The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-08-09
SAVED THE FARM.


John Smith had a hobby, an uncon-
/ querable aversion to old maids. And
yet, as in very mockery of his pet an
tipathy, his only child, Sarah, had de-
veloped into the hated object, right in
his own household
Sarah was tall and angular, like her
father, but her face was pleasing and
her disposition mild and amiable. She
had never revolted against anything in
her life-not even against the injustice
of spending her youth in making pre-
serves, apple butter or piecing quilts
while other girls were making merry
One day jackson Smith received a
hurt, and when DIR. Brown was called
in he told jackson his days were num-
bered Then it was that his hatred for
old maids proved itself
'fI'L never leave this place to woman
that can't get a husband" he said
fercely.
But, father, Sarah's never had no
chance; we've always kept her down."
demonstrated his weeping wife
He waved his hand to silence her.
Woman, no old maid shall inherit my
place. I've sent by the doctor for Law
yer Clarke, and he'll come tomorrow
There's money enough in bank for you,
but I'll fix it so that at your death it
will go with the farm. jackson Goggan,
my namesake, shall get it all "
Tearfully Mrs Smith impaired the
facts to Sarah
Mother, would he turn you out of
the old place just because he hates meP'
and Sarah looked incredulous.
The elder woman nodded; then Sarah
kissed the round, sunburned face and
said; Mother, l never have revolted
against father, but I'm going to save
the place for you. / wouldn' t mind SO
much, but you shall never leave your
home. I'm going out now to think it
over, :" and putting ON her pink sunbon-
net she went out the back door When
some distance from the house, she sat
down in the shade of tree, and while
her heart beat loudly over her fathers
contemplated injustice she resolved to
outwit him.
There S Josh Mullin, he might-but
l can't bear Josh; he chews tobacco, and
his mouth always looks dirty" She
cast her eyes over the landscape, and on
the next farm she saw the figure of
man in the field. Eyes, there's John
Howard, but'-and her face grew
pink-"I hate somehow to ask it of
him.. Then the tear stained face of her
mother passed before her mental vision,
and, giving jerk to her sunbonnet, she
started down the path across the mead
ow.
John Howard was hoeing corn When
he saw Sarah approaching, he stopped
and leaned on his hoe, look of concern
on his. face.
sis the old man worse, Sarah2'' he
asked.
Eyes. DR.. Brown says he can't live
more than two or three days, and-oh,
John, it's awful the way he isl'
Eyes, but you have been good, sac
riioing daughter, Sarah, and you can't
blame yourself for anything, YOU
"Oh, you don't understand, john
He's going to leave everything TOTO
jackson Goggan, and mother'll have to
leave the place, she half sobbed.
"You can't mean it, Sarahi Why
why, that would be outrageous What
makes him talk of such thing?"
Because - because II am an old
maid; he hates all old maids, and her
face grew pinker than the sunbonnet
John Howard shifted the hoe to the
other arm and looked down
John, I've come to ask you-oh, |
John, don't think me brazen; it's for
mother sake | can't stand to see her
turned out and for my fault, and if you
will only help me and-and-come up
to the house and pretend that we are to
be married-just until after the will is
made-it wouldn't be SO very wrong, |
John-not so bad as letting mother be
put out Of her home. She caught her |
breath in short gasps, but when John |
was silent her pink face suddenly paled |
81 reckon it's asking heap too much
of you, John, but don't hold it against
me Icouldn t see any other way Good
~, John. p" She was turning away.
Don't go yet, Sarah II think
your idea is good, but it might not .
work jackson Smith is sharp He'd |
see right through it, but-if-if you
would be willing we could drive over
to Squire Halls this afternoon and get !
married. l wouldn't trouble you any,
Sarah. We could go on just the same,
and I'll never want to marry any one !
else, and if you should you could get a
divorce, you know"
"Oh, you re sure it makes no differ
ence-you don't mind, John?" Her
tone was eager.
''No, l don't mind. I'd help you any |
way could, Sarah. It's nigh noon now.
I'll drive over for you in the buggy
right after dinner +"
'I'll be ready, and-I wouldn't have
asked you, John, only-only-you I'M
derstand how it is, don't your" Her
face was red again.
why, Sarah, where have you been?
You look as rosy as a poppy, " and Mrs
Smith wiped the tears from her eyes as
she gazed at her daughter face.
"Ive been attending to business for
us, mother You will not leave the
place. I'm going over to Squire Halls
this evening John Howard is coming
to take me in the buggy"
The sun was sinking low in the west
when John Howard and Sarah returned
from the squire's.
"Will you come in, John, and stay
about some? Id-I'd rather you'd tell
him, if you don't mind, +" Sarah said.
John hitched the horse and went in.
He walked to the bedside of jackson
Smith and sat down.
"Uno1e Jackson" he began, "I've
come to tell you what I've done. You
know that I've often warned you that
some day you would lose the most valu-
able possession you had''-
It's the brindle heifer, " interrupted