Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-12-17
Written for the Eorthwestl
The CHRISTMAS GOLD.
ny LOWELL H. MORROW.

Il tell you again ana lor tne i1ss
time said Farmer Benton with an
angry snap, that / will not listen TO
any more Of your nonsense in regard
to that young Cotton. You are my
child and not yet Of age, therefore
am boss. You must marry the one
pick for you or none at all. A num-
Der Of times | have pointed out the
advantages Of union with the ranch
foreman; but you, silly vixen that
You are, have thrown him over for
Colton's sake. Now you know that
Cotton hasn't money enough to pay
the interest on Tins cash. What
chance has be compared with Tim
Pickem? would have you distinct
ly understand that while I'm round
these premises, you'll marry Tim or
none.'
Farmer Benton having delivered
this forceful and important admoni-
ton, donned his coat, pulled his hat
over his shaggy brows, and shuftied
to the door. Having opened the door
and passed through, he shut it with a
slam that made the windows rattle,
and. mumbling to himself, proceeded
to the barn. Mary Benton continued
to stand as she had stood for several
minutes-gazing out over the broad
cold paralrie with tar-sway lonely
look in her large dark eyes.
Ten years before the events of this
story happened, James Benton, with
many of his neighbors, caught the
Western fever and disposlng of their
Ohio homes, pushed out over the vast
plains of grass, and halted In the beau
tlful valley of th Republican river in
Southern Nebraska. At that time
the country was new and no railroads
were near. So for mutual benefit,
the settlers kept together and started
a town one-half mile from the river,
which they called 'Ohio, in honor Of
their native state. This town soon
grew to be trading center for the
ranchmen and Indians. At last the
iron horse found his way along the
turbid waters of the Republican. 1t
SO happened that this iron horse
crept over the pastures of Farmer
Benton, and so his owners had to pay
the farmer good price for pastur-
age. By hard work and careful fig
uring, Farmer Benton soon had a
good start in life, and, as he often In
formed his wife, he had to use FIVE
figures to express his wealth. Will
liam Cotton, his wife and son, were
old neighbors of the Bentou's, and
when the latter went west, the Cotton
family went too. Mary Benton and
Harry Cotton were fast friends, al
ways together while young. Their
youthful friendship ripened into love
when they grew up to the estate OF
man and woman-hood. Farmer Ben
ton looked with kindly eyes upon all
this, and spoke many words Of ap-
probation in regard to his daughters
conduct with young Cotton. Rub
bing his hands, he would often say to
himself: 'Mary's right. Harry's a
good one and is the only heir to his
fathers large ranch. He's the one
for my girls life partner, and, James
Benton, don't you forget It, But his
views were suddenly changed. Col
toms business speculations turned out
badly and he lost his ranch. Under
the business worry, his health, which |
was poor, gave way completely, and
the doctors bills drew in his personal
property. So owing to the strain of
it all William Cotton soon passed |
away. Harry and his mother moved
back to town, and Harry went to
work as day laborer.
The change in Harry's misfortunes
did not change Mary's love for him.
Not SO, however, with her father.
The farmers former friendship turn
ed to an ICY coolness. A worldly am
bilious man, was this farmer Benton.
He had peculiar ideas regarding the
man that his daughter should marry,
and when he saw how cruel fortune
was using his prospective son-in law,
he limited to Mary that 1t would be
good policy to break the engagement,
and, when she Indignantly refused,
he ordered her to have nothing more
to do with the young man, who was
now poor. But the love between the
farmers daughter and Harry Cotton
was not to be dampened; and when
Harry had the misfortune to lose an
arm in railway accident Mary had
the good fortune to nurse him back
to health. Consequently, their love
grew stronger and kept pace with
Farmer Bentons increasing GOODNESS.
The same company that controlled the
railroad running through that coun-
try, also owned and operated large