The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1898-11-24
A GATE POSTPONED.
BY GERTRUDE SMITH.

The great fields lay III un broken white
ness. The woods along the banks of the
Iowa river We're pillows of snow The
large farmhouses, and the number and
the size of the barns and other out lying
buildings gave evidence of the richness
of the soil that lay buried and resting for
another harvest.
Judge Hilton's house had the distinc-
ton Of being built of brick. There was a
dignity in its solidity over the usual white
farmhouses on the surrounding farms
that well became the dignity of the judge.
The Judge was New England born and
bred. There is veneration for Puritan
ancestry in the entirely Western soul that
the Puritan mind still has for good old
Puritan blood.
Isabel Hilton was her fathers house
keeper and only child. The mother had
died while she was baby, and she had
ruled the house and had been ruled
10y her father since that time.
She had all her father reserve and
pride of family, and at the same time his
happy nature and gracious manner, that
won her friends when she desired to make
friends, Those who found it impossible
to win their way into her favor called
this reserve in Isabel her 'down East
airs. There was a dlscouragng belief
among the young men in the country
around; some OF whose fathers owned
farms and herds of cattle large enough to
divide and establish them in enviable be-
ginnings, that if the Judge thought any of
them worthy TO win his daughters love
there would never be an opportunity to
gain the consent of the young lady.
The judge had theories against Isabel S
entertaining young men alone, nor would
he permit her to 90 with any escort but
himself,
The privilege of spending the evening
with lsabel, IN the presence OF her father,
was considered a mark of distinction,
and held the one so honored OF the wave
81 hope.
IF fellow had the backbone to outsit
the Judge some n ght he might proprose
to the daughter was the comment Mr..
Holderman made to his son one day.
Glnt Holderman had been one of Isabel S
most persistent admirers.
The trouble with all OF you is, you 90
there shaking IN your boots, and talk to
me Judge, and come away with a big
head because You dared to do that; but
tell you, if | was young fellow I'd out
SIT him II l sat till the break of day. It's
some such pluek as that the Judge is look
ing tor. lie raised her and he knows her
value; and she ain going cheap to none
OF you. II you can go ahead of the other
fellows ana to" her IN, | IL give you So
Wy and deed you section OF land. Come
now, let see what you re made OF
IA some way MS lordly promise got
"'lllV the current OF country gossip, ana
Iol'seo 'he aaihlfesS OF lsaoei, ana ali, to
ne" interest IN the contest. Large stories
were 'oiu OF me Iate hours the Judge kept
lnat winter with Isabel sultors- tlnt
holuerman drove to the brick house early
on ine evening tlla1 ne mad set ms NINA
WIN liht7llke deteimlnatlon TO give ms
iaInel aoVlee trlal.
II was 4 eold plght' ana as ne sped
alohs III ms ne" cutter drawn by hand-
some span OF olack horses, and well tuck
eu III with buf1aIo robes, his heart was
warm WIN nope
ne h'u spent many evenings OF the
WINTER Paying GhesS WIN the Judge, 50
ne was sure 81 his welcome; but tonight
ne loGHta beyond all TINS. II" thought
" ,I'e nom Wuen. al last Win ms heart
an" UNDERSTANDING touched, the Judge
"ou'G hl1 'hem good' nlght, ana ne
sEg ~, be Ieft alone with Isabel
-, mere was no HanUSomei young man IN
llie e9"o1% than emit HoldeImahi none
i" TO- 'l"Ieod oe''el' "F #h@ drove better
i'olSe'>' out more l9an an lHiS' lne J0use
,''''1 '1.i A'iH tHat ne Ntp never khoWn It