Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1870-09-14

of the story when she had seen Ben,
Who was Ben? Two or three inquiries
had amounted to nothing. The children
spoke just as if everybody must know
who Ben was. Was he an uncle, cousin,
hired man, or what? Evidently, some
body very old, by the way Hetty spoke
of him. But she shrugged her shOul-
deTs as she looked out at the still pour
ing rain.
Young Ben HAZEL, out in the field
pitched up the last hay on the load, lean
ed his pitchfOTk against the tree, and
took off his straw hat to cool his moist
forehead. His gaze followed the hay
cart, went over the broad lands and re-
turned.
THE hay is all gone in, he said, with
a long breath of relief. I could not af-
ford to lose one load now; don't know
that I can do Il, but if can sell part OF
the land I may. 1t will be hard pull,
though
The young man followed the cart into
the barn. The storm was at its height
when he went toward the house from
the back way. He stopped in surprise,
as he saw through the window some one
standing at the table, with arms bare to
the elbow, mixing flour. 1t must be
Martha. No, those fair white arms are
not Martha's, neither hers the graceful
figure. As he came nearer, he could
distinguish the sparkling, piqUant face.
She was laughing and talking with Het-
ty, and evidently giving her directions
for what she was making. Hetty was
gazing upon her, eager and absorbed.
/ Little Eve was sitting at the table on
( her high chair, workings piece OfdOugh.
/ By and by there was a spatteTing of wa
ter heard in the next room by Hetty.
I Ben has come running hastily for
ward and opening the door,
/ Ben has tum = echoed the little one,
clapping her hands and lisping as
/ he came in, bright and smiling, with
what she had in store for him, 4 is made
tate for 90, is
! He caught her up in his arms and gave
her kiss, while she laughed and shout
/ ed, but his eyes were seeking the stran-
ger.
Hetty said prettily: My brother
Ben Then to him: This lady got
caught in a shower, Ben, and is staying
until it clears up. She has been so kind
as to get dinner and has made some
splendid biscuit.
They both stood mute a minute, she
with surprise at the real Ben-yOung,
handsome and well bred; he, with ad-
miration, and a new, strange feeling he
could not define. He had hardly made
her welcome with new return of his
self-possessiOn, when there was a loud
rap at the door and Hetty came back
pale, and whispered to Ben, Squire
JOhns,'
Millie drew quickly back from the
half open door. Ben went in to his Wis
itor, closing the door after him, but
every word was Distinctly heard by Mil
lie, for Squire Johns did not speak in
the same suaYe tone she was acoustom-
ed to hear from him, but loud and per-
emptorily.
I am in haste, young man; I Just
stopped to say that the time for pay
ment of the mony due me being day af-
ter tomorrow, if it is not ready, I shall
be obliged Immediately to resort to Sc
we're measures.
ImpOssibler = exclaimed the young
man, in surprised and excited tone;
you are very much mistaken. It is not
due till the 2Sth, it is now but the 18th
At that time I shall sell the piece of
land, orr partly expect to do, and I
hope with some other money coming in
to be able to pay it,
You are labOring under a singular
mistake, young man. Here is your
mortgage; you can see for yourself that
it is dated 18TH
Let me see it,
1T reads so, certainly but, can't IN
understand it, He went to the desk.
Here is memorandum my father
made of the circumstances, and it is the
18th, and he was a very sure, methOdic-
al man, and wOnld not be likely to
make a mistake that might be fraught
r7~ifl1
quences to him. l believe a sudden
suspicion coming into his mind, as he
detected a lurking triumph in Squire
Johns eye, 4 believe there's some vii
lainy at the bottom of it, he exclaimed
excitedly fixing his eye firmly upon the
lawyer, who changed color in spite of
himself.
BE careful what you say, young man,
as you may get yourself into trouble
he said angriiy.
'Yes, sir, 1 believe that you are a base
villain! / remember that YOU are the
lawyer who made out the mortgage at
the time, and know that you have been
for years aching to get hold of this pro-
perty. If there is any justice in law
you shall be exposed 4
In the mean time you had better have
the money ready cOolly and insultingIv
replied Mr.. Johns.
That IS impossible, you know. You
knew very well that could not raise SO
much money in two days, when YOU
laid your diabolical plans'
Then you know the consequenees.'
And what is to become of my young
sister p
4 neither. know or care. That is your
lookout
The young man strove to repress his
passion. Squire Johns, by the 2Sth, I
can pay this debt, I expect
That will do you no good. It must be
ready by day after tomorrow, or I take
possession. might have shown mercy
but for your insinuatiOns. Now, none i |
That is false, liar and you know it. |
You have won your iil-gOtten wealth |
robbing the poor and the fatherless. I'll
you take this property, may it bring to
you curse with it, now and evermOre. !
But while it is in my hands I'll kick |
you from it, you dastardly scoundreIY
The Squire was a small man as well as
a coward; and while he was being IgnO- |
elected from the house bv the !
angry and excited young man, Hetty
was crouched down close to Millie, pale |
and frightened. Eva was sobbing i'm
her lap, and Millie-it was difficult to
describe her feelings.
Ben did not come into the room for
some time afterward, When he did he
looked haggard and aged, and and was
passing through hastily, as if to escape
notice, when Millie, business-like and
straight forward little girl that she was,
began;
,Mr. HAZEL, l want to talk with you
4 few minutes. There would be no use
n pretending that haven't heard what
you and Squire Johns have been saying,
or have heard every word. l think / |,
Know OF some one who can help you;
1ut first may I ask you few questiOns?'
Ben at first looked displeased and
naughty; but her kind, straightforward
manner disarmed him. He howed as {
ept.
What Is the amount Of this mort
,age%
Two thousand dollars and interest," /
vas the brief reply. /
What is the total value of the farm &" {
My father valued it at ten thousand ;
lollars.'
Are there other mortgages ~ - Il
None
Very well; / aul-trrtte positive / know {
ONE Gns-who can loan you the money. {
am Millie Warner. Call on me to- 1
morrow, at my Cousins with Mr. San q
ord Y
Ben's dreams were mixed up that i
light with mortgage and hazel eyes, l.
'he next day was long time of sus- q
'ense and anxiety, and early in the even- '