THE MORTGAGED BRIDE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11502, 7 February 1903, Page 5

THE MORTGAGED BRIDE.

Br Claudia Hit Fhrrix. Hiram Patton had used his credit for so many deals of different kinds that he had leached the point rhere none would trust j him for a penny. For an unmarried man | of the maturer twenties he was exceedingly unfortunate, for oft-times his trade co languished that he could barely eke out the most meagre livelihood. His blacksmith shop was bis only hope, and of that the contents alone were his. The last-named fact might have afforded him a grain of comfort had tho oented building been a substantial one, or his set of tools and appliances of the patent list of the last few decades; but it seemed that Time had, sent him all the worn-out, discarded things to be found, with a shelter which age bad long since marked as unworthy of the name. Hiram was progressive, in his way; but he was too slow—or, rather, too fastr—for the age in which he lived. Had he saved hi« money lie could long since have been independent, for hie business was largely cash and his list of patrons of goodly length. In view of these facts, it was strange that no surplus funds beyond the necessary "change" ever jingled in his purse, yet it was these very facts that handicapped him at every turn. And when a neighbouring smith decided to sell out his business— building, contents, and all—the chance ol a lifetime seemed to have come to Hiram's very shop-door. f Mr Patton exerted himself most heroically to renew his long since threadbare credit in order to purchase the shop. The shrewd Mr Coler knew him too well to irake the trade on any other than ironclad-black-and-white terms, which harassed the covetous Hiram most grievously. Aa a last resort the young man determined to bombard the bank account of a crusty old bachelor of the vicinity, one Bartimeus Graves, whose reputation for close deals and miserly favours was unrivalled. But Hiram was desperate. And, resolving to secure the, money on whatever terms might seem necessary, he approached the ill-tempered Bart with the blandest smile he could command. Bart, on - the other hand, was mistrustful of Hiram Patton and his creditless reputation; but an opportunity to loan money at good interest was to him something not. to be despised. Hiram's straightforward manner of introducing the subject impressed him favourably, while the youth's confidence in the success of-the venture heightened his own ambition pro rata. His terms were rigid, yet to Hiram hiß rasping tone seemed but the voice of a guardian angel. Yes; he would loan the money,, provided Patton would give a firstclass mortgage on the lot, building, contents, and trade, meaning by the last item that everything purchased or in any way secured with the money earned in, the shop —whether it be livestock, furnishings, or horseshoe nails—should belong to "the said Bartimeus Graves" by virtue of the mortgage. « . The papers were signed up and the new proprietor at work in his shop, ere the neighbours knew that the trade had been made. They flocked thither to congratulate him on his good fortune, every one volunteering to help him transfer the best of hi* belongings from the old place of business to the new. Early and late did the youth hammer away, his now doubled custom making such labour necessary. The first payment was met without accident; also the second. This so elated, him that be relaxed his purse strings just a little, and the third one was met with barely enough of a surplus to pay his board and* lodging for the next few days. But his sudden fit of economy had so wrought upon his landlady that she bade him rest easy as far as hJ& obligations to her were concerned, which'streak of good fortune was followed by an offer of the long withheld credit by the hardware merchants of tlie adjacent viljge. Tlie last-named opportunity was too tempting for the astute Hiram Patton to resist. Accordingly he' stocked "up his shop with up-to-date appliances, Bart Graves looking on with no small degree of interest. It was at about that time that a new arrival in the neighbourhood was reported, a certain Miss Sarah Ann Mills, who liad oome to make her home with a venerable uncle. Ihe event caused no litile stir among the unmarried male element, 'and jokes were passed back and forth with a great deal of freedom. Hiram vowed self proof against the wiles of every daughter of Eve. . / Again he courted a temptation which proved beyond his power of resistance. He met th? young lady, who "was but a few years hie junior, j-t»d-for ;ifcefirst:time in, Jtfif_!i§y?-i&to *wS M*aft rtiegtr.arftm rrmrmmi nn-trr bate <d t

had come. He was in love! And for him to set his heart on anything was to possess it, as had proven the case with the shop. His attentions to the blushing Sarah Ann were regarded with favour, and noon they were engaged. Not long afterward they were married, both being satisfied to dispense with the usual ceremonious de.ay. A neat cottage wae rented near tl» blacksmith shop—so near that the bride couldlisten all day long to the music of her loid's jammer. After hia marriage it was impossible for Hiram to save money. He and Sarah Ann spent it faster than it wan earned. And when Bart. Graves appeared at the shop-door one day to remind lam that the mortgage would "fall due on tho morrow, it seemed that a thunder-bolt had been hurled at him from the clear sky above. "What!" Can't pay it!" demanded Graves, gruffly. "You ought to be ready, goodness knows, as it's the last payment on a good trade." "1 know, but " and he paused, speechless. "Can't you do it?" "No-o/ "Well, I'll have to do the next best thing." "What's that?" "Close the' mortgage." v_-_a't you give me another six months?" implored Hiram. "Nary a day. Bemember, young man, you're'dealing* with old Bart Graves, and there's no backing down. Is this all you've bought?" "No; there's the stuff at the house." •Humph! How much have you spent there?" "About a hundred dollars." "Pretty big sum to waste on a % woman," remarked the crusty old bachelor. "And is that all?" "Ye-es," faltered Hiram. "Be careful," warned Bart. "That mortgage takes in everything, you know." "Well, the fact is," continued Paiton, confusedly. "Fact is, there's my new toggery, and the wedding expenses, and—and Surah Ann." "Wh-ew!" ejaculated Graves, agfhast. "D'ye mean to say I'M have to taka your weddin' duds «g-d*-and your wife, too?" "How does the mortgage read?" "That's so," admitted ' Bart Graves.

"Let's go to the house," said Hiram, abruptly. "We'll have to tell her—there's no getting out of it." Mrs Patton laughed till exhausted when told of her husband's predicament, but blushed nevertheless to know that his queer business transaction involved her own freedom, bhe saw a way out, however, and forthwith advised her liege lord to comply with the letter of the mortgage. "What! And give you oVer to him?" '•'Cerieinly." At which both men began fear that a trip to the insane asylum would be next an order. "That will free you from this obligation, you see, and I'll immediately pledge 'myself to pay Mr Graves the cash balance #n the present encumbrance, you making the money and I saving it. Neither you nor he con definitely estimate my value, you know"—and she bowed with provoking modesty—"so there is no other way to settle the matter. Will that suit you?" "It'll have to," replied her husband, meekly. While with a sudden nod of approbation Mr Graves hurried away 'from the spot', declaring it to be the first and last dealings he would ever have with a woman. That was the last mortgage ever given by Hiram Patton, for with the judicious Sarah Ann to prevent unnecessary expense, he managed to save, not only the shop, but to purchase a. home as well. And, thereafter, whenever times were dull or+he dollars scarce, Sarah Ann had merely to offer to give a mortgage on herself to banish all traces of blues from her husband's face.