The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-17

The old white house was a square
structure surmounted by cupola. built
In the carly part OF The nineteenth cen
tuv The sloping roof supported by
great Coriathian pillars extended over a
Wide porch. and like many houses OF that
period both roof and cupola were orna =
mcutcd by low wooden railinGs
The trees and shrubs surrounding II
had grown unpruncd for years. and the
once trim, box -bordered garden beds were
tausle of Japan and Bermuda lilies,
pink sweet Williams, blue bachelors but
tons. fragrant phloS and haunting holly
hooks.
In spite OF its general dilapidation it
was place which would have suggested
infinite possibilities 10 an artistic eye.
hut Tom Hillary closed the gate Of the
old-fashioned white rail fence with an
impatient bang.
I've a white elephant on my hands,
gage. as he directed. and the property
had been put up at public sale, in All
probability the place would have brought
not more than enough 10 satisfy the lien
un il. and there would have been moth
ing. left FOR poor old Willard
He paused 20 regard with covetous
eyes an ornate Queen Anne villa In pro-
Something like thar now. was what
"a had In mind" he thought wistfully.
Mothers been used TO living In Il hand
some house ever since Ceie married jim
Bennett"
Then his face cleared III! tell her
her heart. she'll be glad 10 know that
was able to do good turn to the OLD
man who was so kind TO me when l was
kidl'
And. anyhow" he continued With in
creastng chcerfulress. II can furnish the
old ark way up In g, and with fresh
paiDt-pipk instead OF whitc-all that
shrubbcry cut down, nice smooth lawn,
and perhaps fountain with the figure
of a child holding an umbrella over her
head like that one ] saw in Peoria, |
q different Mace.
His mcditatons were Interrupted by
an eager. plaintiye voice
"oh. Thomas Miss Narilll BuckinS-
ham exclaimed Tn so delighted to have
met YOU, Sister and ! were intending TO |
call al your office This afternoon to CON
suit you on matter of--of grave I'M
noriancc. But there seems something so |
SO ndelicate in ladies calling on IL gen |
tlcman that, perhaps, now that you are |
In HE meighborhood. YOU won't mind I
stopping.
Hillary had swept OF his hat and
stood looking kindly down ut a shabby
little woman in rusty black.
II VIII be pleasure. Miss Bucking-
ham ne assured her cordially.
Nevertheless he seemed n yr!flc de-
pressed as he relieved the trcmulous
hands OF some pitifuIly small brown pa
per parcels. lie had known the Misses
all his life. ana he was
aware that. like many other women left
comfortable competency 10 slip through
heir fingers. He OWNED the nature OF
The matter of grave Importance and
lis propheuc soul told him that. he would
be called upon 10 solve The hopeless prob
len oi making their impaired capital
'!clG living neon" or the still more
.opclcss one OF pointing out 10 two
'Toud, lu&uriouSly brought up women past
middle age some means Of earning "a live
ibood.
Hillary himself had been n poor boy
pui he had come OF sturdy working stock
md his mother left a widow with two
ounS children 10 support. had applied
lerseli 20 the task with such jndomirabie
duck and vim that The Ittle cottage
lad been a happy home. And now
Hilary. Slaclns at the delicate worn face
'eside him. realized the difference be
wcen the cheerful hopeful poverty or
,is boyhood aud thai which confronted
hese Two helpless women in their old
For an Instant he was tempted TO plead
forgotten engagement and thus avoid
painful scene But as small boy with
m unsa tiahle appetite FOR cookies and
pples. the Misses Buckingham had often
and gratitude was not merely ,
name with Tom Hillary.
His manner showed no trace OF his in
ward perturbation when Miss Marlla
lShered him INTO The dim drawing room ,
where sat Miss Lucinda frail, thin.
hadowy edition OF the younger sister. ,
: was plain ;hat in his capacity of legal
dviSer the sisters regarded their former
'rotcSe with awe. and their natural re-
icence made il difficult for them 10
acknowledge the straits to which they I,
ad been reduced but by dint OF sklful. [,
questioning. Hillary at ,
ength succeeded in obtaining clear idea
( the condition OF their affairs. ,
THAT gold mine promised so WE'LL
obbed Miss Marilla. in conclusion,
How could we possibly imagine that J
he bank was going 10 fail when the
asher himself, not week before he was !
lTcstcd FOR embczzlenent. assured us
hat il was as solid as rocl'" sighed 5
liss Lucinda. Sister and I really can
ot manage TO live on what is left she {
ontinued. tearfully. and we thought
'homas. that you could tell us what Is {
csl 10 be done -
This great house must be an expen- E
i've place to keep up" began Hillary
eutatively Have you never thought OF 7
isposing of it?" ]
Sell the home that has been in our
dmily for four generations? We would
ather stavve" the old women cried as 1,
ne person.
The only plan which seemed to him j
I all feasible being thus summarly re- E
ectcd, Hillary sal thouehtfully frown- {
1g over the apparently lnsolublc problem !
10 him. when the silence was /
rokeu by Miss Martha