist, always having at
her command a fund of practical information, which
she knew how to use to the best advantage, she drew
around her a circle of admiring friends.
Mary Holbrook was now what the world would
term a beautiful woman. Her manners were pleas-
ing and, in fact, charming. She dressed with
becoming taste, and though the only child of a
wealthy father, she made no display of riches, but
prided herself on being a farmer's daughter, fond of
the farmer's life.
Henry Winters, having finished the usual branches
taught in the public school, and having spent one
year attending the high -school at the county seat,
entered the State Agricultural College for a three
years' course. His experience there was not differ-
ent from that of most students in his class. He was
quick and keen and apt to learn, and he was ambi-
tious to stand well to the front in all his recitations.
He was devoted to politics, and took great interest in
works and studies on political economy. As the
tariff question was one of absorbing importance, he
became a close observer of its effects on capital and
labor, and particularly its bearing on the industries
connected with the farm. He had imbibed many
valuable ideas upon the subject from his mother,
whose discussions he had often listened to with inter-
est and profit; so that now, when he found himself
face to face with learned professors, who had made
the great question a life study, he had an excellent
opportunity to compare his mother's practical know!-
44 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
edge of the subject with the more learned views a?
the college tutors. He was gratified to know that
he would not have to unlearn what he had been
taught, because he found his teachings were in har-
mony with the sentiments of the best scholars and
ablest writers in the land.
CHAPTER V.
THE FARMER HIS "\VIFE HIS DAUGHTER HIS SON".
Mrs. Winters constantly busied herself going about
doing good. Where there were sufferers from any
cause, in the neighborhood, she was found alleviat-
ing their troubles,, pouring the oil of consolation into
their wounds and ministering to their wants. The
poor were never turned away empty from her door.
The sick found in her an intelligent, willing and
faithful nurse and friend. She comforted the dying
with words of solace and hope, and from her lips
they were consoled with the precious truths of the
religion of Christ. Neither expecting nor desiring
reward for her labors, she did what she could to make
the world around her better for her living in it.
The neighbors came to her for counsel and advice.
She consented to be the custodian of their savings,
which they laid by to use on their shopping expedi-
tions to to\vn. Al most the whole neighborhood loved
and respected her. Very many of the improvements
in and about the farm houses were made at her sug-
gestion, and numerous little things were done, now
,and then, here and there, at her own expense. Many
things which seemed essential to the comfort and
convenience of the women and children of the house-
hold were not done, because of the lack of means to
do with. While there were many pleasing excep-
tions to the general rule, yet by far the greater num-
45
46 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
ber had to scrimp and manage and economize in ever}
way possible to keep reasonably comfortable and not
make an exhibition of their real needs. There was
not a day in the year but it would come to Mrs. Win-
ters' notice that it was the tariff operating in oneway
or another that was making the burdens of these
good people so hard to bear. The earnings which
should have been applied to, improvements on the
farm, to repairing the dwelling-house, outbuildings
and fences, and to procuring winter clothing for
wife and children, and laying in a supply of table
necessaries, went into the pockets of the wealthy
manufacturer. But the people were being educated.
The subject was discussed at the sessions of their
alliances and granges. They read all that came in
their way. Anything having a bearing on the effect
of the tariff on the farm was of the greatest interest
to them. The question was discussed around the
fireside and at the family meal. Mothers talked the
matter over with their daughters and fathers hurried
up the day's task to go over the topic with their sons.
One afternoon there came to the village a family
of English people, attracted there by the pleasing
scenery, the bracing, health-giving air and the beauti-
ful lake. Listening one day to a group of men and
women in earnest discussion of the tariff, the English-
man ventured to answer a question which he was
familiar with.
"This business suit I have on/' he remarked,
" cost me in Liverpool thirteen dollars. Am I not
right," turning to a merchant who was present, "when
I say that you could not afford to sell such a suit
for less than twenty dollars?"
THE FARMER. 4?
"You are right," said the merchant. "Such a
suit would readily sell here for twenty dollars."
The Englishman then directing his remarks to a
farmer who had been asking questions with the view
of being informed of the effect the tariff had on
the price of clothing, said: "You see your ques-
tions are answered. If you buy a suit like this in
your country you will pay forty per cent, more for
it than you would if you bought it in my country.
There is no high protective tariff in England. There
is in America. If it is not your tariff which makes
this difference, pray what is it?"
"When we were in Xew York" continued the
Englishman, "my wife bought several articles of
wearing apparel and she can tell you ladies how the
prices compare with those in London."
" I bought a bill of underwear," said the English
lady, "for which I paid eleven dollars, and I had the
same kind of goods in my trunk that I bought in
England that I paid only six dollars for. I priced
many other things, and I found that dress goods cost
fully forty per cent, more in Xew York than in
London, and blankets, carpets and woolen goods
generally were double the London price. I don't
know anything about why it is so, but I know the
fact to be so."
"Everybody who has anything to do with farm
life," broke in Mrs. Winters, "as well as the working
people generally, are beginning to learn the reason
of this difference in prices. We are all rapidly
learning the fact that it is the unjust and unfair
tariff that is responsible, a tariff which benefits
48 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
only those persons who are manufacturing those
goods in this country. That tax we have to pay does
not help labor to employment nor to pay. It is
simply protection to capital, and it not only does not
benefit labor, but persistently robs the farmer of a
large share of the net earnings of the farm."
"For one I am not only tired and sick of this tax/'
said the farmer's daughter, "but I am completely
discouraged and disgusted at the way it uses us girls;
and I don't see even a faint glimmer of light or hope
of better things for the people on the farm, except
through the success of tariff reform which is now so
much discussed. I used to be tired and g'.ek of the
tariff question, and I thought it was ione of my
business that it was something young ladies ought
not to meddle with, and that it was a difficult ques-
tion to understand. I have gotten bravely over that
notion. There is no subject that has so much music
in it, to my ears, as tariff reform. I find I am
directly interested in the success of the reform. It
stands between me and a score of comforts ard
pleasures, which by right I am entitled to, but whir h
it deprives me of. I know that to be true; and I
tell you now I am for the reform. I want better
clothes and more of them, and I know I can't have
them and the high tariff, too. The tariff has had
its turn long enough. It has made me wear a calico
dress two seasons, in order that I might contribute
the price of one dress to protection. I have lived on
the most common fare, because the money, that ought
to have been spent for more palatable food, must be
paid to some person who was ^ngaged in i.
THE FARMER. 49
that wasn't profitable, and the tariff compelled me
to donate to him the greater part of my savings, so
as to make it profitable. What nonsense! That is,
it would be nonsense, if it wasn't so cruel. But I
have had enough of it. Last fall I sang high protective
songs. I shall sing no more of that kind. I am
getting my eyes open, and I believe the farmers are
doing the same thing, and that they are going to
bring about tariff reform, and, though only a farmer's
daughter, I propose to help them do it. Boys, do
you understand what that means? I am not the
only '-! in this neighborhood that talks this way,
either. Wo are all determined to do what we can to
prevent our share of the earnings of the farm being
handed over to some manufacturer, who thinks he
can't do business without everybody, who buys the
kind of goods he makes, donating him something.
I notice that nobody gives the farmer anything. If
his business don't pay, he must not only grin and
bear it, but more than likely he will have to put a
mortgage on the farm to obtain money to make his
contribution to the thing called Protection. The
farmer that will hurrah for his party if that party is
not outspoken for tariff reform, has not yet been
ground down into the dust deep enough, and his wife
and children have not yet worked the ends of their
fingers clean off. But before he takes the step which
shall help to lengthen the life of the present tariff
another span, let him talk the matter over with his
wife and daughters and sons, and see what they
think about it. Thank heaven, my father has come
to his senses, and so have my brothers."
4
50 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
"Just my notion of it, too. I used to think the
dryest subject a person could discuss was tariff and
tariff reform/' observed* the farmer's wife. ""When
Mrs. "Winters first commenced talking about it, I
thought it was a queer thing for a woman to do. But
when she explained so clearly how the tariff was
keeping our noses on the grindstone by making, us
pay from one-third to one-half njore for everything
we bought, and that our hard earnings, instead of
being used to make the family comfortable were
forced from us and given to people who were already
rich, and they gave us nothing in return, I began to
get mad. For a while I was reconciled to it because
they said the tariff was for the protection of labor,
and tha+ it gave the farmer a home market for what
he had to sell, and that he couldn't sell his surplus
unless labor was protected. I have examined these
reasons for a high tariff and I am convinced they do
not amount to a hill of beans. It is protection for
capital and not for labor. Only those who can get
along without it are benefited, while the farmers and
laboring men, the operatives in the mills and the
mines are taxed to death to make those rich people
richer. The fact is I don't know of a more fascinat-
ing subject for even v/omen to discuss than this tariff
reform. The only earthly hope the farmer as a class
now has to get out of debt, clear the farm of its
mortgage, clothe the family comfortably and make
home cheerful and its inmates contented, is to bring
about tariff reform. I can not vote, but my sons can,
and they have a good deal of confidence in their
mother's judgment in such matters. I am glad to
THE FARMER. 51
see the men aroused and outspoken in favor of this
reform, and I feel that a concert of action which will
unite the farm influence will insure its success."
" That is the right kind of talk, wife," said Farmer
Johnson, proudly, "and I guess the whole neighbor-
hood snci the farmers generally are of the same opin-
ion, and 1 know they are waking up to the necessity
f f making tariff reform the leading issues in the elec-
tions. For a long time I didn't care whether the
tariff was high or low, I didn't see how it effected me
one way or tho other. I have gotten my eyes open,
and if I don't do my part toward lowering the taxes,
then I will have no right to grumble at hard times or
lament being in debt, and I will have no right to
enter : protest against my earnings being taken out
of rny pockets and donated by the government to the
rich nabob on the hill. If I am willing they should
my money, I ought not to complain if they take
it."
Then came the son's turn to say something, and,
if possible, he was more pronounced in opposition to
high tariff than either the others who had spoken.
This thing had been in his way all his life long, and
he was tired of it. As a lad and as a grown-up boy
he had worked on the farm diligently and faithfully.
He didn't know what laziness or idleness was. He
had lately been looking into this tariff question, and
he was satisfied that unless there was a radical change
.0 unfair manner of levying taxes on the farmer,
there were no better times in store for him, and he
would go to town and try some other avocation. He
had studied both sidesof the question. He had listened
52 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
to several practical discussions of the subject by able
men on both sides. He must confess he had been
charmed with the theory of the protectionists, whose
pictures of high wages, home markets and home com-
forts, had, for a time, made him a friend of the high
tariff. But the more he reflected and the more he
listened to the plain, practical talk of Major Hoi-
brook, Mrs. Winters and others, the better he became
satisfied he was influenced by love of the party his
father had been so many years identified with, rather
than by his own convictions. He had been talking
the matter over with his father, and they were both
convinced that the only hope for the farmer, as a
class, was th'e success of tariff reform. He believed
in it, and he was as ready to shout for party as ever
before, but the party he shouted for must have em-
blazoned on its banner, "Tariff Keform."
That evening Mrs. Winters went home, pleased be-
yond measure at the evidences of the growing senti-
ment in the neighborhood upon the question of tariff
reduction. She believed she had been an humble
instrument in the hands of Providence in interesting
the wives, sons and daughters of the farmers in a
subject that at first glance had nothing to charm or
fascinate women or young people.
The veil had been lifted. Beneath it was a flood
of loveliness. The seed had been planted in rich
ground. It bade fair to yield a grand harvest of
mortgages satisfied, debts paid, profitable crops mar-
keted, labor liberally rewarded, cheerful homes,
happy wives and contented children. Not the millen-
nium, but equal and exact justice to all men.
CHAPTER VI.
LOVERS' TALK.
Henry and Mary spent their first summer vacation at
their homes near the country village. They were both
or that age when love of romance overshadows all
else in life. The practical and the real will come
soon enough, but they do not obtrude themselves on
young hearts when all the surroundings are bright
and joyous. These young people lived in dreams
aud in castles in the air, and they hoped that if the
realities of life were to run counter to their dreams,
and their airy castles, they might never awake. Not
a ripple broke the harmony of their young lives and
not a zephyr ruffled the smoothness of their young
loves.
Much of the time was given to sailing on the little
lake. They called it sailing, but their homely craft
had neither sail nor mast on which to fix a sail, or
to put a rudder. It was a frail thing, which at
odd times Henry had managed to put together,
something after the nature of a raft, with a rough
box-like structure built much as children build play
houses. This served for protection from sun and
wind and rain, and as it was the only craft that
floated on those waters, it had the right to go any-
whpre and everywhere, and no one cared to object or
protest against it. In order to direct the course of
the craft and control it, a skulling oar was fitted in
63
54 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
the end of what might be termed the prow, and thus
easily and readily was Henry able to manage the
little float.
So, drifting and floating in whichever direction the
winds blew, they had naught to do except to tell the
story of their love, and over and over again they told
it, and it neither grew monotonous nor did they
grow weary in telling it. Leisurely and unconcern-
edly they drifted on, floating gently and quietly, with
now and then a slight breath of wind from the bluffs
to break the smoothness of the placid waters, and
they wished they could float all the years away, and
at will land on a shore where love reigned supreme
and always.
" Harry, if you love me, tell me so."
"Did you say 'if,' Mary? In the vocabulary of
love there is and can be no 'if.' The little word has
never yet come betwixt your love and mine. It
must not now. *'If ' chases love away. 'Ifs ' flour-
ish where there is the least love. They drive the
schoolboy to despair, and make him hate his books,
his teacher and himself, and yet ' ifs ' are the rounds
in the ladder of fame which enable the student to
climb to the top. In that blissful realm where love
is the queen, there can be no 'ifs/ because love
would die were an * if ' admitted there. There never
yet was heart large enough for love and an ' if ' to
dwell together. I know there is not an ' if ' in *my
part of my being when love for you is my theme/'
" There now, Harry, I like to hear you talk that
way. That is music to my ears. It is real poetry-
the poetry born of love. But why don't you keep on
telling me you love me ? "
LOVERS' TALK. 55
" Why, Mary, only yesterday I told you a hun-
dred times I love you."
11 True, true, I remember now you did, and to-day
I want you to tell me so a thousand times. I live
only in your love, and that withdrawn for a day, or
lessened by so much as the breath of air which stirs
so lightly yonder purple leaf, and I care not to live.
Tell me you love me. Tell me not in words. They
deceive. Tell me with your eyes. Tell me with
your cheeks glowing with the flame that comes from
swift-flowing blood through veins that ought to
know no other duty save to bear the messages of love
from your heart to mine, tell me through silent lips
of the height, the depth and the duration of your
love, put the story into big volumes, and be ages tell-
ing it, that I may know I am truly loved."
' ' Mary, since early childhood I have told you the
story of my love, and it has been the story of my life.
As life grows apace, my story grows, too, and whether
I tell it with eyes or lips, with heart or soul, it shall
be the love you ask of me. If it shall take me ages
to tell it, then let me live those ages in your love, and
the story tells itself. To live and to love are one.
May heaven never unloose the cord that binds our
hearts together/'
Thus these lovers talked. The great big world and
all therein was nothing to them. Love was every-
thing.
Did heaven hear that prayer?
The summer vacation ended, Henry resumed his
studies at the college. His class would graduate in
the spring. The fall months pass rapidly, and win-
56 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
ter finds him busily engaged in preparing the paper
he is to read at commencement. The professors ex-
pect much of him. He has been a diligent and tire-
less student, and his heart is in his work. His theme
is one of great interest throughout the land, and par-
ticularly to the farmers. Brought up on a farm him-
self, and at home and in the college a close student
of the effect the tariff has upon agriculture, he ap-
proaches his subject of " Tariff Reform not Free
Trade" with his whole soul full of well-matured
thoughts.
Henry was favored with an intelligent audience,
mostly farmers. He commenced by telling his hear-
ers that "tariff for protection was a crime which dif-
fered from highway robbery only in the fact that the
tariff was legal robbery, while robbery by the high-
wayman was illegal." This introductory sentence,
so complete, so unqualified and so far-reaching in its
application, spoken so earnestly and eloquently, at
once drew to the speaker the undivided attention of
the entire audience. When he added that "the
farmer, as a class, was robbed deliberately, systemat-
ically and ceaselessly, to make another man's business
profitable, and that this was done without a murmur
or complaint on the part of the farmer, and was really
done by his permission and consent, and was sub-
mitted to because a former generation had favored it
for the laudable purpose of raising money to carry
on the War of the Rebellion," those horny-handed,
bronzed-face farmers looked at each other as though
they were realizing the force and meaning of a great
truth which they had often heard, but never before
had it been so vividly impressed upon them.
LOVERS' TALK. 57
." The farmer," the speaker continued, " was con-
stantly being deceived by the cry that a reduction of
the tariff meant free trade and free trade meant a
direct tax on all the property the farmer possessed,
so that there would be added to his local and State
taxes a Federal tax far greater than all his other
taxes. This cry was simply a scare. No one pro-
posed free trade.
After taxing luxuries all they would admit of, if
desirable to also tax necessaries, the farmer would
not object. The government obtains its revenue for
current expenses from a tax on tobacco, alcohol and
a duty or tax on the articles brought here from for-
eign countries. The tax on those foreign articles is
intended to be so adjusted as to realize whatever
amount the government requires in addition to the
amount derived from the tax on tobacco and alcohol.
As this amount is several hundred millions of dollars,
the manufacturer may enjoy a certain degree of pro-
tection, but it should come to him not as the object
of the tariff, but as the consequence of a tariff for
revenue. This large amount required by the govern-;
ment must always be an unsurmountable obstacle to
the establishment of free trade. In the adjustment
of the tariff for revenue, however, the burthens
should be borne equally on all interests and all indus-
tries and not as now, piled almost wholly upon
the shoulders of the farmers and the day laborers.
In fighting shy of the myth of free trade, be careful
you do not bankrupt yourselves on the rocks of Pro-
tection.
After f^q expenses of the government are pro-
58 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
vided for, any additional sum derived from the tariff
creates a surplus which ought to be left in the pock-
ets of the people rather than put in the vaults of the
treasury. But the tariff by no means stops with
surplus. Then comes Protection, which is simply
forcing one man to donate something to another
man who claims he could not carry on his business
without such contributions. The speaker had
noticed, however, that the recipients of those dona-
tions grew richer each year, while the men anl
women who did the work were forced to be content
with wages which, after deducting living expenst3s,
left little or nothing for a rainy day.
"Tariff reform is the panacea for this gigantic
wrong. Tariff reform comes straight home to the
pockets of every farmer in the land, reducing his
family expenses, increasing the purchasing power of
his surplus produce, so that, instead of farming at a
loss and running behind each year, he will be enabled
to get out of debt, supply his family with the neces-
saries and comforts of life, and lay by a competence
for his old age.
" It is not free trade that will do this. It is fair,
just and equitable trade that will do it. This fair
trade will come when the farmers are ready to demand
it. No greater truth was ever dinned into the
farmers' ears than the declaration that the farmers
themselves are to blame for the unprofitable condi-
tion of fanning. Nor can you farmers of the great
West, farmers of the East and farmers of the South
retrieve your losses and restore your lands to the
old-time value and profitableness, without a concert
LOVERS' TALK. 59
of action and union of voU-.s. The lands don't need
fe v tilizcrs, they are rich enough. It is the farmers
that need nerve and pluck and courage to break
away from an organization, political or otherwise,
that refuses to declare its detestation of a tariff for
protection.
" Don't be deceived by the hue and cry of free
trade. It is not free trade to so reduce the tax on
woolen goods and raw wool that a farmer can buy a
coat for fifteen dollars, for which he now pays twen-
ty-five dollars, and still allow twenty-five per cent,
for the manufacturer's protection. Free trade would
give him that coat for ten dollars!
"Farmers, if yon pay six hundred dollars a year
for food and clothing for your family, one hundred
and fifty dollars of that sum is tax unadulterated.
cold, brutal tax, of which amount it may be that
twenty dollars goes to the government, the balance is
Protection pure and simple. If you vote with a
party that proposes to reduce that tax one-half and
that party gets into power and makes that reduction,
you are benefited to the extent, at least, of one-half
of that tax, and free trade is still so far distant that
unless you want to be scared you will not even experi-
ence the sensation of a quickened pulse.
" TarilJ reform proposes to blot out so much of
this tax as i : set apart for protection. When blotted
out, new life and vigor will be given to every industry
in the land, furnishing employment to the idle million
and insuring a market, home and abroad, for all the
products of American industries and all the surplus
products of American farms."
60 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
There was more of this essay than a mere roll of
manuscript tied with blue ribbon. There was food
in it for sober reflection. There were truths in it
which came home to every farmer who heard them,
and they bore good fruit and an abundant harvest.
CHAPTER VII.
THE MORTGAGE ON" THE FARM AXD HOW IT GOT
THERE.
One afternoon in July, Farmer Xagle was taking
his noon rest, feeding his pigs, when Major Holbrook
came along, and after passing the time of day, they
sat down in the shade of the barn, and resumed a
conversation at a point where they had been inter-
rupted a few days before.
" You say, Neighbor Xagle, that the mortgage on
your farm is eight hundred dollars, drawing eight per
cent, interest ? "
"Yes sir."
" How long has the mortgage been running ?"
" I will tell you. Ten years ago I found I was
behind at the store, and I knew Mr. Sample could
not carry me any longer, so I put a mortgage of three
hundred dollars on the farm and paid all my debts.
My crops were good each year, but what I had to sell
brought way-down prices, so three years afterward I
found I was not paying expenses, and I increased the
amount of the mortgage to five hundred dollars. The
next year I had to buy a reaping machine, a corn cul-
tivator and a wagon, for which I went in debt. The
price of farm produce kept low. The price of neces-
saries which I could not get along without, kept up.
I could not bring things together and make them
covne out even, and I was compelled, two years after-
61
62 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
wards, to increase the mortgage to eight hundred dol-
lars."
" You'havc kept the interest paid, I suppose."
" I did up to the last year, though at times it has
been a mighty tight pull to do it. I had to save in
every way possible, and so did my wife and children,
and so we all do now, but I am ashamed to confess it,
the past year's interest has not been paid and
between you and me, Major, I don't know where I
am to get the money to pay with."
" Are you being pushed for the interest? ''
" Yes, you know those Eastern money loaners are
very particular about the interest. They must have
the interest to loan to some other needy farmer."
"But, Neighbor Nagle, how are you going to get
out of your trouble? If you can't pay the interest
you certainly can't pay any portion of the principle.
It looks to me yon are very much like a man in the
mire if you stand still you sink deeper and if you
try to extricate yourself down you go."
" That is just the way I feel about it. Had I been
making mistakes or bad debts, or if I was lazy and in-
dolent and wouldn't work, or was a spendthrift, or if I
had an extravagant family, or if things about the farm
went wrong and I was to blame, then I might turn
over a new leaf, correct my mistakes and make a
struggle to get out of debt. But I don't know how
I can change my management of the farm for the
better. My land is well tilled. I raise big crops.
I have considerable surplus every year to sell. I buy
only such things as the family must have and can not
get along without and really I do not see wherein I
THE MORTGAGE AND HOW IT GOT THERE. 63
can do different!}' from what I have done and am
doing. What encouragement, then, have I to push
ahead and wear my life out and have my family do
so too, when our reward will simply be a greater
debt, and the certainty of the mortgage being fore-
-ed and my home taken from me? "
" Your case, Fanner Xagle, is a common one, but
none the less painful for that. I know of a large
number of farmers in this neighborhood with just
such mortgages hanging over their heads. No doubt
they feel as you do discouraged, discontented and
artened. But let me tell you, neighbor, that
while the outlook is dark and gloomy, the outcome
may not be as bad as you picture, if you and the
farmers generally have the courage to apply the
remedy they have at hand."
"Courage! Why, Major, I have the courage to
faoe a tiger in the jungle or a band of robbers on the
prairie, or any other danger, if I thought a victory
would help me get out of debt and keep my farm.
do you mean by courage?"
"I mean, my friend, that you must dare to do just
what you have expressed a willingness to do. Rob-
bers have been stealing your substance for years.
They have come upon your premises when you were
awake and when you were asleep. They have robbed
you in a hundred different ways and they have robbed
member of your family. They have taken from
you your hard earnings and turned round and loaned
you the very earning* thoy forced from you; and that
sliQfnld be no risk of their not getting their pay
th 'v have required you to give them a mortgage on
64 THE MORTGAGE FOKECLOSED.
your farm. You have not only never raised a hand
to resist the robbery, but you have permitted it and
consented to it, and now beckon the robbers to come
on and finish their work by taking your farm."
"You mean, I suppose, it is the tariff which has
brought upon me this debt and this mortgage. Pray
tell me how you connect my misfortunes with the
operation of the tariff?"
" That is just what I want to do, I want to convince
you of that fact, and I think I can make it so plain
you will admit it. I have a few questions to ask you,
and I know you will cheerfully answer them. How
much of a family have you?"
" My wife and five children three boys and two
girls."
" How much money do you pay for things that
you do not raise on the farm? "
" I can answer that question quite correctly,
because I kept a book account of my expenses. I
find I spent last year six hundred and thirty dollars."
" Will you allow me to look at the items?"
" Oh, yes."
" While you are helping the boys hitch up and
starting them into the corn field, I will look over
these items and figure the amount of tax you pay on
the gross sum."
The Major looked over the list carefully. The
expense account was a""fair average of like families.
Upon Mr. Nagle's return the figures were shown him
and he saw the tax he had paid in the way of tariff
was one hundred and fifty-seven dollars an average
of twenty-five per cent.
MORTGAGE Atft) HOW IT GOT THERE. 65
"This tax," replied Mr. Nagle, " is levied in a
way that will make my share of the expenses of run-
ning the government fall as lightly on me as possible,
is it not?"
" That can not be, because only a small part of it
goes to the government, at the outside not more than
ten per cent."
"And what do you say is done with the balance? "
" It goes into the pockets of the rich manufacturers.
It is not your contribution to the government, it is
your contribution to protection. You pay it because
it is the law, and not one cent of benefit comes to you
in any way, shape or manner."
"Does not the same tariff protect my surplus
crops?"
"Pray, Neighbor Nagle, tell me what crop you
raise that England, or Germany, or France, or any
foreign country sends here and sells and competes
with you. Protection, you know, is to prevent for-
eign competition. Do those countries, or either of
them, send wheat or flour or pork here and fix the
market price of such produce?"
"No, by no means."
" Then can a tariff of twenty cents per bushel on
wheat, twenty per cent, on flour, ten cents per bushel
on cdrn, oats and barley, and one cent per pound on
pork and beef, be any protection to the farmer?"
"For the life of me, now that you call my atten-
tion to it, I do not see how it can. Nor can I see
any earthly object in putting such a tariff on farm
produce. Do you know why it has been done?"
" I think it has been done on purpose to reconcile
C6 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
us farmers to being robbed every day of our lives by
the tariff that is fixed on everything we buy. It is
done to deceive and cheat us. We are led to believe
by solemn law that our farm produce is protected,
and that it is necessary for us to have such protec-
tion in order to sell our produce at a profit, when, if
we were protected, one dollar on a bushel of corn, we
could not sell it for one cent a bushel more, for the
simple reason AVC have no foreign competition in our
home market, and the price of our produce is fixed
in a foreign market. "
" But, Major, is not this protective tariff on the
products of the manufacturers necessary to enable
the manufacturer to pay living .wages to his opera-
tives? And are not we farmers thus enabled to sell
our surplus produce to those operatives? In a word,
does not a protective tariff make a home market for
farm produce ?"
"No. It really circumscribes and reduces the
scope of that market, because that very tariff makes
it impossible to employ as much labor as might be
done were the restrictions the tariff puts on trade
removed wholly or even in part. Then the price we
receive for our produce at home is fixed in Liver-
pool or London, and we must compete with all for-
eign countries that grow farm produce, no matter by
ho^ cheap labor, and no matter where they sell it.
This would not be so bad if we could go into those
countries that compete with us and buy our clothing
and other family supplies without paying a protect-
ive tariff on them. This we can't do."
THE MORTGAGE AND HOW IT GOT THERE. 61
"Xow right here, Major. I wish you would tell
me how fixing the price of our produce in London,
and prohibiting or restricting our buying goods iu
that city, really does affect the farmer."
"I think I can make that clear to you, and I am
glad you have suggested it. How much wheat do
you expect to market this season?"
" About five hundred bushels."
" You haul your wheat to Bradford Junction, I
presume?"
"I do."
" What price will you get, and what do you pro-
pose to do with the proceeds?"
" Sixty cents per bushel, and I have determined
to use this year's crop to purchase articles of cloth-
ing which my family has been in need of, more or
less, for two or three years."
"JSTow, Mr. Nagle, instead of selling your wheat
at Bradford Junction, imagine that you take it to
London. Perhaps the price there is 81.20 per bushel.
If so, you will find that the charges, transportation,
elevator, middlemen, etc., are sixty cents per bushel.
So you realize the same sum for your wheat in London
that you would at Bradford. You propose, instead
of taking the 8300 home with you, to make your
purchases in London. You buy the following bill
of goods:
68 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
80 yards carpet at 40 cents per yard $ 32 00
3 woolen shawls at $6 each 18 00
600 pounds granulated sugar at 3%c. 17 50
Drugs and spices 9 50
Hardware, cutlery and glassware 6 00
6 pair woolen blankets at $1.50 per pair 9 00
4 overcoats, cassimere 30 00
4 suits of clothes at $8 per suit 82 00
Woolen underwear for male and female 25 00
Table linen and toweling 15 00
60 yards dress goods, worsted 35 00
Gloves, handkerchiefs and hosiery 20 00
Cotton cloth for bedding and clothing 8 00
Books and writing material 5 00
Hats, caps, trimmings, ties and buttons 18 00
Freight to Bradford Junction 20 00
Total $300
Upon reaching home you take the bill of items to
a Bradford merchant, and ask him what he can dt*i
plicate it for. His figures will not vary much from
the following:
80 yards carpet at 80c $ 64 00
3 woolen shawls 30 00
500 pounds granulated sugar at 6c 30 00
Drugs and spices 13 50
Hardware, cutlery and glassware 10 00
6 pairs woolen blankets at $2.50 15 00
4 overcoats 49 50
4suitsof clothes 52 80
Woolen underwear 41 25
Table linen and toweling 21 75
60 yards dress goods, worsted 49 00
Gloves, handkerchiefs and hosiery 29 00
Cotton cloth for bedding or clothing 11 12
Hats, Caps and trimmings 23 40
Books and stationery 6 25
Total 144967
THE MORTGAGE AND HOW IT GOT THERE. 69
There you have it in a nutshell. Your $300 derived
fVom the sale of 500 bushels of wheat will buy in
London what you have to pay $446.57 for at Bradford
Junction. A difference of $146.57 in favor of the
prices you paid in London, but not in your favor, for
when the railroad delivers your goods it will present
you a bill for back charges amounting to $146.57,
which charges are the custom house tax you must
pay and which brings the cost of your goods the
same as though you had purchased them at
Bradford Junction. Which fact also disproves
the theory that the tax on foreign goods is paid
by the manufacturer. Now, no matter how much
or how little of this 8146.57 goes into the Federal
Treasury, the entire amount is levied for the
purpose of protecting, directly or indirectly, those
American industries engaged in manufacturing the
kind of goods you bought. It is, in fact, your con-
tribution to protection. You sell your wheat where
everybody who cultivates the soil is your competitor,
and you buy your necessaries where there is no com-
petition. You sell your wheat in the cheapest market
in the world and you buy your family supplies in the
dearest.
If protection was not the American system, your
wheat would be worth, at Bradford Junction, 89
cents per bushel, instead of 60 cts. that is, that would
be its purchasing power, and you know of no other
vi,lue your wheat, or corn, or pork, or cattle possesses,
except what they would buy for the use and comfort of
your family. Admit the tariff has nothing to do with
fixing the market price of your produce, it certainly
70 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
has enough to do with fixing the price of things you
buy with the proceeds of the farm, to put an eight-
hundred-dollar mortgage on your home and keep
you and your family busy denying themselves the
necessaries of life in order that the manufacturer,
who lives in that magnificent palace on the hill, may
build a similar structure at some fashionable watering
place."
"I admit, Major, you have made some mighty
strong points against the present tariff, and I must
confess, I see in a clear light a branch of this subject
which I have always found difficulty in understand-
ing. Looking at the tariff disconnected from every-
thing else, it looks as though it was designed to rob
us farmers of our earnings and finally of our homes.
But the entire subject of producing and consuming
must be treated as a whole, and, so treating it, I
ask again: Does not the tariff enable manufacturers
to compete with the cheap labor of foreign countries,
and pay such wages to operatives as will enable them
to buy our produce?"
" No. It really works just the other way, as I can
easily satisfy you. The tariff so limits, retards and
restricts the business of manufacturers that the oper-
atives are not only paid less wages, but quite a pro-
portion of them work only a part of the time, and a
vast army of willing hands are idle because there is no
work for them to do. What the farmer wants is to
have the greatest possible number of laborers con-
stantly employed and well paid. It is the growing
reduction of wages that prevents labor from being
liberal patrons of the farm. The number of idle men
THE MORTGAGE AND HOW IT GOT THERE. 71
appear to be on the increase, and certainly wages are
no higher now than ten years ago. High tariff is the
link in the chain of industry connecting low wages
for labor with low prices for farm produce. So far
as it does that it weakens the whole chain, has no
business there, and ought to be removed. We all
know the interests of the farmer and labor are ident-
ical. They must stand shoulder to shoulder, and
move hand in hand. If an average of three oper-
atives could be added to each work-shop in the land,
employment would be given to every person who
wanted work. If the people outside the farm were
made so prosperous that they could increase their
annual purchases of breadstuffs and meat, an aver-
age of barely five dollars each, the farmer would have
a home market, in addition to what he now has, for
more produce than this country ever sold in one year
to all foreign lands. The market for the products
of this increased labor must be found abroad. It can
be found by abolishing the tax on raw material and
inaugurating a general interchange of commodities
with all the world."
"Such a statement, Major, really startles me.
Can it be true ? If so, the need is not so much more
mouths to consume farm produce, and the building
up of a bigger home market as far as numbers are
concerned, as the steady employment of all who
desire to work with fair wages, thus enabling the
masses to live better and more comfortably by buying
more food and raiment. The farmer, you think, is
more interested and has more at stake in labor pros-
pering than has any other class of people."
72 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
" Just so, every word of it. There can be no seri-
ous disturbance in finance but the farmer is injured
by it. Every strike or lock-out reduces the demand
for farm produce. Every failure of any indus-
try, or a partial suspension of work which throws
operatives out of employment, reduces the demand
for farm produce. The lowering of wages reduces
the demand for farm produce. The idle million of
strong and willing hands reduces the demand for
farm produce. Anything which tends to depress
business and hinder the prosperity of the country
reduces the demand for farm produce. The farmer
must have thrift and prosperity all around him,
everywhere, in the work-shop, factory, mine and
counting-room, in order to thrive and prosper him-
self. Any other class of producers except the farmer
can limit and control the extent of its products in
accordance with the demand and the ability of con-
sumers to buy/'
" Do you assert, Major Holbrook, that the thrift
and prosperity so desirable would be assured the
farmer by the success of tariff reform ?"
" I do not assert that it will prove the great cure-
all for every disease which effects the body politic.
I do insist, however, that the chief cause of the
depression in agriculture is the protective tariff.
Remove the cause of the depression and the depres-
sion can not continue."
"Will you explain more fully," asked Farmer
Nagle, " how the work-shops of this country, whieis
I have read number nearly one-third of a million,
could find a market for their products were they to
THE MORTGAGE AND HOW IT GOT THERE. 73
arid what would be equal to three operatives to the
working force of each ? "
" I believe that with raw material," replied Major
Holbrook, "such as iron and copper ore, sugar, lum-
ber, wool and coal, admitted free, and half the tariff
on necessaries removed, this country could make and
sell enough goods to the people of Great Britain,
Central and South America and Mexico, to employ,
in the making of them, every idle man in the United
States, and pay them good living wages. This trade
o/ itself would make a better and bigger home mar-
ket for farm produce, in addition to what we now
possess, than could be secured from all the skilled
industries in the land if engaged in manufacturing
goods only for the home market."
" I can not help admitting," added Farmer Nagle,
"that there is a good deal of sound reasoning in such
statements. I have no desire to contradict them.
Cn the contrary, I am inclined to believe them. But
please tell me how the tariff stands in the way of our
now building up such a trade with those countries ?"
"I see there is an idle team in the corn-field wait-
ing for you, Mr. Nagle, and I will not detain you
longer," said the Major, "when you can find a little
leisure, come round to my house and we will take up
this subject with that question."
CHAPTER VIII.
HOW TO GET RID OF THE MORTGAGE OK THE FARM.
"Well, Farmer Nagle, I hardly expected to see
you this evening, and yet I am glad you have come.
Take a seat."
" Thank you, Major, I have come because I am
beginning to think this tariff has everything to do
with successful farming, and I propose to find out
how it does it."
"You have hit the nail square on the head, Farmer
Nagle. The tariff does prevent successful farm-
ing, and I will tell you how. But first let me
answer the question you asked me to-day noon.
'How does the tariff prevent the United States
building up a large trade with foreign countries?'
In the first place, if the fetters put on the manufact-
ures of this country and the Chinese-wall policy
pursued by this government toward other nations
were removed, we would not only drive England and
France, to a certain extent, out of the markets of Cen-
tral and South America and Mexico, but we would
sell goods wherever on the face of the earth goods
were bought.
" I wish you would explain, Major, what you mean
by removing the 'fetters "
" I mean, to take the tariff off of every kind of raw
material which enters largely into the product of
any American industry, and thu's enable that indus-
74
HOW TO GET RID OF THE MORTGAGE. 75
try to manufacture better goods cheaper than they
can be manufactured anywhere else on the round
globe. Reduce the tax on necessaries at least one-
half, and encourage the building of American ships
by abolishing the tariff on everything that enters
into the construction of a vessel. Load American
ships with the products of American farms and Amer-
ican factories, and sail those ships into every harbor
where there is a civilized community with money
or raw material or other valuable commodities to
exchange for our products. Make it an object
for the world to buy American-made goods and
the products of American soil, by buying from the
world the things the world has to sell and the things
America wants. Tear down all the barriers that fet-
ter and handicap trade and traffic, and build up a
commerce between America and the balance of the
world which shall put this land in business communi-
cation with every community that wants to buy any-
thing or wants to sell anything. There is no danger
of the world getting the better of America. With
trade unrestricted to the extent suggested, America
can, if it becomes a strife between nations, both
feed and clothe the world. That most dismal of all
cries that ever pierced an American ear, and espe-
cially the ear of the farmer, and that most senseless
cry, the cry of overproduction, would find noplace
in business circles, but the wares that America made
and the surplus product the American farmer grew,
would find a market, at a fair profit, either in Amer-
ica or' beyond the sea. Then, with gambling in farm
produce stopped, Chicago and New York, might
76 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
have something to say about fixing the price. There
would be no excuse for hostile foreign tariffs which
work such serious injury to the American farmer.
Those countries which exclude our pork products
and tax our breadstuffs would fall in with this liberal
policy, and again invite us to feed their people."
" Would not this country then," replied Farmer
Nagle, " to all intents and purposes have free trade? "
" No, my dear sir, it would not be free trade, but
it would be fair, just and honorable trade, in which
the United States has nothing to lose but everything
to gain. There would still be sufficient tax on foreign
goods, added to the internal revenue, to meet the
expenses of the government and give to home indus-
tries enough protection to not only make those indus-
tries profitable, but to insure to labor good wages and
steady employment. 1 '
" If this country/' continued Major Holbrook,
" expects to sell its products to other nations, it must
buy goods which other nations sell. This is fair
trade. If you take your produce to Bradford Junc-
tion and get the money for it of a merchant who runs
a store and sells goods as cheap as any one else and
you take that money and go to Wilton Station and
buy your family supplies, that is unfair trade. Per-
sisted in for a considerable length of time the Brad-
ford merchant would refuse to buy your wheat and
pork, because his profit in a deal with you comes
from the goods he sells-your at her than from the prod-
uce he buys of you. So with our breadstuff and
meat sold in England or South America or any other
foreign country. If the shipper persists in demand-
HOW TO GET RID OF THE MORTGAGE. 77
ing gold and silver, and refuses to take in exchange
for that produce such articles as those countries grow
or mine or manufacture and such as we need andean
buy cheaper than at home, we can not expect those
countries to buy our products."
"Have you in your mind, Major, any article of
raw material brought from abroad, admitted free,
which our factories use to advantage?"
" Yes, there is raw silk. While many other indus-
tries, particularly woolen mills, are languishing, the
silk mills are prospering and the operatives are paid
high wages. A few years ago raw hides were put on
the free list, since Avhich time we have increased
our sales of boots and shoes to foreign countries from
less than half a million dollars annually to more than
ten million dollars, and we bring those hides in large
quantities from foreign countries and send back
millions of pounds of sole leather, employing, in tan-
ning, thousands of hands. Before hides were put on
the free list, this country sold no leather to any
foreign country."
"Is there not a tariff on boots and shoes? "
" Yes, and it operates precisely as the tariff on
wheat, flour and pork does. Except a few fancy arti-
cles purchased by those nabobs you have made so rich
by pouring your earnings into their pockets, there
are comparatively few boots and shoes imported."
" Are you clear in your mind, Major, that with
European countries manufacturing such immense
quantities of goods, the United States, even with free,
raw material, and the tariff largely reduced on neces-
saries, could compete with them?"
78 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
" There can be no doubt of it," said Major Hoi-
brook. " Though hampered and fettered by an ill-
begotten and ill-fitting tariff, we have already gone
into the midst of that competition and sold our wares.
This country sold to England alone, in one year,
more than twenty-five million dollars' worth of manu-
factured goods, not counting flour or soil products.
We bring raw sugar from abroad, and sell six or seven
million dollars' worth of refined sugar in the English
market. We sell iron and steel machinery to Eng-
land, and also clocks, watches, organs, pianos and
other musical instruments. Make raw material free,
and this country would surprise itself at the extent
of the trade it would speedily build up in foreign
markets."
"I see, Neighbor Holbrook, the force of your
reasoning, and I must say I feel like assenting to
many of your conclusions. I like the idea of
fair trade, and there is something massive in the
thought that it is possible for this country to do the
lion's share of feeding and clothing mankind. I can
but admit that the present policy is a supremely
selfish one, and this country must be the loser all
the time by continuing it. I confess it looks plaus-
iblfe that abolishing the tax on raw materials, and
reducing the tariff largely on such other articles
grown or prepared abroad as are essential for our
manufacturers to use, to put them on an equal foot-
ing with the industries of other countries, and with
the American brain behind the machinery and in the
counting room, will enable America to make as cheap
and as good goods as can be made else where; and then
HOW TO GET RID OF THE MORTGAGE. 79
with free ships and unrestricted commerce, with the
same industrious soliciting of trade and the same
liberal methods of credit and interest practiced by
England and France, I see no reason why those goods
can not be sold wherever a civilized flag floats."
"Bravo, bravo, Mr. Nagle. You are becoming as
enthusiastic upon this subject as I am. I like the
way you grasp the situation. You don't seem to be
afraid to admit that you know more to-day than you did
yesterday. Great reforms must have defenders pull-
ing in front and pushing behind, and to be a reformer,
one must forget something that is old and learn
something that is new. You have done it, and I
welcome you, with outstretched arms, into the grow-
ing ranks of the advocates of tariff reform."
" Thank 3-011, Major, for the compliment."
" Now, Neighbor Nagle, with this reform a possible
success, what effect do you think it would have on
the price of farm produce ?"
"I believe it would, directly or indirectly, raise
prices so there would once again be a satisfactory
profit in growing grain and meat. It would give
employment to the idle million and insure good
wages to labor. It would give the farmer all there
possibly can be in a home market, and all he could
expect from a foreign market. It would reduce the
price of the necessaries he must have for family use,
and it would take the farm out of the rut that is
each year being worn deeper and deeper, and give
to the farmer a new lease of a new life, and to his
family that peace, happiness and contentment they
have been so largely deprived of the past two
decades."
80 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
"I am pleased my friend to hear you talk thin.
We will now come back to that mortgage which is
eating up your substance and which threatens to turn
you and your family out of doors."
" True, true, in my exuberance of joy over the pros-
pects of good times, which might come by the bringing
about a reform in the tariff, I forgot I was in the
mire and beyond help from any such reform. I see
no hope or help for me or mine."
" I am not so sure of that/' replied Major Holbrook,
"as I have said it depends upon your own courage,
whether you sink or come up on dry land. I have not,
however, done with that mortgage. How much is
your farm worth ?"
"Ten years ago it was worth four thousand dol-
lars, but it would not sell now for much more tliHn
half that sum."
"What has caused this great reduction in its
value?"
"That is a difficult question to answer. I real.y
can not tell. The farm yielded this very year tlie
biggest crops I ever had, so the cause can not be m
the soil wearing out."
"Has not the earning power of the farm hud
nearly everything to do with it?" asked the Major.
" That is, if the farm had returned to you and your
family a good living, and you had not been com-
pelled to mortgage it to obtain money which it
ought to have earned for you, would its value now
not be fully what it was ten years ago?"
"I have no doubt of it."
" Do you know, Mr. Nagle, that the profits from
HOW TO GET BID OF THE MORTGAGE. 81
farming are less than from any other business.? The
gain on capital invested in farms is two per cent.,
the gain on mortgages is eight per cent., and the
gain on manufactories, which are protected by your
earnings, is forty per cent. The very condition of
things which makes farm property return only two
per cent, to the owner makes manufactories return
forty per cent, to their owners. See how it operates
in your own case. The tax which has been levied on
you in the name of tariff has each year been about one
hundred and fifty-seven dollars. Of this amount,
say fifteen dollars and seventy cents goes into the
Federal treasury, as your share of the expense of
running the government. The balance of one hun-
dred and forty-one dollars and thirty cents goes into
the pockets of manufacturers, for their protection,
which fancied protection really hampers and handi-
caps them, and prevents any efforts on their part to
compete with the manufactories of other countries."
" Strange I have not seen all this before, Major! "
" Now, then, with the tariff reform established as
the policy of this country, you would have that one
hundred and forty-one dollars and thirty cents to
pay each year on your mortgage, instead of paying
it for protection that does not protect."
" I see. I see. How the scales are dropping from
my eyes! "
" And I trust, Farmer Xagle, you also see that the
amount you have every year donated to wealthy man-
ufacturers is just about the amount you have been
running behind each year."
" Yes, I see that, too."
6
82 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
" Now then, with this amount saved every year,
to apply on the mortgage, and the price of your prod-
uce increased to the extent you have every reason
to believe that general prosperity, as the result of
tariff reform, would bring about, how long would it
take you to get out of debt and fling that mortgage
into the fire?"
" Five crops would do it sure, Major, and give my
family a better living than ever before, with less
slave-work for every member of my household/'
"Have you the courage, Mr. Nagle, to do your
part in bringing about this" tariff reform? In your
individual case, its success will lift you out of the
mire, because the holder of the mortgage will not
be anxious for his money, knowing that his security
would be abundant, insuring the prompt payment of
the interest, and some day, after tariff reform shall
have been established, you will have to thrust the
principal upon him, because loaning money to farm-
ers will then, in a great measure, become a lost art/'
"Yes, I see I am personally interested in more
ways than one, in this grand reform, and I dare do
anything that is honorable and manly to help bring
it about/'
"Then vote for men for Congress, and other
officers, who favor a reduction of the tariff. If
the party with which you are identified don't
pronounce for the reform, let your party do with-
out you until the reform wins the day, and when
that is done, and you care to go back to your
party, go back. But until the party which de-
clares for this reform, is victorious, your place is
TO GET KID OF THE MORTGAGE.
with that part) 7 . If you have greater love for your
party than the success of an issue that will put you
on your feet, and clear you of debt, you can keep on
trying to extricate yourself from the mire, and see
where you will be when you can struggle no more."
" You have said enough, Major Holbrook, I see
my duty clearly. I would be false to myself, and
place in jeopardy for all time the happiness and wel-
fare of my family, should I fail to cut away from the
party which favors a high-protective tariff. There
is but one place for me to go, and that is into the
ranks of that party which stands pledged to support
a reduction of the tariff on the necessaries of life,
and the complete abolition of the tax on raw mate-
rial. I am right glad I have had this conversation
with you, Major Holbrook. You have furnished me
food for thought, and I propose to discuss the sub-
ject with my neighbors at every opportunity I get."
"When you do talk this matter over with them,"
added Major Holbrook, "impress upon them the
great truth that the tendency of the times is toward
the cheapening of everything consumed by man-
kind. In the race for low prices for things the
world eats, the farmer will be left way behind, unless
he uses all the political power he possesses, to cast
aside those artificial barriers which stand between the
prices he gets for the things he sells, and the prices
he pays for the things he buys. The world will keep
insisting on having bread and meat low. The farm-
ers will drop out of the race, and become mere serfs,
unless they insist on having clothing, agricultural
implements, lumber and all the necessaries of life
84: THE MORTGAOE FORECLOSED.
they do not themselves produce, correspondingly
low. They can survive the contest which seems to
be closing in upon them, by contending for the com-
plete abolition of so much of the tariff, as is levied
exclusively for protection. Good-bye."
CHAPTER IX.
THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER.
One day the news spread rapidly through the
neighborhood that Major Hoi brook was seriously ill.
A malarial fever was having its run with a constant
uncertainty as to the sick man's recovery. Mrs.
Winters was a frequent visitor at the Major's house,
n>aking herself so useful in the sick room, relieving
Mary and the nurse of a part of their cares and
duties, that they beseeched her to make her home for
a time with them, so that she might, with less incon-
venience to herself, render the assistance she prof-
fered. Seeing that Mary was worn out and likely to
break down, Mrs. Winters consented, and was placed
in charge of the house.
A male nurse was needed, and inquiries for one
were made at the county seat. In time a strong,
stout, middle-aged, gentlemanly-appealing stranger
applied for the place. His interview was with Mrs.
Winters. She employed him and installed him in
his work.
There was a mysterious something about this man
and his habits which Mary oftentimes found herself
trying to fathom, and the most singular thing was
the mystery seemed to involve Mrs. Winters with it.
Why or how no one that noticed it could tell. Mary
threw it off with the thought that at the worst it was
only a shadow of suspicion. Mrs. Winter's early
85
86 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
history was a blank as far as the people in the neigh-
borhood knew anything of it. While she had lived
since coming there the life of a Christian woman, and
while her character was pure and spotless, yet the
closest observers had, from time to time, noticed a
strangeness in her actions which created a feeling
that something was wrong. Men unknown in the
community had been seen loitering after night in
the shadow of the trees that grew near her house.
They came, no one knew from where, and they went
no one knew whither. She was never known to
mention the name of husband. If he were dead
she never told it. If he were living she never men-
tioned it. Yet she had a son she idolized. Why
silently feed the mysterious with mystery?
The stranger faithfully applied himself to the work
assigned him. He gradually won the respect, and, it
may be, the confidence of the sick man. He studied
to please Major Holbrook. He labored to make his
services indispensable. There was, however, a cool-
ness between him and Mrs. Winters which others
could not help noticing. Why was the man nurse,
who was oiily a temporary employe of the house-
hold, and a stranger, too, and who when his services
were no longer required would go as he had come, a
stranger, worthy of even being shunned by Mrs. Win-
ters?
The man soon became a necessity at Major Hoi-
brook's bedside. Xo nurse ever more faithful served
the sick, than did that stranger serve Major Hol-
brook. He was ever on the alert to make himself
useful, and he succeeded in so ingratiating himself
THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER. 87
into the affections of Mary and the physician, and
the nurse, by little acts of kindness to all of them,
and by his constant devotion to the failing invalid,
that all were ready to trust him and put the utmost
confidence in his honor and integrity. To all these
marks of respect shown the stranger, Mrs. "Winters
demurred by looks and signs, which seemed to be
never understood, but she communicated her thoughts
to no living person. She evidently wanted to warn
the family of something connected with the stranger's
presence, but her lips were sealed. She was the
woman of mysteries.
One morning, after a restless night, the sick man
called Mrs. Winters to his bedside. He told her
he believed he had but a few hours to live. He as-
sured her he was prepared to die, but he was in doubt
as to a future world. " Where could heaven be/' had
been the subject of his thoughts for weeks. Could
Mrs. Winters, whom he always found so sensible and
wise in worldly matters, give him some reasonable
theory as to where God might put the souls of men,
when life on eartlrwas ended? then he would die full
of faith in the power of the Almighty to redeem the
promises made by Christ.
Mrs. Winters stood aghast. She was astonished
that a man of Major Holbrookes intelligence and
information, whose life was spotless and blameless,
whose mature years had been spent in doing good to
his fellow-man, who, though making no outward pro-
fession of religion, was known to be a Christian, should,
on the verge of the grave, harbor a doubt as to the
existence of a future state.
88 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
The good lady controlled her feelings the best she
could. She understood the situation at once. Major
Holbrook had not seen heaven, had never seen any
one who had, and now he was in doubt whether there
was a heaven or not.
"Major Holbrook," replied Mrs. Winters, "it is
these kinds of doubt by men of practical good sense,
on their death-bed, that are wearing upon the Christi-
anity of the Bible, as the constant dripping wears the
stone. You ask me if I can tell you where heaven
is ? I know not, nor do I care, nor should you.
The Divinity that could stud the heavens with worlds
upon worlds, may, for aught I know, have provided
a home as large as this earth for each immortal soul.
Puny man in the hands of Deity is but as one drop
of water in a million oceans. It is no more effort for
the Almighty to prepare a heaven for your soul,
Major Holbrook, than for Him to make a grain of
sand or a breath of air. When God shall take your
spirit from its frail tenement, He will not leave it to
wander aimlessly about in space through all eternity,
but He will go with it and show it the way to its new
home. With such a guide you can have no fear but
the heaven will be found. As you have ev.er believed
in God's promises, have faith now that He will fulfill
them."
The dying man gave the Christian woman a look
of satisfaction as if to acknowledge the justness of
her mild reproof, and to accept her words of hope
and comfort. His lips parted as if he would say
something more. That the end was nigh was evi-
dent. The household were quickly summoned, but
THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER. 89
no word did he utter. Mary, weeping as one whose
cup of sorrow was full, held one of her father's hands.
Mrs. Winters, calm and almost stoical, held the
other, and the stranger bathed the dying man's tem-
ples. A sigh, a groan, a fluttering heart, and all was
over.
CHAPTER X.
WHY SHE REFUSED TO MARRY MAJOR HOLBROOK.
In a drawer where Major Holbrook had kept his
private papers there was found, after his death, the
following letter written by Mrs. Winters:
TO MY DEAR FRIEND STEPHEN HOLBROOK:
Yesterday I told you I would give you my reasons in writ-
ing, for refusing your offer of marriage. I now fulfill that
promise.
I was an only child. I was born in a New England factory
town, in the year 18 . My father was the senior member of
the firm of Winters & Groundwig, who owned and operated a
large woolen mill, and were considered quite wealthy. I was
given as good an education as the seminaries of those days
furnished young ladies. At the age of nineteen I graduated,
not at the head of my class, but with my mind well stored with
book lore. On my return from school, I~took a great interest
in the welfare of the operatives in the mill, and was constantly
busy in various ways trying to improve their condition. Silas
Groundwig was the city partner, and received and sold the
goods manufactured at the mill. He visited the factory three
or four times a year, and each visit he sought to make his
coming and his stay as agreeable to me as possible. It did not
take me long to perceive that his politeness grew out of some-
thing more than friendship, so I can hardly say I was surprised
when he asked my hand in marriage. While I had no particu-
lar reason to dislike him, I did not entertain that love for him
that I felt I should to warrant me in accepting his offer. I
lost no time in telling him so, and with real sadness and sorrow
1 acquainted him with the state of my feelings toward him.
and we parted.
90
WHY SHE REFUSED TO MARRY. 91
A few months afterwards I heard mutterings among the
operatives about pay-day having passed without their wages
being handed them. At this time my mother died, and after
the funeral, upon visiting the factory, I learned that matters
were in a worse condition than ever. I asked my father to
take me into his confidence and tell me all, and he then in-
formed me that his partner had invested the money of the firm
In schemes that proved worthless, and that the factory would
have to be sold to satisfy the mortgage which had been placed
upon it. T saw that such a proceeding would leave the
operatives men, women and children without money, with-
out food, and with scant raiment, and, in many instances, with-
out shelter. I knew that Mr. Groundwig was a man of many
resources, and I was not long in reaching his office, and impor-
tuning him to come to the aid of the penniless operatives. lie
did not appear a hard-hearted man. He was a business man
in ever}- sense; of the word. The world might have called him
cold, and it may be the world was right, but I thought I
detected in him a warm, sympathetic heart. So, when he
referred to the love he once had for me, and assured me it had
grown stronger with time, and when he again asked me for
my hand, and gently intimated that we could together do for
the operatives what I had implored him to do alone, I yielded,
not for love, but for humanity, not because of any affection I
had for him, but that almost a whole village full of people I
loved, and I loved them the more because they were poor and
needy, might not be turned out into the world friendless and
homeless.
We were married. The factory hands were paid all that
was coming to them. They never knew that the one they
loved so much, made the greatest sacrifice a woman can make
for their sake. I did not know myself, then, how great the
sacrifice was. How bitterly I have learned it all since. A few
mouths after the marriage my father died. I think he believed
to the hour of his death that I had married a man I" did not
love to save my father from bankruptcy. My great sacrifice
bore bitterer fruit than that.
A boy babe was born to gladden my heart. My whole soul
92 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
was wrapped up In the child. There was no one else for me
to love. There was none other to love me. The father of my
darling boy had continued his speculations and lost all he pos-
sessed, and, on the day my child was born, my husband came
to my bed chamber and demanded I should sign a paper trans-
ferring to him all the property my father had left me at his
death. I refused, and the man who had the right to call me
by the holy name of wife, in that hour, if in no other, when
angels should guard the mother's couch, struck me a savage
blow, and then passed beyond my threshold, out into the
world, no longer my husband, except in name. If he could
have then gone to his grave instead of afterwards returning to
my presence, much of the sorrow I have borne, and many of
the tears I have shed, would have been spared me.
For seven years he remained away. I heard of him from
time to time as an adventurer seeking a-livelihood by dishonest
means. One day he returned to my home. He claimed my
boy my darling boy. His boy. Though the father had never
seen the child, though he had aimed a blow at the mother on
purpose to kill the babe, though he had abandoned his family
and left the mother alone to care for the child, yet the lawyer
told me there was danger that the law might take my boy
understand, my boy and give him to his unnatural father.
I waited no longer; hastily packing a few clothes in a bundle
that I could carry in my hand, writing a note to my lawyer,
instructing him to collect my rents and remit the proceeds as
I should afterwards direct, and giving him permission to rent
my home, I clasped my boy by the hand, and I remember to
this moment with what thrilling fervor he returned that grasp,
and out into the darkness and the storm we went together
my boy and I. Cared I not where I went, nor how fearfully
the storm raged, how vivid the lightning, how swollen the
streams, how dangerous the bridges, for the danger ahead, no
matter what it might be, even if unto death, if death would
come to both alike, was sunshine and depthless joy to the
immeasurable horror of the danger which lurked behind.
I was by no means poor. I had on my person quite a sum
of money. But money then was dangerous. It might lure
WHY SHE REFUSED TO MARRY. 93
me into the very jaws I was fleeing from. To board the mid-
night train simply meant that on the morrow the telegraph
and the law would stay my journey. To procure a convey-
ance and ride across the country to a railroad station where
none knew me, or my boy, or my story, would only put pur-
suers on my track. I need not relate that night's experience.
I refer to it now with dread and horror. I found kind friends
who aided me and my boy to flee.
One afternoon we reached the village of Bradford, then a
quiet, secluded little settlement in the great teeming West,
where I felt my boy was safe. I changed my name to Matilda
Winters. It was my grandmother's name. I need not excuse
that act. Before my God I feel I was justified in doing any-
thing not criminal, that would prevent being robbed of my
boy.
My life here is familiar to you and the good people of this
neighborhood. I have sought to do good to my fellow-men
and fellow-women, and trust that when I am dead some one
will have cause to say that the world is a little better for Aunt
Matilda's having lived in it.
I had not been living among my good neighbors many
months before I discovered that the farmers were not prosper-
ing as they ought, that instead of laying up money for their
old age and for their children, many of them were running in
debt and mortgaging their homes. I found the farmers we r e
anything but drones, they were always at work, their wives
did their share of the drudgery, and the children were not idle.
The land was rich and yielded bountiful crops. The stock
thrived and ready sales were found for the surplus. Why
should not the farmer prosper? Other industries were in a
flourishing condition. The farmers alon- -.obtained
less profits from their investments, not counting the additional
labor they performed, than were realized in manufacturing,
mining and transportation business. Why was this?
My investigations led me to the conviction that the cause
was the unequal and unjust taxation imposed on the farmers
by the tariff laws. Providing myself with facts and figures I
sought to open the eyes of the farmers to the robbery of which
y4 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
they were the especial victims. In this good work you have
ably assisted me, and in their name I thank you. This com-
munity knows the nature of the work we both have done. I
believe we have sown good seed. I believe the farmers in
this and adjoining neighborhoods, are beginning to see that
high tariff is robbery, not robbing all occupations alike, but
selecting the farmers from among the great industries of the
laud, and relieving them of the greater share of their earnings,
and putting the proceeds into the pockets of those who oper-
ate the other industries. "We have time and again proven to
the farmer that he is being taxed into bankruptcy and taxed into
the grave. Every drop of sweat that trickles down his cheeks
stands for a contribution, larger or smaller, to the owners of
industries who claim they can not prosper without such con-
tributions. No one contributes anything to the support of the
farmer, but he contributes nearly one-half the amount he
spends for the necessaries of life, to make richer the rich.
He will not always submit to this great injustice, he will
not always be willing to increase the weight of his own
burdens, simply because he has not the courage to break away
from his party and vote for men to make the laws who favor
tariff reduction. He is fast coming to the conclusion, with
his own experience to convince him, that a high tariff for pro-
tection is merely a legal excuse for plundering him of the
greater part of the income of the farm. His relief will come
when he dare say he is ready for it. The remedy for all the
grievances growing out of the tariff for protection, is in his
own hands. I believe he is about ready to apply it.
But, my dear friend, I have digressed, and I return to my
story. Four years passed and I was beginning to make myself
believe that my hiding-place would never be discovered by the
father of my boy. It was not to be so.
One evening, just at dusk, my darling Henry came running
into the house, all out of breath, and when he could speak,
he told of meeting a stranger who had asked several ques-
tions about his mother, and had bade him run home and say
that Silas Groundwig, an acquaintance of years ago, would
call at once to see me. Ere the boy had finished his message,
WHY SHE REFUSED TO MARRY. 95
the man came. I remembered too well that name. It was my
husband, the father of my boy. My heart ceased to throb.
At least I thought it did. When the hot blood ought to have
coursed through my veins with lightning speed, it failed to
do its work, and I stood before the man transfixed with horror,
speechless, but fortunately I did not lose my consciousness.
" Well, Madame, this is a rather cold reception to extend to
your husband after the long chase you have given him."
His voice brought me to myself. In a moment I gathered
strength, not the puny strength of a weak woman, but the
strength of a giant. The blow he gave me years before on
that bed of pain, seemed to be inflicted again, and again it
stung me to the heart. I looked about me and saw we were
alone. I was so thankful my boy had returned to his play.
Cooly and calmly as I write these words, I gazed on that man.
I saw he was a wreck, and that kind of a wreck which is all
danger. I looked him straight in the eye. There was no
hope there. His lips were firmly closed though livid with an
ashen line, I saw the color come and go in his face, as if his
brain was busy with the past, With the utmost deliberation,
and with a boldness that chilled me through, I replied:
"Sit down, sir."
" No, I prefer to stand."
" As you please," I answered.
" Susan Groundwig! "
At the mention of that name I started as though he had
struck me and my boy another blow. I was subdued in a
I. I became weak and meek as a little child. All my
great courage had gone from me. I was helpless and power-
less. I felt I was again at that man's mercy. A dread of a
terrible something about to happen unnerved me, and I waited
with breathless anxiety the next step in the drama. Was it to
end with a tragedy?"
"Susan Groundwig," and again I started at the sound of
that name, "you do not answer. Do you not know your
name? You may forget it, but you can not forget you are my
wife."
"Silas Groundwig," at last I found strength and courage
96 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
to say, "you have no right, sir. to call me by that name.
When a husband strikes his wife and her unborn babe a bl./w
with intent to kill both, he has no right, God given or mun-
given, to ever again come into that mother's presence and
pollute the air she breathes with a word from his lips. To
save my child from your merciless clutches, I fled from my
home. To all I held dear on earth, my boy and I bade an
eternal farewell. Mother's grave, father's memory, the home
of my childhood, all, everything, I fled from, to escape your
threat to carry off my child. At last you have found me.
And now, Silas Groundwig, what is it you wish? "
For more than a minute, which seemed an hour, he stood
before me and answered not a word. He was pale and wlr're
and still as a dead man right from the grave. Finally t'je
painful stillness was broken by Groundwig exclaiming:
"Susan Groundwig, the business which brought me hare
can be easily arranged if you wish it; and long before the
clock strikes ten I can be on my way out of your presence -
as my presence seems so hateful to you never again to return.
It is for you to say not for me; or before the clock shall
strike again, I can signal my comrades, who are hard by to
seize your boy and take him forever from your sight."
"O! my God, help me," I cried, and would have fallen 10
the floor had not my darling boy that moment opened the
door and entered the room. In as unconcerned a manner as
possible I bade him go to his chamber and retire as it was his
bed-time. He saw his mother was in trouble and he hesitated.
A pleasant look reasured him and he passed out of the room
and up the stairs. O! if he could only have fled. If he could
only have seen the danger and gone out into the world, in any
direction, anywhere, I would rather have felt that he was a
wanderer, homeless and motherless, and that I could have
searched for him with the hope that at some time in the future
I would find him, than that he should fall into that man's
power. This thought caused me to realize my situation, and I
found myself trying to comprehend the meaning of the words
he had uttered. He will depart never to return and it is ror
me to say whether he shall or not? What can he mean? So
meditating I found strength to say:
WHY SHE REFUSED TO MARRY. 97
" Silas Ground wig; what is it you seek? "
"Madame, I want nothing but what you can comply with.
I am poor; I am an outcast in the world. I have been driven
to desperate deeds to make the world give me a living. I am
at the mercy of worse outlaws than myself. They have come
hither at my bidding to obtain money. You shrink back.
But money will satisfy them, and money will satisfy me; you
have money here in this house. I know what you brought
with you. I know what your agent has sent you as the pro-
ceeds of the sale of your father's property. I know of your
dealings with your neighbors, and I want and must have five
thousand dollars! I do not care to argue the matter. I see
by the horror pictured on your face that you are shocked at
my proposition, and hence you understand it. So be it; you
are a truthful woman; you will not deny having that amount
of money, because you dare not lie. It will count nothing for
you to claim that a portion of the money in your possession
is the savings of your neighbors, who have left it in your care
for safe keeping. It will avail nothing to plead that you can
not give me other people's money, but will give me your own.
It is useless to say that to comply with -my request you make
yourself and your boy beggars, and, in the opinion of your
neighbors, yourself a thief. I care nothing for such pleas.
Neither do my comrades outside; whose mutterings you can
hear this moment. There is no tit le to lose. I must signal
them to come in for money or your boy. They have been
promised one or the other."
"\Vhcre now was my God that He didn't strike that wretch
dead as lie stood there, with such words on his lips? I am to
rob myself, rob my boy, rob my friends and go forth on the
morrow a beggar and a thief, and for what? Heavens! to save
my child! Can I longer hesitate? Money, honor, reputation
everything I have in the world must gp if my boy would
stay. My head grew dizzy. The room was whirling round.
I felt I must not lose my consciousness, or my boy was lost.
I involuntarily led the way to my bedroom. Ho followed me.
I took from its hiding-place a key. I unlocked my writing
desk. I touched a secret spring in a drawer. I pointed to
7
98 THE MOETGAGE FORECLOSED.
the exposed money. Not a word is said . He seizes the roll
of bank bills, gives me a demoniac look, which came to me
afterward in my dreams time and time again, and then he
passed through the open door and out into the darkness of the
night, leaving me in the darkness of despair, in woe and
gloom unfathomable.
I must have swooned, because I knew nothing more until I
was aroused by my boy frantically calling upon me to speak
to him, and in the next breath telling me, in the most excited
manner, that we were robbed!
Robbed? By whom? Robbed! Was there not in this one
word the way to escape from the charge of stealing the hard
earnings of my neighbors the savings they had so confidently
entrusted to my keeping, having faith in my honesty and in-
tegrity? "Why not go out into the neighborhood and proclaim
that burglars had broken into my house and robbed me of my
treasure? No! My treasure was left me. My boy stood
before me. The money was gone, but, God be thanked, my
treasure was clinging to his mother's neck.
Why not tell my neighbors that their money and mine was
stolen, and I was a beggar? No! I could not tell that
story, because it was not true. I had invited that man into
my room. I had opened the secret drawer. I had pointed
out the money. I had motioned him to take it and flee. That
was not robbery; that was O, heavens! what was it? What
crime had been committed, and who committed it? Was I a
criminal for consenting that my husband should carry away
other people's money? Why was I not the criminal? I held
the money as a sacred trust for others. I had violated that
trust by permitting another to take that money. Why did I
violate that trust? Ah, I see. Now comes my better angel to
again sit in judgment on my conduct. I gave the wealth of
others and all I had of my own that my boy might be spared
me that he might not be stolen from me. Was that a sin
known to God? Was that a crime known to men? Will that
angel condemn me?
But hold! Go not from me, blessed comforter; you have
helped me for my sake, now help ine for others' sake. I know
WHY SHE REFUSED TO MARRY. 99
I am innocent of any crime. How shall T impress that inno-
cence upon those who trusted me -with tlirir treasure? How
can they be made to believe that I gave their money to save
my child? And even were they to believe my story, would
they justify me in sacrificing their savings for such an object?
It was my child not theirs. I do them wrong. Some of
them are mothers, and all of them have hearts. They have
trusted me, lo! these many years. They will not forsake me
now! God be thanked that I know they will not.
Still how can I tell my neighbors all the circumstances
which led up to the loss of the money. While I have never
said I had no husband, yet my silence at times must have led
my friends to think my husband was dead. To now con-
fess he lived and hud threatened to steal my boy, required
more nerve and more courage than I possessed. I began to
reproach my heavenly Father for forsaking me in my sorest
need. Had He not promised to relieve "the fatherless and
widow ? " I forget. I am not a widow. My by is not fath-
erless. But worse a thousand fold worse am land my boy.
What can I do ? What is it my duty to do ? If I could only
see my duty as God sees it, I would do it, let results be
what they may. There comes my boy from school now. I
must dry these tears. There must be no tears for my loved
boy to kiss away from his mother's cheeks. He seems excited
and is out of breath. He sees me through the window. He
is waving a letter. Another moment and he bounds into the
room, and throwing a sealed envelope in my lap, fairly shouts
to me to open it and read the letter quick, because the post-
master says he has just received a dispatch, asking him to
deliver the letter to meat once and have me telegraph an
answer. There comes the postmaster up the lane now. Open
it, mother ; read it, read it quick. I looked at the boy in
amazement. A dispatch. A letter. An answer must be
telegraphed quick. What does it mean? More trouble? Is
not my cup full? Is there room in this fast-throbbing heart
for more sorrow? Can there be any more tears in these weary
eyes? Mechanically I tear open the envelope. The letter is
from my New England home. I care not for the date. ' ' Dear
100 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
madam" a're idle words. A piece of paper drops upon the floor.
My boy picks it up and holds it before me as I read:
Enclosed you will find a draft on the Bank of Commerce, city cif
New York, for the sum of three thousand dollars, payable [my
eyes fail me. I can read no further. There is plenty of room now
for tears. The mist grows thicker. The postmaster begs pardon
for obtruding upon my privacy at such a time, but says it is impor-
tant that he telegraph my answer at once. I hand him the letter
and ask him to finish reading it. He reads:] to 3'our order. In re-
organizing the Nanticoke Woolen Mill Company there is a scramble
going on for shares. In searching for the several shareholders it
has been discovered that the assignment by your father of the forty
shares owned by him to your former husband, is not only irregularly
entered on the transfer books, but is a forgery. The company at
once repaid the dividends, amounting to three thousand dollars,
and that amount T herewith remit you by enclosed draft. To enable
the friends of your lamented father to obtain, a majority of the
shares in order to control the property and take it from those who
are trying to depreciate its value by bad management, so they can
buy the stock for much less than its real value, I can sell the forty
shares which were your father's, and which are now yours, for five
thousand dollars. As the election of directors will be held on the
21st instant a speedy answer, and by telegraph, is necessary. I
advise you to sell, Truly yours,
SAMUEL EDMONSON.
It required but a moment for me to conclude what I would
do. Mr. Edmonson had proved himself honest and faithful to
my interests. I could trust him now. My answer went quick.
"I accept" In a few days another draft came, and my faith ? n
that divinity which doeth all things well was restored, ar-d
from the most miserable of beings I became the happiest.
Thus you see, my kind friend, that the answer I gave you
when you asked my hand in marriage, the answer you thought
so cruel and heartless, was the only one I could give you. I
know the courts are open for me to apply for a severance of
the marriage bonds. Cut I can never consent to do an act that
will serve to withdraw from me, in the least degree, the good
opinion and warm regard of my neighbors. Your friend,
MATILDA WINTERS.
CHAPTER XI.
LOVERS ON THE LAKE KIDNAPED.
What more charming or fascinating time and place
for lovers than an evening on such acraft, on so beau-
tiful a lake. The month of August has fairly entered
on its second week. The slowly lengthening twilight
brings with it myriads of 'objects to see and hear.
The long shadows of bluff and trees, which have
darkened the water in big spots, seem to have spread
until they cover all the lake, and it is all shadows
now or no shadows, just as fancy pictures. The
fields are full of flowers, and the forests are full of
birds. The katy-did is whistling its monotonous
Dotes, closing with a low trill attempting the difficult
frat of singing in a whisper, and perched on distant
f*nce-posts the mated quails, claiming the weather
prophet's skill, are announcing the prospect of "more
wet." The prairie chicken drums and drums, and
fancies the noise a song, while the cooing doves,
visiting in pairs, make most plaintive wailings, as
though mourning and loving were to them the same.
The owl, awakening from his all-day sleep, stretches
out his neck from beneath his wings and hoots a
warning to his prey. The golden-rod, the wild sun-
flower, the broad expanse of pr.urie blossoms fresli
from their sun-bath?, nod in the gentlest of gentle
breezes, and open their invisible mouths toca f ch the
dews of the night. The beautiful daisy and the pretty
101
102 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
morning glory have gone to sleep until the rising sun
shall bid them awake. The whippoorwill sits on the
dead branch of an old oak near the water's edge, and
tells all the world within hearing that he is a whip-
poorwill and must be listened to. The blue bird and
the wren hop from limb to limb, twitter and chatter,
and go to sleep chattering. The cows, with quick-
ened pace, move in single file along the narrow path
by the side of the bluff, chewing their cud, looking
so demurely out of their great, brown eyes, bowing
familiai'ly to every bush and shrub, hastening to
reach home before night-fall. On the brow of yon-
der bluff, where the rays of the sun are lingering and
departing, it is said an Indian maiden threw
herself into the waters below rather than wed against
her will.
The sky, too, is full of the glory of the Lord, and
lovers are both deaf and blind if they find no time
for silent admiration of such grandeur. Yonder,
almost in the zenith, is Jupiter, shining so brightly
and looking so proud because he is the king of the
heavens even for a brief hour, and over in the eastern
sky is Cassiopeia, queen of matchless beauty, and as
if admiring the milky way the beautiful Cygnus with
outstretched wings looks every inch a swan, and now
the great, round, red moon breaks the horizon and
climbs majestically up the clear sky, and the big,
bright stars and the dim little ones, all hide their
heads, and even Jupiter himself fades away, and the
shadows come again and cover the borders of the
lake with phantoms of various shapes affording the
imagination an easy opportunity to fancy any image
LOVERS OX THE LAKE. 103
the brain can design or desire. Light breezes sigh
mournfully through the trees, and joining high up
above the waters of the lake, the winds that swept
from the distant prairie, seem like dismal murmur-
ings and harsh mutterings coming from human
voices among the clouds; or it may be these strange,
weird noises are voices of spirits from the tombs of
the mound-builders holding converse with the spirits
from the graves of the long-buried Indians. These
mysterious noises come with the darkness, and go only
with the light of the morning.
The moon is now well on its journey across the
sky^ The fields and river and lake and farm houses
are as plainly visible as at noonday. The symmetri-
cal stacks of grain stand out boldly as if saying " we
are the staff of life for man and beast." The hay has
been harvested and the long racks mean that well-fed
cattle shall reward the husbandman for his labor.
The fields and meadows have been shorn of their
wealth of food, except the broad acres of Indian corn
whose luxuriant growth makes the farmer smile as he
dreams of fat herds and a fat purse. That snapping,
crackling, rustling noise which is the only sound that
breaks upon the stillness of the night, is the growing
corn. It is pushing, driving and crowding itself out
of the silken tassel into the ear, returning to the
ploughman sixty and even ninety fold of increase,
the reward promised him for his labor and his faith.
The lights in the farm houses have long since been
extinguished. The stillness of the night becomes
oppressive. Strange that 'the bosom of the lake
should be undisturbed by even a ripple, while high
104 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
up in the sky the elements should be at war. The
herdman's dog gives out an occasional bark to let
his master know he is an honest dog. Now and then
a dismal howl, though in perfect concert, comes from
a pack of wolves that have ventured from their den
to seek plunder for themselves and sucklings. Save
these infrequent disturbers of nature's stillness, and
the ever present commingling of those supernal
voices in the upper air, all over the broad surface of
the lake, and all over the fields and through the for-
ests, as far as eye can see or ear can hear, there
reigns the quiet of the churchyard at the midnight
hour.
Some people would think it was no time nor place
for youth and maiden of flesh and blood to talk of
love. But lovers are on the lake Henry and Mary
are there and they have been telling over and over
again the story of their love. Of all this chapter
recounts, not a thing have they seen or heard. Mary
has appeared unusually melancholy, perhaps because
this was their first meeting on the lake since her
father's death. As if to change the subject of her
thoughts, Henry had taken from a small plush box,
which he carried in his hand, a mass of trinkets
and a bundle of letters, and was telling the lovely
creature that wrote them the contents of each, that
she might have another test of his love. This pleas-
ing task finished, the trinkets and letters Avere
replaced in the bundle, and Mary, taking a piece of
blue ribbon from her hair, tied the package securely
and returned it to her lover, who carefully deposited
it in the box. Then, aware of the lateness of the
EIDXAPED. 105
hour, Henry fitted an oar between the skulling pins
and quickly skulled the boat to its usual landing
place.
Arm in arm they wend their way slowly to Mary's
home. The good-byes are said, but leave-taking seems
to be fraught with feelings of sadness on the part of
both.
Can it be the weird and ghostly night on the lake
has made their hearts heavy and cast a gloom over a
farewell which is only for a day? Or did they each
s*e, and dare not tell the other of what they saw, the
shadows of men who thought themselves hidden
behind the shade trees that lined the lane? Did the
presence of those men in such hiding places, at such
a time, betoken harm to the lovers? If either
thought so neither betrayed the thought by word or
look. A pressure of the hand, a loving kiss, a trem-
bling "good night," and the lovers parted, not for a
day as each fondly believed, but for years. Years
full of sorrow and sadness years full of gloom and
death.
Mary lingered on the threshold of the door and by
the light of the bright moon saw her lover disappear
into the little grove which grew between the two
farms. It was only a few rods then to his home, and
he surely must reach it in safety. Why not? Noth-
ing yet had harmed him and why should she think
there was danger in his pathway now? Striving hard
to throw off a nervousness which seemed to press
upon her heart, she shut the door and retired to her
akamber.
Henry had gone but a short distance in the grove
106 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
when two stout men bounded from behind the trees,
and, quicker than it takes the pen to tell it, they
grappled with him, forced a gag into his mouth,
pinioned his arms behind him, and then noiselessly
hurried him through the grove, past his home where
he could see the light in the window, then across the
fields to the road where a wagon and two horses were
in waiting. Henry was made to take a seat in the
vehicle, and one of the kidnapers sat by his side,
and the other caught up the reins and drove slowly
towards the east. He was informed if he kept quiet
and made no efforts to escape, nor sought in any way
to give an alarm, and would promise not to attempt
to communicate with any person, the gag would be
removed and his arms unpinioned. Believing his
only hope for escape was by obtaining as much free-
dom as possible, Henry made the promise. He was
told he would not be harmed if he was submissive
and went quietly with them wherever they desired,
but at the first attempt to break away or to cry out
for help, or by look or sign to attract the attention
of any person they should meet on the road, or in
cars or on boats, he would be shot, let the conse-
quences to them be what they might. They would
take all the risks.
Henry realized that he was in the hands of des-
perate outlaws. Why he was in their hands and
what was to be done with him was a mystery so cun-
ningly planned that not a thread was exposed that
would aid him in unraveling it. Perhaps they had
mistaken him for another, and when the mistake
was discovered, they would let him go. To all his
inquiries his keepers gruffly refuged to answer a
KIDNAPED. 107
word. So Henry concluded it would be wise to
acquiesce in their wishes and make no outcry.
After a day and night's ride, a halt was made in a
dense forest, and Henry was led to a large dugout in
the side of a hill, and compelled to take up his
abode there. From time to time he overheard
enough of the conversation which passed between
two of the men to learn that it was the desire of the
third, who seldom showed himself, to keep the
young man a prisoner until the accomplishment of
a certain purpose, but what that purpose was-Henry
could not obtain the least intimation. One day the
third man brought a sum of money, which he
divided between the two jailers. Hardly had the
man disappeared, before his two associates were
planning how to get rid of their charge without
the knowledge of their companion. It was finally
agreed they would take him to New York and
ship him as a deckhand on some vessel bound for a
distant foreign shore. They would thus get rid of
their prisoner without further trouble to them, and,
as far as concealing him from his pursuers was con-
cerned, their plan was a better one than to keep
guard over him in the cave; and they could not see
why the purpose of his imprisonment might not be
just as well attained.
To suggest was to act. In another hour the team
was ready, and the three started on their journey.
Reaching a lake port, they embarked on board a
sailing vessel loaded with grain. The lake trip con-
sumed several days, and then a night's ride and part
of the next day on the cars, brought the party to the
city of New York.
CHAPTER XII.
ON THE OCEAN DANGEROUS RESEMBLANCE.
The same afternoon the party reached New York,
Henry was conveyed on board a vessel about to sail
for the East Indies. For several days he had been
in a dazed condition, as though partially under the
influence of opiates. His ambition had deserted
him. He took everything as a matter of course, and
did not care whether the outcome was life or death.
He was content with all his surroundings, and did not
possess the courage to protest against anything his
jailers did. So when he was placed in charge of the
steward of the vessel, he felt as though he was going
on a pleasure voyage, and his kidnapers were doing
him a kind service by giving him an opportunity to
travel and see the world.
On the morrow all was changed. The vessel was
far out at sea. Henry awoke as if from a long sleep.
He began to recall the scenes and events which led
up to his being put on board ship. All his keen
senses had returned. The steward noticed his dis-
turbed look, and asked him if he could serve him in
any way. From the steward he learned that the
master of the vessel was informed by the men who
accompanied Henry on board, that he was wild and
ungovernable, having a disposition to commit crime,
and to keep him from evil company that was leading
him to the gallows, his parents had deemed it best to
send him on a long sea voyage.
108
OX THE OCEAN. 109
The mystery grew. He could not even conjure up
a suspicion that would help him solve it. The more
he pondered over the strange and bold proceedings,
; or the mystery. Could he only have writ-
ten a line to his mother or to Mary, he would have
: more reconciled to the long journey before him.
The assault, the capture and the flight had been
done so noiselessly, and the wicked scheme had been
carried out so adroitly, that the neighborhood would
never know, except as he should live to return and
tell the story, who had done it. He knew the whole
region would be aroused and search made for him,
that the time would come when he would be
given up as dead, and the two beings on all the earth
he loved the best and most might themselves go
down to their graves weepiiigand mourning because
he returned no more to his home.
Such reflections nrust be abandoned. The right to
hope for freedom was at least left him. Resisting
the rush of gloomy forebodings, which were tugging
at his brain, he determined to brood no more over
the great outr
On his first appearance among his ship-mates
Henry attracted the attention of all the officers of the
vessel. Instead of being sullenly disposed or ill-tem-
pered or ill-natured, as those who were knowing of
the alleged reasons for his being put on board ship
expected, they found him courteous, pleasant and
agreeable. He soon became the favorite of all on
board not only of the officers and the few passengers,
but of the crew. The Captain at once conceived a
liking for the lad, and one day, calling him into his
110 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
office, asked him if he would like to keep the ship's
records. It did not take him long to make up his
mind to accept the offer, adding that he was pre-
pared to make himself useful in any place he might
be put.
His work was light, but it was labor requiring care
and thoughtfulness, and close attention, and so well
did he look after the duties assigned him that the
Captain became much attached to him. So that
long before the voyage ended, the Captain had not
only heard the young man's story, but believed it,
and while he had especial instructions not to permit
Henry to return with him, but to send him far into
the interior of the India country, he had long since
come to the conclusion not only to take him back,
but to leave no stone unturned to discover the villians
that had done the kidnaping, and learn the cause of
the outrage. At the first port reached, Henry mailed
letters to his mother and Mary, giving a full account
of all that had happened to him. Theletters were never
received. It may be that the gold slipped into the
hand of one of the sailors, by one of the kidnapers,
as the vessel was unfurling its sails in the harbor of
New York, had much to do with those letters going
astray, or not going at all.
While in Calcutta familiarizing himself with the
sights in that wonderful city, he is hailed by an
American and asked how it happened he had returned
so soon from Darjeeling. The lad could not conceal
his surprise at being approached by a stranger, and
promptly replied that he had never been in the city
mentioned, and was not aware that he had ever met
ON THE OCEAH. Ill
the stranger before. "What, is not your name
Charles Manning, and was you not my messmate on
the voyage here, and did I not leave you a week since
at Darjeeling, and did you not make an engagement
to meet me here next Monday? Why so silent? "What
does it mean? Explain, my dear sir. It is not possi-
ble for me to he mistaken."
"I assure you," replied Henry, having in mind
his strange adventure in America, "I never saw you
before in my life. Months ago I sailed from New
York on the good vessel, ' Lucky Star/ Captain Bod-
fish, Master, and I landed here only yesterday. Am
I to infer this is a case of mistaken identity, or to
what am I to attribute this mauner of accosting me
by an entire stranger?"
The stranger did not seem unfriendly. Henry,
apparently in doubt, was at a loss to understand how
such a blunder could have been made. The stranger
had evidently been associated with a person who
closely resembled Plenry Winters. It was with reluc-
tance that he admitted he was mistaken. But upon
being assured by Henry that he would remain ofl
board the Lucky Star for several weeks, the stranger
asked the privilege of bringing his. messmate with
him to the vessel, and let the two who looked so
much alike meet face to face.
In a few days the meeting took place. Captain
Bod fish declared the faces, general appearance and
movements of the young men were strikingly alike.
He had never seen two persons who so closely
resembled each other. The size, weight, build, com-
plexion, color of hair, voice, walk, manner, and, in
112 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
fact, all that was characteristic in men, were alike fn
both. Both were born in New England, neither
knew anything of a father, and only Henry knew
anything of a mother. But they at once took a lik-
ing for each other, and during the remainder of the
time the Luck)' Star was in port, they were insepar-
able. Captain Bodfish consented that the new-found
acquaintance might sail with him on his home-bound
trip, and the Captain gave both light employment.
There was but little work to do, which gave the
young men ample time to read such books as were
contained in the vessel's library, and learn the his-
tory of each other's lives. Together they read the
same stories and discussed the writings of the same
authors. They talked of the land which gave them
birth, and, in fact, they were lost unless in each
other's company. But Henry was the most com-
municative. He had a story of love to tell, and in
Charles Manning an eager listener was found. Hs
heart was free. He had been a wanderer, and not H
lover. But when the tales of love, as experienced >y
Henry, were told, Charles became a lover, too. Every
word about love that fell from Henry's lips was treas-
ured up as a priceless gem. Every imaginable question
was asked of matters that would give Henry an excuse
to talk of his home, his mother, his Mary and the
people of the neighborhood. All the incidents, triv-
ial or otherwise, of which he had been a party, and
especially those that Mary was knowing to, were dis-
cussed over and over again. The walks in the wood?,
the boat rides on the lake, the remarkable sunsets,
the school days and boyhood pranks, the full story of
ON THE OCEAN. 113
the scenes and events which led up to their plighted
troth; the spot was described where Cupid met them
and hurled the darts which pierced both their hearts,
and all the tales of love were not only told twice over,
but as Henry never tired of telling them again and
again, so Charles never tired of being a most atten-
tive listener. All the neighborhood gossip of years
was run over by Henry, and the charming valley was
so eloquently and minutely portrayed, and the names
of the people of the settlement the men, women
and children so often mentioned, and scenes of any
moment or interest in which they participated, so
frequently described, that Charles became as familiar
with everything that had happened in the village
from the day Henry and his mother alighted from
the cars, to the time when the lad disappeared, as
was Henry himself.
From time to time the gifts which Mary had made
to her lover, were brought out from their sacred and
secret hiding place and the giver idolized. Each
little trinket and each gem or jewel had a history,
and Henry never tired of telling every incident, no
matter how trivial, connected with the gift. There
were many amusing stories to tell and many hair-
breadth escapes to describe. That chain was made
of the down of the ducks that Mary raised and the
little circle of faded hair was found in Henry's hand
after he had risked his life to save Mary from drown-
ing. There were pretty little charms to show and
grow eloquent over in describing and explaining the
circumstances connected with their giving, and there
were rings and pins and photographs of Henry's
114 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
mother and several of the neighbors, and when the
intimacy had ripened into devotion akin to love,
Henry brought out a bundle of letters, tied with
what was once a piece of ribbon, blue at that, or at
least it had been blue at one time, but constant
handling had faded it to a dingy white and only
shreds and ravelings were left, and these required a
stretch of the imagination to detect a trace of ribbon.
The letters were Mary's and the ribbon had been tied
around them by Mary on the evening of Henry's dis-
appearance. So the ribbon had a history. And each
letter had a history, and, one by one, the history of
each was given. This letter was the first one she
wrote. It was an innocent school-girl epistle to a
boy and not to a boy-lover. The next was written
two or three years later, showing that the child was
not a very faithful correspondent, which could hardly
have been expected, because, during those years, the
little people met about every day. The other letters
were taken, one by one, from the little bundle, and
the date each was written afforded Henry an ex-
cellent opportunity to go over again the lives of the
lovers and give more in detail the events in the
lovers' lives. The letters were not read. They were
too sacred even for the ear of a friend as true and
devoted as Charles Manning.
The college life experienced by Henry was often
the subject of conversation. Charles was deeply
interested in the studies which Henry had engaged
in, and was delighted while listening to anything
pertaining to either the text books in use or the
routine of college life. He was fascinated with the
ON HE OCEAN. US
essay Henry had read at his graduation. Time and
time again Henry had recited it at Charles' request.
The tariff question was frequently discussed, and
Charles was constantly seeking information upon
that topic, and would frequently turn the conversa-
tion in that direction, even when conversing with
the Captain or other officers of the vessel.
That Charles Manning was keen, bright, intelli-
gent and intently apt, was apparent to all who were
intimate with him. He possessed a remarkable
memory, and he stored his mind with every event
Henry had recounted. Not satisfied with relying on
his memory he kept a diary and at night all the con-
versation and incidents of the day were recorded.
Nothing was overlooked. So the time came when
Charles knew as much of the lives of Henry and
Mary as they did themselves.
CHAPTEE XIII.
THE SHIPWRECK.
"A little more of a breeze to-day," said Captain
Bodfish, one morning after his vessel had been b<3
calmed for nearly a week. " The air gives signs of
a coming storm, and when it does come may the
good Lord keep and preserve us." Even as the
Captain spoke a trace of a dark cloud was dimiy
visible way to the west. To the Captain's experi-
enced eye the little tufts of uncarded wool so slowjy
moving along in the direction of the vessel, so ne-t/.r
the blue sky and yet so close to the green ocean,
meant that the calm had ended and the storm ws
beginning. The rapidly given orders of the Captain
were quickly obeyed and the gallant crew made ?11
the preparations possible for the good ship to receive
the gale and ride through it. The winds came as
though they had used the days of calm to gather
force from all the ocean and all the sky, and in their
madness they seemed to see on all that broad expanse
of surging waves but one frail ship to wrestle with,
and that one they wrecked as though it had been
made of paper and manned by little children. Eve/y
mast and spar and every stitch of canvas and every
soul on board, save five, were swept into the sea.
The life boats were torn to pieces as if made of cloth.
When the storm ceased and the sun appeared, all
that was left of the Lucky Star was a hull, dis-
116
THE SHIPWRECK. 117
nwntled, dismasted, rudderless and water soaked.
The Captain and the two clerks, Henry and Charles,
hnd lashed themselves to a capstan which protruded
a few inches above the shattered deck, and when the
storm was over they were still lashed there and still
living. Two deck hands had tied themselves to one
of! the ponderous anchors which hung over the ship's
side, and they, too, were also saved five souls in all
five human beings on a wreck, and, as far as they
b-iew, without food or water, or even hope of rescue
f.'om a grave in the sea; and, in fact, with nothing
tut life left them. What was that worth!
On being released, after the storm had somewhat
coated, the men counseled together as to what, was best
to be done. It was evident that the hull would go
I/O pieces should there come another storm or should
Jie wind continue to blow for any great length of
lime, as it was blowing then. Even while the con-
\ersation was going on, the ship swayed to and fro as
i- making a desperate effort to keep its place on the
v-ater. Suddenly it broke apart and all that was left
cf the ship went down beneath the waves, except a
portion of the prow, to which the shipwrecked band
clung as their last hope of rescue.
When the hull parted, boxes, barrels, packages of
various sorts and pieces of the wreck, came to the
surface, and, as they floated by, the men boldly risked
their lives to secure some of the debris. Providence
helped them, and before nightfall they had stored on
their frail craft two barrels of water, a tierce of rice
and a cask of brandy. The prow they were on was a
compartment by itself, and again, providentially, the
118 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
severed end was not stove in or seriously damaged,
and to all appearances it was water-tight and might
float until a storm should wreck it.
There was no fire nor any way to provide one.
The rice, soaked in water, was their food. The water
was used sparingly. The brandy was dealt out as
medicine. For days and nights the craft floated. If
always in the same direction the Captain knew that
land must before long come in sight. One evening,
when darkness had fully come, alight was seen in the
east, and all the night long the now emaciated and well
nigh exhausted wreckers took turns watching it, as
though it was a friend they did not want to lose sight
of. With the early rays of the sun the light, which
they believed must be on land, flickered and disap-
peared, and all that day only the ocean and the sky
were visible. At nightfall the light came again,
brighter than before and apparently nearer, and
then they knew they were approaching land and they
rightly conjectured that the light was from a burning
volcano. Even the expectation of landing on a coast
where only a volcano welcomed them, was exhilarat-
ing and exciting. Another day, and land was plainly
in sight. Onward the strange craft drifted, nearer
and nearer to the rocky cliffs, and now came the
danger long feared that the boat would be destroyed
by contact with the inhospitable rocks, which every-
where lined the coast. There was no staying the
progress of the wreck, even had they desired to, and
there was no way of guiding it between the breaks
that here and there separated the ragged cliffs. They
were now at the mercy of the rocks as well as the
THE SHIPWRECK. 119
waves, and nothing could be done to avert the fate
which seemed in store for them. Instead, however,
of floating directly upon the rocks, as was expected,
there came a wind from beyond the cliffs and urged
the craft along the shore and away from the rocks,
until rounding a point, the cliffs abruptly ended,
and then the breeze from the sea drove the boat
ashore and beached it where the water was but a few
feet deep.
The little band was rescued. They were rescued
from the dangers of the deep, but who among them
knew but there might be greater perils to encounter
on the land than they had escaped from on the sea.
Thanking God for their deliverance from death by
drowning, they again consulted as to their future
movements. Around them they saw evidences of
the region being inhabited, but whether by civilized
people or savages, by friends or foes, was a subject
of the gravest apprehension.
The following morning they set out on a tour
inland. Before starting on their uncertain journey
xhey gathered withes, which they broke from stunted
trees and bushes, and twisting them into a rope,
made fast their boat to the trunk of an old tree.
They took with them what was left of the cask of
brandy, and a supply of rice which they carried in a
basket made of leaves, and almost gleefully they
turned their backs upon the ocean. Their progress
was slow because they were weak, and their limbs,
from long inaction, refused to do the work expected
of them. Before nightfall they not only became
satisfied they were in the neighborhood of a habita-
120 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
tion, but they had observed various evidences of civ-
ilization. Trees cut smooth and clean, as with a
sharp instrument, were lying on the ground. A trail
was struck during the afternoon, and this trail was
fresh, and made by camels, and that the camels were
being led was evident from the tops of the bushes
being eaten off only near the trail.
In the morning, after a night's sleep on the
ground, the little band resumed their line of march.
Hardly were they under way when a human being
appeared in their path, and, with outstretched arms,
disputed their right to advance. Soon other natives
came to their companion's assistance, and a con-
ference was held by the semi-dusky inhabitants of
the new-found land. One of their number stepped
a few feet in front of the group and motioned the
castaways to approach. The meeting was a friendly
one, evinced by the natives falling upon the ground
and bowing their heads in the dust. After the story
of the shipwreck had been told by signs, the leader,
partly by signs and partly by very bad, broken
English, gave the new-comers to understand that
yonder, some miles distant, was a large village to
which they would be welcome. The Americans were
at once mounted upon camels, and the caravan
moved quite rapidly towards the designated village,
reaching there early in the afternoon.
Truly a strange and marvelous combination of
fortunate circumstances. In the wilds of an un-
known continent, this shipwrecked crew find a race
of beings, who, while they are not savages, are
not civilized, but are superior in intelligence, in
THE SHIPWRECK. 121
manners and customs, to the Indian or the African.
The little raiment that clothes them is of European
make, indicating they are in communication with
European merchants and European civilization. It
is ascertained that some leagues distant is a great
river, that a trading point has been established there,
and once a year a ship from a distant foreign land
comes there and exchanges its wares for the goods
the natives have to sell. There are a number of
villages tributary to this trading and shipping station,
\id while the inhabitants spend their time chiefly
i>i indolence and idleness, they all manage to accumu-
late something to exchange for the merchandise
i\e ship brings.
The Americans embrace the first opportunity
to, join a caravan that is on its way to the trading
point. Reaching there they find a large village
whose inhabitants have nothing to do except as
the caravans arrive to receive the articles which
ai^e brought to exchange for the ship's goods. This
point has an ocean front of fully one mile, bound on
both sides by high cliffs, as though once the bed of
a mighty river. This plateau or table land extends
back for hundreds of miles, and on either side are
dense forests and vast jungles. Ivory, the skins
of wild animals, spices, medicinal roots and herbs,
diamonds and other precious stones, and the finest
sponges, are the chief articles of export. These
are exchanged for wearing apparel, canned meats
and vegetables, cheap notions and trinkets.
CHAPTER XIV.
POISONED.
The Americans made themselves quite useful to
the natives while waiting the arrival of the ship.
They planned a system of water supply, by which
water was brought into the village from a lake beyond
the cliff. The water for ages had been brought in
rude buckets, but the inhabitants joined in with zest
to dig the trenches, remove the pulp from the logs
which were used for water pipes, and in an intelligent
manner carried-out the plans which Captain Bodfish
designed.
Henry and Charles were not as inseparable as for-
merly. While by no means unfriendly they were less
in each other's company. Henry spent much of his
time with the natives, and with one or more of them
would freqMently make long journeys into the edges
of the jungle. The natives took a greater liking to
him than to either of the others. He alone was shown
where the diamonds could be found, and, under a
pledge of secrecy as to the locality, was permitted to
search for them. He secured many valuable ones
which he intended, at the proper time, to divide
with his comrades. Charles interested himself in
the herbs and roots the natives were gathering, mak-
ing constant inquiries as to the use and power and
effect of those that were considered the most valuable.
He watched the natives dive in the deep water for the
132 ,
POISONED. 123
sjyonge, and be became familiar with the process
of cleaning and curing tbem for market. He was
ever on the alert to learn something that he might
turn to advantage afterwards. He often helped the
natives distil the herbs, and prepare the drugs for
packing. lie was the first to learn to converse with
the inhabitants, though this knowledge was more a
matter of signs than words. In this great wilderness
aiid waste and among these strange people, as on the
Lucky Star, Charles Manning was an apt scholar,
quick to grasp the thing that engaged his attention,
and whatever he learned or sought to learn was to aid
him in carrying out the chief object and purpose of
his life. But who beside himself knew aught of
what that object and purpose was?
The time was near at hand when the expected ves-
sel might heave in sight. The Americans were full
of glee over the promised event. When the rejoic-
ing was at its height, and they were congratulating
each other- over the prospect of once again joining
their kindred and friends at their dear old homes,
Henry was taken sick. "With each passing hour he
grew worse. All the knowledge of disease and its
cure possessed by the natives the young man had the
benefit of. Charles was by his side constantly, and
he claimed the privilege of taking the sole care of
his friend, and he nursed him and watched over him
with all the tenderness of mother or sister.
One other attendant almost forced herself on the
sick youth. She was a young maiden, a brunette of
wondrous beauty. She claimed to be the great phy-
sician's daughter, and from her father she had
124- THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
learned the cure of diseases peculiar to the climate
and the people, and she knew the uses of the herbs
that grew on the hill-side. She had a complete
knowledge of the effects on the system of the various
poisonous roots which the natives gathered for market.
She knew the antidote to each, and where to find
it, and how to administer it in case oJ peril. What
interest, if any, more than womanly affection for
one in distress, this maiden may have had in Henry
was known only to herself, and possibly to Henry
himself. Be that as it may, the lad continued to
grow worse. The herbs that were so marvelous in
their cures failed to bring relief. The ship came in.
Henry was bolstered up on his cot, and through the
open door saw the ship at anchor only a few rods
distant. His heart was now beating strong and fast.
The blood filled his veins almost to bursting. The
thought of again seeing his mother and the other
loved one so dear to his heart possessed all his feel-
ings, was the full measure of all his hopes, and filled
to the brim his cup of happiness. For the moment
he forgot he was sick. Forgot that even then there
might be far less distance between him and his God,
than between him and his betrothed.
The ship had sailed from a port in Holland. The
captain cheerfully consented to take the Americans
on board, and, if opportunity offered, transfer them
both to a ship bound for an American port. The
ship's physician at once went ashore and visited the
sick youth, that he might minister to his needs, and
assist in conveying him on board the vessel. He
found Henry sinking rapidly and unconscious. The
POISONED. 125
reaction had set in and he had not vitality enough to
resist it. The physician endeavored to rally him
with stimulants but was unsuccessful. Even while
the last boat was preparing to make the last trip to
the ship the Doctor pronounced Henry Winters dead.
Living when all hope had gone and only the sea. and
sky and the remnant of a dismasted bark to lean on.
Dead when hope had returned and a ship, with sails
and masts and rudder and men to man it, was ready
to take him to his home!
It was then that Captain Bodfish rose to the full
stature of a noble manhood, and knowing what he
had to contend with, and looking the doctor, who
still had hold of Henry's hand, square in the eye,
thus addressed him: "Doctor, as God lives, that
body must go on that ship."
The doctor comprehended the full meaning of thai
command. It was made by one used to having his
orders obeyed. The Captain turned his head and
gazed devoutly upon the beautiful face of the lad
who seemed to be calmly sleeping. The physician
was in deep study and evidently a great conflict was
going on in his mind. Charles, kneeling by the
side of the cot, had bowed his head as if overcome
with anguish. Several natives, who had been in-
timate with Henry, stood in the background, eager
witnesses of the sad scene. The doctor,* letting go
the dead boy's lian ]. :md returning Captain Bodfish's
piercing gaze, at last replied in almost unintelligible
English "Sire, that can never be!"
Captain Bodfish knew too well what that meant,
lie had made too many ocean voyages and understood
126 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
too well the superstition of sailors as regards a dead
body on ship board, to make any -further appeal.
Helpless and powerless, he was compelled to submit.
Hastily the arrangements were made for the burial
of poor Henry's body by the natives. Several of the
more intelligent among them imposed oaths upon
themselves that they would give the dead a Christian
burial and mark the spot with a fitting memoriHl
stone.
Then came the speedy preparations for the de-
parture of the Captain and Charles. The two deck
hands had already gone aboard. Tears trickled down
the honest face of the kind-hearted Captain as he
took a last look of his young friend, while Charles
could find only sobs to tell the extent of his sorrow.
The little boat was ready to leave. A hasty farewell
was said to the groups of natives standing by,
the boat was pushed from the shore, strong arms
speedily rowed to the ship's side, the anchor was
hauled in, the sails unfurled, and the Sober Fritz
went out to sea.
The living were gone. Now to care for the dead.
That same young maiden, so fair and lovely, had
gone unbidden into the little cabin where Henry's
body was lying, and was now, in a nervous and
exciting manner, pouring a liquid into his mouth and
nostrils. Others came in quietly and softly and
looked on as if understanding the grave nature of
the proceeding, and anxiously awaited the result.
The girl never took her eyes off the marble face
before her. She expected the life to return, and she
was not disappointed, for in a short time Henry
POISONED. 12*
opened his eyes, gazed languidly about the room, and,
as if exhausted by the effort, fell asleep and slept
all the night through.
On awakening, he was told of the departure of the
ship, with his companions on board, of his supposed
death, the surmise he had been poisoned and the
result of the application of the antidote. He was
told that Captain Bodfish plead for the body to
be taken on shipboard, and how painful it was
for the physician to refuse. All, everything,
showing the love and devotion of his companions,
was told him, and he listened and wondered
what it could all mean. During the day strength-
ening drinks were administered to him, and on the
morrow he arose from his cot seemingly strong and
fully recovered from his illness.
The mysteries that now overwhelmed the poor lad
nearly drove him distracted. He had been poisoned.
By whom? He was told that when life was thought
extinct, the physician's daughter had detected the
evidence of poison, and the changing hue upon the
face had revealed the nature of the drug he had
taken, and enabled the maiden to obtain the anti-
dote that restored him to consciousness. Who could
have perpetrated this great crime?
The locket containing Mary's picture and a lock of
her hair had been removed from about his neck. Who
did that? Perhaps it was Captain Bodfish or Charles,
who would restore the precious gifts to his affianced,
with the story of his death in a strange land and his
burial by a strange people; or it might be the girl who
had saved his life had removed it and hidden or de-
128 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
stroyed it. Could it be that this girl had administered
the poison when the ship hove in sight, and, with her
knowledge of the drug, kept him as one dead until
the ship had sailed and then applied the antidote that
brought his life back to him? That could not be,
because even while his companions were taking ala*t
look of his face, the girl who made one of the group
around his cot, suddenly rushed from the room and
fled like a deer to the mountains, nor did she return
until the last boat had been pushed from shore. On
the mountain side she had gathered the life-restoring
herb, had steeped it in boiling water, and not a
moment too soon had poured the potion down his
throat. Had she given the poison, would she not
had the antidote ready at the exact time to apply it?
No, it could not be the girl who sought his life only
to save it. Who was it?
CHAPTER XV.
THE WILL IS A FOKGERT.
The "Sober Fritz" was at once gotten under sail
and by nightfall she was far out to sea. Captain
Bodfish could not conceal his feelings. The tears
came freely without bidding. He felt he had not only
lost a dear friend, but all the circumstances connected
with his death were sad in the extreme. Could he
even have brought the body on board the ship and
given it a burial beneath the waves, he would have
been the better reconciled to the fateful events
which had occurred.
Charles gave vent to his feelings by loud expressions
of sorrow. He had no tears to shed, though he often
wished that tears would flow, but he had plenty of
words of love and affection for his dead friend, and
he never tired of speaking of his merits and extolling
his good qualities.
At the first port made by the " Sober Fritz " an
American ship was taking on coal, and the Ameri-
cans found no difficulty in engaging passage for Bos-
ton. The voyage was finished in three months, and
Captain Bodfish and Charles, having feelingly parted
with their two companions, went to the nearest tele-
graph office, where the Captain notified the New
York owners of the "Lucky Star" of her loss, of the
Captain's arrival in Boston and his need of funds.
On ship board the Captain and Charles had jointly
129
130 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
prepared a full statement of the voyage made t>y
Henry to India, of the ' 'Lucky Star" sailing for home,
of the shipwreck, and the events which preceded
Henry's death. This letter was full of sympathy
for the sorrow-stricken mother and heart-broken
Mary, and, being sealed and directed to Mrs. Win-
ters, was deposited in the post-office by Captain Bod-
fish. A few moments after he had gone out of the
building, Charles asked that the letter, minutely
describing it, might be returned to him, he claiming
to be the writer, as he wished to enclose a draft, which,
in the hurry of mailing, he had overlooked. Obtain
ing the letter he never remailed it. The same daj ,
the money arriving, Charles was loaned a sum sufn*.
cient for his present purposes, which he promised to
return in a few days, and the two bidding each other
farewell, the Captain went at once to New York and
Charles boarded a train for his home in a New Eng
land city.
There seemed to be a deal of mystery about the
young man, even though now mingling with the peo
pie he had been brought up among. He held f requerrt
interviews with a woman always dressed in black ,
and who never failed to have a heavy black veil drawn
over her face. She may have been young or she may
have been middle-aged. She may have been beauti
ful or ugly. Possibly Charles knew. No one els>;
could, unless it were the woman herself. She came
mysteriously and she went mysteriously. No one
except Charles seemed to care who she was, what she
was, or whither she went.
Charles at once obtained a position where he ooukl
THE WILL IS A FORGERY. 131
learn telegraphing and railway station business. In
his conversations with Henry on shipboard, Charles
had heard his companion speak of his knowledge
of telegraphing. What Henry knew Charles never
tired until he learned the same. In connection
with his duties in the telegraph office, Charles be-
came a diligent student of political economy, and
especially of tariff reform.
For several weeks the woman in black was missed.
Upon her return, she and Charles held several long
and earnest interviews, and, seemingly, as if in some
manner connected with these meetings, Charles one
day sent the following telegraph dispatch :
HALIFAX, June , 188-.
MRS. MATILDA WINTERS: I have just landed here. Will
start at once for home. May reach you by Thursday. Was
kidnaped, taken to Calcutta ; on the voyage home was ship-
wrecked, detained on an unknown land for nearly two years.
Will tell you all when I see you. Love to Mary. Hope you
are both well. HENRY WINTERS.
When the messenger brought the dispatch, Mrs.
Winters was lying on her couch sick almost unto
death. She was surrounded with loving friends, who
sought to prove their devotion by little acts of kind-
ness, but neither kith nor kin were there to comfort
her. Yet Mary Holbrook had been to her Mother
Winters all that child could be. Their tears had
mingled together; for the return of the same lost
loved one they prayed together; their hopes were cen-
tered on the same object of affection, and the heart
of one knew no pain the other did not experience,
except the mysterious secret about Major Hoi-
132 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
brook's will, which the sick woman, for some strange
reason, refused to divulge.
Mary read the message first. The trials and sor-
rows she had experienced nerved her for any event,
no matter what it might be. For a moment she
was overcome by the glad news. Her thoughts
went out to Mrs. Winters, for she feared the effect
of such joyful tidings on Henry's mother. With
head bowed upon the poor, sick woman's breast,
and with arms tenderly entwined around her neck,
Mary told her adopted mother of the expected arri-
val of her son.
Mrs. Winters listened unmoved, then turned her
head toward the wall, as if she would be alone with
her thoughts. An hour passed. Then, arousing
herself and beckoning Mary to come to her bedside,
she simply said she prayed to live long enough to
take her dear boy by the hand, place it in Mary's,
bless her children and commend her spirit to the
God that gave it.
Was her prayer answered?
Several days and nights passed, and the hour
of Henry's expected arrival was near at hand.
A kind neighbor had offered to meet Henry with a
carriage and bring him to his home.
During the day, Mrs. Winters appeared to sleep.
Her eyes were closed, and she breathed naturally.
Suddenly she raised herself up in bed and looked
eagerly about the room. She was not excited, but
calm and self-composed. Lifting her hand and
pointing her long, bony fingers toward the open win-
dow, through which the setting sun shone bright and
THE WILL IS A FORGERY. 133
clear, she exclaimed, in a voice loud and distinct for
one so near the grave: " See there! Look yonder!
What a beautiful white light! How brilliant it is!
How grand! Watch its golden rays spreading out
on all sides and in every direction. Nearer and
nearer it comes, wider and wider its pathway
is extended, and brighter and brighter grows its
glittering rays, and now it seems to cover the land
with new life, new joys, new hopes, new aspirations,
surely promising a new, a better and a brighter
future. So I interpret the meaning of the blessed
sight I see. Oh, that I might live to enjoy the real-
ization of this wondrous revelation, which I know I
alone am permitted to behold. I feel it means the
speedy coming of the better times and happier days
so long looked for and so long hoped for by the noble
farmers of our blessed country. But my strength
is failing, my work is finished, and I know I am
soon to go to meet my dear Savior."
By this time the bedside was surrounded with lov-
ing neighbors, and standing by the head of the dying
woman and holding her hand was the faithful
Mary Holbrook. Bending tenderly over her, Mary
asked if she would like to tell them more about
what she had been dreaming.
In a weaker voice, but still sweet and cheerful as
a child at play, she answered: " I've not been
dreaming, have I? No, no, it could not be a dream.
It did not seem like a dream. It was too real for a
dream. I was awake, wide awake, and I saw my
darling Mary as I see her now, and I saw that flood
of light with my open eyes. Listen and I will tell
134 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
you more. I see it now. What a change it makes
in all it beams upon, and it seems to beam on all
this broad continent. It scatters penury and want
and haggard faces and tattered rags to the winds
of heaven, and in its wake and in their places it
leaves plenty and good cheer and smiles and whole
garments. The ricketty old farm house, so long
going to decay and ready to fall to the ground, is
changed to a home of comfort and cheerfulness, and
the inmates look upon the transformation with
happy smiles and words of joy and thanksgiving.
The mother in the doorway stands transfixed with
wonder and delight, and she looks heavenward, as if
to thank her God for what she sees, but her lips
fail to tell the joy she experiences. The pale,
shrunken, shriveled and hollow cheeks have their
fullness and color returned, the once sunken eyes
with returning lustre beam out full and bright and
clear from their prison cells; the blood no longer
lazily courses her veins, but to her the white light
brings new life and new hopes ; in a word, a new
world opens to her vision, she feels the shackles
unloosed from her limbs, and she is free and no
longer a slave restored to that standing in the
realm of noble womanhood, from which, for a gen-
eration, she had been driven by the greed, avarice
and covetousness of her countrymen.
" The growing corn takes on a brighter and
richer color, the fields of half-ripened grain, which
the eye beholds as far as the eye can see, promise a
yield of wealth that for the first time in years will
return a liberal profit to the husbandman; the green
THE WILL IS A FORGERY. 135
meadows give out a newer and fresher verdure, the
cattle in the pastures are sleeker and fatter; and the
bronzed and stout-limbed farmer who stood silently
viewing his acres and his herds, cheerlessly and
despondently contemplating the long-continued low
prices of farm produce, seeing, sooner or later,
beggary and ruin staring him and his family in
their faces; pondering over the growing mortgage
on all his possessions, with growing doubt and
uncertainty of its ever being paid; as he feels the
bright rays of the rapidly moving light illuminate
his whole being, he sees the clouds which had dark-
ened a long life of patient toil and ceaseless care,
disappear in the distance, and he beholds the home
of his youth and old age, the home of his blessed
wife and loving children, free of debt, his family in
the enjoyment of the fruits of his and their labor,
and peace and love and plenty and all the desires of
his heart poured in upon him. Glorious revelation!
May the law-makers of the land make it, as they can,
a grand realization."
Matilda Winters spoke as one inspired. Her eyes
sparkled, but not unnaturally; her cheeks were flush
and radiant, as if with joy; her voice had grown
stronger as she proceeded with the word picture of
her revelation, and her whole soul seemed clothed
with that wisdom which might come from on high.
y?emingly in possession of all her senses, she gazed
upon the weeping group around her as if she would
lull more of her wondrous vision, and give more of
)j*r interpretation of it.
The silence was broken by the sound of the rattling
136 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
wheels of a carriage approaching the house. The ex-
pected one has come. The little group around the bed-
side retire, all save the weeping girl, who has clasped
her hand in that of the dying woman, and the attend-
ing physician. The door opens, a young man bounds
noiselessly in, rushes to the bedside, kisses the pale
cheek of the emaciated woman who lies there so quiet,
so weak, so calm, then affectionately embraces the
trembling girl, who stands motionless and white as a
statue of the purest parean marble, and implants a
kiss upon her lips, which salutation she feelingly and
lovingly returns.
The sick woman gazed first upon the young man
then upon the young girl, and, without moving
a muscle or uttering a word, closed her eyes. The
sobbing girl appealed to the dying woman to speak
to her, and beseechingly implored her to " give your
children your Henry, your Mary your blessing. Oh
sainted mother, the angels ask this of you. Do not,
oh! do not, I beg of you, do not withhold it!" There
was a motion of the lips, a pressure of the hand, an
effort to speak, a smile it might be perhaps it was
and Mary Holbrook believed the blessing she craved
was mentally bestowed upon her and her lover.
The physician, noticing the change coming over
the sick woman's countenance, stepped to the door
and bade the waiting attendants come in. Perceiv-
ing that she was making an effort as if to speak,
one of the group leaned over the bed, and asked
her if she wished to say something about the will.
She smiled as if pleased that her desire was under-
stood. Then, turning her face toward the win-
THE WILL IS A FORGEBY. 137
dow through which the last rays of the setting sun were
dimly flickering, speaking in a low voice, yet distinct
and clear, so that, with the silence that the presence
of death invokes, to make her words audible and
readily understood, she exclaimed, slowly, as though
weighing the meaning of each word and syllable,
' ' The will is a for ger y not my s "
The eyes closed, the lips parted, but only to make
room for a sweet smile, joined by a soft, mellosv
light that encircled the brow, lingering there a mo-
ment, then it flitted and fluttered as if it were the
reflection of the soul struggling to be free, and life
and light and sun disappeared together!
CHAPTER XVI.
THE DECEPTION.
When Charles Manning went out from the scene of
death he realized that his first bold deception, extra-
ordinary as it was, had been successful. He at once
took possession of Mrs. Winter's farm, and as there
were none to deny his claim as the legal heir to the
estate, he was secure in its occupancy. To enable
him to maintain his deception, he had provided him-
self with every conceivable weapon. In the keeping
of a shrewd, cunning man, he could ask for noth-
ing more than he had at his command. He was
in possession of a fund of information that would
enable him to meet and repel any suspicion that
Mary Holbrook or any of her neighbors might enter-
tain as to his identity.
He started out with the knowledge that through
deception he possessed Mary Holbrookes love love
that was as pure and guileless as innocence itself.
While it was really love for another, it rested with
him to be able to so personate that other throughout
the twelve months custom had fixed should elapse
between a death in the family and a marriage, as to
never give cause for the shadow of suspicion of the
deception.
Charles Manning had made himself believe he was
not committing a crime in the desperate game he was
playing. He did not even think it a game. He had
m
THE DECEPTION. 139
imbued his conscience with such plausible arguments,
in defense of his intentions, that it became seared
and callous as far as any susceptibility to a moral
impression was concerned, and he had only to consult
with that inward monitor to find a counselor that
would second any scheme he might undertake.
His soliloquies were ingenious, and to his conscience
they wore convincing. If Mary Ilolbrook believed
he was her lover, if heaven had fashioned two men
so much alike that a maiden of ordinary intelli-
gence, who had given her heart to one, after years of
intimacy and devotion, should continue that love to
the other, and, after a long period of similar intimacy
v ith that other, fail to detect a shadow of decep-
t ; on, he could not see wherein any wrong existed.
>Ie had so perverted his conscience that it concealed
from him the evil which was in his heart when
Henry Winters first told the story of his love
for Mary Ilolbrook; that it concealed from him the
<rnl that was intensified and developed into an un-
pardonable crime when he gave the draught to his
companion with the intention of preventing him
from again enjoying Mary Holbrookes love; that it
concealed from him the infamy which made up the
desperate scheme he had planned to secure the love
of one that believed she was loving another.
Charles Manning may have conscientiously believed
if Mary Holbrook never learned of the deception
practiced upon her there was no wrong done. This
thing of conscience either takes to curious fits and
startling turns, at times, or else some other force
crowds it out of its place. Charles Manning had
140 THE MOKTGAGE FORECLOSED.
made himself believe that his conscience approved of
every scheme he devised to cheat and deceive Mary
Holbrook. Yet there must have been times in his
career when his conscience, notwithstanding the
surroundings, told him that he was a criminal of the
deepest dye.
Charles Manning spent the most of his time in the
company of Mary Holbrook. The two farms were
managed by hired help, which gave the owners
plenty of time for reading together, strolling in the
woods and fields, rowing on the lake, and love making.
Not wishing to be idle, and learning of the con-
templated resignation of the telegraph operator at
the station, Charles made application for the
place. The company, upon being satisfied of his
efficiency, was glad to accept the services of so pop-
ular and intelligent a young man as Henry Winters
for by that name he must now be known had
proven himself to be. As the duties only required a
portion of his time he was enabled without neglect-
ing anything expected of him, to give the two farms
his general attention.
Mary Holbrook had no cause to find fault with the
fervency and ardor of the love which Henry Winters
embraced every opportunity to convince her he pos-
sessed for her. He was in fact the most devoted of
wooers. She failed to see that his rough experience
and strange adventures among the people of that hid-
den continent had lessened his admiration for her, or
had benumbed his feelings toward her, or had made
him any less the ardent lover. It might be, she
thought at times that he was not so enraptured with
THE DECEPTION. 141
her personal charms as before that strange sea voyage,
or at least he was not as loud and earnest in his
expressions of love as on the night when he bade her
what proved to be a long, long adieu. Still she ex-
perienced the perfection of bliss in listening to the
oft-repeated stories of his sufferings on the wreck at
sea, and the dangers he encountered in his travels
among the people of that strange land. He knew
just how much color to give to his adventures to inter-
est and fascinate his fair listener, and she in turn
would hang on his lips, breathless and silent, as if
the magic spell would be broken were she to utter a
single word. She never tired of being an enthusias-
tic listener. Often she would beg him to tell the story
over again that she might pity him while at least he
elling it. Thus he wove around his victim a net
with strands of steel, and if she ever breaks through
them and becomes free, heaven and angels must help
her do it.
Young Winters labored to make himself popular
with the farmers far and near. He made them fre-
quent visits, happening in on them at meal times, or
belated, staying with them over night. His hobby
was the tariff, and nothing pleased him so much as
to sit around the cheerful fire of a winter's evening
and discuss that subject. He had a familiar way of
getting at the tax on the things the farmers bought.
ould ask his listeners to name an article in sight
that the farmer did not pay a tax on. From the
family Bible on the center table down to the prinu-r
the creeping babe was busily tearing in pieces, a tax
was levied on. The salt and the salt cellar, the
142 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
knife and fork, the spoons, the crockery, the tabe
cloth, the rug before the fire and the carpet on tL<3
floor, the chairs and the cradle, the lumber the houp
was built of, the nails, the paint, the doors, the lock a
and the keys, the sugar and the sugar bowl, the tin
pans, the stoves, the blankets on the beds, the bed-
steads and every article of clothing on both male and
female, yea, nearly everything the farmer did not
raise, but which he bought, was taxed from twenty to
eighty-five per cent. Go out doors, the same endless
system of taxation is visible. There was not a tool
or a farming implement, from the hoe leaning
against the garden fence to the threshing machine in
the yard, but was taxed, and a tax that on tlm;
articles out of four was forced out of the farmer'^
pocket, not to help pay the expenses of running tLj
government, but to be put into another man's purst,
that he might carry on a business which he claimed
would not be profitable without this contribution
from the farmers.
He loved to talk with the people about his travete
and adventures and was constantly introducing sub-
jects that would afford him an opportunity to show
them how familiar he was with their habits, and
little incidents in their lives, which had been forgot-
ten save as he revived the recollection of them. He
delighted in these reminiscences and in refreshing
the memories of the neighbors, so that had there
been in all that region any one who suspected he was
not Henry Winters, whole communities would have
risen up to prove his identity.
No wonder poor Mary Holbrook was completely
THE DECEPTION. 143
blinded. It was an unequal contest from the begin-
ning. The praise of her lover was on every lip.
That kind of praise which so often makes maidens
love, even against their will makes them love when
they should hate. There were times, though, when
a mysterious something would be tugging at her
heart-strings, as if to warn her of danger. But she
was too devoted to her lover to heed the warning.
Often she would fancy there were voices whispering
something about lovers that were false, and lovers
made mad by love, but she never thought the voices
were for her to heed.
" Henry," she said one evening, when passing the
little churchyard, and noticing the shadow of the frail
steeple lengthening out clear to the graves of the
loved ones, " I see the grass is growing in that little
path to your mother's grave. It certainly can not
be that the memory of your sainted mother is being
forgotten, and that you have any less tears to shed
now over her grave than when she was first laid there."
Mary did not utter this mild rebuke because she
doubted Henry's reverence for his mother's memory,
and yet so sudden was the question asked, and so
unexpected, that it startled him into a fright, and in
spite of his great will power, he turned pale, and
beads of sweat trickled down his face. Mary noticed
his excited condition and attributed it to his feelings,
which she had unintentionally wounded by the cruel
insinuation. Before he could regain his composure
sufficiently to reply, Mary, in a tender and sympa-
thetic manner, apologized for her thoughtlessness,
and when her great black eyes met his, she implored
his forgiveness.
CHAPTER XVII,
IN AN" UNKNOWN LAND.
Henry Winters, though alone and in an unknown
land, was not the lad to give up in despair. Manly
courage was one of his marked characteristics.
Through all the hardships of the shipwreck and
amid all the perils encountered since reaching the
shore, he had borne himself as a true hero. Alone
now, left alone by those who thought him dead, and
knowing his death would be reported to his mother
and to Mary Holbrook, he grieved only for them. He
felt they would be mourning his death, and he pitied
them. For himself, now that he was restored to
health, he no longer had a thought or a wish.
Twelve months would soon roll around, and the ship
would come again and he would be homeward bound.
His heart leaped with joy at the thought of the sur-
prise in store for those loved ones who for a full vew
would mourn his death.
But how should he occupy his time during the
months of waiting? He was in nowise inclined to
seek pleasure in the lives the natives lived, nor did
the dusky maiden, who had rescued him from the
grave, have any charms for him. He was grateful
for the inestimable service she had done him, but
the debt ended with his gratitude. He had only the
love of a son for his mother, and the love of a lover
for Mary Holbrook.
144
IX AN UNKNOWN LAND. 145
He soon learned what he might well have feared,
that his life was still in danger. One day there came
from beyond the mountains the proud chieftain of a
mighty people. The great physician's daughter was
that chieftain's promised wife. But when he sought
her hand and asked her to redeem her pledge by
wedding him, she hesitated. The chieftain at once
connected Henry with the refusal of his affianced to
wed him. Though wrongfully accused, the penalty
was the same. He was in the way. He must be
removed. But mortals can not go so far from the
eye of omnipotence but they may be made to feel
that even a great chieftain may propose while God
disposes.
One night, soon after the arrival of this chieftain,
two natives entered the apartment in which Henry
was sleeping, and bade him rise and follow them. It
was instinct to obey. Out into the wilderness they
went, and, before they saw the morning's sun, they
had left many leagues between them and the chief-
tain's decree.
The following day they reached the banks of a
river, and at once proceeded to construct a raft for a
voyage down the stream. With an axe and saw they
felled several trees, and with long roots pulled from
the ground, which answered for ropes, and with the
bark stripped from the trees, they soon had the ma-
terial for a float, and by another day they were ready
to embark. The stream abounded in fish, and birds
fairly filled the air. Delicious eggs lined the river
banks, and the bread-bush was laden with a sub-
stance very much resembling finely ground flour. In
fact, the adventurers lived on the fat of the land.
10
146 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
The current of the river ran quite swiftly, perhaps
five miles an hour. The stream was on an average a
full mile in width, and it kept close to high cliffs on
one side, while on the other was a vast expanse of
tableland several feet above the surface of the water
and stretching out to the very horizon with not a tree
or bush or rock in sight. This boundless area of land
may at one time have been the bed of the river, or
perhaps the seat of an empire, and the ages my
have laid waste its cities and covered the ruins with
imperishable dust.
For more than a thousand miles did these wander-
ers drift on the bosom of that beautiful stream
without seeing a human face or a human habitation.
This monotony was not to continue always, for OLe
afternoon they discovered a large boat tied to a stake
driven on the bank of the river, and hardly had they
gotten over their surprise at this discovery, when a
dozen savages plunged into the water and swam
rapidly toward the raft; knowing the rude structure
would sink should the savages seek to climb aboard,
it was headed toward the shore to await their com-
ing. The meeting instead of being unfriendly was
quite cordial and it was not long before all were on
friendly terms. Much to Henry's astonishment he
learned that while the new comers appeared to be
savages, they were quite civilized and were savage
only in lack of dress and the surplus of glittering
ornaments which covered their limbs.
A rest of a day or two and Henry and his two
trusty friends resumed their journey. Ruins and
desolate and abandoned villages, which had bec-n
IN A3f UXKN'OWN* LAND. 147
plainly visible for hundreds of miles, gave way to
new buildings and new improvements, denoting the
approach of a modern civilization. Amid the ruins of
ancient palaces and grand cathedrals were palaces and
cathedrals of modern architecture, in strange contrast
with the decay from which they seemed to have
arisen.
The appearance of the country indicated that a
new race had come to reclaim the land and restore
the order of things before the decay. These improve-
ments became more marked and more modern as the
adventurers approached the sea.
Before another moon they found themselves in the
midst of an advanced civilization. Agriculture and
manufactures were prospering together, and were
moving hand in hand with mining and mechanic
arts. The farms were well cultivated and the tillers
of the soil were satisfied and prosperous. Their
improvements were substantial and commodious.
They worked ten or eight hours a day just as they
chose. Their wives and children were happy and
healthy. Their crops were bountiful, and for the
surplus they found a ready market at a fair profit.
Countless industries were in operation the year round
and employes seldom complained of the wages paid
them. As a general thing they owned their homes
and were out of debt or possessed the means to pluco
themselves out of debt. Holidays were numerous
and strikes were unknown. Everybody, save the
drones, the criminals and the indolent, were pros-
pering. Everything of merit was flourishing. The
very rich and the very poor, were few in number.
148 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
The middle-class predominated and controlled the
government. One word expressed it all. That was
contentment.
Henry visited several cities and mingled with the
people. The same thrifty condition prevailed in
them all. He was constantly impressed with the
fact that the multitude were busy. No complaining
of hard times. No fears of a financial crisis. Fraud-
ulent assignment for the benefit of preferred credit-
ors was almost unheard of. But few mortgages to
foreclose. No receivers appointed to manage bank-
rupt corporations. Just enough poor-houses and
paupers and jails to show that human nature was the
same the world over.
Each person pursued his line of business with a cer-
tainty of receiving fair and just compensation for the
work done, with the assurance that his earnings
would go into his own pockets and not be used by
the government to protect infant industries.
The exchange of products between the several
countries, was conducted on an extensive scale. The
breadstuff, meats, oil, fruit, clothing and coal of one
nation found a ready market in another, and was
exchanged for gold, silver, silks, wool, iron and iron
ore, cotton, sugar, and various kinds of raw ma-
terial. The revenues of the governments were
derived from a tax on imports, and this tax was fixed
each year by a board of revenue adjusters. There
was no surplus stored away in the vaults of the treas-
ury, to make men dishonest, and only enough tax
was gathered to pay current expenses. Such a tariff
was popular with the masses, and while there was
IX AX UXKXOWN LAND. 149
occasionally a manufacturer who thought he could
pay his employes better wages were he protected
against the cheaper labor of some of the other coun-
tries he had to compete with, yet when he consid-
ered that the theory of protection, if generally
adopted, would so affect his interests in other direc-
tions, that wages would be loAver and his profits
smaller, he would not insist on being protected. He
prospered without protection, and his employes pros-
pered with him.
The tax or tariff laws were the simplest part of the
machinery of the government. Nothing was covered
up, or concealed from the tax-payer. If he bought
a coat made outside the realm, he knew that a cer-
tain part of the purchase price, and just how much,
was tariff, and how much was for the coat, and he
knew that the tariff he paid went into the people's
treasury, instead of into the pockets of his neighbor,
to recompense him for a fancied loss he might sus-
tain by carrying on his business. Each tub stood on
its own bottom. There was no favoritism, no class
legislation, no special privileges; but equal and ex-
act justice for all.
Henry was puzzled over what caused the decay and
desolation in the vast country through \vhich he had
journeyed, and what condition of things led civiliza-
tion tore-occupy ruins that might become ruins again
under like circumstances. By the aid of his com-
panions, who could talk the language, though in a
broken manner, he learned from the wise men that
the country, for thousands of miles, had once been the
richest food-producing soil known to mankind; that
150 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
for hundreds of years it was cultivated by serfs, who,
iii time, earned their freedom, became owners of the
lands, and were admitted to equal citizenship with
their former employers; that the surplus grain and
meat were transported to distant countries and sold
at a fair profit; that, generally, the expenses of the
government were met by a tax on the articles brought
from foreign lands; that capital engaged in manu-
facturing industries was protected against outside
competition which employed cheap labor, that the
operatives might receive liberal wages; that this tax
operated most unjustly on the farmer, by cutting off
his foreign market, because the tariff prevented his
exchanging the products of the farm for the products
of the foreign loom and workshops; that the farmer
was compelled to compete with the cheap labor of
other countries, which the manufacturer was pro-
tected against, and forced to buy the necessaries of
life where they commanded the highest price.
The young men left the farm and went into
business in the city. The price obtained for farm
produce fell below the cost of production. The farm
was mortgaged to raise money for living expenses.
Needed improvements were neglected because of the
lack of means to make them. The farm-house and
out-buildings commenced to decay.
It did not require much longer than a century of
such a system of raising revenue and protecting cap-
ital, to drive the farmer from the farm, lay waste his
improvements, and make his land a desolation, with
penury, want and starvation going along with him.
Then the rich man's mansion went to decay; the
IX AX UNKNOWN' LAND. 151
palace of royalty crumbled to dust; temples, cathe-
drals, fortifications, public buildings, became piles of
ruins, and for a thousand years that vast empire
knew not the footstep of a human being, save when
savage hordes, pursued by other bands of barbarians,
took refuge there. Some of those savans insist that
the vast empire was made desolate because the
Almighty would not permit a race of people to enjoy
His bounty whose law-givers did such a wicked and
unjust thing as to force one man to contribute a por-
tion of his earnings for another man's benefit.
"When the desolation was complete and every ves-
tige of man's injustice to man had been buried
beyond resurrection, there came a race of men from
the far east and took up their abode amid that
desolation. The natural harbors along the sea coast
first attracted attention. Then the rich soil which
explorations convinced them existed for more than
two thousand miles inland, so impressed them with
the vast wealth which lay beneath the sod, that they
founded a colony which developed into the empire,
now the pride of the east.
The thrift and industry of the people may be traced
direct to a system of government which considers one
man just as good as another and no better. The
laws oppress no one. They bear equally on all. The
burdens which a people must shoulder when they
come out from the darkness of barbarism into the
glare of civilization, fall on all alike.
Thus discoursed the wise men of that strange
land.
When his curiosity had been sufficiently satisfied,
152 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
Henry embarked on a sailing vessel destined for a
distant port, where, after being detained a few weeks,
he took passage on a ship bound for Glasgow, Scot-
land. This was a long voyage and made longer by
the ship making several stops to take on merchandise
and passengers. At one of the ports several Ameri-
cans came on board whose presence served to shorten
and enliven what was promising to be a long, tedious
and monotonous journey. Landing in due time at
Glasgow, the American passengers went by rail, at
once, to Liverpool and thence by the steamer, City of
Rome, to New Yorkt
*
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE WILL IX COURT.
Court in a country town differs in many respects
from court in a large city. Three terms a year
give just enough novelty to court proceedings to
make the people look forward with much interest to
the day when court will convene. But now unusual
excitement prevails over a case of more than ordi-
nttry importance. The day is fixed for the cause to
be heard. At an early hour the multitude gather at
the county seat, from all portions of the county. It
does not take long to fill the court-house to over-
flowing with an eager, anxious, earnest crowd of men
aud women, most of whom are farmers, their wives
and grown-up sons and daughters. They mingle
together in groups and discuss the merits of the case
to be tried. It is evident that the sympathy is one-
sided and that the mass of spectators are of one
mind, perhaps for the reason that it is human
nature to take sides with the cause of the weak, the
helpless and the presumably innocent.
What is known far and near as the great will case
of Silas Groundwig vs. the Estate of Stephen Hoi-
brook is set for hearing. Distinguished lawyers
from the city have been employed by each side. The
judge takes his place on the bench, the clerk slips
into his chair in front of the judge's desk, the per-
sons summoned to serve as jurors are called, and the
Ml
154 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
long and tedious labor of securing a jury who knows
little or nothing about the case is at last completed,
the jurors are sworn to render a true verdict, ac-
cording to the law and the evidence given them in
court, and the case is ready for the first witness.
By the time this interesting point has been reached,
the day is spent. The lawyers have exhausted them-
selves in their efforts to preserve and promote the
legal rights of their clients. The men presented for
jurymen have been catechised as to their knowledge
of the case, and as to the extent of their bias, if
any, for or against either party. It has been quite
difficult to obtain a jury composed entirely of citi-
zens who have not formed an opinion as to the valid-
ity of the will, nor heard the merits of the case dis-
cussed. The jury, as finally selected, are mostly
farmers, men of intelligence, possessing an ordinary
amount of good sense, and who are known to be
fair-minded and honest. The populace have confi-
dence in the jury, and believe that justice will be
done, and their idea of justice in this case is a ver-
dict in accordance with the drift of public senti-
ment.
Upon the adjournment of court the people return
to their homes, coming again early in the morning,
eager for the case to begin and end. The case has
been commenced by Mr. Silas Groundwig, the person
named in the will as principal legatee, to recover from
Mary Holbrook, the daughter of the person making
the will, the rents and profits coming into her pos-
session by reason of her claiming to be the sole heir
at law of her father's estate, there being no will in
THE WILL IX COURT. 155
existence, as Miss Ilolbrook had every reason to
believe.
The attorney for the plaintiff Ground wig, opened
the case to the court and jury in an off-hand, careless,
conversational style, as though the fact of the will
giving his client the greater part of Major Holbrook's
fortune was a matter of very little concern to any one
except Mr. Groundwig, and while, under the circum-
s f .ances, there might be some of the gentlemen of the
jury who would sympathize with Miss Holbrook,
a id deeply regret that her honored and respected
father had not deemed it advisable to leave all his
v^alth to her, yet, on the other hand, those same
.inrors must not forget that it was truly a heroic act
D">ble and self-sacrificing and worthy a brave and
j^llant soldier, to be so just and so generous as to
remember in his will, in such a liberal manner, a
comrade who had faced death to save the testator's
1 TC. Undoubtedly the Major had his own notions
aoout bestowing his fortune upon a young girl, even
though that girl was the fruit of his own loins, and
r>o doubt, as he had averred in his will, it were better
that she should learn to earn her own living and
thus be able the better to enjoy such comforts and
pleasures as she should secure by lier own efforts.
Mary Holbrook had not been left penniless. Far
from it. A home with neat and rare furnishings was
hers to enjoy and hers to dispose of as she might
desire. Silas Groundwig had led a checkered life.
Crippled on the battle-field, denied a pension because
he was unable to procure evidence that his disability
was caused while engaged in the military service, he
156 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
had continued to struggle on bravely and manfully
against the vicissitudes of ill fortune, until, in a provi-
dential manner, he was directed to the home of his
old army comrade, whom he found an invalid, and by
whose side he remained, ministering to his wants,
until the eyes of the noble-hearted Major were closed
in death.
" I now offer in evidence," continued the attorney,
"of the validity of Mr. Groundwig's claim to the
late Major Holbrook's estate, the will signed by
Stephen Holbrook in the presence of two witnesses,
who signed their names as such witnesses in
the testator's presence and at his request, in ac-
cordance with the requirement of law. As you
will see, the will has been properly probated, has
the seal of the clerk of the probate court affixed
thereto, and his certificate attached, to the effect that
the attesting witnesses, James Martin and Matilda
Winters appeared before him, legal notice having
been given of the time of proving said will, and
made oath that they did so sign said will as such wit-
nesses."
The attorney took his seat, apparently quite
exhausted with the effort he had made. He wiped
the perspiration from his brow, and looked around
to see what effect his opening of the case had upon
the audience. The lawyers who appeared for Miss
Holbrook consulted together for several minutes.
The spectators looked dumbf bunded. Though for
months they had known all these things, though they
knew such a will was claimed to exist, and that it
appeared to be witnessed by Mrs. Winters, yet for the
THE WILL IN COURT. 157
first time they began to realize what it all meant, and
what the possible consequences might be, and how
much pretty Mary Holbrook, who, white as a sheet,
sat by the side of her lawyers and her lover, hud at
stake in the legal battle now fairly under way.
The elder and most scholarly-appearing attorney
for Miss Holbrook, the defendant, slowly rises to his
feet and addresses the court. Perfect stillness reigns
throughout the room. The lawyer, in a low but
quite musical voice, without any desire to engage the
attention of any one except the court and jury,
remarks that the case is a most singular one, and
will be found full of startling incidents. He is ready
to admit that the plaintiff, Mr. Groundwig, has been
quite lucky to be remembered so generously by Major
Holbrook, but he thinks before the case shall end
Mr. Groundwig will learn, and so will the public at
large, that Major Holbrook was not the ungrateful
parent the making of such a will would prove him to
be. "While there are many mysterious, strange and
thrilling events connected with the alleged execution
of this will, lie expects to prove to the entire satisfac-
tion of court and jury, that they are part and parcel of
a deep and atrocious plot yea, afoul and fiendish
conspiracy to cheat, defraud and swindle the young,
it and vivacious Mary Ilolbrook out of the fort-
une left by her father, and designed for his child and
for her only, upon the event of his death. Major Ilol-
brook loved his daughter as he loved his life. Her
mother dying when Mary was a mere child, the
r had becom* lely devoted to her welfare
and happiness, uud he had been heard to say u
158 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
hundred times that the only pleasure he had in maa
ing money was that his daughter might enjoy it, ai <i
he might feel that when the time came that he couM
no longer care for her she would in nowise be depend-
ent on her own labor for means of support. After
the war, Major Holbrook came west and brought
with him the savings a generous country had dealt
out to him for services rendered, and while he culti-
vated the soil and gathered his harvests, he was forf
unate in his investments and successful in certain
speculations, so that before he reached middle ago
he had accumulated a large fortune. Major HolbrooK
died. A motherless child was his only heir. There
was no other living relative to claim the smallest shai-e
of the estate. Stephen Holbrook LEFT NO WILL.
" If the court please, and gentlemen of tl,a
jury," proceeded the lawyer, " I repeat it, and aui
ready to repeat it again and again, Major Holbrock
LEFT KO WILL. He hud frequently discussed tL,j
subject with his lawyer, and, upon being informed
that his daughter would inherit, under the law, all
his possessions, the same as she might under his willj
he concluded a will was not necessary. The docu-
ment, if the court please, and gentlemen of the
jury, now submitted to this honorable court, and
claimed by Ground wig to be the last will and testa-
ment of Major Holbrook, is a base and wicked forg-
ery. The plot is a deeply laid one. The conspirators
have done their work well. With the most consum-
mate skill, with ingenuity worthy the best brain o '
the land, with the most wonderful ability to conce:<.
facts and events, the plotters have so complete! >
drafted, perfected and executed this Document, thott;
THE WILL IX COURT. 159
not until the attorneys were far along in this investi-
gation did they become satisfied that the document
was a forgery. Xot only is the late Major Holbrookes
property at stake, but his reputation for integrity,
for truth and for honor, are in the scales. For him
to disown the child he loved and adored, and to be-
queath to her only a small homestead and the few
things belonging to it, and give to an old army com-
rade, if old army comrade he was, because he had
simply performed an act that all brave soldiers claim
the right to perform without the hope or expectation
of compensation, the great bulk of his large estate,
was an act that would stamp Major Holbrook as a
villain whose memory deserved universal execration.
Major Holbrook was no villain. The evidence will
prove he was an honest man."
While by no means intended, yet Lawyer Hale's
remarks produced a profound sensation throughout
the court-room, and for a moment or two a buzz
went round the audience as though every one was
expressing an opinion upon its merits.
" The document offered in evidence/' said the
court, "as the last will and testament of Major
Holbrook, seems to have been properly proven, and is
in conformity with the statutes of the State in such
case made and provided. Before proceeding with
the testimony, the court will pass upon the motion
to exclude this document because it has been pre-
pared by a typewriting machine and hence is not a
compliance with the law which provides that wills
' must be in writing.' The court is clearly of the
opinion that to all intents and purposes the will is
'in writing.' The motion is overruled."
CHAPTER XIX.
THE EVIDENCE AXD THE JUDGE'S ADVICE TO TBB
FARMERS.
Exceptions were taken to the ruling, and Mr,
Hale called William Bush as the first witness. Mr.
Bush was sworn, and took a seat in the witness box,
and responding to the usual questions answered that
he was forty-two years of age and had resided in the
county fifteen years.
Ques. Did you ever know James Martin who^e
name is signed to this alleged will?
Ans. I did.
Ques. How long did you know him?
Ans. Only a few days.
Ques. Were you intimate with him?
Ans. Quite so, for the short time I knew him.
Ques. Where is he now?
Ans. Dead.
Ques. When did he die?
Ans. August 14, 1882.
Quick as thought, and entirely out of order, and
for the first time approaching anything of the
sensational, Mr. Hale sprang to his feet and fairly
screamed: "Gentlemen of the jury, that will is dated
October 15th, 1882, two full months after James
Martin died!"
Upon this startling declaration, confusion took
possession of the audience and the jury, and did not
160
THE EVIDENCE AKD THE JUDGED ADVICE. 161
miss ihe judge. It -was an exciting scene, in which
everybody took part. The bailiff rapped on his desk
and commanded silence, and when order was restored,
Mr. Hale announced, with an air of victory, to the
opposite counsel, that they might take the witness.
Ques. By Mr. Newcomb, one of the attorneys for
Groundwig. Mr. Bush, how do you fix the date of
Mr. Martin's death as having occurred at the time
you state?
Ans. I keep a diary and find it so recorded there.
My diary never lies. Besides, Martin was boarding
with me and in my employ, and the diary shows the
day he came as well as the day he died.
Ques. Was he a stranger in your neighborhood?
Ans. He was.
Ques. How long had he boarded and worked for
you?
Ans. Ten days.
Ques. May you not, Mr. Bush, unintentionally
and innocently, have made a wrong entry in your
diary as to time?
Ans. I told you, sir, my diary never lies. James
Martin died on August 14, 18b2. I saw him in his
coffin. I saw him in his grave.
Mr. Hale. That is all. You can step aside.
" The Rev. John Norton may be sworn/' said Mr.
Hale.
Ques. Are you the pastor of the First Lutheran
Church, of Bradford?
1 am.
Ques. What was the date of the organization of
that society?
U
162 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
Ans. January 10, 1883.
Ques. Was there any such society in existence on
the 15th day of October, the date of the alleged
will?
Ans. There was not.
As the will bequeathed three thousand dollars to
the First Lutheran Church of Bradford, and as
there was no such society in existence at the date of
the will, the inference wo aid seem to be that the
will must have been framed after the society was
organized, which was after Major Holbrook's death.
The witness was not cross-examined.
"If the court please/' said Mr. Hale, "we now
introduce a certified copy of the letters patent issued
for an improved method of forming the letters used
by the type-writer. This certificate is signed by the
commissioner of patents, and has attached the patent
office seal."
The plaintiff's attorneys object to the introduction
of the certificate, for the reason that the commis-
sioner of patents should be brought into court, where
he could be cross-examined. The court ruled that
the certificate was the best possible evidence to prove
when the patent was issued, and the nature of the
improvement patented.
"It will be seen by this certificate," continued
Mr. Hale, " that the patent was issued eight months
after the alleged will was type-written, and that the
improvement patented was the style of letter used
in copying the will."
The counsel for Groundwig looked upon this evi-
dence as quite damaging to their case. The certifi-
THE EVIDENCE AND THE JUDGE'S ADVICE. lG3
cate may have been a surprise to them, or it may not.
Their client was in no wise disturbed, and this fact
gave the counsel some encouragement. Groundwig
was certainly being pushed to the wall, and though a
man of almost infinite resources, they were rapidly
being exhausted.
" I now propose," said Mr. Hale, " if your honor
please, to offer in evidence the dying declarations of
Matilda Winters. I hold in my hand the depositions
of four reputable persons who were present, and
heard all she said in her dying hour."
This proposition was strenuously opposed by Mr.
Groundwig's lawyers, and the motion was argued at
length by the attorneys on both sides. The point
made in opposition to admitting the declarations,
was that on her death-bed her mind wandered and
she was out of her head, imagining she saw a great,
white light which she fancied represented the coming
of those better times which the farmers in her
neighborhood had long looked for and had long been
promised, and this white light she characterized as
the success of tariff reform. With her mind in this
condition, and when she was unable to understand
the meaning of questions put to her, and when she
was running on at random, using meaningless phrases,
she was asked what about the will. Without com-
prehending the full meaning of the question or the
bearing her answer might have on the rights of Mr.
Groundwig, she replied what no doubt in her lucid
hours she had made herself believe was true " it is
a forgery."
The counsel contended that her declarations were
164 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
simply the ravings of a person in delirium; that s're
was wild and flighty, seeing things wholly imaginary
and entirely unnatural. She Avas in such a state wf
mental weakness that what she said ought not to
weigh a feather in determining the equities in this
case; that the woman was a fanatic upon the subject
of tariff reform, and possessing but the one idea,
she had harped upon it until her mind was so warped
that before she was confined to her bed in her last
illness, she would not have been a good witness in
open court, even under oath. To admit as evidence,
for this jury to consider, declarations of that womtrn
when in such a delirious condition that she did not
recognize her own son who had been absent on/y
about two years, was giving so wide a scope to tl.i
law governing the admission of death-bed declar^
ations, as to make the rule a farce.
The judge, in deciding the motion, remarked that
he had been acquainted with Matilda Winters for
number of years; that he knew her to be a woman of
superior intelligence, highly educated, and possessed
of a large fund of good common sense. She had
given the tariff question a great deal of study and
research, and her views upon the subject had the
merit of being sensible ones, and she embraced every
opportunity to discuss the subject with the farmers,
and impress upon their minds the fact that they were
being robbed of their hard earnings by the unfair
system of government taxation. In these -opinions
she was sincere and aggressive.
"I am not ashamed to admit," continued the
judge, " that her arguments were what first led me
THE EVIDENCE AND THE JUDGE'S ADVICE. 165
to the conviction that the present tariff is unjust,
unfair and unequal in its operation; and that it has
selected the farmer from all the other industries of
the land as the especial object of its oppression and
injustice. Why the farmers do not heed such teach-
ings, is beyond my comprehension. During the
twenty years I have been on the bench I have asso-
ciated almost entirely with farmers. I know some-
thing of their struggles, their sacrifices, their toils
and their earnings. I have seen the raw prairies of
this entire section of the State converted into culti-
vated farms by the brawny arms and copious sweat-
drops of the sturdy farmer. I have seen the farmer,
8*< a class, realize less from his investment and his
l^bor than was absolutely necessary to support, in a
comfortable manner, himself and family. I have
8i>en the price of his produce reduced from year to
. year, until it is questionable whether his land might
not better lay idle than be exhausted in growing crops.
1 have seen the insidious mortgage worm itself almost
imperceptibly into the homestead, and year after
ytar demand, in the way of interest, a large share of
the farmer's net earnings. I have seen the wife and
little ones deprived the comforts of life, that there
should be no default in the payment of that interest.
I have seen the interest-account grow bigger and
bigger year by year, by reason of low prices for farm
produce, or high prices for raiment and such neces-
saries of life as were not produced on the farm, until
tl'e amount of the mortgage was increased from time
to time to save the farm from being sold at sheriff's
166 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
"I have given the cause of all these conditions the
most careful and the most searching study, and I say
now to the jurors who are hearing this case all of
whom, with one or two exceptions, are farmers and
to this court-room full of spectators most of whom
earn their bread by holding the plow that I can
trace the cause of the farmer's adversity and his ill
fortune, the cause of his debts, the cause of the mort-
gage on the farm, the cause of low prices for his
produce, and its low purchasing power the cause of
his sons leaving home and living in the cities and
towns, the cause of the hollow cheeks, thin lips and
pale face of the wife of his youth, the cause of so
faint a prospect in the future for a better condition
of all these things, seven times out of nine, directly
to the operation of the tariff laws of this country."
The judge had grown quite eloquent as he pro-
ceeded with his remarks. The court-room was so
silent and quiet that only the breathing of the audi-
ence broke the stillness. Every eye was turned upon
the speaker. Even the lawyers were eager listeners,
and some of them were getting information of the
gravest importance from an oracle that had proven
its right to speak from authority.
But the judge had not finished: "Let me say to
the farmers who hear me, and I wish I could be
heard by every farmer in the district, that this is not
a party question. When you are being robbed of not
only your earnings, but your farms, it is not the
part of wisdom or good sense or justice to your fami-
lies, to say that if you resist the robbers and disarm
them, you weaken your party! "What does party care
THE EVIDENCE AND THE JUDGE'S ADVICE. 167
for you when it grinds you to the earth and takes
from you, in the name of law, the fruits of your
labor? I am astonished every day of my life that the
farmers do not see the iniquity of this tax, which, in
law, is called a tariff, and unite as one man to reduce
it to such a basis that only enough money shall be
derived from it, in connection with the internal
revenue, to pay the expenses of the government. For
the law to lay its strong arm on you and take from
you, or from anybody else, a dollar more than such ex-
penses, no matter what the pretext may be, is robbery,
pure and simple. Doing it in the name of law does
not make it any the less robbery.
" I do not hold a term of court, and I am hearing
cases at least nine months in the year, but decrees
are entered on my docket for the foreclosure of
mortgages on forty or fifty farms, not one out of ten
of which in my opinion would have been sold by the
sheriff, were it not for the high protective tariff were
it not for the farmer being compelled to take a part
of his earnings out of his pocket and put them
in the pocket of some person who had no moral
right to them.
" Almost invariably these farms are owned by hard-
working, industrious men, who have toiled from early
manhood to middle-age, perseveringly and persistently
to make a home for themselves in their declining
years, and to help the boys start farms of their own,
only in the end to run against a foreclosure of
mortgage, a sale by the sheriff, and when most
entitled to rest and a home, earned over and over
again, compelled to tro further west and rtart life
anew,
168 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
"Do you farmers receive an}" protection from the
tariff? It is simply impossible that you should,
because the foreigner does not come here and sell his
wheat, corn, pork and cattle, in competition Avith
you and you are told that the tariff on manufactured
goods is for the express purpose of preventing the
foreigner from coming to this country and selling his
goods, because were it not for the tariff he could
sell them to you cheaper than the home manu-
facturer can. Thus you are bled at every turn
you make and in every vein and every artery. You
have to compete with all the world in selling your
produce, and then you are not only prohibited from
going where you can buy the necessaries of life the
cheapest, but you are compelled to pay a tax on nearly
CA-ery article you do buy, and the greater part of that
tax goes to protect some capitalist who makes the
government believe he could not prosper in his busi-
ness unless you donated some of your earnings to him.
The worst of it is the farmers seem to like it.
At any rate you look on quite unconcernedly and
refuse to protest against such injustice, because to
do so might hurt your party.
"Go home farmers, andaskyonr wives and children
if they would not prefer more of the necessaries and
luxuries and comforts of life than the success of
your party? Ask them if they can discoA r er any-
thing to rejoice over in the f hip,hip, hurrah* of a suc-
cessful party, when they know such cheers are the
forerunners of the dismal shout of 'going, going, gone'
of the county sheriff ?
"Upon this all-absorbing subject of tariff reform
THE EVIDENCE AND THE JUDGE'S ADVICE. 169
Matilda Winters may have been an enthusiast. She
was not a fanatic. In her life she spoke the words
of wisdom, and dying she spoke the words of
prophecy. I do not understand it was a vision Mrs.
'Winters saw on her death-bed. She was not relating
to the sobbing mourners an idle dream ; nor was she
delirious ; nor was she insensible to everything that
was going on around her. I 'am impressed with the
idea that in those dying moments there was clearly
rovealed to her a picture of the farmer's condition
when tariff reform shall have done its glorious work.
Knowing her end was near, she summed up and
graphically described the scenes she believed would
follow the resurrection of that crowning principle of
free government, that one man should not be taxed
for another man's benefit.
" The second point made by counsel for Ground wig
ib that Mrs. Winters could not have been in her right
mind at the moment she declared the will a forgery,
because she at once added, ' not my s ,' meaning
'not my signature' or 'not my son.' She could
have meant either. If she meant it was not her sig-
nature, it is claimed, she could not have been in her
right mind, because it is in evidence that she had
frequently declared it was her signature, and in fact
the counsel for Miss Holbrook admit it is her signa-
ture. So she must have referred to the young man
who had suddenly appeared upon the scene and
addressed the dying woman as mother. It is in evi-
dence that she had grasped his hand in tender and
motherly recognition, but when uttering her dying
words she unloosed her hold and turned her eyes
170 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
from him saying, ' not my s / meaning 'he is not
my son/ It is claimed the woman could not have
been conscious and in her right mind if unable to
recognize her son, who had been spirited away under
the most mysterious circumstances, and who had just
returned after an absence of only about two years.
It is contended that failure to recognize her son, or
rather the declaration that he was not her son, is con-
clusive evidence that her mind was not in that state
of positive clearness that would justify the court in
ruling that her declaration as to the will being ' a
forgery/ made in the same breath, was permissible
as evidence.
" The court admits, with counsel, that the point
made has an important bearing on the admissibility
of her dying declaration touching the will, because
if her inability to recognize her son came from loss
of memory, and consequent loss of mental power,
then her statement that the will is a forgery must
have been made under a similar condition of mind,
and hence would not be admissible.
" It must be remembered that her son had hurried
into her presence from a long journey by sea and
land that he might be permitted to gaze upon his
mother's face for one moment before the vital spark
ha'd fled. His clothes were dusty, his face unshaven,
his hair disheveled; he had been shipwrecked in mid-
ocean, exposed for months, on water and on shore,
to the hot rays of a tropical sun and the burning
breezes of tropical winds. Others shrank back at
his coming, and for several moments those who had
known him well failed to recognize him. His
THE EVIDENCE AND THE JUDGE'S ADVICE. 17!
mother, who had been advised of his coming, ex-
pected to see the boy as he was when she saw him last,
in the flush of health, fair-faced and comely, his
personal appearance unchanged; and so painfully
disappointed was the poor woman at the change
exposure had wrought that she naturally gave utter-
ance to the belief that it was not her son.
" In that declaration there was a use of memory
which is the best evidence of a sound mind. She
could not so quickly compare the appearance of the
young man at her bedside with the boy stolen from
his home some two years before without the exercise
of her mental faculties. Tinder such circumstances,
the fact that she did not recognize her son is, in the
opinion of the court, better evidence of the unim-
paired condition of her mind than if she had recog-
nized him. The court would sooner believe the
impossible alternative that it was not her son than
to think that the failure to recognize him was evi-
dence that her mind was impaired.
" Whether on her death-bed, weak and emaciated,
with failing heart and feeble pulse, with strength
enough remaining to tell the friends around her
couch of the great blessings enshrined within the
tariff reform, and referring to that reform as a great
white light whose coming would bring prosperity and
happiness to the tillers of the soil and to all the land;
or whether in the enjoyment of robust health, telling
her neighbors those plain, blunt truths about the
curse of the tariff; the court believes she was in
her right mind and that the declarations made by
her on her death-bed, in regard to the alleged will,
172 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
are admissible as evidence and entitled to the same
weight by the jury as though she were present and
testifying under oath.
"I hold in my hand," continued the court, "a
roll of hermetically sealed manuscript, said to have
been written by Mrs. Winters a few hours before her
death, and found on her person after her decease;
accompanying it is a sealed envelope addressed
to the judge of the court of this district. On the
outside of the roll are the written words, 'these
seals to be broken and this manuscript to be read in
open court on the trial of the will case of Ground-
wig vs. Holbrook/ I know of no more proper time
than now, to open the letter and read its contents:
" To THE HONORABLE JUDGE OF COURT.
"My Dear Sir: The roll of manuscript is the story of my
life, briefly told. It has been prepared at times when failing
health admonished me I had not long to live, and it has been
completed since my physician has told me I shall not see
another sun set. As I can not live to attend the trial of the
will case, and as my lips are sealed even were I to attend, I ask
in justice to my reputation and my honor that the narrative I
have prepared be read in court and admitted as the evidence
I could give were I relieved of the binding obligations of the
oath I have taken. I swore not to speak while living. I pray
God to give me strength to speak while dying.
"MATILDA WINTERS.
"I do not care to hear counsel upon the subject
now. The court is aware that many objections could
be urged against reading the paper in court, unless,
upon examination, it was found to be such a docu-
ment as was admissible under the rule laid down in
relation to dying declarations. The court will read
THE EVIDENCE AND THE JUDGE'S ADVICE. 178
the manuscript, and decide upon its admissibility at
the opening of the morning session/'
The judge took the roll to his room. He read it
through with absorbing interest, and laid it carefully
away. But not carefully enough. For hardly had
the learned judge retired for the night when the
document was mysteriously conveyed to a newspaper
office near by, quickly parceled out in "takes" to a
dozen compositors, put into type, and before daylight
returned to the receptacle from which it was taken.
As will be seen by the reader, Mrs. Winter's state-
ment threw a flood of light on the mysteries which
had enshrouded and embittered her life.
CHAPTER XX.
THE THBILLINQ STOBY TOLD BY MRS. WIXTEES.
"To-night, if heaven gives me strength, I propose
to prepare a statement of all the incidents and events
connecting me in any way with signing the docu-
ment which purports to be the will of Stephen Hoi-
brook. I know I have not long to live, and I write
almost in the presence of my Maker, and I feel that
what I say should have the same weight in court
that my evidence would have if I were present and
sworn to tell only the truth.
"When Major Holbrook was taken sick, hisphy?i-
cian thought he could not recover, but by skilled
nursing and tender care his life might be prolonged
for some weeks. His daughter plead with me to
come to her home and assist her in ministering to the
wants of the sick man. I felt it my duty to go.
Would the rest of my life have been different had I
not gone? Heaven only knows.
"I had hardly settled down in my new home when
the events happened which I am now about to relate
events which have filled my cup of sorrow to the
brim, and events which are hastening me to my
grave.
"One morning there was a rap at the door. I
opened it, and without an invitation on my part, in
walked a strange man, whom I did not remember to
have seen before. A coarse, heavy black beard covered
274
STORY TOLD Bi MRS. \VIXT1 175
almost his entire face, leaving only his dark eyes in
sight. He looked nervously about the room, stroked
his beard as if to be sure that it was still there, and
whispered: ^.
" ' Susan Groundwig, don't you know me?' Though
only a whisper, it was enough. Human disguises
could not change that voice. Involuntarily I started
up as if to give an alarm. He caught me by the wrist
and exclaimed in a whisper which sounded like a
voice from the cave of demons:
" 'Don't scream, or call a servant, or arouse any
one about the house. I see you know who I am.
But give an alarm, even make a motion to call for
help, and I will tell a tale of your dishonor and the
birth of an illegitimate son, that will drive you from
Major Holbrook's house and make you a hateful hag,
now and forever, in the sight of his daughter, and
make your son but don't try to speak. Don't think
that people will not believe me. The bad spoken of
another always finds listeners and never lacks believers.
I have not forgotten to bring the proof. These papers
tell it all. You want to say they are forged. But
what matters that? They appear all right and that
is enough. I shall not use them now. I may later
on. What I want now is for you to obtain me a
situation as watcher or nurse for Major Holbrook
during his sickness. I know you will conceal from
everybody my name and my relationship to you. A
place in Major Holbrook's employ I must have. That
obtained, as it will be, and you prove treacherous to
me in the slightest manner, or even intimate a sus-
picion that I am not what I shall claim to Major
176 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
Holbrook to be, I will give your history yes, tlrts
forged history, not only to him, but I will tell it to his
daughter and to this entire neighborhood. Do we
understand each other?'
"During the time that Silas Groundwig was pour-
ing his cruel words into myeas, I was almost stupe-
fied with terror, and it may be with shame. Shocked
beyond words can tell at his wicked and false insinua-
tions, I saw there was but one way now to act, and
that was to promise to comply with his request and
trust that Providence might rescue me from the ter-
rible spell that man seemed to have over me. I gave
the promise. I could not do otherwise. I was nt
his mercy. Not because I was guilty, but because I
was a woman, because I loved my son so passionately
and because there was no sacrifice too great for me
to make for his happiness and that of Mary Hoi-
brook.
"Silas Groundwig was taken into Major Holbrook's
employ. With all the stains upon his name he had
never changed it. I had changed mine. Was I the
greater criminal?
" Groundwig at once made himself busy and useful
by the bedside of the sick man. He was strong ard
muscular, and could so easily lift the Major from
the bed, and was so ready to anticipate his every
want and minister to them, that I was in mortal
dread of his planning some great crime, and that the
fast failing invalid was to be the victim. I dared
not make known my suspicions. To do so would
throw me into his clutches, and three hearts might
ache and starve for the want of love, and three lives
StOBY TOLD BY MRS. WIXTEBS. 177
might be sacrificed. When my fears were the most
aroused, just at the time when I had determined to
call the village pastor to advise me, Major Holbrook
died. He died a natural death. I was so afraid
there was a tragedy near at hand. If one was con-
templated greater than the terrible crime that was
afterward committed, then did a kind Providence
stay the hand that would have perpetrated it.
" My friends all know the strange and mysterious
events that followed a few weeks after Major Hoi-
brook's death. They know my boy was stolen from
me and sent a long voyage to distant foreign shores,
but they know nothing of who did this great crime
and the motive for doing it. I will undertake to
tell the thrilling story, though I may not live to
finish it:
"The funeral ceremony over, Silas Ground wig took
his departure without seeking an interview with me.
For that kindness I was exceedingly glad. Would
he return? Why should he return? Was there any-
thing more he could return for? And yet, why
should he not come back and complete the work he
had in view. He had evidently been baffled in carry-
ing out the scheme that prompted him to seek em-
ployment with Major Holbrook. My womanly fears
led me to believe that his work with me was not yet
finished. I thought I imagined the worst that could
befall me, and yet, of all the cruel things I conjured
in my mind that he might attempt, I fell so far short
of what did happen that I pictured him a saint
while the crime he committed would put to shame
the deeds of devils thrice damned.
12
178 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
" The time came for Henry to graduate. Mary,
whose eyes were always full of tears, concluded not
to attend the commencement exercises. I wonder if
she had fears that the essay would not be equal to
her anticipations, for I know she expected her lover
would earn the highest honors. I went, and if ever
mother was proud of her son I was proud of mine.
How my heart thrilled with delight and gratification
to hear him advocate and defend the principles I had
instilled into his youthful mind. His tutors had
taught him the art of embellishing and beautifying
the homely truths he had learned at the farmer's
hearthstone. His subject was one which was com-
manding the attention of the nation; and when I
heard that great audience of intelligent farmers, who
had assembled there from all parts of the State, ap-
plaud the sentiments my boy uttered, I thanked
heaven I had lived to see the day when the men that
tilled the soil showed so much interest in the subject
of tariff reform.
" Henry returned home with me. It is a great sat-
isfaction now for me to know that the few weeks he
remained with me and Mary were the happiest and
gladdest days of all our lives. There was too much
of heaven in them to last long. It did not take the
destroyer" long to break in upon our pleasures and
turn all to grief and sadness and tears.
" Silas Groundwig came. I knew he would. I
knew too well when my son returned no more to his
home that the hand of that monster was again laid
upon my heart. From the moment of Henry's dis-
appearancel connected Groundwig with the cause. So
STORY TOLD BY MRS, WINTERS. 179
when the creature came, he came uot unexpected. I
half welcomed him, because I knew he could give me
tidings of my boy. Tidings that the wolf gives of
the lamb!
"One day I awoke, horrified at a dreadful dream that
was almost too real to be a dream. But my dream
was bliss compared to the wakening, for there, seated
in a chair by my side was Grounclwig. I sat motion-
less, and even fearless, awaiting the coming of the
bolt. It came. Not quick, as from the darkest,
blackest, fiercest cloud, but slowly, nicasuredly, with
unerring aim, to torture and to kill. It came from
a foul fiend incarnate, and ere it had done its des-
perate work, the bolt pierced my heart and burned
my soul to ashes. Yet, there was enough of life left
me to speak. He could tell me of my boy. That,
knowledge was life.
" ' Silas Ground wig, what have you done with my
boy?'
"How I shuddered and trembled at the sound of my
voice. What a question to ask such a monster, and
yet, only such a monster could answer it. I used no
epithet. I did not call upon the God of Justice to
strike the creature dead. I made-no woman's plea,
no mother's entreaty, no beseeching prayer, but I sat
there like a prisoner in the dock, waiting to know
my fate.
"Groundwig had not spoken a word, nor did his pale,
ashen lips part even the width of a whisper, but from
an inside pocket of his threadbare coat he drew
forth a folded sheet of paper, and, handing it to me,
motioned me to read it. How I composed myself
180 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
sufficiently to unfold that sheet, and howl found
strength to read it, I never could understand. It is
all a blank now. I know I read the letter. I hare
it before me:
"MY DEAR MOTHER: I am a prisoner in a cave. I am
tortured almost to the death. My jailers are desperate aud
[Here a word is obliterated]. My tormentors threaten
to kill me by inches. I have been permitted to write one let
ter giving you the particulars of my being kidnaped, but I
fear it never reached you. I feel I am held here for a ransom.
I am permitted to send you these few words, and no more.
My God, must I die here ?
"Your affectionate son,
" HENRY WINTERS.
" I must have fainted with the reading of the letter,
because when consciousness returned I found myself
lying on the lounge and Groundwig bathing my tei/i-
ples with cold water. Heaven permitted him to do
that act, and heaven compelled me to submit. My
confused mind seemed to be struggling between indig-
nation and contempt for the creature before me, and
loving pity and tender compassion for my tortured
son. I need not say which prevailed. The hopeful
thought that I might again buy my son's freedom
came quickly to my mind. The well-stocked farm
was mine and was soon to be my boy's. I had money
in the bank. ' All, all was now the merest dross in
my sight, and Groundwig could have it all, and I
even began to look upon him as a mild-mannered,
well-disposed, honest gentleman, who would oblig-
ingly take all my earthly goods and in return bring
back my son. Thus encouraged, I almost gleefully
asked him what price he had fixed for my boy's raw-
som.
STORY TOLD BY MRS. WINTERS. 181
" ' Madam/ he answered, ' I am glad to know you
aie such a matter-of-fact woman, and that you so
sensibly come right down to business. Your son is
my prisoner, but he is not mine alone. I am still at
the mercy of others, I have some heart and a little
manhood left. They have none of either. They want
gold, and have been promised it. I want gold, and
am playing a desperate game to get it. You can help
me to carry out my plans, obtain the gold and regain
ymr son/
"'I understand you/ I said, interrupting him,
' uid am willing to accede to your wishes. The
r*>ady money I have I can arrange to hand you in a
ctay or two. This farm I can sell for a good round
sum at any time, and for cash. I will proceed this
day and make the sale. You come at this hour day
atter to-morrow, or a later day if you require more
time, bring with you my son, and the money I have
on hand and the proceeds from the sale of the farm
shall be paid you. I will give no alarm. I will make
no human being my confidant. I will not seek your
arrest. I will put no detective on your track. The
object of your coming here shall be known to none
other than Henry and myself. When you shall
return and be ready to depart I will not watch your
going, nor seek in any manner to give you trouble,
but will wish you a speedy and pleasant meeting with
your comrades, only asking that our parting shall be
forever and ever. What I promise, you have the
pledge made on an honest woman's honor, shall be
religiously fulfilled/
" ' Mrs. Groundwig/ he replied, 'you do not quite
182 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
understand me. I do not want your gold, I want
your name.'
"Good heavens! What could he mean ? don't
want my gold, but wants my name my name! What
can he wan-t of my name ? How can my name release
my imprisoned boy?"
'CHAPTER XXI.
GROUXDWIG'S INFAMOUS DEMAND.
" ' Mrs. Ground svig, you seem surprised. I do not
wonder at it. But it is time this almost tragic inter-
view was brought to a close. I will explain my
meaning so clearly that you will not fail to understand
it. Madam, this document which I hold in my
hand, and now exhibit to you, is the last will and
testament of Major Holbrook. Don't start. If you
scream no ofle will hear you, and if any one did, it
might be all the worse for you. I say that, to all in-
teats and purposes, as far as you and I are concerned,
this document is Holbrookes will. No matter if you
ai-e prepared to say that you know he never made
one. What you know does not count now. This is
a good enough will for my purpose. Will you read
it? No. Then I will tell you that it bequeaths to
me, the preserver of his life on the battle-field, and
his faithful friend who ministered to his wants during
his last sickness, all the property he owned at his
death, except the homestead which he bequeaths to
his daughter Mary, and a few bequests he makes to
certain religious institutions.'
" My blood was boiling hot. I could hear no more.
Enraged almost beyond reason, I bade the monster
leave my house. ' Liar, villain, scoundrel/ I ex-
claimed, thrusting my clenched fist into his very
face, 'your infamous claim surpasses human in-
183
184 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
genuity. Are you a fiend from hell that yon can
do this thing? Can't the Almighty prevent an
imp of darkness from visiting this earth, assum-
ing the shape of man, and, unmolested, perpetrate
the crime you contemplate? Go, Silas Groundwig,
begone, and never again befoul the air I breathe with
your hateful presence/
"No sooner had I given utterance to the thoughts
that were driving me mad, than a glance at the letter I
still held in my hand brought me to a realizing sense of
my utter helplessness to rescue my son otherwise than
through the intervention of the fiend that stood before
me. In his hands was the fate of my boy. Ground -
wig comprehended the full meaning of this fact far
better than I did. He made no attempt to inter-
rupt me. He listened to my fierce tirade as though
he expected it, and it moved him no more than if he
were stone and I a child. Perceiving I had finished
because I had exhausted my strength in hurling
upon him my string of epithets, and yet without
noticing anything I had said, he continued:
" ' Susan Groundwig, you come far short of under-
standing the object of my visit here. Do you think
I came to tell you of my good fortune, expecting you
would congratulate me upon such good luck? I
have told you this is Major Holbrook's will. So it
is, but it lacks one essential feature to make it legal,
and that is another signature. You will see Major
Holbrook's name there in its proper place; you have
seen him write his name often and no doubt you rec-
ognize the signature as genuine. No matter whether
you do or not, you see there is but one attesting wit-
GROUNDWIG'S INFAMOUS DEMAND. 185
ness. The law requires two. Major Holbrook died
before the second witness could be summoned. You
were present during his last sickness. The whole
neighborhood knows that fact. What more appro-
priate- than that you should be the other witness?
Don't wring your hands, and pray do save your tears.
Business now, not sentiment. Put your name on
this paper" as a witness, then, on the day fixed for
probating the will, go with my attorney to the pro-
bate clerk and make oath that you signed your name
in Major Holbrook's presence, at his request and in
the presence of the gentleman whose name you see
there as one of the witnesses. Sign this oath, pledg-
ing yourself never to appear in court to contradict
the evidence you give before the clerk, and swear
you will never, to your dying day, divulge to your son,
to Mary Holbrook, or to any other living person any
01 the circumstances connected with your name
appearing as a witness to Holbrook's signature, and
all these things done, your son shall be restored to
you. What is your answer?'
"Groundwighad talked fast. Hardly sixty seconds
had he required to tell me in words that were'burned
through my heart, the part I was to take in this
infamous plot. It seemed an age. The heated iron
entered my soul and I suffered all the pangs and
pains- of, death by the most cruel torture for crimes I
made myself believe I was about to commit. Asked
to be a willing party to robbing Mary Holbrook of
the fortune her father had left her ! I, who had
been a mother to her, who had taught her the pre-
cepts of truth, integrity and honesty, to do an act
186 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
that would give the lie to all my teachings, and she,
too, to be the victim and I to draw the knife and
strike the blow ! Mary Holbrook, by the perfidy and
treachery of her dearest friond, to be made worse
than a beggar ! No never ! Forgive me heaven,
forgive me Mary, for harboring a thought so wicked
and so infamous for even a second of time.
"But hold ! What do I see in the other balance!
My darling boy tortured to the death, Mary Hoi-
brook broken-hearted and in her grave. And I their
murderer ! For myself I care nothing. I am but as
a slender reed that any wind may bend and break.
But there are two lives in my keeping. By the sacri-
fice of my good name they are saved. Is it not writ-
ten that evil may be done that good may come ? In
consideration of the evil I do, I have the satisfaction
of seeing two persons made happy two beings who
are everything in the world to me. I refuse to do
the evil, and death or a worse fate befalls the one, and
he blood of my blood and life of my life, while the
happiness of the other, who is bound to me by ties
that need only the marriage vow to claim of me a
mother's love, will be forever destroyed. It is
another's gold and my honor on one side and human
lives on the other. If it were only gold, I know that
she who would be robbed would submit without a
murmur. But where in the bowels of the earth can
there be found gold enough to pay for my dishonor,
my disgrace, my infamy ! Why not call Mary here
and tell her all. Tell her that the price of her
lover's ransom is her fortune. I know she would not
hesitate to give it. Were she here now and were to
GROUND WIG'S INFAMOUS DEMAND. 187
hear all I have heard, I know she would throw her
arms around Groundwig's neck and beg him take
her lands, her cattle, her bonds, her all, only restore
to her her lover. Why should I not make this
proposition to him? I see he is getting impatient.
" ' Mr. Ground wig, I told you I would make myself
a beggar, and consent that my son should be penni-
less, if you would restore him to me. My possessions
are not enough to satisfy your boundless avarice, and
you demand that Mary Holbrook's fortune shall be
yours. Is there can there be no alternative? My
son possesses an active brain, and he is industrious.
He has an excellent business education. He expects
to marry Mary Holbrook. With her property and
mine which will then be his he will engage in
business with every prospect of success. I know he
will be willing to settle on you a liberal income for
life, and you may name the amount and I will have
Mary sign the agreement, I will sign it, and you can
release him from his confinement upon his signing it.
What say you to this proposition my dear, good
friend?'
"'Woman!' he replied, 'are you crazy? Don't
you know that such an agreement could be repu-
diated at any time, and would not be worth the ink
it was written with? Mrs. Ground wig, I took you
for more of a business woman. But I have no time
to dilly-dally with you. Will you or will you not
sign that paper and take that oath?*
"'Silas Groundwig,' I made bold to reply, 'I
thought you had a speck of humanity left in your
breast. I was mistaken. I see you have not the
188 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
smallest particle. You want everything or nothing.
I now propose that you allow me to call Mary Hoi-
brook, and I know, when I tell her all and show her
my dear boy's letter, she will gladly convey to you in
legal form all the property you claim is bequeathed
you in Major Holbrook's will. That is all you could
get were I to sign my name to that paper, and were
the document really the will you represent it to.be.
I will go and '
"The brute stopped me, and raised his arm as if to
strike me. I did not flinch a step. We stood there
face to face. I saw he was immovable. I felt he
would not yield an iota from the demand he made of
me. I was prepared for what followed.
" ' Mrs. Groundwig, will this palaver never cease ?
Your last proposition is the least business-like of all.
I mean business. You mean nonsense. You know
that any release Mary Holbrook could make of her
property would, under the circumstances, be of
no more value to me than though it were written
with a pen dipped in water. The last will and test-
ament, however, of my long-time friend, who owed his
life to me, duly probated, will give me the undis-
puted title to all the property bequeathed me, and
with your name as a witness, and your sworn promise
not to appear in court in ease the will is contested, I
shall have little or no trouble in establishing its gen-
uineness. But, woman, I am arguing when I
should be dictating. I must have your name on
that paper instantly, or I will leave you, and as my
presence js so hateful to you, I will leave you for-
ever, and Henry Winters, whom I hate as bad as you
hate me, shall be tortured to death before the sun
GROUND WIG'S INFAMOUS DEMAND. 189
sets to-morrow night. This is plain talk, and I trust
you understand it.'
"Horrified almost beyond endurance at his merciless
threat, still I was almost glad he had not permitted
me to drag in another to relieve me in part of the dis-
grace and infamy he proposed I should consent to. I
began to feel that I alone should accept this sacrifice,
and trust to heaven to prevent the consummation of
the outrage upon the innocent victim. Alone I must
shoulder the unequal burden. If it shall make me
deformed in body, as I know it will in mind, and
if at last it obstructs my passing the pearly gates,
I will ask to lay the burden at my Savior's feet,
and tell Him all my story, and I have no fear but He
will find a place for me, for may He not say in
heaven as He said on earth, ' her sins are forgiven,
for she loved much/
"How these thoughts rushed through my brain. I
felt my very soul was on fire. But there stood Ground-
wig. He was waiting my reply. Yonder stood my
boy. I saw him, bound hands and feet, and I saw
the blood oozing out from beneath the galling chains.
His sunken eyes and hollow cheeks told the rest of
the story of the torture. His chained hands were
outstretched towards me. He, too, was waiting my
reply. God in heaven, can I resist that imploring
look! My son, my son, I cried in agony of despair,
I give my soul to save your life, and seizing the paper
and pen, and where he directed, I wrote, Matilda
Winters. I signed the oath, kissed the Bible and
was alone with my sin. Picking up the crumpled
letter, all stained with tears, and placing it in my
bosom, I sought my chamber and needed rest.
190 THE MORTGAGE FOKECLOSED.
"For a month I lay sick with a raging fever. Most
of the time I was delirious, and they said I talked of
a will, of my darling boy, of Groundwig and of some
great crime I had committed. These things were
all mysteries to my attendants, for at that time no
public mention had been made of the will.
" One day when I felt quite strong, I called Mary to
my bedside and asked her if there were any tidings
from my son. Between her kisses and her sobs she
told me that not one word had been heard from him
since his disappearance. 'If you are strong enough/
Mary continued, 'to read a letter which a strange
man is now bringing in a letter which he has
brought every day since you were sick, and which he
refuses to put in any other hands than yours per-
haps something may be learned of the lost one/
I nodded my head. The strange man was invited in,
and he handed me the letter. Mary opened it and I
read it:
"MADAM: Circumstances which I had no hand in shaping
prevent my restoring your boy to you as I promised. I
pledge you the .word of a villain a pledge which only a
villain can keep that your son shall be well treated and well
cared for, and not until he is restored to you will I claim any
right to the property concerning which I interviewed you.
"The letter bore no signature. It was not neces-
sary. I knew too well who sent it.
"Eighteen months have passed since I read that
letter. During all these months hot a word from
my boy. Not a word even from Groundwig. How
singular that I wanted to again see that villain and
really longed to receive another letter from him. He
neither came nor wrote. I have now given up &JI
GROUXDWIG'S IXFAMOUS DEMAND. 191
hopes of ever again seeing my noble boy. I have
been growing weaker day by day, and feel my life will
not much longer be spared me. Yesterday I was
asked by the probate judge about the will. He
said he had just been elected to the office, and that,
in looking over a mass of papers, he had discovered
what purported to be the last will and testament of
Stephen Holbrook. It had been properly proven, and,
in the absence of any evidence to the contrary it
must be taken for what it purported to be. He
asked me a great many questions about the will, but
I shook my head to all of them. There was my
oath! My lips were sealed. But I had never gone
to the judge's office and sworn that I signed the
paper in the presence of Major Holbrook and at his
request. Yet the will showed that I had done so. I
did not dare to charge that some one had falsely
represented me. I dared not say anything. When
the judge had gone, Mary came in. She put her
arms around my neck and asked me Mary Holbrook
asked me if that was her father's will and if I had
signed it as a witness, and if I knew that her father
had willed the most of his property to a stranger?
She did not chide me. She did not appear angry
with me. She simply wanted to know if that was
her father's will. I could only answer, ' to-night I
am weak, Mary, and more of a child than you are.
I do not understand your question now. It is getting
dark, and I am so weary and must rest. Come to
me, Mary, in the morning when I shall awake and I
will talk with you about your father. I will tell
you ' "
And here Matilda Winters' story ended.
CHAPTER XXII.
PERJURY EXPOSED.
At an early hour the court-room was crowded with
interested spectators, and long before the time lor
court to convene the deputies had been compelled
to refuse admission to scores of strangers who bvd
come a longdistance to attend the trial. The interest
in the proceedings was on the increase. The morn-
ing paper contained Aunt Matilda's story, and the
whole town was in the highest state of excitement.
Not a person acquainted with that lady but believed
every word was true. It had cleared up many mys-
terious circumstances which the villagers at Bradford
Junction had from time to time discussed, but
only to be puzzled and suspicious. Now all WPS
explained. No longer mystery, no longer doubta,
no longer misgivings, but the character of Matilda
Winters shone out pure and spotless as the fleecy
clouds which accompany the setting sun.
The judge took his seat. " Sheriff, open court."
That officer cried out in a sharp, shrill voice, " ye,
ye, O ye, this honorable court is now convened
pursuant to adjournment." The clerk called tbe
roll of jurors and found they were all present, and the
Judge proceeded to announce his decision on the
motion to admit the narrative of Matilda Winters as
evidence. The opinion was brief and to the effect
that while the court felt the statement carried witfi
192
PERJUKY EXPOSED. 193
it all the sanctity of an oath, because it was prepared
at a time when the writer believed she had not long
to live, and, in fact, did not live but a few hours
after the narrative was finished, yet it was not her
dying declaration made on her death-bed. Motion to
admit must be overruled. The defense will proceed
with their testimony/*
"If the court please," said Mr. Hale, "we rest
the case of Miss Holbrook."
It was clearly manifest that the sympathy of the
audience was with the lady, and during the few
moments' recess which was given the attorneys for
Groundwig to arrange their evidence, everybody
discussed the merits of the evidence so far introduced.
The spectators believed the testimony proved con-
clusively that the will was a forgery. One of the
\vitnesses to Major Holbrook's alleged signature was
proven to have died before the paper was signed.
Was not that evidence alone sufficient to annul the
It was proven that at the time the alleged will was
written by a typewriting machine and up to the time
of Major Holbrook's death, there had been no such
letter used in typewriters, and hence it was impossible
for Major Holbrook to have signed his name to a
document containing that style of letter.
It was proven that at the time of Major Holbrook's
death there was no such church society as the one
to which the sum of three thousand dollars was
bequeathed, and hence Major Holbrook could not
have caused such a bequest to be inserted in his will.
And Matilda Winters, whose name was affixed as a
13
194 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
witness to Major Holbrook's signature, had declared
on her death-bed that the will was a forgery. Not
that her signature was a forgery, but her dying
declarations went to prove that the signature of
Major Holbrook was a forgery. Yet there was the
question to consider as to how much weight would be
given by the jury to a death-bed statement made
under such circumstances. The jury was the judge
of the weight to be given such testimony, and they
might discard it entirely.
Did not this evidence make out a plot and a con-
spiracy, of the most wicked nature, to rob Mary
Holbrook of the bulk of her possessions, and was not
the will shown to be a base forgery? Then there
was the startling narrative told by Mrs. Winters.
That explained every thing and proved every thing.
But, alas, it was not evidence. The jury had not
been allowed to separate, and notwithstanding the
court prohibited the bailiff from furnishing the jury
with newspapers, yet every body hoped that in some
manner one single copy of that paper might acci-
dentally find its way into the jury room.
In the midst of the discussion, the recess ended,
quietness reigned, and Groundwig's side of the case
was commenced. It was fortunate for him that the
crowd believed his crimes would be unearthed and
that he would fail in his deep-laid plot. There was
an undercurrent getting under rapid headway that
boded no good to the miscreant. His life was in the
keeping of the jury. To win his case was to lose his
life. To lose his case, then let Ground wig have a
care. Yet the fellow seemed conscious of his iirno-
PERJURY EXPOSED. 195
cence and confident that his case was just and that
he would win it.
The first witness called was Stephen D. Hickman,
who, upon being sworn, stated he was a copyist and
had been engaged in that business for many years;
that when residing in Hartford, Connecticut, he was
called upon by a gentleman who gave his name as
Stephen Holbrook, to make a copy of a document
which he said was his will. The gentleman was very
anxious the copy should be exceedingly plain and
legible, so that it could be read by persons unaccus-
tomed to reading writing. "I had just commenced to
use a typewriting machine," the witness stated, "and
I proposed to copy his paper with the machine, show-
ing him samples of the work. He seemed very much
pleased and employed me to make the copy."
Ques. Do you recognize this document as your
work?
A /is. I do.
"Take the witness, Mr. Hale," was the quick re-
sponse of Groundwig's attorney.
J//\ Hale: How long were you copying the will?
Ans. Off and on two or three days. It was new
work and I made errors, which I corrected by re-
writing until I had a copy that was perfect.
Ques. Where do you live now?
Ans. In the town of Menton, in this State.
Ques. How long have you lived there?
<r. Some three years.
Ques. Who pays your expenses here?
'S. Mr. round wig.
Ques. Who asked you to come here as a witness?
196 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
Ans. Mr. Groundwig.
Ques. How did he ascertain that you wrote that
document?
Ans. I do not know.
Ques. Ever have any other dealings with Mr.
Groundwig?
Ans. 'No, sir.
Ques. How long have you known him?
Ans. Four or five years.
Ques. Seen him frequently?
Ans. Five or six times.
Ques. The first time you saw him, I suppose, was
when he asked you to copy the will ?
Ans. JTes, sir!
"Hold, there, stop!" fairly yelled one of the op-
posing counsel. I object to that question as leading,
and I object to the answer. The witness does not
understand it. They have led him on in this smooth
way until his answers have been made mechanically,
and he has answered unconscious of wh~at he has been
saying. It is a trick of counsel. I ask the court to
strike out the answer. Such practice is infamous/'
But the mischief had been done. No matter
whether strictly in accordance with the rules of
evidence or not, to strike out, wouldn't mend the
matter; to insist that the witness did not understand
the question, counted nothing. The witness had
admitted that Silas Grouudwig was the man who
had represented himself to be Stephen Holbrook.
The court ruled the question was leading, and
hence, an improper one, and instructed the jury
that the answer was not to be considered as testi-
mony.
PERJURY EXPOSED, 197
" We are through with the witness," remarked
Mr. Hale.
Groundwig's counsel was in an awkward dilemma.
To ask the witness to explain his answer was dan-
gerous. To dismiss him without questioning him
further was admitting that he was not worthy of be-
lief. The counsel did the only safe thing he could,
and that was to excuse the witness " for the present,"
trusting that a part of the blow might be warded off
by the ruling of the court.
"James Martin will please step forward and be
sworn," was the startling announcement by Ground-
wig's attorney. The judge, jurors and audience could
not conceal their surprise and astonishment. The
counsel for Miss Holbrook appeared agitated and
tvoubled, but were soon put to their ease by a brief
conference with a stranger, who, from time to time,
had consulted with them. Some said he was a cele-
brated detective who had been employed to unveil
the conspiracy if there were a conspiracy.
The person answering to the name of James Martin
came forward and took his place on the witness stand.
All eyes were upon him. He stood the stare without
moving a muscle. He looked like a bundle of nerves,
turned, twisted and shaped into the form of a man.
Ques. What is your name?
Ans. James Martin.
Ques. Is that your signature (showing the witness
the alleged will).
Ans. It is.
Ques. Under what circumstances did you sign
that paper?
198 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
Ans. One day I was going past Major Holbrookes
residence when Mr. Groundwig called me in, and the
Major, who was lying sick on a bed, asked me to sign
my name as a witness to his signature, telling me the
paper showed me was his will.
Ques. Any other person there besides Major Hol-
orook, Mr. Groundwig, and yourself?
Ans. Yes, sir, an elderly lady, who Major Holbrook
addressed as Mrs. Winters, who, also, at the request
of the Major, signed her name directly under mine,
and two gentlemen, whose names I do not know.
Ques. Did you know a person in that neighbor-
hood by the name of "William Bush?
Ans. I never did.
Ques. Did you ever board with a person by the
name of William Bush?
Ans. No, sir.
Ques. Did you ever work for a person by the name
of William Bush?
Ans. No, sir.
Ques. Are you alive?
Ans. I think I am, sir.
Ques. Were you ever dead?
Ans. Not that I am aware of.
Ques. Were you ever put in a coffin and buried ?
Ans. Not to my knowledge.
Groundwig's Attorney: That is all. Take the wit-
ness.
Mr. Hale: Where were you born?
Ans. In New York State, sir.
Ques. When did you come West?
Ans. Six years ago.
PERJURY EXPOSED. 199
Ques. Where do you live now?
Ans. On a farm, about twenty miles from Brad-
ford.
Ques. Had you frequently passed Major Holbrookes
house?
Ans. Very seldom.
Ques. Mr. Groundwig asked you to come in, did
he?
Ans. Yes, sir.
Ques. Had you met him before?
A ns. I did not quite catch on to your question.
QKCS. I ask you if you had ever met Mr. Ground-
wig before that time he called you into Major Hoi-
brook's house?
Ans. I had not.
Ques. You were a stranger, passing by, Ground-
wig saw you, called you in, asked you to sign your
name, and without any hesitation you did so?
.1 'is. Yes, sir.
Ques. The gentlemen you met there did not sign
their names, did they?
Ans. Not while I was there.
Ques. Were they asked to sign?
Ans. Not that I know of.
Ques. Were you ever at Holbrook'e house after
that time?
Ans. No, sir.
Ques. Do you own a farm?
Ans. No, sir.
Ques. You work out by the month or year, do
you?
Ans. Yes, sir.
200 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
Ques. Did you ever work for Samuel Turner?
Ans. Yes, sir, several months.
Ques. Did you ever work for Peter Livingstone?
Ans. What?
Ques. I asked you if you ever worked for Peter
Livingstone?
Ans. I think I did for a few weeks.
Ques. Have any trouble with him ?
Ans. Well, nothing much.
Ques. Were you indicted for forging his name to
a note and obtaining five hundred dollars?
Ans. Yes, sir. But I was tried and acquitted.
Ques. On what grounds were you acquitted?
Ans. I swore that 1 I I
Ques. Well, sir, speak quick.
Ans. I swore I I I could not write nor read I
But
The audience could not wait for the sentence to
be finished. The ludicrousness of the situation was
keenly appreciated by all. One general burst o
laughter, ending in a derisive wail in concert, par
ticipated in by everybody except the dignified court,
the witness, Groundwig and his attorneys, provoked
the judge to order the room cleared, but he at once
relented and revoked the order, much to the grati-
fication of the spectators.
Judge: Proceed, Mr. Hale, with the cross-exam-
ination.
Ques. You can now complete your answer; when
the audience so boisterously interrupted you, you
were saying "but "
Ans. I commenced to say that I have since that
time learned to write my name.
PERJURY EXPOSED. 201
The audience began to think they had halloed
before they were out of the woods.
Ques. How long after you were charged with
forging the name of Mr. Livingstone did you learn to
write?
Ans. About six months.
Ques. Did you learn to write any more than your
own name?
Ans. That was all.
Ques. How long after your acquittal of the crime
of forgery before you went to living where you now
do?
Ans. About two months.
Ques. And you say you had resided there only ten
days when you were asked to sign your name to
Major Holbrookes will?
Ans. I don't know.
Ques. Don't know what?
Ans. I don't know.
Groundwitfs attorney: The witness is under the
protection of the court, and I ask your honor to pro-
tect him from the insulting questions of the gentle-
man who has the honor of Major Holbrook in
charge.
Mr. Hale: Your attempt, sir, at sarcasm will fall
still-born in this court-house.
Judge. Proceed with the cross-examination.
Ques. Under what name were you indicted for
forgery ?
Ans. William Wallace.
Ques. You say you learned to write only your
name was the name you learned to write James
Martin or William Wallace?
f
202 THE HOETGAGE FORECLOSED.
Ans. I don't remember.
Ques. What, after reaching the age of forty years
you learned to write your name and don't know what
name you learned to write?
Ans. Well, sir; I learned to write both names.
Ques. After your acquittal why did you so sud-
denly change your name?
Ans. I don't know.
Ques. Did you write this letter? (Showing the
witness a half sheet of foolscap covered witli writing.)
Ans. I don't remember.
Ques. Now Mr. James Martin or Mr. William
Wallace, or whatever your name may be, is it not a
fact that you can read and write, and that you com-
mitted perjury when you swore in the forgery case
that you could not write your name?
Ans. Yes, I did learn to read and write when a
boy, but I have roughed it so much and got out of
practice of writing that at the time Livingstone's
name was forged I could not write.
Ques. I propose now to compare your handwriting
with the signature on that alleged will. Take this
pen and write your name on that piece of paper.
The witness was now so agitated that the lookers-
on pitied him, and they wished the cruel torture would
end. But Mr. Hale did not propose to lose any van-
tage ground. When the witness trembled so he
could not write, and became so agitated he could
not speak, Mr Hale, in a pleasing, reassuring manner,
asked him why the request to sign his name so
unnerved him.
The witness sat stiff as a stick, pale as the newly
PERJURY EXPOSED. 203
whitewashed ceiling over his head, and not a syllable
passed his lips.
Mr. Hale rose to his feet, stepped to within a few
inches of the witness-stand, and in a louder voice than
the attorney had any time employed, and looking
the witness straight in the eye, said to him:
" Sir, does not your agitation come from the knowl-
edge you have been swearing to a pack of lies, and the
fear that the strong arm of the law will be laid upon
you, and cast you in prison ? Sir! tell the court and
jury, before God strikes you dead, how much Ground-
wig paid you for this perjury."
Never was witness more ready to answer a question
than was this one now. Hardly had Mr. Hale time
to finish the sentence when the answer came :
"He agreed to pay me "
"Stop, hold there, not another word, witness! You
need not answer that question," yelled Mr. Waddel
of the opposing counsel. "The court should not permit
a witness to criminate himself without explaining
to him his legal rights. I ask your honor to instruct
the witness that he need not answer the question."
The court so instructed him.
"I withdraw the question," said Mr. Hale. But
enough of the truth had been told to destroy the
credibility of the witness. It was evident to every
one who had heard the testimony that the man was
a tool of Groundwig's, and for pay had committed
perjury, and that Ground wig had made the mistake
of affixing to the will the name of a person who had
died a few days before the death of Major Hoi-
brook, thus corroborating that part of Mrs. Winters'
204 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
statement which fixed the time Groundwig prepared
the will as several months after the Major's death.
Grotmdwig's cunning was manifest in the provis-
ion of the will bequeathing a large sum to the pop-
ular Lutheran Church. This bequest made many
advocates of the validity of the will. Witnesses were
called, who proved that while there was no such
church at the time of Holbrook's death, such an
organization was talked of, and at the time of the
trial was the most prosperous church in that part of
the country. No doubt the church was being built
when Ground wig framed the will, but he made the
mistake of not ascertaining whether such an associa-
tion was organized at the time of Holbrook's death.
No further evidence was introduced. The lawyers
made their arguments long, learned and able pleas
on both sides. The judge read his charge to the
jury, reviewing the testimony on both sides, the
jury retired in custody of a bailiff and the court was
adjourned until the next morning.
CHAPTER XXIII.
FREE WOOL, THE VEKDICT.
In the reading-room of one of the hotels at the
county seat, quite a group of people had assembled to
discuss the will trial and the news of the day. The
judge came in and began perusing the evening paper.
Having finished reading, a farmer, who had been a
witness on the trial, asked him if he meant to be
understood in his remarks upon the tariff to say that
the farmers received no protection on any of their
crops.
"That is what I said no real protection/' replied
the judge.
"lam satisfied that is so," said the farmer, "as
to the principal products, except wool; you will ad-
mit, of course, that wool is protected, but I presume
you will urge that what is claimed as protection is
more imaginary than real. It seems to me, though,
if the protection were withdrawn, wool could not be
grown in this country in competition-with Australia,
Spain and the Central and South American States.
I am not making this point for the purpose of enter-
ing into an argument with you, Judge, because in
the main I think your talk to the jury on the tariff
was first-rate law, but to obtain information for my-
self and others."
''I appreciate your motive, Farmer Lake," re-
sponded the Judge, "and I will answer your ques-
205
206 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
tion in the same candid manner. I believe if wool
were put on the free list, the result would be an in-
crease of the American product, bringing as good a
price as now, if not better, and a reduction in the
price of home-manufactured woolen goods, without
decreasing the wages of operatives, and really increas-
ing the profits to the manufacturer. My belief, how-
ever, is of no more consequence than that of any
other man, unless I can maintain it by good and suf-
ficient reasons."
By this time the entire group became attentive
listeners, and when the Judge stopped, as though
for an answer from his questioner, whether he would
give those reasons, several bystanders replied they
would like to hear him on that subject.
"You all know/' the Judge proceeded, "the
American woolen mills, as an industry, have had
and are having a greater struggle for existence than
any other large manufacturing interest in the coun-
try. The opinion is quite general among the owners
of those factories that this struggle conies in a great
measure from the high tax on foreign wool. There
<are many grades of wool not raised in this country
and can not be, for reasons which I need not stop to
enumerate, which enter into the manufacture of car-
pets, blankets, cloths and dress goods generally. That
wool is admitted free into other countries extensively
engaged in manufacturing woolen goods, which
enables them to sell their product in most of the
markets of the world cheaper than the United States
can. In fact, large quantities of those goods are sold
in this country, notwithstanding the high tariff on
FREE WOOL, THE VERDICT. 207
them. Were those grades of wool admitted free, there
would be a far greater amount of woolen goods man-
ufactured, which would require the use of more,
rather than less, American wool, insuring better prices
to the flockmasters. It is certainly the best thing for
labor to bring those grades of wool here in the raw
state, than in manufactured goods, and it is better for
the American farmer that those countries should raise
wool for export than wheat and cattle. This coun-
try, with free wool, could go into all the markets of
the world, where not prohibited, with the better class
of woolen goods, which is the kind it is in the habit
of making, and sell them in competition with any
foreign manufacturer. Of course I mean if we were
permitted to take in pay the commodities other
countries have to dispose of. Then the frequent
bankruptcy of woolen factories would end, the
manufacturing of woolen goods would revive, the
numerous silent mills would be set to work, and em-
ployment furnished to thousands of idle men and
women, at good wages, enlarging the ability of these
armies of operatives to buy bread and meat."
"Even if admitting/' aspectator remarked, "wool
free should not result as beneficial to the woolen
industry as the owners of those factories think,
would not the reduction in the cost of woolen goods
be worth millions of dollars to the farmers and
laborers?"
"There can be no doubt of it," said the Judge.
" The woolen blanket and the sack of flour go hand-
in-hand. Tax flour for the benefit of the farmer as
the blanket is taxed for the alleged benefit of the
208 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
wool-grower, and the people would rise in rebellion.
Yet there is more justice in making the consumer pay
a tax on flour than on blankets, because the farmers"
number nearly one-half the population, while the
wool-growers who make raising sheep a business, and
who are the only persons claimed to be benefited by
the tax on wool, number less than an hundred
thousand. The tariff on wool if it really benefits any
one benefits about one person in six hundred of
population, and the other five hundred and ninety-
nine contribute a portion of their earnings to enable
the other one to raise wool profitably. The govern-
ment don't require the people to contribute anything
to the farmer to make his crops profitable, and yet he
has to compete with the cheapest labor that toils on
the earth. What justice is there in making wool the
exception?"
" Don't j'ou think the cheap labor of other
countries will prevent America from selling woolen
goods and many other manufacturered products in
the markets of the old world? " asked Farmer Lake.
"I do not," was the Judge's reply, "the biggest
bugbear ever invented is that of the inability of
America to compete with the cheap labor of Europe.
The farmer is doing it every year. He is compelled
to do it to a disadvantage by reason of the unjust
tariff laws, which require him to spend his money
where the things he buys are the dearest. But when
it comes to the labor employed in manufactures,
there is not so much difference in wages, when
results are considered, as you may think. The ques-
tion of wages is not so much the amount paid as the
FREE WOOL, THE VERDICT. 209
amount earned. If the German, the Frenchman, the
Italian, earn one-half what the American earns,
and the former are paid one-half as much as the lat-
ter, then there is little or no difference in the price
of labor. If the goods of American make are more
serviceable than the foreign manufacture, and only
the question of labor in the way, then may this
country be able to sell woolen goods in competition
\vith any and every foreign country. It is not the very
cheap labor of such countries as India, China, Japan
aad Mexico, that our manufacturers have to compete
with, it is chiefly the labor of England, Germany and
France, which, when its relative earning power is
considered, is as well paid as in the United States.
"I think it folly for a great nation like this, with
irs immense resources, having the best improved ma-
chinery in the world, possessing the -most enter-
prising people on the earth, talking about its
inability to sell goods alongside of any other coun-
try, because of the difference in the cost of labor.
As a proposition by itself whatever difference there
possibly might be between the earning value of
labor in America and its earning value in Europe
and the Central and South American States, is
more than equalized by the admission into this
country of free raw material. That change alone in
the tariff laws would stimulate the various manufac-
turing industries of the country, and as the price of
labor is fixed by the supply and demand, labor would
quickly catch its advantage and hold it indefinitely.
A surplus of manufactured goods and a surplus of
farm products, means a surplus of labor, and a sur-
14
210 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
plus of labor means cheap labor. Labor, no matter
whether employed in the factory, the mine, the mill,
the shop, or on the farm, is alike interested in a
market for all each other produce . The protective
tariff prevents it finding those markets, and
hence creates a surplus of manufactured goods,
which is termed overproduction, and the result must
be either low wages or less days for the employment
of labor.
" Under a protective tariff, seconded by labor-saving
machinery, America has developed a manufacturing
capacity double the wants of the people. Protection
has protected the infant industries until they have
grown to be giants, and now, instead of trying to put
the giants in beds made for infants, give them room
commensurate with their size. Give them the broad
world to roam in. Overproduction is a misnomer as
long as there are enough consumers of these goods
to keep these industries running full time. What
matters it that only a portion of those consumers are
in America? "Why prevent the remainder from being
supplied by putting shackles on trade and commerce?
Don't we all know by this time that the tariff not
only restricts trade, but retards and prohibits it?
Hence comes the surplus of labor, with its attendant
evils, shut-outs, idleness and low wages. If the
farmer and the laborer were permitted to have one
prayer granted, that would bring to them the greatest
possible blessings, they would not pray for better
prices for farm produce, nor for higher wages for
labor, but that heaven might save them from a high
protective tariff. Then the other blessings would
come as a natural consequence."
REE WOOL, THE VERDICT. 211
" Would you also favor admitting iron ore, copper,
steel and coal, tin plate, salt, sugar and lumber,
free?" asked a bystander.
" Yes/' answered the Judge; "there are portions
of this country where there are large manufacturing
interests that can procure iron, steel and coal cheaper
from abroad than at home, and they are languishing
and threatened with bankruptcy because of the tariff
on those articles. I would not fetter one part of the
land to benefit another part. With the tariff removed
from those materials the possibilities of this country
in manufacturing products that wool, iron, steel, cop-
per and lumber enter largely into, would be almost
marvellous. This country would not fear the rivalry
of Great Britain or France, but would sell such goods
throughout the world, and, instead of closing long-
established manufactures, all of them would be kept
in motion, giving employment to more men at good
wages and full time."
" I really like such broad views," said Farmer Lake,
"as you advance, because they fit without a flaw the
vast agricultural interests of our country, as well as
its great manufacturing industries, and they keep in
the foreground the importance of furnishing labor,
constant employment and good pay. You certainly
then must stand by the ' home market.'"
" Most certainly," remarked the Judge, "I stand
by not only the 'home market* but the foreign
market as well. Protection permits of but the one
market. I would abolish protection that both mar-
kets might be stimulated. The surplus farm pro-
duce is increasing more rapidly than the consumers.
212 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
This comes from the large emigration of foreigners,
who engage in farming, and the wealthy syndicates
that cultivate vast tracts of land and raise immense
herds of cattle. A market for this increasing sur-
plus must be found abroad or the prices will rule so
low that the farmer will be unable to earn his living,
and, in time, his farm will not be good security for
even the taxes levied on it. Make an increased
demand at home for farm products by repealing aU
laws which prevent the manufacturers from going
into the markets of the world with their goods, and
the number of home consumers of bread and meat
would be largely increased. The new markets opened
for manufactured goods will mean new markets for
the farmers' product, for the ships that carry the
products of American factories to every civilized
land, will find it to their interest to carry to the
same markets the products of the American farm.
There are but few of those markets of the old world
but will buy meat and bread of this country if they
can pay for them in the articles they have to sell.
There is almost an endless line of goods other coun-
tries have to dispose of, which this country uses and
does not produce, or if it does produce them it
could more profitably produce something else, that
they will exchange for food and raiment. Insist up-
on demanding for the products of the American
loom and farm only gold and silver, and those
countries simply can not pay in that way even if ever
eo much inclined to. Nor are they compelled to,
because other nations will exchange products for
products. When this country is prepared to ex-
FREE WOOL, THE VERDICT. 213
change our wares for theirs, then we can strike a
trade with them. This is a great world. I some-
times think we underestimate the number of people
in it and the vastuess of their wants, and our
ability to satisfy those wants when a fair interchange
of commodities is permitted. To hem ourselves in
and rely on a home market for what we grow and
what we make, is the most narrow-minded policy
that can be conceived. Given almost a limitless area
of territory, with natural resources embracing most
of the elements of wealth essential to a nation's pros-
perity, with established industries capable of manu-
facturing double the product there is a home demand
for, with enough lands under cultivation to produce
treble the quantity of food required for home con-
sumption, we submit to legislation that prohibits
our finding markets beyond our borders for the sur-
plus products of factory and farm, just because we
are wedded to the phantom theory of an exclusive
home market."
" I have heard it stated, Judge, that a large pro-
portion of the articles sold by the United States to
foreign countries are unprotected products. Do you
know how this is?" asked Lawyer Hale.
" That is an important feature of this subject,"
said the Judge. ' ' I understand that five-sixths of
our exports are made by the unprotected producers.
This fact proves that protection is not necessary to
enable us to place our products in foreign markets."
"Judge, do you advise the farmers to organize a
political party made up of themselves alone, to help
bring about this change in tariff legislation?" asked
Farmer Lake.
214 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
" By no means," responded the Judge, "there are
parties enough now. Another party would only en-
danger the success of the reform. The farmers should
attend the caucuses of the party which is pledged to
tariff reform, and vote solid for men who are known
to favor the reform. No matter what the office
may be, local, state or national, vote for men who are
for a reduction of the tariff. Create a public senti-
ment in favor of this reform in every township, and
to do this, vote for the candidates that stand for put-
ting raw material on the free list and reducing the
tariff on necessaries to a revenue basis and abolishing
protection for the purpose of protection. If the man
who thus favors the farmer's interest is not put on
the ticket you have been in the habit of voting, and
his opponent is an advocate of tariff reform, you
are as much bound to vote against the man nomi-
nated by your party, as you are bound to provide
for the support of your wife and children." Let this
rule apply particularly to the election of Congress-
men and to members of the State legislatures which
elect the United States Senators.
"I have listened to your remarks with a good deal
of satisfaction," said the farmer. " I firmly believe
that it is not protection that labor should look
to for steady work and good wages, but rather to
good markets, home and foreign, for both manufac-
tured goods and the surplus product of the soil, and
to have them, protection must be gotten out of the
way/ It is apparent to my mind that you suggest
the only manner tariff can benefit labor, and that is,
to have just as little tariff as is needed for revenue.
FREE WOOL, THE VERDICT. 215
It should be taken off of raw material, and most of
the necessaries of life, and all restrictions on Ameri-
can commerce should be removed. This I under-
stand to be tariff reform. Such a reform I favor.
The success of such a reform will, I believe, restore
the farm to the profitable business it was years ago,
will enable the farmer to speedily rid himself of the
mortgage nightmare, and will bring about the farm
all the comforts which make people contented in
their homes."
" Truer words were never uttered," proceeded the
Judge. " You have stated the whole case. Free raw
material, and the adjustment of the tariff laws on
business and economic principles will give the manu-
facturers all they can do to supply the demand for
their goods, home and abroad. Then labor will have
steady employment and good wages. Wherever the
manufacturer goes with his surplus, the farmer will
go with his. This disposition of the surplus must
raise the price of farm produce. Then, without pro-
tection, the manufacturer prospers, the laborer pros-
pers, and the farmer prospers. This is what tariff
reform will do."
On the morrow, on the convening of court, the
jury were escorted to their seats by the sheriff, and
the crowd of spectators eagerly sought to read the
verdict in the jurors' faces. A painful silence pos-
sessed the vast audience. It was known late at night
that a verdict had not been agreed upon. The con-
test in the jury-room had excited the people to a high
pitch of anxiety, and while to the spectators the case
appeared to have but one side, yet the long time
^16 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
the jury were deliberating had created a feeling of
doubt just sufficient to make the audience eager to
know the verdict.
The Clerk. " Gentlemen of the jury, have you
agreed upon a verdict ?"
Foreman. " We have" (handing a paper to the
clerk).
Clerk (reading the paper). " We, the jury, find
that the document purporting to be the last will and
testament of Stephen Holbrook is a forgery."
The audience ached to testify in cheers and other
demonstrations of applause its approval of the ver-
dict, but the previous warning of the court, and the
threat of the sheriff to arrest the first person that
violated the order, kept the assemblage from giving
vent to their pent-up feelings. The court-room was
quickly emptied, and once outside the building the
crowd went wild with enthusiasm. In the excitement
Groundwig had disappeared, and Martin and Hick-
man were never more heard of in that part of the
West. Fortunate for them they had anticipated the
anger of the populace by hurrying out of town,
CHAPTER XXIV.
A GHOST'S DISPATCH SENT TO A DEAD WOMAN.
The excitement over the will case soon died away.
Months passed rapidly. No matter how black a
heart the personator of Henry Winters may have had,
he seemed to possess the power to bestow upon Mary
Holbrook love as sincere as that which springs from
a heart that never knew ought but innocence.
Winters continued to faithfully serve his employers,
but no sooner was he off duty than he sought the
company of Mary Holbrook. Hours were daily spent
in talking over the events of their childhood, and
hardly an incident, no matter how trivial, could be re-
ferred to by Mary, but the impostor was able to take
the subject from her lips and complete it. Some-
times when his thoughts were fixed on other scenes
and other events, which Mary knew nothing of, she
would gently chide him for his indifference to her
prattle, and then he would recover himself only to
wonder whether there was any suspicion lurking in
her heart of his deception.
"Do you remember that beautiful summer evening,
Henry, when we were enjoying one of those delightful
sails on the lake, and when we saw the sun accom-
panied in its setting by that brillant light, and encir-
cled by a sky of such radiant splendor ? How I did
laugh when you said the sun went down into the
water to kiss its shadow because it had nothing else
217
218 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
to kiss. Do you forget it? You know you said you had
rather be a boy than the sun, because you had some-
thing better to kiss than shadows. What a magnifi-
cent sunset that was ! Henry, what can you be
thinking of, you don't seem to care to be reminded
now of those happy, thrice happy hours. Why ? I
know I do you wrong, Henry, to talk so. I know I
am over-exacting. But I should die were I to think,
that, recalling those scenes, when we we-re so happy
together, was painful to you, or that you had lost
interest in them. They are among the happiest
hours of my life. Were they not yours, dearest
Henry?"
" Yes, yes, love, but do not think because I do not
on the instant grow enthusiastic over your pleasing
reference to them, that I have lost any interest in them
They were my happy hours too, and memory is busy
filling my brain with the recollection of hundreds of
other like scenes, or like incidents. Prattle on, my
love, and I will never tire of listening."
"Now, that is charming, Henry. I like to hear
you talk that way. What a merry evening that was!
I can't drive it from me, even if I cared to. Do you
remember, Henry, when you said the shadows chasing
each other across the meadows, through the pastures,
and skipping over the fields of grain, were fairies
bringing flour to make the wheat; and I told you the
fairies got the flour from the great white clouds that
were floating over our heads? Didn't we both laugh
at the silly things we both said? Somehow or other,
my heart is not as light now as it was then. The
recollection of those innocent fancies brings no such
THE GHOST'S DISPATCH. 219
thrill of joy to my heart as they did then. Why is
it Henry?"
" Oh, you are getting serious, now Your cheerful
disposition can not brook seriousness, and there is no
serious side to beautiful sunsets and charming fairy
tales. There is really no place for despondency in
your heart, Mary, so away with it, and tell me more
about those shadows and those fairies."
"Oh, yes, there were other shadows that came and
went. I am so glad you remember them now. It
was those fields of grain, growing just where we see
them growing now, that you said reminded you of
the voyage of life; that the shadows were couriers
which came in advance to tell the golden plants to
prepare for the rain, and that the black clouds and
the wind and the storm, with the sunshine, all
helped to mature the yellow grain. That was real
poetry; and how it used to gladden my heart to listen
so such sweet melody from your lips. I wonder why
my Henry, whose soul was once so full of such
delicious music, now sees so little sentiment in the
shadows, and so little grandeur in the setting sun,
and so little beauty in the broad fields of waving
grain; do the c x ares of business so weigh upon my
lover that he wearies in telling his love, and desires
no longer to gaze inside the books that nature opens
to his view all around him ? Is he tired of the poetry
of love?"
Henry listened to the merry prattle of the innocent
girl and wondered if it meant anything more than
mere prattle. Taking Mary's hands in his and throw-
ing all the kindly feeling that was possible in, his
nature into his words, he replied:
220 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
" Mary, you forget I am older now, and wiser, I
hope, and more of the matter-of-fact man than I was
then."
" No, no," answered back the girl, " I do not for-
get it. It is all true; nor do I forget that the poetry
born of love never dies and never loses its magic
power, even when repeated over and over again. I
have read somewhere, or at sometime I have dreamed
it, that love never grows old, that it is changeless
and never ends, that it came into the world with the
first created life, and will leave the world with the
last. It came when God came; it will go when God
goes. All else may change. The ocean may take
the place of the dry land, the mountains may glide
away and sit at the bottom of the seas, but love
lives forever. Though love has had a language of
its own since the morning stars sang together, yet
the things unsaid of love are more than the things
said. Do not say then, Henry, that your love grows
old as you grow older in years. When old age shall
come upon us both, and we shall have quite reached
the bottom of the hill, when we let go our hands to
clasp them again on the other shore, if our lives are
holy-"
" Mary, Mary, for heaven's sake, say vio more now.
I am faint and sick and weary, and "
"0, Henry, have I again wounded your feelings?
How cruel I am! Forgive me, do forgive me, and I
will be more careful in the future. Alas, does my
childish prattle about love so distress my darling? I
fear you have something on your mind, Henry, that
is worrying you. Will you not let your Mary share
with you your burthens, whatever they may be ?"
THE GHOST'S DISPATCH. 221
"I have no cares, Mary; no troubles, no sorrows
when you are by my side. When you spoke of holy
love and clasping hands in the world beyond, the
image of my sainted mother rose before me like a
living being, my feelings overcame me, my head
whirled, and I knew not what I said. I am myself
now, and can listen to your innocent chidings all the
day, and bless you for reminding me that I must not
cease for one moment to tell you of my love."
"No, Henry; I am not so exacting as that; yet I
live only in your love. Withdraw but a glimmer of
it and I die."
The lovers separated. The one to enter upon a
career of intrigue, plotting and villiany of the
deepest dye; the other to retire to her room and
wrestle with her heart to keep it from doubting her
lover's love.
The next morning Henry had answered a call for
information from the superintendent of the road,
when the wires bore a message which so startled him
that he shook as with the ague, and the blood rushed
to his head as though the fever and the chill came
together. The name of the person addressed was
Matilda Winters. Matilda Winters ! Wlio above
the earth could be sending a dispatch to her? She
had been dead nearly a year. What could it mean?
Henry had no time to soliloquize. The message came
quick and fast, quicker and faster, it seemed to him,
than any dispatch that ever before came over the
wires. So quick and so fast that his pen could not
keep pace with the click of the instrument, and had
the click come ever so slow it would have made no
222 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
difference; he could not have put the message on
paper had his life been at stake. The pen dropped
from his hands, his whole frame trembled from head
to foot, the room suddenly darkened, and he reeled
and fell like a drunken man/ The dizziness lasted
but a moment. The fall aroused him to a conscious-
ness of the situation. He realized that he must act,
and act quickly. He had heard enough of the message
to understand that he alone of all the world must
hear it, and that all his hopes of the future depended
on his keeping it from the knowledge of any other
human being. Rising to his feet he made a super-
human effort to throw off the fearful incubus which
had borne him to the floor, and, grasping the key of
the instrument, he asked that the message be repeated.
The words commence to come, 0, too slowly now, for
it seemed minutes between each syllable; but he
listened to each click, click, click, as they came, one
after the other, like a battalion of fiends passing
before his eyes, each fiend screaming as if to let all
the world know that this man's crime should be
known to all the world.
Not a word was put on paper. It was a ghost's dis-
patch sent to a dead woman. It ought never to have
been sent. It ought never to have been received. Thus
he mused, but only for a moment. In his breast the
terrible message was locked up as in an iron chest
and the chest at the bottom of the sea. " Saved
again, as by a miracle! What a commotion in my
brain! What a tumult in my heart! A message
from Henry Winters! God in heaven, what can it
mean? The Henry Winters I left lifeless on that
THE GHOST*S DISPATCH. 223
unknown shore? He alive! He to sail this day
from Liverpool for New York? He coming to his
old home, and he to bask again in the light of Mary
Holbrook's love? She to be his bride? No, no; it
can not, it must not be. No mortal now must come
between me and her I love. Henry Winters' plans
must be thwarted. . He must be prevented from
coming to Bradford Junction or communicating
with Mary Holbrook until I shall have made her my
wife. That accomplished, and the arrangements I
have been making to live in a foreign land carried out,
I will run all risk of even his discovering us."
The impostor sat down,buried his head in his hands,
and cooly contemplated a plan to prevent the pro-
posed visit of the real Henry Winters to his old home.
His thoughts flew thick and fast. Anything, every-
thing, no matter what, must be done to stay that
fellow's coming. Desperate means should be em-
ployed if necessary. Even his rival's death was dis-
cussed with his conscience, and it was convinced the
crime ought to be committed rather than the impostor
should fail in his scheme to marry Mary Holbrook.
CHAPTER XXV.
MANNING ENCOUNTERS GROUNDWIG.
It was a lucky circumstance which placed the
impostor in charge of the telegraph, or else that
message would have been in Mary's hands and he
would have been an outlaw against whose life every
man's hand might be raised. How wisely providence
plans, thought the impostor, and how strangely the
things He proposes comes about. Again his tele-
graph service came to his aid. Without sharing his
plans with others and knowing that he could use the
wires with the utmost secrecy, he sent the following
dispatch:
To MRS. CAROLINE CARTER, HOLMSTEAD, CONN.:
I am in trouble. You alone can help me out. Leave on
first train. Do not fail. Wire me when you will start.
HENRY.
It was two weeks to the time fixed for the wed-
ding. In ten days at the outside, Henry Winters
would be in New York, and in three days more he
could reach his home. To detain him in that city
and prevent his leaving until the marriage should
have been solemnized was the first plot to con-
sider. If, upon the discussion of that scheme with
the adviser he had summoned, it should be considered
impracticable, then he would take the chance and
run the risk of arousing Mary's suspicions, by
undertaking to persuade her to fix an earlier day
for the marriage.
m
3IAXXIXQ ENCOUNTERS GROUNDWIG. 225
The idea of living in a foreign land had been dis-
cussed, and as Mary had no kindred to hold her to
her old home, she consented to that plan and became
earnestly in favor of it. It had already been given
out that the bridal tour would be across the ocean,
but it was thought best not to acquaint the neighbor-
hood of the fact that the leave-talking after the wed-
ding might be a final one.
Thus far and thus successfully had the plans of
Henry Winters advanced when the awful message
came from the supposed dead to the known dead.
In good time the Mrs. Carter arrived. She was
the woman in black,, She had been instructed by
telegraph to repair to a secluded spot in the adjacent
forest, where she was at once joined by the impostor.
They met inside a rude cabin, built by a woodsman
for shelter iu the winter, and hardly had the two per-
sons recognized each other, than Henry whispered in
a tremulous voice that would at such a time and
place have frightened into hysterics any other woman
save such as she :
" Mother, where is Groundwig ?"
At the mention of this name, the woman started as
if to dodge a blow aimed at her head, and, shaking
like an aspen leaf, and with a voice unlike that of a
human being, and uncontrollable as it was unnatural,
she answered :
"Why do you ask that question of me ? "
" Because I want to use him, I want to use him
bad, I want to use him quick and I know that you
not only know where he is, but that where you go he
goes, and where he goes you go. Tell me quick ; is
15
226 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
he not near here ? I did not telegraph you to bring
him with you, because a woman of your quick brain
oftener does the right thing without the telling than
by the telling."
" I can tell you he is not with me, and, further-
more, I do not knew where he is. Can I not bring
some one else to assist you?"
" Mother, I know you speak falsely. This is no
time to trifle with me. The minutes passing so rap-
idly may be fatal ones, and you know what it means
if my plans miscarry. I tell you, woman, it is a des-
perate scheme I must have executed, and it will take
a desperate man to do it. Do you know of another
creature living that can fill the place of Silas Ground-
wig when there is something unusually damnable to
be accomplished ? "
" I do not understand you, Charles Manning, if
you"
" Hush, woman! For heaven's sake, do not speak
that name here. The leaves are listening; the very
air is full of ears, and that name pronounced outside
these woods and all is lost. Tell me, and tell me
quick, where is Ground wig?"
" Before I answer that question, you tell me what
this wicked scheme is, that only he can do."
" Mrs. Carter, you are mad to keep me here in
waiting, even for only a moment. You will ruin all
by your foolish curiosity. Know then that I want
him to go to New York, and I want you to take a
message to him, instructing him how to carry out
the scheme I have planned."
" Tell me what that scheme is and I will take yoiu
MANNING ENCOUNTERS GROUNDWIG. 22?
message to him," and had she been made of iron she
could not have bore herself more coldly or answered
more unconcernedly.
"Will you pledge sternal secrecy?"
" Yes, yes, I like that. Secrets I can keep. No
trouble for me to do so. Who on the face of the
earth am I to share the secret with except with you
and Groundwig? I swear now and eternally."
" Then hear me, Henry Winters is not dead.
do not start nor interrupt me. Enough for you to
know he has sent a message here that three days ago
he would sail from Liverpool for New York. In six
days he will land in that city. You see precious
time has already been lost. In two hours the east-
bound limited express is due here. I will signal it
and you must get aboard and make all speed to
deliver Groundwig my letter."
" But Groundwig is not East, he is West."
" West ! What great crime is he planning in the
West? No matter. I don't care. In three hours
the mail train goes west. Be ready to take that.
How far west is he? How long will it take you to
reach him? Woman, I must know that. Speak, I
beseech you, speak quick, don't waste another pre-
cious moment trembling as though the night air was
chilly when the heat is really oppressive."
The woman was now so agitated that it was with
difficulty she could utter a word. For the first time
she threw aside her veil and with a wild, demoniac
look, exclaimed:
"Groundwig is this moment at the house of
Mary "
228 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
The impostor did not wait for the sentence to be
completed. He knew too well what Groundwig's
presence at Mary Holbrook's meant. The girl had
crossed his path and he had sworn to be revenged.
With steps fleeter than the deer the impostor
bounded through the forest and was not many min-
utes reaching the house. It was past the hour of
midnight. Not a light to be seen anywhere. All
was still as silence itself. The door opened with the
turn of the knob, and as it opened a man sought
to rush out. The impostor quickly grappled him
and held him as in a vise. He knew well who his
prisoner was, and calling him by name, demanded
to know the purpose of his visit. Not waiting for an
answer, but with one hand grasping the fellow by
the throat, with the other he struck a match and lit
a lamp he saw standing on the table. A glance
revealed the whole situation.
Mary Holbrook lay prostrate on the floor, sense-
less, and apparently inanimate, perhaps dead, killed
by the villain, who, by another turn of the hand,
could be sent to make his peace with heaven. The
turn was not made. One miscreant had further use
for the other. Flinging him to the floor, and telling
him if he moved a finger he would choke him to the
death, he bent over the girl, and, satisfied she was
alive, lifted her in his arms and laid her upon the
lounge. He then noticed a pen in her hand. He
knew what that meant. Silas Ground wig was up to
his old tricks. There was not a moment to lose.
The fellow was in the act of rising. Grappling him
again, Charles demanded the paper he had forced
MANNING ENCOUNTERS GROUNDWIG. 229
Mary Holbrook to sign. Denial was useless. Yet
the denial was made, and Charles, forcibly thrusting
his hand into the fellow's pocket, pulled out what
appeared to be a legal document. Before he could
open it to ascertain how wicked the plot the fellow-
was engaged in this time, Groundwig spitting out
the words, with a hissing lisp, whispered in a voice
which sounded as though it came from the throat
of a fiend from the regions below, bade the young
man, " put back that paper and let me go, or I will
tell Mary Holbrook you are Charles Manning and not
Henry Winters!" Without a word in reply Charles
handed him back the paper, and Silas Groundwig
went out into the night and disappeared in the forest.
CHAPTER XXVI.
HOW GOOD GOD IS TO FILL OUR BITTEREST CUPS
WITH DREAMS.
At the moment of Groundwig's escape Mary
awoke, and, seeing her lover bending over her, she
threw her arms about his neck exclaiming in the
most agonizing manner: " Thank God, it was only a
dream! "
"But, Mary, dear, it was not a dream. It was real
that"
"Not a dream? Not a dream, did you say? "What!
that you are not Henry Winters, not my Henry, my
love, my life! Not a dream! You say it was not a
dream? explain, explain before I go mad, raving,
stark mad."
" Calm yourself, my love, you are excited now, and
no wonder. Yes, I see you have dreamed many horrid
dreams and imagined all sorts of dreadful things,
but it was no dream that a villain entered your house
and threatened your life unless you signed a paper he
thrust in your face that was real, that was- no dream
for I saw the monster put the paper in his pocket,
but he fled before I could grapple with him and take
it from him."
" Yes, yes; it all comes to me now. I remember
so distinctly. His voice sounded so like that awful
Ground wig. His finger marks must be on my throat
for he choked me until I could not breathe, and said
330
GOD'S GIFT OF DREAMS. 231
he would kill me unless I signed his paper. No, he
didn't tell me what it was, and 0, 1 was too frightened
to read it when he told me to. He put a pistol to my
head, and with a horrid oath said he would kill me
unless I signed my name. I took the pen and wrote,
and then I must have swooned, for I remember noth-
ing more until I awoke and found you bending over
me. 0, horror! that was all real, and real as it was,
it was a merry frolic, yes, a merry frolic, compared
to the dreadful dream I did dream afterward. A great
monster stood over me. I thought it was Ground-
wig. His big, black, glaring eyes pierced through
my very heart, and I dreamed he was killing me when
you came and caught him by the throat, and then,
through his clenched teeth, he hissed in a whisper,
' I will tell Mary Holbrook you are Charles Man-
ning and not Henry Winters/ and then I awoke.
How good God is to fill our bitterest cups with
dreams."
Charles taking Mary's hands in his, looked straight
into her eyes as if to closely study her thoughts, and
failing to detect the least suspicion in her mind that
it was not a dream, implored her to compose herself
and let such a frightful fancy pass forever from her
thoughts. " It was but a dream " he said, "a horrid
and a strange dream ; its strangeness makes it the
more a dream ; and were every other dream that
every mortal ever dreamt to come true, and were
every dream that every mortal should dream here-
after to come true, the one my Mary dreamt never
could. Let heaven be praised."
"Amen," responded the timid girl, who had been
232 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
devouring each word as it fell from Charles Man-
ning's lips, as though her lover were a saint or fiend
and she knew not which. Then the old aunt, who
had been aroused from her slumbers by the unusual
tumult, came, and Charles, placing Mary in her care,
kissed the pale cheek of the still frightened girl and
bidding her good-night went out into the darkness,
where he met, as he knew he would, both the woman
in black and Silas Groundwig.
Fox a moment neither spoke. Charles broke the
silence by demanding of Groundwig the paper he
had forced Mary Holbrook to sign. Groundwig did
not possess the power to resist the demand, but
plead the privilege of burning the paper. Manning
consented. The document was produced, Charles
examined the signature, saw it was in the trembling
hand of Mary Holbrook, then lighting a match, set
the paper on fire and watched it burn until only a
little spot of black ashes and Silas Ground wig's black
heart knew the paper's contents.
"Silas Groundwig! " The name was barely whis-
pered Charles Manning whispered it but it was
one of those whispers that devils might envy the art
to utter. ' ' You are in my power; you know it better
than I do. I propose now to have a little plain talk
with you. You sent me adrift when I was a mere lad,
because I was born out of wedlock. This is the first
time for many years that I have met you and that
woman together. Your wife, Henry Winters' mother,
is dead. Your husband, the lying Hickman, who
perjured his soul in the will case, has fled from justice
and will never return, and besides, your marriage with
GOD'S GIFT OF DREAMS. 233
him was illegal because he had another wife at the
time you married him. I am a justice of the peace.
I want you to join hands. Don't hesitate. Don't
protest. There is no legal impediment in the way
of your marriage. I see you understand me. So,
joining hands, by virtue of the authority vested in'
me by the laws of this State I pronounce you man
and wife. This act removes from me all taint of
illegitimacy. I can now hold up my head and say to
the world, lama man. Do not go, Silas Ground wig,
I have more business with you. You have heard the
story of my meeting Henry Winters. Don't start. You
need not be afraid of him just yet. You have also
learned how I became madly, passionately, insanely
in love with Mary Holbrook. Henry Winters has
only himself to blame for it. He told to me the story
of his love, not only once, but a hundred times, and,
as he dwelt upon her charms, her loveliness of person,
her beauty of character, it was my fate to love. I
could not resist that fate. I swore to marry her. That
I might do so I have sacrified my honor and whatever
good name I may have ever had, and all the hope I
ever possessed of life beyond the grave. But my love
is sincere and pure as mortal ever had for woman. I
can not make myself believe otherwise. I have told
you before that Henry Winters was dead, and you
have rejoiced over it because your life was in his
hands should he ever return. Now, Silas Groundwig,
let me tell you that Henry Winters lives, and, well
don't interrupt me, and pray don't faint, fainting is
woman's privilege when shocked, not that of a strong
man; hear me through he will land in New York in
234 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
less than a week, and will be here in three days aftei-
ward. This vast continent is not big enough for
both you and he to live on together. He will hunt you
down as the son hunts tfre assassin of his mother.
You and I both have a like interest in preventing him
from leaving New York. Ah, I see you comprehend
the drift of my remarks. It is well. I see you are
willing to undertake the jcb, and your fruitful mind
already has a plan for its a '.complishment. But there
must be no tragedy unless the drama will not satisfy
the audience. You understand me ? You are to
proceed at once to New York and detain Winters
there until after the marriage. The time fixed for
that is only ten days distant.
"Mary and I have the sale of our property nearly
completed. Immediately upon our marriage we shall
make a foreign tour, and in some great city be lost
forever, as far as Henry Winters will ever know. I
shall be in charge of the telegraph, and you can send
your messages to me, and I will risk all publicity.
My dispatches will be sent you at the old place, and
in the old cipher.. . You do your part faithfully,
which I know you will, as your life depends upon it;
and to prove to you that I am your friend, and wish
you no ill, I will deposit three thousand dollars to
your credit in the Highland Bank, and mail the cer-
tificate to your address. Or, if you succeed in the
plan you have for keeping Winters in New York
until after the wedding, you can return here, and
I will pay you the money in person. You know you
can trust me. With that sum you and she can go into
some mining camp beyond the Eocky mountains,
235
and, safe from discovery, you can both spend the rest
of your days in atoning for your sins."
Groundwig could not conceal the emotion of his
feelings during the time G'harles was giving him these
instructions. He was overcome with the startling
intelligence so unexpectedly imparted to him. He
was ready for the encounter. He had so great a per-
sonal interest in its success that Charles had no fears
but the outcome would be all that both could desire.
CHAPTER XXVII.
I FORGOT. I FORGOT.
Never was disguise more complete. An associate
of a lifetime would not know Silas Groundwig as he
sat in the office of the steamship company awaiting
the arrival of the City of Home. Two trusty villains
were with him. Will they succeed in their hellish
scheme? Groundwig is long-headed, adroit and
cunning. His plans are not matured. He must act
on circumstances as they present themselves, and there
is no danger, but he will act quickly and resort to any
means to accomplish his purpose. The tugs are
coming to the dock with the steamer's passengers.
Henry Winters is one of the first to land. He hur-
riedly calls a cab, gives directions about his baggage,
has a moment's conversation with the cabman about
a matter which must be private, for he asks his ques-
tions in a whisper, is driven to thepostoffice, inquires
at the general delivery for letters, there are none, he
turns pale, looks anxiously about as if to find some-
body who will make an explanation, almost totters
to the cab, is driven to a jewelry store on Broadway,
alights, goes in, and, after a brief conversation with
the proprietor, unlocks a hand-bag which he had all
along grasped tightly, and exposes to view a rich col-
lection of precious stones, which he desires to dispose
of. Groundwig is near by, sees the display, steps
out upon the walk, calls a policeman, has a few
236
I FOKGOT. I FORGOT. 237
words with him in a low voice, nods his head toward
Henry inside the store, the officer enters, and, putting
his hand 011 Henry's shoulder, makes him his pris-
oner.
The valuables are taken possession of by the officer,
and Henry is marched to the station house, and the
next morning is brought before a magistrate for
examination. Ground v/ig and- his assistant villains
having bet'ii held in custody as witnesses, appear and
testify against the young man. Groundwig giving
the assumed name of Robert Newcomb, swore that
lie took passage on the City of Rome, from Liver-
pool to Xew York, on its last trip, and when some
two days out from the American shore his state-room
was entered and the diamonds and other precious
stones which the prisoner had offered for sale yester-
day were stolen; that the prisoner was a passenger
on the same trip and knew the witness had the dia-
monds in his possession; that upon discovering his
loss he suspected the prisoner, _b,ut was unable to
obtain proof that would warrant his arrest; that he
continued to watch the suspected party and called
the ship's detective to his assistance; that the two
followed the prisoner from the steamship to the post-
office, and then to the jeweler's, where the property
was taken out of a satchel by the prisoner and was
being disposed of to the jeweler when the arrest was
made.
"' .Mr. Newcomb, do you recognize this property as
:me that \vas stolen from you on board the City
of Rome: Jstrate.
" I do, your honor/' answered Mr. Newcomb.
238 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
The detective was sworn and corroborated New-
comb's evidence in every particular. The jeweler
testified to the property exposed in court as the same
offered to him for sale by the prisoner. The officer
swore he arrested the prisoner while in the very act of
selling the goods.
"This seems to be a very clear case," said the Magis-
trate. "Prisoner stand up. What is your name?'
"Henry Winters, if your honor, please," was the
answer given in such a pleasant voice and with such
a mannerly bow, that the magistrate, the officers and
spectators began to look upon the culprit in the dock
with more interest than they usually take in such
cases.
"Prisoner, have you any witnesses?" asked the
Magistrate.
The prisoner, embarrassed and confused, replied:
" None, your honor, but I would like to be sworn
and tell my story."
The magistrate swore the prisoner, and he com-
menced by reciting the story of his being kidnapped,
shipped on the Lucky Star for India, of the start
home, of the shipwreck, landing on the shores of an
unknown continent, of his sickness and apparent
death, of his restoration to life, of his travels in that
vast country, of his search for precious stones and his
good luck, of his taking passage on the City of Rome,
of his landing in New York on yesterday, his attempt
to dispose of some of the stones for ready money, and
an unqualified denial that the property belonged to
Newcomb.
The magistrate heard the story through. He had
1 FOKGOT. I FORGOT. 239
been a magistrate in a big city too long to be influ-
enced by such a narrative. He had heard them be-
fore. Turning to the prisoner he remarked, " Young
man, your story is altogether too fishy. It won't wash.
You are given to romancing. When you get out of
this scrape, I advise you to turn an honest man, quit
stealing, and go to writing novels. With such a
remarkable imagination and with the skill you pos-
sess to tell a story so well, you can make more money
with your pen than with your burglar tools. The
officer will take you back to jail to await the action of
the grand jury. If you have friends who will aid you,
the bail bond will be put at three thousand dollars."
"Those diamonds, if your honor please, are worth
more than that sum. Are they not good security for
my appearance, when wanted ? " asked the prisoner.
" Young man, are you crazy? Are not those dia-
monds the property of Mr. Xewcomb, and not yours?"
responded the justice.
" I forgot, I forgot," said the prisoner.
And the officer marched Henry Winters to jail.
It was no time now to moralize on the wickedness
of men. It was no time to conjecture why neither his
mother nor Mary had written him, as he had re-
quested in his cable dispatch. Things were too
serious, and the present required the perfect control
and command of all his faculties. Somebody was
plotting, and he was the victim. It might be the
continuation of the old conspiracy, or this one might
stand alone by itself. No matter. Something mart
be done, and done quickly. How and what was the
puzzling question. His first thought was to send for
240 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
some person who knew him. He ran over in his own
mind who of his acquaintances might be in New
York. He could not call to mind a single person in
that great city that knew him or he knew. But
stay. There is Captain Bodfish, of the ill-fated
"Lucky Star." He lived in New York. He might
be in the city now. He could corroborate a good
part of the story he had told the magistrate. How
to find him was the question. He asked the guard
if he knew Captain Bodfish. No, he did not know
him, but if Henry wanted him to come to the jail,
and would give the street and number where he re-
sided, or did business, he should be sent for at once.
Henry knew neither. Look in the directory. Yes,
the name of Bodfish is there, and so are several of
the same name, and which is the one Heary wants?
That information he can not give. Will tfce jailer
send a messenger among the shipping and find out
who owned the " Lucky Star " that was wrecked on
a foreign coast some two years since? ' ' If the owner's
name is ascertained, ask him for the address of the
Captain Bodfish who was the master of that ship when
it was wrecked. If he can be found, bring him to the
jail, and he will soon clear me of this great crime."
Henry's wishes were gratified. A messenger was sent
as directed. It was not many hours before Captain
Bodfish, who, as luck would have it, had just returned
from" a sea voyage, was admitted to the jail, and
Henry was taken from his cell into the Captain's
presence. Henry was overjoyed to see his old friend,
and rushing up to him in the most cordial manner,
sought to grasp him by the hand, but the Captain
I FORGOT. I FORGOT. 241
turned aside, and coldly refused to accept the prof-
fered recognition. Henry was dumbfounded. His
feelings were hurt to the quick. "What! my old
comrade in danger and distress, in suffering and dis-
aster on sea and land, refuse a friendly shake of the
hand, when God knows if ever man wanted a friend in
need, I want one now !"
" Charles Manning," replied the Captain, " I wish
to have nothing to do with you. You deceived me
once. You gave me your sacred word when we parted
in Boston, that would I loan you money to reach
your friends, you would return it to me in a week.
From that day to this, I never heard a word from
/ you. I do not know what crime you are charged
with, but I warrant you it is stealing, because the
mate of the Sober Fritz told me he suspected you of
pilfering from him while on board that ship. It is
enough for me to know that a man who was my
messmate in encountering the dangers and hardships
of a fearful shipwreck, violated his word of honor and
refused to redeem a pledge to repay the small amount
of money I loaned him. I supect you, too, of a great
crime, but as it is only suspicion, I will not name it.
You must seek other assistance to aid you, for I will
not give you even enough to pay fora night's lodging,
though I judge that paying for your lodging is the
least of your trouble to-night. Good-bye, Charles
Manning."
"Captain Bodfish, hold a moment, for heaven's
sake, don't turn away without a chance for me to say
a word. I am not Charles Manning, I am Henry
Winters!"
16
CHAPTER XXVIII.
IS IT CHARLES MAXXIKG OR HENRY WINTERS ?
Captain Bodfish had great difficulty in controlling
his feelings. First came the belief that he was being
imposed upon in the most wicked manner. Then
suddenly would flash into his mind the question,
" Suppose he is really Henry Winters?" But the
scene in the cabin on that far-away shore came quick
with its answer : " Henry AVinters is dead." So
firmly believing, the Captain replied :
"Go on, sir, with your bare-faced deception and
your base and wicked falsehoods as long as you please,
but you must talk to others, not to me. I will not
listen. You have deceived me once, I tell you. You
will never deceive me again. Blackhearted impos-
tor ! Expect to soften my heart by representing
yourself to be another and he one of the noblest and
purest young men that ever lived. Charles Manning,
you and I left the dead body of Henry Winters on
that distant shore. When I sailed on the Sober
Fritz you sailed with me. Together we left the dead
with his God. Were you not completely lost to
every feeling that makes a friend respect the mem-
ory of his dead comrade and messmate, you would
sooner call upon these walls to fall and crush your
life out of you, than to claim for some vile purpose
to be that saint in heaven."
" Captain Bodfish, as God is my judge, and as I
242
CHAELES MANNING OK HENRY WINTERS? ^43
expect to answer some day to Him for every act of
my life, I swear to you, and if I swear falsely, I call
upon that God to strike me dead here at your feet,
that I am Henry Winters."
" Charles Manning, I "
" Don't, I beg of you, call me by that name again.
Turn away if you will, leave me here to the fate that
is so mysteriously enveloping me, but don't tell me I
am an impostor. I say to you, Captain Bod fish, I
am the man that was left for dead in that cabin by
the sea. I was poisoned, but by whom I do not know.
I was restored to life by the physician's daughter,
who gave me the antidote, and would you but listen
I would tell you all about my travels before the
Sober Fritz came the following year and rescued you
and Charles Manning."
" I do not wish to hear you. Don't I know that
you and Henry Winters were inseparable, and don't
I know that you can tell his story as well as he could
tell it himself were he to be raised from the dead ?
You have the same smooth tongue that captivated
the crew on the Sober Fritz, but you must not
expect to again charm me with your cunning palaver.
IS'MU- that you talk of poisoning, let me tell you that
on several occasions I have caught myself suspecting
you of poisoning young Winters, and I am now more
than half inclined to the opinion that the diamonds
and other jewels he had laid away so carefully to
bring home to his mother and his affianced, were
stolen from him by you, and you have just now
summoned up courage enough to offer them for sale."
" Captain Bodfish, a thought strikes me. .Now do
244 THE MOKTGAGE FORECLOSED.
listen for one moment to what I have to say. You
think Henry Winter's jewels were stolen from him
by Charles Manning. In that suspicion you do
Charles a great wrong. I know nothing about the
evidence you may have to base the suspicion that he
poisoned Henry Winters, but "
"No more, I will not listen longer to such trash,"
said Captain Bodfish.
"Captain Bodfish, one question before you go.
Do you remember one day examining those rough
diamonds and admiring two of them that were so
much alike no one could tell the difference ? " asked
Henry Winters.
"I do," the Captain answered.
" May Task another question ?" asked Henry Win-
tors, and the young man looked piteouslyand implor-
ingly into the Captain's face.
" Yes."
" Did Henry Winters insist on your accepting one
of those stones as a gift from him ? "
" He did," answered Captain Bodfish.
" Can I ask still another question? " inquired Win-
ters.
"Yes, yes; go on; what more?"
"After Henry insisted for some time that you
should accept one of the stones, and you persisted in
refusing it, did you finally consent to take it?"
" I did, and have it now in its rough state," said
Captain Bodfish, "in my necktie, and I presume
you have its mate, which would only be additional
evidence that you stole Henry Winters' diamonds,
and as far as the conversation had at that time is
CHARLES MANNING OR HEXRY WINTERS ? 245
concerned, what could be more natural than for
Henry Winters to tell it all to you?"
Winters was now evidently nonplussed. Every
point he could make was being turned against him,
and he was almost in despair. Kallying once again
to the encounter with his old messmate and friend,
he found courage to ask:
"Do you remember the remark you made when
you took the gift ? "
11 1 do; it is as fresh in my mind as though the
occurrence were but yesterday, and I am act ashamed
to repeat it to you. Charles Manning, I said "
"Stop, Captain Bodfish," cried Winters, "stop, I
did not ask you what you said."
" Go on, young man. I rather like your style of
questioning. Again I say, I will listen," responded
Captain Bodfish.
"Was there any other person present who heard
what you said? "asked Winters.
" No, we were in the wilderness, several miles
from the village, and we were alone all that day."
" Could Charles Manning have heard that re-
mark?"
Looking confused and seemingly more interested
in the conversation than Henry himself, he said,
" It was impossible."
Young Winters rose from his chair, stepped close
to the captain, and, looking him straight in the eye,
exclaimed:
" I will tell you what that remark was. You said,
' Look out for yourself, Henry, or that Indian maiden
will steal your heart, and Charles Manning will cut
your throat and steal your diamonds/ }i
246 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
Captain Bodfish stood there immovable as a statue.
His face grew pale, then the rush of blood made his
cheeks flush and crimson. He was in deep thought,
revolving in his mind whether there was any possible
way that Charles Manning could have known what
was said at that time by him to Henry Winters. The
Captain had himself admitted it was impossible.
Though a lingering doubt perplexed him and blinded
him for a moment, as to the course he ought to pur-
sue, he reached for Henry's hand, shook it cordially,
and, almost sobbing, remarked:
"Young man, whether you are Henry Winters or
Charles Manning, by -the love I bear Henry Winters,
be he dead, or be you him, I will befriend you now
to the extent of my power."
The Captain learned that the grand jury was in
session, and that Henry's case had already been con-
sidered in that peculiar American star chamber,
where men are convicted first and tried afterward,
and a true bill found against Henry for stealing, in
the night time, property valued at seven thousand
dollars.
A lawyer was employed to defend Winters. At
the trial, which came off immediately, the same pos-
itive evidence was introduced as was given before the
magistrate, and the jury retired, and in less than ten
minutes brought in a verdict of guilty, and the judge
sentenced the prisoner to a term of five years in the
penitentiary at Sing Sing. Henry had caused dis-
patches to be sent to his mother and two or three
prominent neighbors at Bradford Junction, asking
them to come immediately to his assistance, and as no
CHARLES MANNING OR HENRY WINTERS ? 247
answers were received, both lawyer and Captain had
their faith in the young man's innocence somewhat
weakened. The lawyer, however, proposed to unearth
what he was beginning to believe was a conspiracy, let
the cost be what it might.
Notwithstanding all the circumstances of guilt,
Captain Bod fish was sorely perplexed and troubled.
If this young man is really Henry Winters he is in-
nocent. There could be no question in the Captain's
mind upon the soundness of this conclusion. If he
were Charles Manning, then, no doubt, he was justly
convicted. The Captain, as he reflected upon the
circumstances referred to by his questioner, became
more and more convinced that he was no imposter,
but was Henry Winters.
Running over in his mind how best to unravel this
mystery, the Captain was interrupted by a boisterous
tap on his office door. He invited the visitor to
walk in. It proved to be a policeman who solicited
an interview upon the subject that was uppermost in
the Captain's thoughts. Bidding him proceed, the
officer without ceremony began at once to impart the
following important information to his host : " You
appeared in court to-day us the friend of a prisoner
charged with stealing diamonds and other precious
stones. I was present at the trial and heard all the
evidence. The faces of the two witnesses who testified
against the young man seemed familiar to me. When
they retired from the court-room I followed them.
One bought a ticket for a western town. I did not
dare to detain him because in his disguise I was
afraid he was not my man. His pal, who represented
248 THE MOKTGAGE FORECLOSED.
himself to be the Steamer's detective, I arrested as
soon as the train started, and, upon removing his dis-
guise, I recognized him as a successful confidence
man, whom I had seen on the streets nearly every
day for months, and hence he could not have been on
the steamer City of Rome on its last trip to New York,
as that arrived on Monday of this week. I searched
him, and found upon his person what I should think
was the greater part of the property which your
friend was charged with stealing. When I made my
report to the captain at the police station, I learned
that Lawyer Fielding had been informed by your
friend that there were three passengers on board the
steamer, who had traveled with him from Glasgow
to Liverpool, that two of them resided in this city,
that they had been found and had visited the prisoner
in his cell; had recognized him as their traveling
companion, and would testify that while in Glasgow
the prisoner had exhibited to them the identical
diamonds he was charged with stealing, and had asked
their advice as to whether London or New York
would be the best place to dispose of them.
The Captain listened with the most eager atten-
tion. He was now aroused and in earnest. There
was no longer any doubt of Henry Winter's iden-
tity. Calling a cab, the Captain was driven to the
lawyer's office. A hasty conference was held. It
was resolved to make application to the governor for
a pardon for young Winters, and to this end the con-
fidence man who had signified his willingness to
make a clean breast of the whole transaction as far
as he knew the facts, and the two fellow-travelers,
CHARLES MANNING OR HENRY WINTERS? 249
both of whom were reputable citizens residing in the
city, were taken before the executive who heard the
proof of the young man's innocence, and after care-
fully examining the record of the case, and sending
for the district attorney, who had appeared in the
trial for the State, promised to decide on the applica-
tion on the morrow. The evidence was so clear that
Henry had been made the victim of a conspiracy to
rob him, that the governor did not hesitate to grant
the pardon.
Captain Bodfish, overcome with joy, rushed to the
jail and thrusting the pardon in Henry's face, threw
his arms round his neck, and wept like a child.
The jewels found on the confidence man were
ordered restored to Henry. These, with the excep-
tion of two or three of the choicest ones, he disposed
of for cash, and first sending two messages, one to
his mother and another to Mary, announcing his
intention to leave New York that night for Bradford
Junction, he purchased a ticket, bade the Captain a
most affectionate good-bye, and was once again home-
ward bound.
CHAPTER XXIX.
SHALL THE IMPOSTOR SUCCEED?
On the afternoon of the second day after leaving
New York, Henry reached the junction where he was
to change cars for Bradford. Much to his disappoint-
ment, he found the train he should take was four
hours late, so he seated himself in the depot to pass
away the time as best he might. The newsboys were
crying the morning papers, published in a neighbor-
ing city, and he bought one. Running over its col-
umns to find something of interest, his eye was
attracted to the headlines, "Romantic marriage."
A glance at the text of the article and instantly
his mind grasped the extraordinary intelligence
that at six o'clock, near the village of Bradford
Junction, Henry Winters would wed Mary Holbrook!
For a moment the buildings, the cars, the people
passed before his vision in a circle and like light-
ning. He may have swooned. It was but for a
moment. The bystanders opened the windows, un-
loosed his garments, and he immediately recovered
his consciousness. Upon reviving, it took him but a
second to comprehend the entire situation. It passed
before him like a swiftly moving panorama, and he
recognized all the characters. In the foreground
was Charles Manning, a hideous impostor, who had
made use of the story of Henry's life and Henry's
love, and with Mary's picture and Mary's letters,
250
SHALL THE IMPOSTOR SUCCEED ? 251
which lie had stolen, encouraged by the terrible sim-
ilarity of likeness of the two men, had played a
game so damnable as to make angels weep, and
had won. Great God! had won! Won his Mary!
He cared not to look again to see the other parties
to this terrible picture. He knew the next to.appear
would be Mary Holbrook. And he knew she was
innocent. In his whole soul there was not a breath
of censure against that pure creature. Though she
might keep step in the shadow of a demon, she was
spotless. But ring down the curtain. Moments
may be ages if not now turned to proper account.
His first impulse was to telegraph telegraph to his
mother, to Mary, to his neighbors, to anybody, every-
body he ever knew, and tell them all to stop the mar-
riage ceremony. But he remembered that not a dis-
patch or letter lie had sent to his home had been
answered. The villain was intercepting letters and
messages, and it were folly to expect to accomplish
anything by the telegraph. He asked for assistance.
Half a dozen bystanders responded. They see he is
in dr. p rouble. "One of you go for the superintend-
ent of the west division of this road and bring him
here go quick, quick, quick. I have not strength
this moment to walk. I will be strong soon." In a
few moments Colonel Mason, the superintendent,
came in. Henry feels that everything now depends
upon his ability to compose himself and explain the
situation. Railroads don't listen to mad men. With
the newspaper in his hand, he cooly commences to
read the article to the astonished superintendent. It
is full of the strangest romance, for it relates in
252 THE MORTGAGE
detail the kidnapping, the voyage to India, the ship-
wreck, the return, the marriage to take place on the
lawn at the bride's home, that invitations had been
given out to several hundred peoplp and that the
afternoon that afternoon would be a gay holiday
for the farmers for miles around. The reading fin-
ished, the superintendent looked at Henry in bewil-
dered amazement and awaited an explanation. "Mr.
Superintendent, may God strike me dead if I don't
tell the truth. I am Henry Winters, and a villain
that poisoned me, arid thought he had murdered me,
is the man that is to marry my Mary at six o'clock!
Merciful heavens! it is now three o'clock, and Henry
Winters is to marry Mary Holbrook at six o'clock, and
Henry Winters himself is 115 miles away! Mr.
Mason, I must have a locomotive to take me to
Bradford Junction before six o'clock, and here is the
money to pay for it. Take from that roll of bills
whatever amount you think right." The spectators
shouted approval of this demand. The excitement
was at a fever pitch. Not the least of the excited
ones was Colonel Mason himself. He quickly deter-
mined that he would comply with the young man's
request for a special, and, giving an order to one
of his assistants, he~ declared* he would put Henry
Winters into Bradford station before six o'clock,
come what might, and let the consequences be what
they would. All his orders were quickly responded
to. He would have the locomotive ready first and
immediately, and trust to luck to get his orders from
headquarters before starting. The track was ordered
cleared of all trains; the locomotive came puffing up
SHALL THE IMPOSTOR SUCCEED ? 253
in excellent trim, with plenty of water, plenty of
fuel and ready for the race. Henry climbed into the
cab and sat down on the engineer's seat, and the
superintendent, who proposed to make one of the
party, took a seat in front of the fireman. Just then
the train-dispatcher came forward with the order
from the general office, and the superintendent giving
the signal, at three-thirty, the locomotive responded
to the open throttle, and fairly trembled and shook
its great, big, ironsides as it gave a lunge ahead, and,
amid the deafening cheers of the crowd, it got right
down to work that made the engineer proud of his
noble steed.
The mile posts were passed as though they were
telegraph poles. Screeching like mad through the
villages, fairly leaping over switches, shaking, roar-
ing, puffing, whirling over bridges, through fields
and forests, faster and faster, a steady, sturdy hand
at the lever, stout and sinewy arms at the furnace,
watchful eyes gazing eagerly beyond the smoke-
stack and scanning the track to see if all were clear ;
the x faithful, obedient and trusty locomotive bent
down to its duty and performed it as though it were
a living, breathing being and comprehended fully
the responsibility entrusted to it.
J f cnry spoke not a word. His whole being kept pace
with the engine in its nervous tremor and apparent
agitation. In fact, no one uttered a syllable except
the superintendent, who, with his watch in his hand,
at intervals called out the time, the speed and the dis-
tance run. Fifteen miles, twenty minutes ! Twen-
ty-live miles, thirty minutes ! Forty-five miles,
254 THE MOKTGAGE FORECLOSED.
forty-eight minutes ! Sixty miles, sixty-one minutes!
The superintendent was now as excited as the engine
itself. Henry sat there as though carved out of
stone. The engineer and fireman were as happy as
though they owned the road. Fifty-five miles more
and eighty-nine minutes to make it in. The track
passed the Holbrook farm within sixty rods of the
house. So there would be no delay in getting from
the station to the lawn, where the marriage ceremony
was to take place.
Seventy miles in seventy-two minutes ! Losing a
little, 'Mr. Fireman, can't you throw in an extra lump
or two of those choice pieces there at your feet?
Saving them for the last ? Save nothing. Crowd in
all the fuel she will take. Open the throttle a little
wider, if possible, Mr. Engineer. Can't do it ? No
matter, she is behaving beautifully. What a splen-
did creature ! Now she just flies. The last five
miles was made in four minutes. Ninety miles in
a few seconds less than ninety minutes. Twenty-five
miles more and a full hour to do it in. That is a
splendid margin to go on. Will make it in time with
half an hour to spare. Don't move a finger there
to reduce her speed, Mr. Engineer. Let her do all she
can. Take no risks. Better have the time to spare
at the end of the run than on the road. A mile a
minute is now her pace, and she is buckling down to
that speed with ease. Heavens, don't she round that
curve handsomely !
The engineer sees something ahead that alarms
him. Is it a puff of smoke ? He stretches his neck
out of the cab window as far as possible, strains his
255
eyes, hastily draws back, clutches the lever with both
hands, ready to close the throttle on a moment's
warning. Another second and the steam is shut off,
the engine reversed, the brakes applied, the noble
steed lothfully lessens its speed, and, turning an
abrupt curve, comes to a dead stop within three or
four feet of a bridge whose timbers are smoking from
an explosion of gunpowder, which some miscreant
had applied, no doubt, in order to prevent the engine
from reaching Bradford Junction.
CHAPTER XXX.
CLEAR THE TRACK TO BRADFORD JUNCTION !
No sooner had Groundwig departed on his mission
of crime than Manning set himself to prosecuting
plans for his marriage and bridal tour with renewed
activity. His first thought was to persuade Mary to
name an earlier day for the nuptials, and to this end
to assign as a reason a dispatch from some foreign
mercantile house, offering him a splendid position
with a. large salary, provided he could report for duty
at a certain day, naming a time that would require
his departure within three or four days.. He con-
cluded he could not give Mary such a reason for con-
senting to change the day fixed for the wedding
without danger of exciting her suspicions that all was
not right, so he would trust Groundwig.
Mary and several of her intimate friends suggested
that the wedding should be at 6 o'clock in the after-
noon, that it should be made a gala day as far as
possible, and that the invitations should be general
and the ceremony public. It was arranged that
the beautiful lawn in front of the house should be
the place, and the Episcopal clergyman, in charge of
the church at the county seat, should be invited to
solemnize the marriage.
Mary and her assistants at once began making
preparations for the great event. The wedding
trousseau was selected, and nimble fingers fashioned
255
CLEAR THE TRACK! 257
and fitted the bride's gown. It was white silk, with-
out trimmings or decorations or ornaments of any
kind. Arrayed in white, she was her prettiest, and
in white she looked the more the bride.
The day arrived. It was one of the loveliest days
in June. In and around the Holbrook homestead,
from early morn, all was confusion, and everybody
about the premises was on the stir, ciowding and
pushing and trying to help do something. Mary had
retired to her chamber, and, assisted by her dressing
maid, proceeded to arrange her toilet. This pleasing
and exciting task completed, and the compliments of
the bride's maids lavishly bestowed upon her,she asked
to be left alone until time to proceed to the altar.
During the days the prospective bride and her
friends had been making these preparations, Manning
had by no means been idle. With him they were
days of excitement, fear, doubt and rejoicing, and
almost the last moments were moments of inexpress-
ible anxiety, overwhelming him with apprehensions
of the greatest possible evil.
He first learned of Henry's arrival in New York by
the receipt, as operator, of the two messages Henry
had sent his mother and Mary. These dispatches
were quickly destroyed. Then Groundwig had con-
veyed to him the glad tidings of Henry's conviction
of grand larceny and the five years' sentence to hard
labor in the penitentiary. Such glorious news almost
made his heart burst with joy. Five years assured
him in which to bask in Mary Holbrook's love with-
out fear or danger of his great crime being discov-
ered. Groundwig would no doubt hasten back to
17
258 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
receive in person the promised reward. The money
would be ready for him, and never would money be
more cheerfully paid to him who earned it.
Things were surely running smoothly now, thought
Charles Manning. Had he the arranging of them,
they could not have been more to his liking. The
morning came. With the going down of the sun all
his plans would be consummated. His successor had
been named to take charge of the telegraph office,
and his employers were complimenting Manning on so
closely attending to business as to insist on remaining
at his post until the afternoon of his wedding.
Charles Manning knew too well the importance of
controlling the wires until the last moment. He did
not intend to let go any of his resources until they
were all exhausted or until there could be no occasion
for using them.
Eunning over in his mind, in a half-dreaming man-
ner, the thrilling events of the past year, he was
aroused by the click, click, click, of the instrument
before him. The name of Silas Groundwig comes
clicking over the wires. The operator starts as though
shot. What person in New York is telegraphing
Groundwig? Even the message itself does not answer
the question. Nor does Manning care who the
sender is. The dispatch itself is of the most startling
character. It comes like the lightning from a cloud-
less sky. It may be the climax of the whole revolting
scheme. Not a word of it is put on paper. But
every syllable is burned into Manning's very soul:
Governor pardoned that fellow on the tenth, and he went
West o the express the same night.
YANKEE TIM.
CLEAR THE TRACK !
Manning's brain worked fast and keen. A hasty
glance at the time table, a quick scanning of the
column of figures, and it was clear to see that unless
something happened or was made to happen, and that,
too, at once, Winters would reach Bradford Junction
a full hour before the time fixed for the marriage
ceremony to take place.
Xow, then, where was Groundwig? His services were
needed now, as they were never needed before. The
morning express was due in a few minutes. Ground-
must be on that. In another minute the train
pulled in and pulled out, and Groundwig was the only
passenger that alighted. A whispered conference
held between the two, and while talking, Man-
ning's quick ear caught enough of a dispatch that
was going over the wires to make him yell with de-
light. " Groundwig!" exultingly exclaimed Manning,
"God in heaven approves my acts. The next west-
bound train has met with an accident, and will be at
least four hours late. That train is the one Winters
must connect with at White Creek Junction. I shall
be married and on the south-bound train, and fifty
miles away before he can reach this station. Who
says now that fortune don't favor the brave, no mat-
ter what they do, if their conscience approves their
act-
"Grouudwig, I have won on every side. Mary Hoi-
brook once my wife I will be to her such a devoted,
loving, faithful husband she shall never have cause
to think she has been deceived. I will be her
slave. Yea, I will die for her. If necessary, I will die
to keep her from marrying another. But enough of
260 THE MOETQAGE FORECLOSED.
this. Meet me here in an hour and I will have the
money for you that I promised. There comes the pur-
chaser of my farm for the deed; he brings the pur-
chase price with him. Go now, and come at the
hour named."
The trade was completed, the money paid, and
Manning, jumping into his buggy, drove to the Hoi-
brook place, where he met Mary who appeared some-
what depressed, but in the excitement he paid lit-
tle attention to it, and telling her the sale of his farm
had been consummated, that all the preparations
were made for the bridal tour, that the south-bound
train was reported on time, he hurried back to meet
his engagement with Ground wig.
The new operator was now in charge of the station.
Groundwig, disguised and hideous was there impa-
tient and nervous. Manning came in hurried and
excited. He handed his faithful accomplice a roll
of bank bills in full satisfaction of all services ren-
dered; and as he turned to leave, the operator re-
marked as though telling an item of ordinary news
that the road was just ordered clear of all trains for
a special.
Manning, excitedly and confusedly. "How far is
the line to be cleared."
Operator. "To this station/'
Manning. "A freight or passenger?"
Operator. "Neither. A locomotive and tender."
Manning. "When does it start?"
Operator. "This moment three-thirty."
Not another word was said. Groundwig had been
an attentive listener to every word. He understood
CLEAR THE TRACK! 261
well what it all meant. More villainy for him.
More labor of love to appease his own hate. Both
men stepped out upon the platform. "Clear the
track to Bradford Junction" rung in Manning's ears
like a funeral dirge at a wedding. The most omi-
nous words of all that had passed over the wires since
this bold conspiracy was set on foot. A special for
Henry Winters, and at that moment it must be
whirling westward at its greatest possible speed. At
this last hour should he, Charles Manning, be foiled
and cheated of the hand of her he loved better than
life? Never! There is still one more chance. Now
then, for the most desperate means to meet the most
desperate case.
"Groundwig, for God's sake get your brains to
working quick quicker than ever before! That is
Henry Winters' special. Yes, I know you know it,
and I know you know already what I am going to
propose. That special will make a mile a minute.
In the store-room you will find a saw, an auger and a
hatchet. Put them in one of those bags. I will
hand you a package of giant powder. Number 4
has orders to run to Bingham, twelve miles, and
side-truck for special that's her whistle, quick now,
not a second to spare ; go to Hilton Run, a mile this
side of Bingham you know the bridge at th6 end of
that sharp curve, the freight will be slowing up there,
so you will have no trouble in getting off, bore a hole
jump aboard blow the bridge to" and the train
and Groundwig were on their way to Bingham.
ofroundwig was faithful to the last. He did his
work well. He had a full hour in which to do his
262 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
job. He first cttt the wires in two different places.
The bridge was on the bottom, quite a high elevation
of land on one side, and thick woods on the other, so
there was no danger of being discovered in his
nefarious work. He would not be interrupted by
trains, for none could move in either direction until
the special had passed. When all was ready he set
fire to the fuse, and almost before the smoke had
cleared away the locomotive rounded the curve,
slowed up, and stopped within a few feet of the
wrecked bridge. The miscreant who had done the
deed was seen to plunge into the forest and disappear.
The engine was run back to the station, the alarm
given, and, under the lead of the superintendent, a
posse well armed, and several men mounted on
horseback, started in pursuit of the would-be mur-
derer. The chase was a short one. The desperado
was soon surrounded, and, as he drew a revolver to
intimidate his pursuers and resist arrest, half a dozen
guns were leveled at his head, and Silas Groundwig,
with all his deep, black crimes on his soul, gave up
the ghost.
The moment Groundwig had boarded the train,
Manning felt that the last obstacle in the pathway to
the hand of his betrothed had been overcome. He
feft he could trust Groundwig to do that work, and
do it effectually. From his standpoint he had fought
against fearful odds, had contended against a bat-
tallion of fates, and at last was victorious.
All day long startling incidents had followed one
after the other with painful rapidity, and now was
gome the trying event of all. He at once arranged
CLEAR THE TRACK ! 263
his toilet with excellent taste and the utmost care,
and when completed to his pleasure, he looked every
inch the happiest of bridegrooms. His wonderful
will-power had enabled him to conceal all outward
evidence of his excessive nervous excitement, which
would have exhausted that power, and prostrated even
a stronger man, had not the prize been the hand of
a Mary Holbrook.
CHAPTER XXXI.
THE RACE AND THE RESCUE.
Hardly had the engine commenced to slacken its
speed, as it approached the smoking bridge, when
Henry leaped to the ground, and in a moment was
examining the extent of the damage. He saw the
stringers were so weakened that it would be impos-
sible to run the engine over. Quickly comprehend-
ing what must be done, Henry started on a rapid run
for a farm-house on a hill, about one hundred rods
distant. It took him but a few moments to reach it.
In the yard he met the owner of the farm. The two
recognized each other at once. tf God in Israel !
Holy Moses, Henry Winters, what on earth are you
doing here?" was the familiar and astonished saluta-
tion. "Are you mad? Fleeing from a bride that
only wants wings to be an angel. Henry Winters, in
the name of "
" Stop, for heaven's sake, stop and hear me," said
Henry. "I want a horse; the fleetest one in your
stable. I want it quick. Not a second to lose. The
man who is now leading Mary Holbrook to the altar
is a villain and a black-hearted scoundrel. He is not
Henry Winters. I must get there before the cer-
emony or "
By this time Farmer Dickson was dancing all over
the yard. He was too excited to be of any help.
" JJallo there, Hank, go and bring out the little gray
264
THE RACE AND THE RESCUE. 265
Sam, for the love of all the saints, put a saddle
Jane, Wife, Molly, come out here and help, quick,
quick; 'taint Henry Winters that's being ; good
Lord, I forgot, every blessed one of them have gone
to the wedding. Take any horse you want. They
are all good ones; hitch up " But Henry was not
listening; he had heard very little the old gentle
man said; he had rushed into the stable, put a saddle
and bridle on the only horse there, and was just
mounting when Farmer Dickson yelled out, "Give
him the reins; let him have his own way; he is the
fastest horse in the county. Don't be afraid to let
him jump. Nervy Jim never yet lost a race, and by
the eternal heavens he won't lose this one stars and
snakes see him go" and before the honest old farmer
had finished his exciting instructions to the rider,
Nervy Jim was a mile away, leaping astonishingly
long strides, gathering himself at each jump as
though his limbs were steel springs and plunging
ahead like the swift wind, the noble brute seeming
to understand that it was no common race he was
making that day.
Nervy Jim doubled himself right down to work.
His big nostrils were extended wide and broad, his
beautiful neck was stretched straight out from his
lithe body, as if he expected to win the race by pass-
ing under the wire only a hand's breadth ahead of
time; his mane and tail stood out full length with the
wind, and ere half the distance was made, the white
foam completely encircled his black body. It was
ten miles rifle from Farmer Dickson's house. When
the bold rider mounted his steed he had twenty-six
266 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
minutes to make the distance. The best he expected
to do was to reach the scene of the festivities before
the ceremony was finished. Nervy Jim needed no
urging. He was doing his best, and Henry felt that
was enough, if no mishaps overtook him. Farm
houses were passed, but they were deserted. One
little village was reached, and not a soul was seen.
Everybody was at the wedding, except the bride-
groom. On yonder rise, in plain sight, was the
school-house, and a little farther on was the church
building, but the daring rider saw neither; his eyea
were strained to catch the first sight of scenes beyond.
The horse and rider may safely be left to proceed
alone to the Holbrook farm. The reader can reach
there first, and just in time to note the completion of
the out door arrangements for the wedding festivi-
ties. The trees which line the lawn are festooned
with wreaths of prairie flowers, fruit blossoms and
gaily-colored ribbons. Two parallel banks of flow-
ers, a few feet apart, and running the ontiro length
of the lawn, mark the boundaries of the green aisle
along which the bride must pass to reach the altar.
The altar is a raised platform, over which, and high
enough for a person to stand upright, is a covering
made of branches of trees and w T reaths of evergreens,
and the sides are bedeeked with flowers, surrounded
with a dense thicket of hot-house plants. On either
side the aisle rough seats have been placed, and these
are now occupied by the guests, who have come from
far and near to witness the marriage ceremony and
participate in the wedding festival. It is a gay
throng,^- a merry, laughing, chatting gathering of
hard-working, industrious people.
THE RACE AXD THE RESCUE. 267
Inside the house there seems but little stir for such
an hour. There is a quietness unnatural, more like
preparations for a funeral, than a marriage. Better
a funeral now than a wedding. The bride's maids have
been ready for half an hour. They, too, partake
somewhat of the sombre surroundings. They know
not why. There is a mysterious something constantly
suggesting anything but gayety and cheerfulness.
The laughter and merriment of the guests without
sound harshly upon the ears of the maids, and yet
when could laughter and merriment be more appro-
priate than now ? The more intimate friends, who
have assisted in the preparations for the ceremony and
the wedding feast, notice the gloom which possesses
everything and everybody, and they feei it should be
removed if possible. But who can do it ? None know
how it came, from whence it came, or why it came.
Will the light come at last ? Will the dark veil be
lifted, that the sunshine which is hidden behind it
may be revealed ? Can Mary Ilolbrook do it ? No.
She is shackled with ropes of steel and powerless as
an infant. She is disturbed and distressed, but she
attributes it to the excitement of the important event
she is soon to be a party to. On bended knees she
asks for divine assistance. If the dead are permitted
to look down upon the scenes of this earth, and c;in
influence human conduct, she asks her mother, her
father, and Henry's mother, to guide and direct her
steps. With faith in the Divinity, trusting the spirits
of the dead will point out the right way, if so be she
is tempted to take the wrong one, she prepares to
complete her toilet and calls her maid from the
adjoining room.
268 THE MORTGAGE FOKECLOSED.
Do not make such haste, sweet Mary -Holbroou.
Those orange blossoms well become that fair bro\(,.
But they need re-arranging. They conceal tow
much of that beautiful forehead. Perhaps it were
well its whiteness should be shaded by the tinge of
yellow that clings so closely to both forehead and
blossoms. That is a pretty veil so snowy white, so
rich, so rare. It may be admired even though the
wedding guests are waiting. That pretty rosebud
well becomes its place so near the heart. Now
all is ready. Keady? Why this agitation? Why
that flushed cheek? A moment since it was pale and
white as the spotless gown that robes the fairest of
maidens. It must be the fresh air that the gentle
breeze has stirred up without. Don't seek to hide
those blushes, Mary Holbrook, they become you as
virtue becomes an angel. God's pure air is a great
physician, it may strengthen you now when you need
strength the most.
As Mary steps upon the greensward and comes in
plain view of the multitude of friends who have come
to make merry at her wedding, a murmur of delight
reaches her ears. They are captivated by her beauty .
always beautiful, but now more beautiful than ever,
Alone she walks up the green aisle, the handiwork
of nature and loving hands. Her path is bedecked
with the flowers of early summer. Following a short
distance come the maids, who, with bowed heads, keep
even pace with the prospective bride. Go slow, Mary
Holbrook, you follow no one; for some wise purpose
you lead; lead ever so slowly, and even then you may
lead too fast. There are times when it were better
THE RACK AND THE RESCUE. 269
for a bride to be late at the altar than precisely
on time. There are marriage festivals when the
happiness of a lifetime may be wrapped up in delay.
Go a little slower now, dear girl, perhaps the mist
yo:i see through that thin veil may be lifted, and float
v forever, if your slow footsteps move slower still.
It may be that your heavy heart, heavy when, if ever
in life, it should be light, and heavy from no revealed
<\ may be relieved of its burden, if you should
stop and rest even for a moment; moments now are
more precious' than jewels. You are in the hands of
Divinity. His holy angels should direct you wisely.
That faltering step, that surfeit of low spirits, that
depressed condition of body and soul are God's sig-
nals telling you that he has not forsaken the innocent
and pure. Yonder the bridegroom cometh. Take
his outstretched hand. There may be strength there
for both. The holy man of God breaks the silence:
' Dearly beloved, \ve arc gathered together here in
the sight of God, and in the face of this company,
to join together this man and this woman in holy
matrimony."
"A littl<> too rapid, reverend sir, is your utterance
of these solemn words." It seemed as though a mes-
senger, invisible, whispered those words in the aged
preacher's ears. For he continued more slowly and
more solemnly with the beautiful service:
"Into this holy estate these two persons present
come now to be joined. If any man can show just
cause why they may not lawfully be joined together,
let him now speak or else hereafter forever hold his
peace."
270 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
With this last word came a rumbling sound from
a distance, and so strange was it and so sudden did
it break upon the ears of the multitude, that all were
disturbed for a moment, and all became earnestly
interested in knowing the cause. The minister's
hand trembled and his book came near falling to the
ground. What was it? The sound came nearer and
nearer. It was evidently the clatter of horses' hools
on the hard prairie road, caused by some tardy farmer
hastening to the wedding feast. The holy man con-
tinued :
"I require and charge you both, as ye will answer
at the dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of
all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of ye know
of any impediment why ye may not be lawfully
joined together in matrimony, ye do now confess it."
These words caused the expected bridegroom to
rock to and fro like a reed in the gale. His face
turned white as the bridal veil that almost touched
his pallid cheeks. Only nerves of iron kept him on
his feet. The clattering hoofs on one side, the mean-
ing of which he could not fail to understand, and
the solemn warning of the preacher on the other,
filled his soul with the utmost terror.
" Henry, wilt thou have this woman to be thy
wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance
in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou love her,
comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in
health; and, forsaking all others, keep " and
then the subdued confusion became intensely oppress-
ive. The people were on their feet, and every eye
was turned in the direction of the rapidly nearing
THE RACE AND THE RESCUE. 271
horse and rider. The noble animal w*,. ou the
swiftest gallop, the rider was waving his <*rms in
the air and urging the horse to increased speed. The
preacher raised his eyes from the book stopped read-
ing looked perplexed and annoyed at the apparent
discourteous interruption, and was about to proceed
with the ceremony, when the tumult became so
uproarious and the excitement so intense, bordering
on an uncontrollable panic, that he closed the book
and gave his support to the bride, just in time to pre-
vent her falling.
There was no time to ask questions or answer
them. That rider on that steed, and those out-
stretched arms what could it all mean? There was
even no time to think what it meant. The clat-
tering hoofs on the hard ground sounded to the
astonished ears of the assemblage as though a caval-
cade of untamed steeds were racing for life. The
rider caught sight of the stars and stripes floating in
the breeze, and now his voice could be heard was he
cheering the flag, or was he mad? The excited spec-
tators instinctively divided and made a passage for
horse and stranger. The rider draws tight the reins;
the faithful animal, white with foam, stops at the
bidding. The horseman leaps from the saddle, rushes
through the bank of flowers, hurries along the path
where a few moments before the prospective bride
had walked, and, loudly exclaiming, "I forbid the
bans, I am Henry Winters, that man is an impostor! "
reached the improvised altar just in time to receive
in his arms the fainting form of Mury Ilolbrook.
The confusion now was more intense than ever.
272 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
A few persons nearest the altar had heard the words of
the stranger, and quickly comprehending the mean-
ing, explanations were made for all to hear, and what
bade fair to be a serious panic, gave way to the
most unbounded enthusiasm. The crowd gave cheer
after cheer, hats were thrown in the air, handker-
chiefs waved, and amid these demonstrations of
rejoicing, Mary Holbrook, restored to consciousness,
was assisted into the house, and Charles Manning,
taking advantage of the noisy evidence of his rival's
popularity, walked out of the crowd, hastened to the
stable near by, saddled and bridled a horse, mounted
him and rode swiftly in the direction of the setting
sun. Reaching a neighboring town, he disposed of his
horse and a few personal effects, and, joined by the
woman in black, the two, mother and son, sought to
hide themselves in the wilds of the Rocky Mountains.
They subsequently laid claim, through an attorney,
to the money found on Groundwig's person, but as it
was proven to be the proceeds of the fraudulent sale
of the Winters' homestead, the money was ordered
restored to the purchaser.
CHAPTER XXXII.
A RETROSPECT A MARRIAGE THE WHITE LIGHT.
" If we only knew how to live as well as we know
how to love, we would live and love forever, do you
not think so, Henry?" was Mary Holbrook's inquiry
of her lover, a few weeks after the scenes occurred
which are recorded in the previous chapter. There
was no verbal answer. None was needed or expected.
Perfect bliss once more took possession of their
hearts, and not even a flickering spark that could be
fanned into a doubt came to disturb their happiness.
Weeks passed in telling the story of each other's
lives, during the separation. Both were eloquent
listeners and both were eloquent talkers, and both
had volumes to tell and volumes to listen to.
Henry, upon visiting his mother's grave, found that
loving hands had kept the mound green and the sum-
mer flowers in bloom. With his head bowed upon the
little white monument, Henry stood there alone,
except as the spirit of a sainted mother may impress
its presence on a loving son and wept. Memory
was busy. The past came plodding slowly along,
loaded with a mother's prayers and tears, with a
mother's hopes and fears, but revealing neither sii.ni
of distrust nor a whisper of losing faith in God, n<-r
want of confidence in the honor and integrity of her
son. No rebuke, no < <> blame, but a pure
and holy trust in heaven's justness and mercy hal-
18 278
274: THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
lowed the noble woman's memory. Henry felt that
in no act of his was laid the seeds of remorse, nor
cause for a single wound to have ever made his
mother's heart bleed, nor a single pang of ingrati-
tude to have made her shed a tear.
The son read and re-read the thrilling narrative
his mother had written, and he saw that where there
might have been a spot or a blemish on her character,
her story had removed every stain and destroyed'
every taint. Her life had been pure and noble and :
brave. A monster in law the husband and the^
father seeking a revenge he had no cause to seek,,
had followed her through all her life of womanhood:
to her death-bed, and even there had planned for his:
vengeance to follow her into the very presence of her-
Maker. Justice, with its avenging arm, came quickly
and thwarted the miscreant's plans, exposed all his;
infamies, and gave him a few clods of clay t^ cover-
his crimes and keep them from smelling to* heaven..
The other the treacherous imposter aiad cunning;
knave went, none knew or cared whither; perhaps, ,
in some mountain gulch he may bs cursing his con-
science for leading him to barter his soul for a'
life of infamy. He learned too late that conscience*
is one's own self, and caa neither be created with
good nor charged with evil, except as that good or
evil comes from the .heart.
Henry pondered with the deepest interest over the
picture portrayed so vividly by his dying mother. He
did not believe it overdrawn, or the colors unnatural.
Call it revelation. Call it supernatural. It was no
dream. It was not entirely the offspring of the
A RETROSPECT A MARRIAGE. 275
imagination. It was no delusion. It \vas an impres-
sion forced on Mrs. Winters' mind, when virtually in
the presence of her Creator, that all she pictured was
in store for the farmers and laboring men whenever
they should unite in favor of tariff reform.
One evening after things had become somewhat,
settled on the Winters' farm, three or four neighbors
.called to discuss with Mr. Winters a few points con-
nected with the operation of the tariff.
"Do you think," remarked Mr. Scott, "that the
cause of the abandonment of so many farms; in the
Eastern and Middle Stales is due to the tariff?"
" Xo doubt of it, to a certain extent, directly or
indirectly," replied Mr. Winters. " But what an
unanswerable argument are those desolate fields, and
ancestral buildings going to decay, to the claim that
protection insures a home market for home produce!
The greatest desolation is almost within shouting
distance of the greatest manufacturing centers. The
smoke from many a tall factory chimney casts tor-
tuous shadows on farms and houses gone to waste,
not because the soil was exhausted or the State depop-
ulated, but because the farmers could not grow food
in competition with the cheap labor of Europe and
'>mit to the price of that food being
fixed in Liverpool, and at the same time be com-
pelled to buy the necessaries of life at home at the
high price fixed by protection.
" The desolation and decay so rapidly increasing
in the funning regions of the East, stands, in a meas-
ure, as the handiwork of protection. Like causes
produce like effects. If the farmers of the West per-
276 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
mit their fears to be quieted b^the promise that dot-
ting the prairies with factories, and bringing a home
market to the door of the producer, will increase the
price of farm produce, or increase its purchasing
power, they can not shut their eyes to the fact that,
under the same condition of things, there is now
going on in one portion of this country a general
abandonment of cultivated farms and a general decay
of farm buildings/'
" Still, I do not know/' remarked Farmer Lake,
" except in the extent of the waste, that the aban-
donment of Eastern farms is any worse than burn-
ing corn in the West having reference to the fact
that when corn is used for fuel, the farmer must sell
it at less than the cost of production."
" The result in time," replied Mr. Scott, " will be
the same, unless a remedy is found, not because corn
is being used for fuel, but because corn, which ranks
second in value of any crop grown, has no adequate
market."
" The only remedy, then, is to find a market, is it
not?" asked Mr. Winters. "There is but one other
remedy suggested, and that is for the farmers to
agree to raise less corn and less pork, and that remedy
every farmer will plainly see is impracticable. It is
the remedy offered in the interest of protection, and
is a delusion and a snare."
"But where and how will you find a market?'
" I will tell you what I think about it," replied
Mr. Winters. " In the first place, I don't believe
that over-production is the cause of the low price
of corn. Corn is the cheapest and healthiest food
A RETROSPECT A MARRIAGE. 277
the soil produces. Its value as an article of food
is comparatively unknown outside of America.
Were the restrictions put on trade by the tariff
removed, corn and corn meal would be shipped wher-
ever people could be found who eat wholesome food,
and who are civilized enough to offer something they
make or grow or find in the ground or the sea in
exchange for food.
"When the manufacturer leans on his own
resources, as he will in $ great measure when the
protective features of the tariff are withdrawn, and
no longer becomes the object of government charity,
he will grow rich by selling his wares in all the mar-
kets of the world, and the ship that carries his
goods will make up a part of its cargo with Ameri-
can corn.
"For the farmers to admit as correct the theory of
the agricultural department at Washington, that the
low price of corn is due to overproduction, and to
act on (hat theory, and undertake to restrict the
bushels to be raised each year to a certain fixed num-
ber, would only add to the depression everywhere
prevailing in the farm industry, and result disas-
trously to every interest depending largely on the
food supply.
"The growth of wheat in this country has quite
reached the limit. The world's increase will be largely
!a, where labor is cheaper than in any other por-
tion of the globe. But corn on this continent has no
limit in sight. Nor has America any serious com-
petitor in growing corn. Put corn, and the meat
corn produces, within reach of the people who want
278 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
such food and are able to buy it, and the ca-
pacity of this country to supply the demand will be
tested to the uttermost, and the nation that furnishes
the product will have much to say about fixing the
price. Iso farmer should be discouraged at corn
being used for fuel as long as the odious tariff system
prevents his exchanging that corn throughout the world
for such commodities of use and value as the world may
have to give in exchange for it. Modify that system
to the extent it stands for protection, and the deca-
dence in growing corn, now threatened, will cease,
and the one grain crop which America can control
will again become king. The fittest will survive. If
the fittest be the high tariff, the high tariff will live.
If it be corn, the corn will continue to be the great
crop of the West. Whichever it shall be it is for the
farmers and wage-earners to determine."
"Sound to the very core/' remarked Farmer Lake,
" and I am satisfied the farmers are aroused to
the necessity of pulling together and testing the
remedy offered by tariff reform, for the decline of
agriculture. Only last evening the president of our
alliance announced himself a tariff reformer. He
was cheered to the echo. He has all along been a
protectionist, and the applause indicated that the
alliance was composed almost entirely of tariff
reformers, although the political parties are about
equally represented. Our president in announcing
his conversion said he had been studying the condi-
tions which made it possible for these vast trusts,
syndicates, combinations and monopolies to increase
60 rapidly and succeed so prosperously, and he found
A RETROSPECT A MARRIAGE. 279
that almost invariably the combination was formed
on some business or industry that was highly pro-
tected, and the first thing it did after dividing its
watered stock among its members, was to raise the
price of the goods dealt in by the trust, and as the
farmers and laborers are the largest consumers of
necessaries, they have to stand the larger share of the
raise. The tariff answers the purpose of capital,
thus making the government a partner in all these
trusts, and a party to robbing its own people.
" During the evening a resolution was introduced,
suggesting that the alliance and farmers' clubs join
in a fight on the twine combination, and the presi-
dent moved there be added the three thousand other
articles on which there was a tax, and make the fight
on all of them, and not select twine as the special
object of our warfare, just because we were able to see
that the high price of twine, made possible only be-
cause the tariff prevented the manufacturer from
procuring cheap raw material from abroad, increased
the cost of harvesting grain. There are hundreds of
articles, he said, that much more need looking after
by the farmers, and much more affect the cost of
harvesting, than binding twine. Strike at all of
them, and spare none "
Once again the Holbrook mansion is the scene of
preparations for a wed dine:. The change is marked
and pleasing. To-day Mary Holbrook is her real,
lovely self again. No tears, no sad thoughts, no
despondency, but all is the cheerfulness which so well
280 THE MORTGAGE FORECLOSED.
becomes the maiden on her bridal day. The same
maids attend her. They are full of animation and
glee. No muffled tread about the house. All are as
merry as light hearts can make merriment.
On the lawn the former order of things is being
restored. Flowers, garlands, festoons and wreaths
are replaced so as to give the same appearance as on
that day the fatal mistake came so nearly being made.
It is a gala day, too, for the entire neighborhood, far
and near. From every direction the invited guests
are coming, laughing, chatting, frolicking and
even boisterous in their merriment. The large lawn
is being taxed to the uttermost to accommodate the
happy throng. Captain Bodfish has come from his
Eastern home and is made a hero. The part he
played in the strange eventful scenes detailed in these
chapters is known to everybody on the ground, and
he is showered with compliments and blessings.
Just as the bride and groom elect are passing out
the door- way, the shrill whistle of a locomotive breaks
in on the stillness, and soon the iron horse, gayly
trimmed with flowers and smilax and golden rod
and an hundred flags floating in the breeze, appears
in sight, sweeping along with a mile-a-minute speed,
and comes to a stop within a few rods of the crowd
of enthusiastic spectators. Three men alight find
move quickly toward the scene of the festivities.
Though their coming is a surprise to Henry, he at
once recognizes them as the division superintendent
and engineer and fireman who played such an
important part in foiling the scheme of the bold
imposter. As Henry steps forward, meeting them
A RETROSPECT A MARRIAGE. 281
with a most cordial welcome, the assembled crowd
comprehend who the new comers are, and the welkin
rings again and again with cheer upon cheer for the
railroad visitors, not forgetting a tiger for the noble
engine. In another moment clattering hoofs attract
the attention of the throng, and the well-known
form of Nervy Jim, ridden by Farmer Dickson,
comes in sight, and is halted in the very midst of the
crowd, where he is received with enthusiastic delight.
This time the marriage ceremony is finished, and
the holy man of God pronounces Henry Winters
and Mary Holbrook man and wife.
The Winters' farm continues to be a popular resort
for the farmers of the neighborhood. They congre-
gate there to discuss the great question of tariff
reform the question which they believe involves the
fate of the farming industry of the land. They realize
the fact that the way out of the depression which is so
imperiously invading their homes and so surely
entwining them in its coils, is to place tariff reform
above party, and keep it there until all that the
friends of the reform claim for it becomes firmly
established as the American policy.
The party in power, ever claiming it can nnd
will reform the tariff, while this chapter is being
written, meets the demands of the farmers for lower
taxes on the things they buy, with a bill for an addi-
tional tariff on certain farm produce, but adds an
increased tax of one hundred per cent, on woolen
and linen goods, and tin plate. The first part of
28/5 THE MORTGAGE FOllECLOSED.
tho proposition is a gratuitous insult to every farmer
in the land; because not one of them but knows that
no amount of tariff on breadstuffs and meat could
increase the price a single cent, for the reason that
foreign countries do not bring those articles here and
offer them for sale. The other branch of the proposi-
tion actually doubles the price the farmers must pay
for many of the most common necessaries of life
And this is called reforming the tariff, in the interest
of the farmer, by the friends of tariff reform !
There is, and there can be. judging by what has been
done, and what is now proposed by the party in
power, but one way to bring about this reform, and
that is to retire that party and put in their places
men pledged to vote for tariff reform.
The white light Mrs. Winters saw on her death-bed,
the son believes, is lying dormant in the ballot-box,
awaiting the time when the farmer and the wage-
earner shall go forward in their strength and deposit
their votes for men who favor tariff reform, to come
forth and cover the land with the grandeur and glory
so vividly pictured by the dying woman.
The fate of the farmer is in his own hands. It
rests with him to say whether his star of destiny
shall lead him from the abandoned farm and desolate
home, into new and untried avocations, where cease-
less toil awaits him, or whether it shall shine upon
an industry that insures a profitable return on the
money and toil invested, with the comforts and pleas-
ures, the hopes and ambitions, he and his desire, sure
of realization.
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2. Adam Htxle ............................................... George Eliot
6. Adventures o{ a Brownie ...............................
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8. All Aboard ................................................ Oliver Optio
9. Allan Qnntermain ................................. H. Itider Haggard
10. Alice's A< 1 . Wonderland ..................... Lewis Carroll
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12. American Wit and Humor ................... Peck, Nyo.
14. Anderson's Fairy Tales ..................... Hans Christian Andersen
16. Angeiine ................................................ I. N. Percival
20. Attic Philosopher in Paris, An .................. ivestie
21. Aurette ................................................. Henry Greville
24. Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin ........... . ....................
of the Break ............ Oliver Wendell Holmes
Corner Cupboard ......... Mary and Elizabeth Kirby
29. Back 10 the Old Home ........... '. ................. -il Hay
81. 1-!. .................................... Sir Francis Bacon
87. Ba of Diamonds ................................... Or. Mnnvi 1
nditti of the Prairies .............................. Kihv;>.rd Bonney
40. Barrack Koom Hull ads .............................. Itudyard Kipling
.................................... ). G. Holland
;H Bonnie Brior Bush .......................... Ian Mnclaren
.no .............................................. H. E. Browa
............................................ Augusta ,!.
47. Black iJt.'i'ity ............................................. Anna Sewall
!; .............................................. Ita I ph Connor
b ................................................ Oliv.
................................ James lltisnll Lowell
............................ Charlotte M. Yonge
.............................................. Bill Nye
.......................... Nathaniel II uwt home
I .................................. Washington Irvintj
................................ 1'hillii.s Bropkt*
T>2. Hi ............................ .wiling
.........................................
........................................
........................................
' ................................... SUHi
:-ai,'e .............................. Lor.'
......................... Charles :
- Carol ......................... Charles 1
81. Chnstii..:! Livinp .......................................... F. B. Meyer
The ........................................ loir
.................................... Alexandre. Dumas
of Mil** Standish, The .............. Henry W. Lor..
.................................... Mary Jane Hoi meg
...................................
i tho Hearth ................................ Charles I
irae of Philip Giithrie, The .......................... Lulu RaRcdald
.................................... John
.......................... A Conac ttoyle
nil* ...........................................
ntul Ditties ............................... Rurtyard Klf.linR
rg layer ................................... James Fen (more Cooper
....... .......................... Madeline Vinton Uahlgren
104. Dodo ..................................................... K. F. Beoaon
106. Dog Crusoe and His Master R. M. Bahnntyni
107. DOR of Flanders, A Ouida
108. Dolly Dialogues Anthony Hope
110. JT>ora Deane Mary J. Holmes
112. L ream Life (Ik Marvel) Donald G. Mitchell
114. jX-ummond's Addresses Henry Drummond
115. 1 >uchess (The Duchess) Mrs. Hungerford
116. Elizabeth and Her German Garden
118. Emerson's Essays Ralph Waldo Emerson
119. Emerson's Poems Ealph Waldo Emerson
I'M. English Woman's Love Letters, An
121. English Orphans Mary Jane Holmes
122. Essays of Elia Charles Lamb
123. Esther Waters George Moore
125. Ethics of the Dust John Euskin
127. Evangel ine Henry \\. Longfellow
128. Evil Eye, The Theophila Gauthier
131. Fatal Love Ramiriz Arias
182. Fairyland of Science Arabella Buckley
134. Favorite Poems Elmo
185. Flower Fables Louisa M. Alcott
137. Fifteen Decisive Battles Sir Edward Shepherd Creasy
139. First Violin Jessie Fothergili
140. Forging the Fetters Mrs. Alexander
141. Frankenstein Mary Shelley
143. Garden of Verses, Child's Robert Louis Stevenson
145. Gold Dust Charlotte M. Yonge
147. Grandfather's Chair Nathaniel Hawthorne
148. Green Dragon, At the Beatrice Harraden
161. Gul liver's Travels Dean Swift
163. Heir of Linne Kobert Buchanan
158. Her Shattered Idol. Belle V. Logan
169. Heroes and Hero Worship Thomas Curly le
161. Hiawatha Henry W. Lonpfellow
162 Holmes' Poems Oliver Wendell Holmes
163. Homestead on the Hillside Mary .lane Holmes
165. House of Seven Gables Nathaniel Hawthorne
167. House of the Wolf Stanley J. Weyman
169. How It Came About Maja Spencer
171. Hvpatia Charles Kingsley
173. Ideala Sarah Grand
174. Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow Jerome K. Jerome
176. Idylls of the Kinf? Alfred Tennyson
177. Imitation of Christ Thomas a Kempis
178. In Chase of Crime Du Boisgobey
179. In Memoriam Alfred Tennyson
180. In the Rockies W. II. G. Kingston
181. Inez Augusta J. EVHUS
182. Ishmael, or, In the Depths Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth
183. Ivanhoe Sir Walter Scott
184. John Halifax Miss Mulock
185. Kept for the Master's Use Frances Ridley Havergal
186. Kidnapped Robert Louis Stevenson
191. King of the Golden River John Ruskiu
192. Knickerbocker's History of New York Washington Irving
194. L'Americane Jules Claretie
196. Laddie and Miss Toosev's Mission Author of Zos
198. ,ady Grace Mrs. Henry Wood
199. Lady of the Lake Sir Walter Scott
201. Lalla Rookh Thomas Moore
202. Lamplighter Maria S. Cummins
203. Last Days of Pompeii C. Bulwer-Lytton
204. Last of the Mohicans J. Fenimore Cooper
205. La Veuve , Octave Feuil let
207. JLet Us Follow Him Henry Sienkiewicz
208. Lena Rivers Mary Jane Holmes
209. Light of Asia Edwin Arnold
210. Light That Failed Kudyard Kipling
212. Little Queen of Tragedy, A Laura B. Marsh
214. Lime Kiln Club M. Quad
216 Little Lame Prince Miss Mulock
216. Locksley Hall and Other Poems Alfred Tennyson
219. Longfellow's Poems Henry W. Longfellow
223. Lorna Doone R. D. Blnckmore
224. Love and Tears Areeme Honsaaye
225. Loyalty of Lanpstreth, The John B. V. Gilliat
226. Love Letters of a Worldly Woaan Mrs. W. K. Clifford
227. Lucy's Wonderful Globe Charlotte M. Yonge
229. Lowell's Poems James Russell Lowell
231. Luclle Owen Meredith
234. Madame Sans-Gene Victorien Sardou
286. Maggie Mi 1 ler Mary Jane Holmes
236. Marble Fuun Nathaniel Hawthorne
237. Maid. Wife or Widow Mrs. Alexander
239. Makers of Venice Mrs. Oliphant
241. Man from Wall Street St. George Rathbon*
243. Man in Black Stanley J. Weyman
244. Marmion Sir Walter Scott
245. Micah Clarke A. Conan Doyle
248. Meadowbrook Mary Jane Holmes
249. Miss Milne and I Iota
250. Modern Quixote, A 8. 0. McCay
251. Moes-Side Marion Harland
252. Mosses from an Old Manse Nathaniel Hawthorne
253. Mortgage Foreclosed, Tho E. H. Thayer
254. Mother's Cook Book Harland
256. Macaria Aujrusta J. Evans
256. Minister's Wooing Harriet Beecher Stows
257. Mrc Caudle's Curtain Lectures. Douglas Jerrold
Lady's Money Wilkie Oollina
259. Mysterious Juror Du Boisgobey
261. Nameless Love Charles Loruon
tural Law in the Spiritual World Henry Drummond
265. Not Like Other Girls Rosa N. Carey
266. Now or Never Oliver Optio
inroon, The Miss M. E. Braddon
James Steel
' . The Theo. Baughman
::-8 Darwin
HVJ. l';ist and Present Thomas Carlyle
273. Paradise Lost John Milton
276. Pathfinder J. Fenimore Cooper
279. Paul and Vli -inia Saint Pierre
r,orge W. Peck
rfumeof the Violet, The Frank H. Howe
283. Peter Simple Cnj>t. Marryat
284. Pilgrim's Progress John Bunyan
286. Pioneers J. Fenimore Cooper
286. Plain Tales from the Hills Uii.lyard Kipling
287. Pli'Mun-s of Life Sir John Lubbock
288. Poe's Poems K.lgnr Allan Poe
2H9. PO.-'H TiiU- Edgar Allan Poe
290. Pi,.
291. Prisoners nnd ' Hour) -Si-fun Merriman
292. Pride an-1 Jane Austen
293. Prim a Donna i.- I he .IcKnnna
294. Prince c.i i Rev. J. H. Ingraham
295. pr i Alfred Tennyson
296 Poor and : . .Oliver Optio
ifessor at the Breakfast Table Oliver Wendell Holme*
.irit. The J. Fenimore Cooper
George. William OurtU
the Air ..John Ruskin
L> and liis Frii-ud* Lr. John Browa
805. Representative Men. .Ralph Waldo Emerson
807. Revenge of Circe Alexina Lorqugen
80a Eeveries of a Bachelor (Ik Marvel) Donald G. Mitchell
809. Robinson Crusoe Daniel Defoe
812. Rifle Rangers Capt. Mayne Reid
818. Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam Edward Fitzgerald
814. Rosamond Mary J. Holmes
815. Royal Robber, A Herbert Rau
822. Scalp Hunters Capt. Mayne Reid
826. Sis to Sixteen Mrs. Juliana II. Ewing
327. Samantha at Saratoga Joeiah Allen's Wife
328. Sartor Resartus Thomas Carlyle
829. Scarlet Letter, The Nathaniel Hawthorne
830. Self Raised, or, From the Depths Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth
831. Seneca's Morals Sir Roger L' Estrange
832. Sesame and Lilies John Ruskin
333. Shadow of a Sin Bertha M. Clay
834. She's All the World to Me Hall Caine
335. Ships That Pass in the Night Beatrice Harraden
836. Sign of the Four A. Conan Doyle
887. 8 ingle Heart and Double Face Charles Reade
338. Singularly Deluded Sarah Grand
389. Six Gray Powders, The Mrs. Henry Wood
840. Sketch Book. The Washington Irving
841. Snow Image, The Nathaniel Huwthorne
842. Squire's Darling Bertha M. Clay
843. Stickit Minister, The S. R. Crockett
344 . Stories from the French Guy de Maupassant and others
845. Story of an African Farm (Ralph Iron) Olive Schreiner
846. Strange Case of Henry Toplass John W. Postgate
847. Stronger than Death Emile Richabonrg
848. Study in Scarlet A. Conan Doyle
849. Swiss Family Robinson J. D. and J. R. Wyss
350. Tales from Shakespeare Charles and Mary Lamb
851. Tales from the Odyssey Walter C. Perry
352. Tales from Tennyson G. O. Allen
853. Tanglewood Tales Nathaniel Hawthorne
854. Three Men in a Boat Jerome K. Jerome
355. Thelma Mario CorelH
356. Through the Looking Glass Lewis Carroll
357. Tom Brown at Oxford Thomas Hughes
858. Tom Brown's School Days Thomas Hughes
359. Treasure Island Robert Louis Stevenson
360. True and Beautiful John Rustkin
861. Try Again Oliver Optic
862. Tempest and Sunshine Mary Jnne Holmes
864. Twice Told Tales Nathaniel Hawthorne
365. Under the Maples Walter N. Ilinmau
866. Uncle Tom's Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe
367. Vnshti and Esther Author of Belle's Letters
368. Vicar of Wakefield Oliver Goldsmith
3G9. Voyage of the Sunbeam Lady Brassey
870. Water Babies Charles Kingsley
371. Wedded and Parted Bertha M. Clay
372. What Will the World Say? Mary Jane Holmes
878. What Would You Do, Love? Mary Jane Holmes
874. Whittier's Poems John Greenleaf Whittier
875. White Company, The A. Conan Doyle
876. Wicked Girl, A Mary Cecil Hay
877. Wide, Wide World Susan Warner
878. Williams Brothers Adrian Percy
879. Window in Thrums J. M. Barrie
880. Wit, Hurnor and Pathos Eli Perkins
881. Wonder Book, The Nathaniel Hawthorn*
382. Yellow Aster, The Iota
888. Youngest Soldier of the Grand Army Dn Boisgobey
891, Zoe Author of Laddie
COMPLETE LIST Of THE
POETIC AND PROSE WORKS
... OF ...
ELLA WHEELER WILCOX
POEMS OF POWER.
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WORKS Of ELLA WHEELER WILCOX Continued.
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Her latest and greatest poem. This marvelous narrative of
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AN ERRING WOMAN'S LOVE.
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MEN, WOMEN AND EMOTIONS.
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ELLA WHEELER WILCOX is pre-eminently America's leading
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A 000 1 27 998 3