The Mortgaged Bride...

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 134, 24 January 1903, Page 17

The Mortgaged Bride...

(U\ Claudia Mai Feuhin.)

HIRAM PATTON had used his 01 edit ioi so man> deals of different kinds that he had reached the point where none would trust him tor a penny. For an unmarried man of the maturer twenties he was exceedingly unfortunate, tor oft-times his trade so languished that he could barely eke out the most meagre livelihood. Mis blacksmith's shop was hi® only hope, and of that the contents alone were his lhe last-named fact might have afforded him a graan of comfort had the rented budding 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 wornout, discarded things to be found, with a shelter which a. 3 e had long since marked as unw orthy of the name. Hiram was progressive, in his way ; but he was too slow -or rather too fast —for the age in which he hyed. Had he saved his money he could long sine*? have been independent, for his 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 m his nurse, vet it as these very facts tljat handicapped him at, every turn fnd^when a neighbouring smith decided to sell out his bueiness— building, contents, and all —the chance of a lifetime seemed to have oome to Hiram's very shop-door. Mr Patton exerted himself most heroically to lenew has long-since-threadbare cielt in order to purchase the shop. The shrewd Mr. CoJer knew him too Tvell to make the trade on any other than ironclad-black-and-white terms, winch harassed the covetous Hiram m t ftTr^rt, the young man determined to bombard the bank account ot a crusty old bachelor of the vicinity, one Bartimeus Graves whose reputation for close deals and miserly favours was unrivalled. l n j But Hiram was desperate. Ana, resolving to secure the money on whatever terms might seem necessarr, he approached the ill-tempered Bartameue with the blandest smile he could command. Bartimeus, on the other hand wfs mistrustful of Hiram Patton and his creditless reputation, but an opportunity to loan money at good interest was to him something not to be despis6 Hiram's straightforward manner of introducing the subiect impressed him favourably, while the youth's confidence in the success of the venture heightened liis own ambition pro rata. „ His terms were rigid, yet to Hiram his rasping tone seemed but the voice ot TgiardiaS angel. Yes ; he would loan the money provided Patton would L eiye a first-class 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 tJhe shop— whether it be livestock furnishings, or horseshoe nailsshould 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 know tlhat the trade had been made. They flocked thither to congratulate him on his good fortune, every one volunteering to heip him transfer the best of his 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 he 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 his obligations to her were concerned, which streak of good fortune w as followed by an offer of the long-withheld credit by the hardware merchants of the adjacent village. The last-named opportunity was too tempting for the astute Hiram Patton to resist. Accordingly he stocked up his shop with up-to-date appliances, Bartimeus 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 had come to make her home with a venerable uncle The event caused no little stir among the unmarried male element, and jokes were passed back and forth with a, great deal of freedom. Hiram vowed himself proof against the wiles of every daughter of Eve Agaan, he courted a temptation which proved beyond his power of resistance. He met the young lady who was but a few years his junior and for the first time in his life felt a tugging at his heartstrings. There was no denying the fact' — the worst had come. lie was in love' And for him to set his heart on anything was to possess it, as had proved the case with the shop

His attentions to the blusliing Sarah Ami were regarded with favour, and soon tliey were engaged. Not long afterwaids they were married, both being satisfied to dispense with the usual ceremonious delaiy. A neat cottage was rented near the blacksmith's shop — so near that the bride could hsten all day long to the music of her lord's hammer. After has marriage it was impossible for Hiram to save money. He and Saralh Ann spent it. faster than it wa.s earned And when Bartimeus Graves appeared at the shor>-door one day to remind him that the mortgage would fall due on, the morrow , it seemed that a thunderbolt had been hurled at him from fhe clear sky above "What? Can't pay it?" demanded Graves, gruffly. "You ought to be ready, goodness knows, as it is the last payment on a good trade." "I 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." "Can't you give me another six moafchs?" implored Hiram. "Nary a. day. Remember, youngr man, you're dealing with old Bartimeus Graves, and there's no backing down Is this all you've bought?" "No there's 'theristuff at the house." "Humph l<-H©w~ much have you spent thereip" -t ,\ ; ; ~ "About a 'Jfcjlindred dollairs." "Pretty hi£ sum to, waste on a, woman," remarked ;jfcijss old bachelor. "And is tkatutt?" "Ye-es," faltered Hiram. "Be careful," warned Bartimeus. "That mortgage takes in everything, you know." "Well, the fact is " continued Patton, confusedly. "Fact is, there's my new toggery, and the wedding expenses, arid — and, Sarah Ann." "Wh-ew 1 " ejaculated Graves, aghast. "D'ye mean to say I'll have to take your weddin' duds and — and your wife, too ? " "How does the mortgage read?" ''That's so," admitted Bartimeus Graves. "Let's go toi 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. She 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?" "Certainly." At which both men began to: fear that a trip to the insane asylum would be next in order. "That will free! you from this obligation, you see, and I'll immediately pledge myself to pay Mr. Graves the cash balance on the present encumbrance, you making the money and I saving it. Neither you nor he can 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 will have to " replied her husband meekly. While, with a sudden nod of approbation., Mr. Graves 1 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 Paitton. 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, thereaifter whenever timer? were dull, or the dollar's scarce, Sarah Ann had merely to offer to give a morterase on herself to banish all traces of blues from her husband's face.