Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-08-31
HOLLOWAY HOUSE.

hAAhAA RNNfAh AtaAH'A hAh h'sAh AANAAA
tho book which no had been porting over
tho greater part Of the afternoon and
gazed dcspondently at tho dingy walls
Of tho room. Finally he arose, and go
ing to the window pccrcd ont through
the cracked and grimy pancs of glass,
now streaked with rain, which was driv-
ing violently from tho east. From carly
morning the rain had been falling incos-
sanity, and as darkness began 10 clogo
around the village tho wind blew more
violently than ever md the rain fell In
heavier torrents. a large brown patch
appeared on tho ceiling above and tho
water began to drip down and form lit
tie puddles on the unexpected floor. II
was a melancholy day and Severn felt
that It accorded wen with his own evil
fortune. Hc occupied the only habit
able room In u, large, old, tumble
down house that stood of at one sido u
the village nehr the river and had been
falling 70 decay for years.
Severn was striving TO make his way
through college, and when the land
lords agent suggested his taking
room In the "old Holloway house" at
a much lower figure thnn hc could OBJ
tain lodging for elsewhere he felt con-
strained on account OF his poverty TO
accept tho offer, His parents were
poor, and, moreover. adverse 10 his
taking college coursc,,so that no was
unable 10 receive any aid from them.
For some time past he had found him
self inextricably involved In financial
embarrassment, and he had often been
on IL" point Of giving mp the whole
thing, but the letters which came from
Mary Eldridgc full OF encouragement
nSi loving sympathy always induced
him TO take q brighter Wow OF tho cir
cumstances.
Ho had met Mary at the academy nj
Melville, and mutual admiration for
each others scholarly attainments had
been the first stop In the formation Of o
friendship that rponed into love. Mary
had gone 10 Wellesley 10 complete her ed
ucation, and Severn was In his sophomore
year In college. Miss Eldridgc came OF
wealthy parents, and had always been
surrounded with the comforts of n well
ordered homo. Severn knew that her
unselfsh disposition would exact no con
ditions to their enlargement, but no was
fully determined never to let her share
his lot until he had completed his odu
cation and secured competent income.
During the last year series OF mis-.
fortunes had overtakon him. A friend to
whom he hsd loaned the money with
which no expected to meet the bulk of
his expenses suddenly died, leaving his
debts wholly unliquidated. Severn him
self had undergone n severe illness dur
ing tho fall, and 20 satisfy his numerous
obligations he secured fow hundred
dollars from Mr.. Holloway. wiz wns
always ready TO mako loans NJ 'usurious
interest, hut remorseless In exncting hi.
claims. Finally he began to receive let
tiers from homo urging him 20 return e
the farm. UNLESS no could give som,
aid they would lose the old place" hi
mother Wrote.
If duty called him home he would go
but no felt'if no did his prospects wer,
gone. An idea struck him. II no could
induce Mr.. Holloway to give him tim,
ON his loan ard trust him for his rent
until no conld get to earn something Ii,
would send the money homo which h,
hid been accommodating for tho paymen
of the debt. lie went TO see Mr.. IIollo
way, but the response to his request wa
70 chilly that he felt almost guilty o
some heinous crime.
ut is not business said Mr.. Hollo
way, mot business. Would like 4
oblige you, but must have some method
you know"
A dunning letter from tho agent, fol
lowing conspicuously close upon hi
visit to Mr.. Holloway, filed hiss
with bitterness. The way ont of hi
difficulties seemed us dark as the day o
which we find him brooding over hi
evil fortune In the "old Hollowa
House" The water fell In torrents nn
the river In the rear was so swollen b
the rain that II had overlooked it's bank
and was washing the foundation ston,
of the shalsy old structure. The ROOF
was chilly and wet, but he built no fir,
and though darkness came on early i
hardly observed the change, but 81
pondering over the hopeless outloo
without even the ghostly light froi
the seams in the rickety stove to reyei
the outlines OF the room.
The wind continued 20 rise and Il
rain TO fall faster, until the old che
quivered and quaked, but Severn phi
no attention. His soul was shaken |
storm also. There was as much darI
ness within rs without. He knew h
own disposition too wen to attempt
study until he could quiet his nerves,
he sat in tho darkness until long aft
midnight, listening TO the bowling win
and the roar Of tho swollen river.
Suddenly there came crash the
was heavy fall Of plasterng, and for
minute Severn thought that the o
bouae was about TO give way. To ha'
its walls fall upon him no knew won
DO almost certain death, but with
thrill of melancholy pleasure he hop
for moment that it might happo
The old building erea<ed and straine