Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-08-19

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& ': and going to the win
dow peered Ou t
through the vrackedand grlmy panes Of
qlass, now streaked with rain, which
was driving violently from the east.
From early morning the rain had been
falling incessautly, and as darkness be-
gan to close around the village the wind
blew more violently than ever and the
rain fell in heavier torrents. A large
brown patch appeared on the ceiling
above and the water began to drip down
and form little puddles on the uncarpeted
floor. 1t was a melancholy day, and
Severn felt that it accorded we'll with his
own evil fortune. He occupied the only
habitable room in Il large, old, tumble
down house that stood off on one side of
the village near the river and had been
falling to decay for years.
Severn was striving to make his way
through college, aud when the landlords
agent suggested his taking a room in the
cold Holloway House" at much lower
ieure than he could obtain lodging for
elsewhere, he felt constrained on account
of his poverty to accept the offer. His
parents were poor, and, moreover, averse
to his taking a college course, so that he
was unable TO receive any aid from them.
For some time past he had found himself
inextricably involved in financial embar-
rassmeut, and he had often been on the
point of giving up the whole thing, but
the letters which came from Mary Ed
ridge, full Of encouragement and loving
sympathy, always induced MIN to take
brighter view of the circ instances.
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
bad gone to Wellesley to complete her
education and Severn was in his soph-
more year in college. Miss Eldridge
came of wealthy parents and had always
been surrounded with the comforts of a
we'll ordered home. Severn knew that
her unselfsh disposition would exert no
conditions to their engagement, but he
was fully determined never to let her
share his lot until be had completed his
education aud secured a competent in
come.
During the last year a series of mis-
fortunes hal overtaksn him. A friend,
to whom he had loaned the money with
which he expected to meet the bulk of
his expenses, suddenly died, leaving the
debts wholly unliquidated. Severn him
self had undergone severe illness dur
ing the fall, and to satisfy his numerous
obligations he secured few hundred
dollars from Mr.. Holloway, who was
always ready to mako loans at usurious
interest but remorseless in exacting his
claims. Finally he began to receive let
ters from home urging him to return to
the farm. "Unlsss he could give some
aid they would lose the old place." his
mother wrote.
If duty called him home he would 60,
but he felt that If he did his prospects
were gone. An idea struck him. II he
could induce Mr. Holloway to give him
time on his loan and trust him for his
reut until he could get to earning some
thing, he would send the money home
which he had been accumuIating for the
payment of the Debt. He went to see
Mr.. Holloway, but the response was so
chilly that be felt almost guilty of some
heinous crime.
1T is not business" said Mr.. Hol-
loway, "not business. Would like to
oblige you, but must have some
method"
A dunning letter from the agent, fol-
lowing conspicuously close upon his visit
to Mr.. Holloway, filed his soul with Bit
terness. The way out of his difficulties
seemed as dark as the day on which we
fiod him brooding over his evil fortune
in the sold Holloway house." The
water fell in torrents and the river in the
rear was so swollen by the rain that it
had overfowed its banks aud was washing
the foundation stones Of the shaky old
structure. The room was chilly and wet,
but he built no fire, aud though darkness
came on early he hardly observed the
change, but sat pondering over the hope
less outlook without even the ghostlJ
light from the seams in the rickety stove
to reveal the outlines of the room. The
wind continued to rise and the rain to
fall faster. uutiI the old shell quivered
and quaked, but Severn paid no atteu-