The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-10-03

seized the girls hands and tried to
fold them over her plate. as il in
prayer. Some of tho boys laughed,
but the girls were dumbiounded
Some recovered and commenced to
expostulatew with Billy, others left the
table, but Billy became more talka.
tive, more bOisterous, until, 1t was
plain to everybody that he was un.
der the influences Of liquor. One after
another the girls drifted out oil
the room, and the boys gather,
ed about the fallen hero and en-.
deavored to humor him into briefly
As the girls stood in little groups
about the dancing hall, discussing
the awful predicament in which they
were in and while the boys were vet
applying themselves to Billy in the
improvised oyster parlor, Haw.
thorne's hired man came bursting
into the room, calling loudly for his
young master, at the same time
shouting excitedly that HAWTHORNE
big cattle barn was atre. Billy
heard the words and recognized the
voice of Carlson, and in three min.
utes he was the soberest man in the
assembly. Calling to Lou he told
her he must 60 home at once, and
asked il she wished to go now, or
wait until the dance was over
and then go home with one OF
his friends. The strnngeness oil
his intoxication TOR lie had never
been drunk before) was no stranger
than his rapid recovery. The ex-
element accustomed by the announce
ment of fire hud overcome the effects
OF tho liquor, and Billy was wholly
himself again
Lou was ready to go, for who
wanted to remain and dance under
the double depression brought upon
the company. first by Billy's conduct
and next by the calamity on the
Hawthorne farm.
It, was ten minutes drive from
Thorn's hall to the Whiting resi-
dence, and just as they pulled up at
the front gate, Jim Whiting, Lou
father, was about to ascend the steps,
having just returned by carriage
from Centerville, where he had wait
ed to hear the decision of the Judge
of the supreme court, in the case of
Stiles vs.. Hawthorne.
This you" asked Whiting, as
Billy and Lou came up the walk
''Oh, papa, how you scared me-"
exclaimed his daughter. as she disen-
gagged her arm, and ran toward her
father
BILLY, l presume you know that
decision was to be rendered today
in your fathers case" said Whiting,
MS the young man was about to re-
turn in haste to the buggy.
"Well, how did it come out?"
"lm afraid it has gone against
him, said Whiting, but here he was
interrupted by Lou, "Oh, papa. do
you know that Mr. Hawthorne barn
burned down, and Billy is hurrying
home now?' and amid expressions
of profound regret on the part of
Whiting, aud sympathetic words
from Lou, Billy FASTENED to the
buggy and was off
HAWTHORNE cattle barn had in
deed been destroyed, together with
fiftyfour head of blooded stock, in
GLIDING seventeen imported horses.
The loss, including the building and
all the contents was estimated ut
$4,000, with notn cent reinsurance.
Billy looked over the smoldering
remains with heavy heart. MIR.
Hawthorne, ST.. was assuming very
brave front, hut he knew too well
that the loss would cripple him help
lessly.
On the following day he received
letter from his attorney which con-
firmed what Whiting had told Billy
the night before, but which the boy
had not yet told.
The attorney held out the hope
that the case could be appealed, hut
that it would be costly experiment.
Added to this. the incident of Billy's
drunk at the dance on Thanksgiving
night, found it's way into the Haw-
thorne family, and it seemed as if the
once proud household would he
crushed under the triple calamity.
And it was even SO, The land case
was perpetuated and is still pending,
but the expense Of the litigation has
become heavy draw upon the now
slender income of the farm.
The set back received by the loss of
the barn and stock was never made
up, and now parts OF the farm are
rented out, only about one-third Of it
being titled by Hawthorne. And
Billy-he never regained his place MS
n local hero. His break Mt the
Thanksgiving dance brought him
into disfavor with many of the
anxious mnmlnas. and made him
more vulnerable to the attacks OF his
rivals. He could no longer ride be-
hind spanking team OF bays. nor
could he indulge himself in other of
his whilom pastimes and pleasures.
Gradually he dropped out of the
society OF Wayoph, and alter two
years of decline, went to Montana.
and his going caused no comment.
The Hawthorne family had suffered u
collapse.