Part 33 (1/2)
”If she comes into my possession again,” said Squire Hudson, ”I shall not be willing to grant you the privilege of redeeming her. It won't be many months before another payment becomes due.”
”I hope to be ready to meet it, squire,” said the farmer, not appearing at all anxious.
”He seems very independent,” thought the squire, watching, moodily, the cow driven away by her former owner. ”He may sing another tune on interest day. I wonder how much the boy sent home.”
Had he known that Mr. Nelson had in his pocket enough money to pay the whole of the next accruing interest, he would have felt more doubtful about recovering the cow which he now coveted more than ever.
”Well, Abner, I've lost her,” said the squire, hurrying to his a.s.sistant; ”but she'll be back here some day, mark my words!”
”I thought you bought her, squire,” said Abner, in surprise.
”Well, not exactly. I took her for a debt; but Nelson had the right of redeeming her, and he has done it. His boy sent him the money.”
”That Tom Nelson is a smart boy,” said Abner, who, though in the squire's employ, was friendly to our hero.
”Well, so-so,” remarked the squire, indifferently. ”I helped him to go to California; but I am not sure whether it was a wise step. I let my feelings get the better of my judgment.”
”Then it is the first time,” was Abner's unspoken comment.
”It may turn out for the best,” he said aloud.
”I doubt if I shall ever see my money again,” said the squire; but he did not seem to take it to heart, judging from his manner and tone.
”Didn't you have security for the loan?” asked Abner.
”Well, ye-es,” answered the squire, slowly; ”but not very good. The farm was already mortgaged for its full value.”
”The squire is getting benevolent,” thought Abner, ”or he wants me to think so; but I'm inclined to think he has some object under it all.
What is it?”
A few weeks later Farmer Nelson's heart was gladdened by the receipt of another remittance this time sent by John Miles, out of the profit of the business in which Tom was his partner. The amount this time was seventy-five dollars. It made him feel quite rich.
”Mary,” he said, ”we all need some new clothes, and I propose to use this money for that purpose. Now I want you to consider how we can spend it to the best advantage. To begin with, you must buy a new dress. You have long needed one.”
Mrs. Nelson demurred a little, but was forced to admit that the dress was needed. So the purchases were made at once. It is wonderful how far seventy-five dollars will go in an economical family of plain tastes. It was soon apparent to the neighbors that the Nelsons were exhibiting signs of prosperity.
”It must be Tom,” they decided.
Efforts were made to ascertain just how much our hero had sent home; but on this point the Nelsons would not speak definitely. They reported in general terms that Tom was doing well.
Of course Squire Hudson was not ignorant of the apparent improvement in the fortunes of his debtor. Strange to say, he seemed rather annoyed. He was pleased, however, by the outlay for dress.
”They're getting extravagant, Abner,” he said, cheerfully. ”I thought Mark Nelson was a man of more sense. Because his son has sent home a little money, he must rig out the whole family in new clothes. 'A fool and his money are soon parted.'”
”Mark Nelson is no fool,” said Abner, stoutly.
”He is in this instance,” said the squire, sharply. ”However, I don't object to it, if he likes to violate the rules of prudence. It strikes me, however, that it would be well for him to pay up the money I advanced for Tom's expenses, before buying new clothes wholesale.”