Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-02-18
Sfleft Storp.
TAKEN PRISONER.
BY AMY RANDOLPH.

"No rent again this month? This is the
third time it has happened within the half
year, I'll 90 there myself, and get the mon
ey, or i'll know the reason why !"
Mr.. Mathew Dean was in particularly bad
humor this raw December morning. Eve
rything had gone wrong. Stocks had fallen
when they ought to have risen-his clerk
had tipped over the inkstand on his special
and peculiar. heap Of papers-thc fire obsti-
nately refused to burn in the grate--in short |
nothing went right, and Mr.. Dean was con- |
scquently and correspondingly cross.
Jenkins =,
Eyes, sir ~
$50 to the Widow Clarkson' and tell her
/ shall be there in half an hour, and expect
con6dently-mind, jenkins. confidently to
receive that rent money. Or else / shall
feel myself obliged to resort to extreme
measures You understand, jenkins? p
Certainly, sir.
"Then don't stand there starin like an
IDIOT" snarled Mr.. Dean in sudden burst
of irritation, and jenkins disappeared like
shot.
Just half an hour afterwards Mr.. Mathew
Deane brushed the brown hair just sprikled
with grey away from his square yet not un-
kindly brow, putting on his fur lined over
coat, he walked forth into the chilly winter
air fully determined, fgurativelv, to ami
hilate the defaulting Widow Clarkson.
1t was dwarfsh little red brick house
which appeared originally to have aspired to
two story y-hood lot, but cramped by circum-
stances hat settled down into story and a
half, but the windows shone like Brazilian
| pebbles, and the doorsteps were worn by
much securing Neither of these circum-
stances, however, did Mr.. Deane remark, as
he pulled the glittering brass door knob,
and strobe into Mrs. Clarkson' neat parlor.
There was a small fire-very small, as if
every lump of anthrocite was boarded, in
the stove, and at table with writing i'm
plements before her, sat a young lady whom
Mr.. Deane at once recognized as Mrs; Clark
son niece, Miss Olive Mellen. She was
would never have thought of chasing her
among the beauties with shining black hair,
blue long lashed eyes and very pretty
mouth, hiding teeth like rice kernels, so
white were they.
Miss Mellen rose with polite nod, which
was grimly reciprocated by Mr.. Deane.
II have called to see your aunt, Miss
Mellen -
II know it, sir, but as am aware of her
4 timid temperament, l sent her away L
: prefer to deal with you myself.
Mr.. Dcane started-the cool audacity of
THE da,nsel IN grey, with scarlet ribbons in
her hair, rather astonished him.
II suppose the money is ready?'
, mo, sir, it is not;
'Then, Miss Olive-pardon me, I must
D speak plainly shall send an officer here
D this afternoon to put a valuation on the fur.
e niture, and -
n "You will do nothing of the kind, sir u
1 nl,,.,i, ,.lnal, lol ii o,l la,
5 flashed portentously. Mr.. Deane turned
toward the door, but ere he knew what he
e was doing Olive had walked quietly acros:
: the room, locked the door and taken out tn,
= key-then she resumed her seat.
e What does this mean?' calculated the
, astonished prisoner of war
4 st means, sir, that you will now be OBJ.
v liged to reconsider the question" said
l Olive.
''Obligcd?"
"Yes-you will hardly jump out of the
window and there is no other method Of
r egress unless you choose to go up the chin
, ney Now, then Mr.. Deane, will you tell
me if you--a Christian man in the nine
teenth century-intend to sell poor widow s
furniture, because she is not able to pay
your rent? Listen sir y
Mr.. Deane had opened his mouth to re-
monstrate, but Olive enforced her words
with a very emphatic little stamp of the
foot, and he was, as it were, stricken dumb
"You are what the world calls a rich man,
= Mr.. Deane. You own rows of houses piles
: of bank stock, railroad shares, bonds and
# mortgages--who knows what? My aun
o has nothing-l support her by copying
y Now, if this case be carried into court o
d law my poor aunt will be sufferer-yol
= would emerge unscathed and proftting
i You are not bad man, Mr.. Deane yol
IS have great many noble qualities, and
l. like you for them.
$ She paused an instant and looked intentl
c and gravely at Mr.. Deane. The color ros
e to his cheek-it was not disagreeable to b
It told by pretty young girl that she Gket
him, on any terms, yet she had INDUCED il
pretty plain speaking.
81 have heard" she went on, ''of you
doing kind actions when you were in tn,
= humor of it, You can do'them, and yol
Il shall in this instance. You are cross thi
!, morning, you know you are Hush, no ex
r cuse, you are selfish and irritable and over
0 bearing If l were your mother and you
# little boy, l should certainly put you in I
corner until you promised to be good
;, Mr.. Deane smiled, although he was get
n ting argry. Olive went on with the utmos
= composure.
i "But as it is, l shall only keep you here
: : prisoner until you have behaved, and give
me your word not to annoy my aunt agail
! for rent, until she is able to pay you: Then
T. and not until then, will you receive you
v money. Do you promise yes or no'
y y Il certainly shall agree to no such terms,
q said Mr.. Deane tartly.
= Every WELL sir can wait. v
= Miss Mellen deposited the key in thu
pocket of her grey dress, and sat down t.
: her copying. Had she been man Mr.
Deane would probably have knocked he
o down-as it was she wore an invisible ar
S NOR of power in the very fact that she wa
n a fragile, slight woman and she knew, 1t!
= "Miss Olive" he said, sternly, ''let u
o terminate this mummery. Unlock tina
door"
=, "Mr. Deane, will not.
u 81 shall shout and alarm the neighbor
!. hood then or call policeman.
|! every well, Mr.. Deane, do so' if yo'
y please. y
d She dipped her pen in the ink and begal
'f on first page Matthew sat down puzzlet
y and discomforted, and watched the lonl
is lashed eyes and family tinted check Of hi
keeper. She was very pretty-what pitt
she was so obstinate.
e "Miss Olive!"
,e "SirY'
E, ''Thc clock has just struck twelve.
,t II heard il |"
ir Il should like to get out to get som
At lunch -
" "I am sorry that that luxury is out G