Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1889-02-27
The GHOSTS ENTRAPPED

IL
The gray mare stood at the gate, 'all
saddled and bridled and ready for
flight In the kitchen of the comfort
able farmhouse the rider stood booted
and spurred, but only dimly visible
through the midst of odorous steam
and smoke, talking to his MOTHER
bright, comely little woman of about
fifty.
But surely, Will,' she was saying.
since he knows you have the money
ready in the bank to pay him, he Will
wait until Tomorrow
No, mother be replied; 'the time
has expired and tomorrow is the last
day of grace. He says if he don't get
the money when he calls for it he will
turn us out on the moment, and 1 have
occasion to believe that he wouh be
only too glad 20 keep his word.
We'll, well, 1 suppose you must 60.
But don't be late and don't forget to
call on Miss Patty, and don't, above all
things. let any one know about the
money!
Don't worry about that, mother.
No one knows my errand. and. after
all, it's only short two hours ride
each way, and L shall be home by
dark, whatever happens. SO good-by
and don't fret
'Good-by,' answered his mother. and
in another minute Will Eckhart was in
the saddle, and old Jayne was gayly
canterIng over the frosty road toward
Allentown, twelve miles distant from
the Corners
Mr.. Eckhart, senior. had died several
years since. leaving his property mort
gagged to Squire Langdon. VIII had
struggled manfully under this heavy
burden OF debt, and had nearly sue
ceeded in clearing the little farm, when
the old squire died and his son, Rupert,
succeeded him.
VIII and the young squire were no
strangers. In fact, Cupid, with his
usual perversity and waywardness, in
w..ging his shining dart at VIII, had
managed at the same time to wound
Rupert Langdon deeply in the same
plac And so they became rivals for
the hand and heart of little Deborah
Brown.
Now, in spite of the fact that Rupert
was in every way the better match,
being a great deal richer, and at least
as handsome as VIII. Debby took it
into her head, for some inexplicable
reason. to prefer the latter-a proceed
ing that filed Rupert Langdon's heart
with a hatred for viii as deep and
implacable as was his love for Debby.
But he had the pride and self-control
to hide his real feelings completely until
the right time came.
a bad year for the crops, and the
mysterious death of several heads of
valuable stock, had made 1t necessary
for VIII to ask further extension of
time on the mortgage-a favor he had
not the least doubt of receiving, as the
old squire had always granted it
readily.
Then it was that Rupert had torn
aside the mask and for the first tine
shown his real feelings. He told VIII
that on the first day of January he
would forecloSe the mortgage II every
cent of the debt were not forthcoming
on demand, and that in the meantime
he, Rupert, proposed to do all in his
power to prevent him from raising the
amount. He told VIII, beside, many
other things of an equally pleasing
nature, denounclng his cumberland
trickery'' In his suit with Debby, and
concluded by ordering him out of the
, house.
New Year had been decided upon as
the day for Willis and Debby's we'd
ding, but after this interview with
Rupert, Will went to Debby and told
her it must be postponed, and why.
But Debby replied with spirit that, SO
far as she was concerned, she was will
Ing to take her chances with VIII under
any circumstances, and that If she had
her way there would be 40 postpone
ment on account of Rupert Langdon's
threat, though, if Will insisted, the
postponement would be for a very
Indefinite period.
Whereupon Will rapturously declared
she was a-etc., ETC., and that they
would be married on New Years Day,
If the ceremony had TO be performed ID
one of the neighboring fields. And
then, like a sensibe fellow, be set to
work to raise the necessary amount of
money to pay the debt on time.
He soon found borrowing out of the
question, as Rupert had closed that
avenue of escape most securely, and he
was getting pretty well discouraged as
the time drew nearer, when. by lucky
little speculation, he had made more
than the amount he needed.
Aud thus it was that, having received
word that the money was waiting for
him in the bank at Allentown, we find
ilL1 Oh lllt IOdu lLCAC " SCI
He reached Allentown in good sea.
son, and was soon in the private Office
of the bank. But the business required
a much longer time than he had imag-
ined, and by the time it was concluded
II was almo { dark
Then lie remembered bis mothers
message to Miss Patty, and betook
himself there in haste. Remembering
that lady's remarkable loquacity, he
resolved before entering not TO stay
moment longer than necessary to de-
liver the message
But alas for good resolutionsl Once
In Miss Patty's cozy parlor, and fully
undeI the influence of her genial COM
panlonship and old current wine, he
forgot the fight OF time until the little
clock on the mantelpiece licked the
hour of eight. Then he started, and
was soon on his way home, reproaching
himself for his tardiness, and the worry
his delay would cause his mother.
All went well with him for an hour,
when suddenly old Jane slipped down
on her knees. groaned, got up, limped
and refused to move. He dlsmounted,
and after good deal Of persuasion,