The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1892-09-22
Hrhea all in Leaeninr Pove-U Govt Report Aug NJ 1850
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ABSOLUTELY PURE
ABSOLUTELY PURE
HOLLOWAY HOUSE.

Arthur Severn raised his hesd from Il
book which be had been pouring over u
greater part Of the aitesnoon sud eaz
despopdentiy u the dinsy walls Of u
room. Finally be arose. and eoius /, Il
~ndou pe,red ont through the crack,
and srimy psues Of elsss. nos stresk,
witb rain, which Was driving violent
from the esst From early moroiog Il
rain had besn falling necessarily. and ,
darkness began 10 close around the villse
the wind blew mCrs yiol-ntly than ev,
and the rain fell 10 heavy torrelt. A lsrp
brown patch appeared on the ceiling sbov
aud the water began I, drip down an
form little puddles on the uncarpete
floor. 1t was = melancholy day and Sey
ern felt that it accorded III with his ov
evil fortune. lie occupied the only bsbi
table room iu = large, old. tumbled dov
house that ttood of ut one side OF the vii
isge near the river sud had besn islllnI
to decay for year.
Severn was striving TO make bis way
through college. aud when the landlord
sgeut suggested his taking . room in the
old Holloway house st . much lower 6su
re than be could obtain for elsewhere he
felt constrained on account OF his poverty
to accept the off r. His parents were poor.
aud, moreover. adverse to his talking Of
college course, SO tbst he vas unable to
receive any aid from them. For some time
past he had found himself inextricsbly
involved in financial embarrassment. and
he had often been on the point OF giving
up the whole thing. but the letters which
came from Mary Eldridge full OF encoura,
yemen, and loving sympathy always in
duced him to take 9 brighter view OF the
circumstances.
He had met Msry at the academy at
Me.vi lie, and mutusl admiration for each
Others scholarly attachments had been the
first step iD the formstion OF 9 friendship
that pened into 1--we. Mary had gone to
Wellesley 10 complete her educstiop, and
Severn wss 10 his sophomore year in col
lege. Miss Eidridge came Of wealthy psri
rents. ard had always been surrounded
=" i..- -. a "a --~tI a-,~--s Lo..,a
Severn knew that her unseldsh disposition
would exact no conditions to their engage.
ment, but be was fully determI med never
TO let her share bis lot until be had coml
pleted bis education and secured COM
petent income.
During the last yesr = sefits OF misfor
fortunes had overtaken him. A friend 10
sbom be had loaned the money with
which be expected to meet the bulk Of bis
e1pens s suddenly died, leaving his debts
wholly unliquidsted. Severn himself had
undergone severe illness during the fall,
and TO satisfy bis numerous obligations he
secured . few hundred dollars from Mr..
Holloway. who was always ready TO make
loans st usurious interest. but remorseless
in e1acting his elaine. Finally he began
10 receive letters from home urging him
10 r.tarn to the fern. Unless be could
give some aid they would lose the old
place, bis mother wrote.
II duty called him home be would go.
but be felt II be did his prospects we're
gone An idea struck him. II he could in,
luce MIR. Holloway to give him time on
his loan and trust him on his rent until be
could get to earn something be would send
he money home which be had been sccu
N uia.ing for the pay ment OF that debt.
He went +, see Mr.. Hllowsy, but the re
,ponse to bis request was so chilly tbSt he
Ielt sluost guilty OF some heinous crime.
1t is not business. ssid Mr.. Holloway,
not bu.iness. Would like TO oblige you,
but must have some method, you know.
A dunning letter from the agent. follow
ing conspicuously close upon his Wis to
Mr. Holloway. filled his soul with bitter
ness. The way ont Of bis difficulties seemed
Is dark - the day on which We fod hin
broodipg ovet bis evil fortune in the old
Hollovsy House. The ssttr fell in tori
rents and the river In the rear Was 90 swol.
len BY the r.in that II bad overfoved its
banks spd vas washing the foundation
stones Of the shsky old structure. The
room was chilly and vet. but be built no
Ore, and though dsrkness came on early
he hardly observed the change. but sst
ponderipg even the gho.tly light from the
seams 10 the ricks,y stove TO revesl the
outlines OF the room.
The wind continued 10 rise and the rsin
10 fall faster, until the old shell quivered
md qusked. but Severn paid no aitention.
His soui vas shsken by storm also. There
VS. ss much dsikoess within - without
He knew his Own disposition too we'll TO
attempt to siudy until be could quiet his
nerves, 90 be sat in the darkness until long
Alter midnight. listening 10 the bowling
siud and the roar Of the swollen river.
Suddenly there came . crab; there sss
= heavy fall Of pissterine, and for . minute
severn thooehs the old house va sbou,
10 give vsv. To hsve iis walls f.ll upon
bin lie luew would be almost cerisin
death, but with thrill Of u, lsneholy
pleasure be hoped Tor momen, that II
might happen. The old building cresked
srd sir.insd. bat there esme.s lnll IN the
storm and nu.ly settled back 10 ia Dor
NAL condition.
Severn lighted the lamp TO zee IL bio
book. bad been dsmsg.d ADD 10 investi