The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-01-01
BENs0N'S NEW YEAR.
A Ghost Story.
Written for The NEW YRAR's HERALD |
BYA. C. WINS.

MAN PROPOSES BUT WOMAN DEsPosEs.


and spurred, bat only dimly visible
through the mist of odorous smoke and
steam, talking to his mothers bright,
eomely little woman of aoout 80.
But, surely, WILL" she was saying,
"anc hs knows you havefhe money 90
pay him, he would wait until after to-
morrow EE
No, 1aother," answered Will, 1.-The
time has expired and tomorrow is my
last day OF grace. He says that If he
don't get the money when he calls for
it, he will turn us out on the mement,
aud we you and I, have occasion to be-
ieve IA Titl keep his word
Well we'll, L suppose you must go
But don't be late. and don't forget 10
call 'oR Miss Pstty; and don't, above ali
things. let aRy one know about the
money"
Don't worry about that. mother"
said Will. latter all, it's ohlv short
two hours ride each way, and shall be
home b dark whatever happens go,
goodbye, and don't fret
''Good-bye," and in another minute
Will Eckhort was in the saddle and Gid
Jane was gsily cantering over the frosty
road towards ALI ntown. twenty miles
distant from the Corners"
Mr.. Eckhort, W5il's father, had died
many years ago. leaving his propertv
mortgaged to Squire" Lsugdon. viii
had struggled m ,nfUlly uuder this bur
den of debt and bad nearly succeed ed in
clearing tbs little farm when Mr.. Lang
don died and his son took the reins of
government. Will and the young
squire" were no strangers. The fact
was that Cupid, with his usual perversity
and waywardness, in wioging the shin
ing dart at VIII, had,at the game time
wounded Rupert Langdon deeply in the
same place. And they had become
rivals for the hand and heart of Deborah
Brown. ttfF
Now, in spite of, the fact that the
young esquire" was in every way the
better mach, being rich and cookbook
ing, Debby took 1t into her head for
some inexplicaole reason to prefer Will,
proceeding which filed Rupert Lang
don's heart with a hatre for viii as
deep and simpiacaoie as had been his
love for Debby. But he had the SELF
control aud pride to hide his real feel
1ngs completely.
A bad year fer the crops, the mvster-
ious death of several head of valuable,
stock, had made 1t necessary for Will to
go To R1pert TO ask q further extension
OF the mortgages favor hs had notthe
least doubt of receiving, 4s old Squire
Langdon had always granted it. Then
1t was that Rupert had torn aside sthe
mask and for the first time shown his
real feelings. He had told Will that on
the 1st of January be would foreclcse
the mortgage if every cent Of the debt
was not f0rtScoming, and that he Ru7
pert, proposed to do all 10 is power 10
prevent hiR raising the amount. He
told him oeside, many other things of
su equally pleasant nature, denounc-
ing WINS undetermined trickery" in
his suit with Debby, and concluded by
ordering htsa out OF the house.
The day OF Wills and Debby's we'd
ding had been SET for New Years Day;
but after thts interview Will went to
Deb5y, and told her whv it must be
postponed. Deboy, however. with
spirit repN Il that as far as she was con-
cerned, she was not afraid to take her
chances with Will under any circum-
stances, and that il she had her way
there would be no postponement for
rupert Langdon's sake. Though if Will
INSISTED, the Postpenement would b
made for al Indefinite period. Where
upoa viii raptureously Ceciared that
she was, etc. ETC, and that they would |
be married On New Years Day if the |
ceremony had to be- performed in one
OF the neighboring fields. And then, |
IKE sensible fellow, set to work to |
Ealse the necessary amount of money 20 |
pay tae debt.
he soon found borrowing out of the |
question, as Rupert had closed that |
avenue o. escape successfully, and he |
Was getting pretty we'll discouraged, |
when a lucky little speculation had |
gained him more than the amount he |
needed. in single day. And thus it t
was that, having received word the day
before that the money was waiting for
aim a. Allentown, we find him on the
road there to get it.
de reached Allentown IN good sea-
son, asd was soon k..o>king at the !,
door OF certain IaESe7, friend of has
Iatner s. The business, however. re-
mad INA aRlRed, and by the time it was
concluded it was almost dark. Then he
remembered his mothers message to
Miss Patty, and wended his way
thither. He resolved beforehe entersd,
remembering his expert -nce of Mss
FATTY s remarkable ioqRacity, that he /,
would not stay q moment longer than {
necessary to deliver his message and
pay her the compliments of the season. {
But, alas! for good resolutions! Once S
IN Miss Patty's cosy parlor and fully s
under toe influence of her genial com
partnership and currant wine, he forgot S
the Alght of time until the little clock |
On the mantel tinkeled the hour offs Ii
Then he started and was soon on his 1
way down the street, reproaebing him '
self Tor his hardness and the worry bis
1elay would cause hi mother. y
All went well with him for an hour :
whe. suddenly old jane slipped down | t
IN he- knees. groaueG, got up. limpea /
and fused to move. He disnounted | b
md aiterS good deal of persuasion in Q
luced her to follow him. Then il began y
o snow, the fakes, large, soft and | b
eathery, clinging 70 him until he was | b
covered from he I'd to foot b
md the ground was soon as white as
himself. I
Ten miles to walk with a lame horse a
whose progress was slower than his r.
'wn, he could not possibly reach home s
'efore midnight And his feelings to- g
Yards Miss Patty can be better g
m q DiUa0 than | -