The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1894-06-15
A PLOT SPOILED.
Why Mr.. Willoughby Didn't Get a
Wished for Loan.

Wished for Loan.
The sun had just dipped behind the
>trely surface of the frozen river; the
clii.l of coming twilight sent a tremu-
lnus shivcr through the woods, tinkling
the cicles like string of fairy bells as
it went
Good. seasonable weather." thought
Squire Mcrriford, as he came out to
iool; at the big thermometer that al
ways hung, summer and winter. beside
,h. porch door, ''Halloo, Steele! Is
iiat yOu?'
Yes, squire, it is t. said Milford
Steele. us Josephine at home?"
She's at home, but-thc fact is
she's pretty considerably engaged just
At present"
Tint means l suppose, that Leslie
Willnuglshv is calling?"
squire Merriford made no direct an
swer, but stared hard at the thermom-
rtcr.
"pcrhaps," went ON the merciless
"tcchist. you could let me have the
':"nry you promised toward the church
:t.tt this evening? There is vestry
.s.rting the day after tomorrow,
and
The squire coughed obviously.
We'll, the fact isl said he, lit amt
convenient just at present. The
churchill have to wait. Pm maxim ar
engagements to let out all the cash l can
.pare now on bond and mortgage. A
man don't get such an opportunity
every day, Steele, you know"
II should think not" said Steele,
dryly. Mine per cent. seems like q
very nice little arrangement. but sup
pose the question of usury is r;ised?"
1T won't be- said the squire, conf
IDENTITY. Its between friends, you
know"
II need not ask who this liberal
hearted friend is" said Mr.. Steele;
''Mr. Willoughby, of course
suppose it i,!' cried the squire test
lily; ''u hat thcn?'
''Mr. Merri ord" said Steele, earnest
~, lyon are All older man than l am,
yet cannot lorbear fro:! c:,treating
you to pause and reflect b,I Cr> you in
Wow yoNA W III iouCu Stit
unsafe speculation us this What
do you know about this Leslie Will
loughby?'
81 know he's Chief Justice Chapman's
nephew"
''lle says So"
''And he owns four thousand acres of
land out vest"
According to his own account"
And he night be member of con-
gress if ne chose"
Rather llnproba ble that
And he owns lot O. property in
the upper part of the city of New
York"
Pardon me, but do not credit all
this. sincerely believe that he is de-
ceiving both you and your daughter
The squire grew very red in the face
s'Iwasn't boriisycsterday, and it amt
for you to set up to dictate to me. And
If Josephine fancies him more'n she
does you"
''She is quite welcome to her prefer
ence,' sharply interrupted Steele.
Good evening. Mr.. Merriford.
He walked quickly away down the
snowy road. the blood boiling in his
veins. He loved Josephine Merriford
heartily-ke respected the good-heart-
Ell old squire, but just now he felt that
he was almost banished from their
counsels
III could but prove all that I sus
pect." murmured he to himself as he
crossed the little bridge that spanned q
Drawing rivulet
\ band fell on his shoulder at the
SAME instant.
'Ilalio, Sprowle! I'm punctual to the
second, you see
ately answering to this unexpected
greeting.
We'll. then, Mr.. Leslie Willoughby
Esq, if you like that BETTER" CRIED
the stranger, with burst of laughter
"iiave you raised that sum of money
yet? That's what I want to know
Because old Samuels is getting crusty
and The deucer'
Just at that moment, looking full
into his face, the stranger discovered
his mistake.
II am not Leslie Willoughby." sai'
Steele composedly. "but can tell yo7
where he is Just at present he i
making love to Squire Merriford'
daughter, and trying to induce the OLE
man to lend him money"
THAT won't do, you knowr' criet
the man, v.ao was evidently a little tn,
worse for luor. ''Nohow you can Fl,
il, that Won't do. No lovemalzing
Cause he's married to my sister Eliza
Peter Sprowle is! / don't blame hin
: for not lisin' with Eliza--she's got
temper like vinegar; but he ha'n't NJ
business to make love to another girl
not while / m around
lyon have arrived just in time then
Perhaps you wouldn't mind letting tn
young lady know that your friend i
already married"
I'D just like to put spoke in Pet
Sprowle's wheel! I believe in homo