The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-09-17
HOLLOWAY HOUSE.

HOLLOWAY HOUSE.
Arthur Severn raised his head from
the book which he had been poring over
the greater part of the afternoon and
gazed despondently at the dingy walls
Of the room. Finally he arose, and go
ing to the window peered out through
she cracked and grimy panes of glass,
now streaked with rain, which was driv-
ing violently from the east. From early
morning the rain had been falling inces-
sanity, and as darkness began to close
around the village the wind blew more
violently than ever and the rain fell in
heavier torrents, A largo brown patch
appeared on the ceiling above and the
water began to drip down and form lit
tie puddles ON the uncarpetcd floor. 1t
was a melancholy day and Severn felt
that it accorded well with his own evil
fortune. He occupied the only habit
able room in a large, old, tumble
down house that stood off mt one side Of
hevillage near the river and had been
falling to decay for years.
Severn was striving to make his way
through college, and when the land
lords agent suggested his taking a
room in the cold Holloway house" at
q much lower figure than he could OBJ
tain lodging for elsewhere he felt CON
strained ON account of his poverty to
accept the offer. His parents We're
poor, and, moreover, adverse to his
taking a college course, So that he was
sInable to 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 the point of giving mp the whole
thing, but the letters which came from
Mary Eldridge full of encouragement
and loving sympathy always induced
him to take brighter view of the cir
cumstances.
He had met Mary at the academy at
Melville, and a mutual admiration for
each others scholarly attainments had
been the first step in the formation Of a
friendship that ripened into love. Mary
had gone to Wellesley to complete her ed
ucation, and Severn was in his sophomore
year in college. Miss Eldridge came Of
wealthy parents, and had always been
surrounded with the comforts of well
ordered home. Severn knew that her
unselfish disposition would exact no con-
ditions to their engagement, but he was
fully determined never to let her share
his lot until he had completed his edu
cation and secured n competent income.
During the last year n series of mis-.
fortunes had overtaken him. A friend to
whom he had loaned the money with
which he expected to meet the bulk Of
his expenses suddenly died, leaving his
debts wholly unliquidated. Severn him
self had undergone severe illness dur
ing the fall, and to satisfy his numerous
obligations he secured a few hundred
dollars from Mr.. Holloway, who was
always ready to make loans Mt usurious
interest, but remorseless in exacting his
claims. Finally he began TO receive let
tera from home urging him to return to
the farm. "Unless he could give some
aid they would lose the old place." his
mother wrote.
If duty called him home he would go,
but he felt If he did his prospects were
gone. An idea struck him. If he could
induce Mr.. Holloway TO give him time
on his loan and trust him for his rent
until he could get to earn something he
would send the money home which he
had been accommodating for the payment
Of the debt. He went to see Mr.. Hollo-
way, but the response to his request was
so chilly that he felt almost guilty of
some heinous crime.
''It is not business" said Mr.. Hollo-
way, mot business. Would like to
oblige you, but must have some method,
you know"
A dunning letter from the agent, fol
lowing conspicuously close upon his
visit to Mr.. Holloway, filled his soul
with bitterness The way out of his
difficulties seemed as dark as the day on
which we find him brooding over his
evil fortune in the cold Holloway
House" The water fell in torrents and
the river in the rear was so swollen by
the rain that il had overilowed its bank,
and was washing the foundation stones
of the shaky old structure The room
was chilly and wet, but he built no fire
and though darkness came on early ht
hardly observed the change, but sal
ponderiEg over the hopeless outlool
without even the ghostly light from
the seams in the rickety stove TO revea
the outlines of the room.
The wind continued 10 rise and thu
rain 10 fall faster, until the old shel
quivered and quaked but Severn paiC
20 attention. His soul was shaken by
J storm also. There was as much dark
ness within as without. He knew hi
own disposition TOO wen 10 attempt I,
study until he could quiet his nerves, S,
be sat In the darkness until long afte
midnight, listening 10 the bowling wint
and the roar Of the swollen river
Suddenly there came a crash; Their
was a heavy fall Of plastering, and for
minute Severn thought that the ole
house was about to give way. To hav
its walls fall upon him he knew woul,
be almost certain death, but with
thrill Of melancholy pleasure he hope,
for q moment that it might happen
The old building crealed and strained
but there came lull in the storm an,
ithnally settled back to its normal con
dihon.
Severn lighted the lamp TO see II hi
boolEs had been damaged and to investi
gate the injury to the room. A larg
patch of plastering had fallen from tn
wall and lay scattered over the floor
After the investigation ho felt calme
and went to bed for the night
The next morning, contrary TO hi
usual neatness, he left the broom IN it
senf a very dilapidated appearance. L
the afternoon after returning from elias
he seated himself in his chair and gaze
hstlessly at the heap Of rubbish ON IN
floor. STOPPING forward ne took mp
bat Of broken plastering and slowl
picked it 10 pieces, thinking Of Mar
and wondering if the day wouh eve
brighten.
He had been pursuing this aimless o,
cupation for some time when mddenl
he observed that the face Of the pieC
which he held in his hand was less di
colored than that which surrounded n
edge Of the broken patch. He drew d
chair closer to the wall, and ON exnmil
ing found that a hole had once bee
made through the laihing about "a 10,
square. The pieces had aflerward bee
Sp1ced and a new coat oi plasteriu
oyerlaid. His curiosity was now eKcit,
10 know the object of the opening. so
brought hammer from a chest aud pr
ceeded to draw the nails. After reno
, ing the pieces he reached IN and bogl
10 explore. There was nothing 90
found, however, SO ho washed his ham
and began 70 clear away tho debris
As he was about 10 replace the piec