The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-01-20
The Old
Corral
Wall
By Addison Howard Gibson

Hope Marshall sat perched on tne
old stone wall OF the corral, facing the
horseman who had halted before her.
She had recently returned home, a
graduate from the University Of Call.
fornia, and to her dismay learned that
her father. without consulting her,
had mortgaged the ranch to this man,
in order to secure funds to keep her
In school. To be under obligations to
Ralph Barden, of all men, was to the
girl most annoying.
He was q short, stout man Of mid
die age, with red face and small
shrewd eyes. Periodically and with
irritating persistence he had sought
the girls hand In marriage ever since
she was 16. She was now 21, and her
youthful dislike had grown with her
years. It was not so much that his
personality was repugnant, but she
knew It was through scheming and by
taking a mean and unfair advantage
of neighbors with less business dis
cernment than his own that he had be-
come the richest man in the Black
Bear mountains.
You'll regret your refusal when it's
too late" he was saying. I've made
my offer for the last time-the very
last"
But l cannot marry you, Mr. Bar
den," she returned. II have told you
that do not love you"
"Lovel" he exclaimed, sarcastically.
"All boshl Silly sentiment" Then he
added tauntingly, II suppose you are
still in love with Rex Linwood, and
hope to attract him with your high
airs and college training"
The flush that suffused Hopes face
showed that his supposition came very
near the truth. He continued:
But Linwood has grown too impor-
tant to look at poor folks, since he was
made superintendent at the Red
Knight Mining Company. He's paying
attention to Mrs Cary, the rich and
handsome widow of Capt. James Cary.
She is a large stockholder in the Red
Knight and-well, Rex always was an
ambitious fellow"
The girl was still silent and he went
on You see how things are in that
quarter, and I'll give you till Satur-
diy-no longer-to think over my pro
Tosal Then, if you are still obstinate,
the mortgage will be foreclosed. It is
overdue and your father has not kept
up even the interest. l shall not ex
tend the time or show any favor un-
less 1 have your promise"
Surely, Mr.. Barden," pleaded Hope,
'you won't foreclose on us so soon. |
Wait a little and l will pay the inter |
est myself; l will even pay higher |
rate. | am to teach in the Union |
High School in the fall and can easily |
save what interest is due by Christ
mas. Father is not to blame. Mother |
has been Ill for a long time and seems
worse today, and they are both dis
couraged. If you foreclose I dread
the result. All they possess is right
here and the old place is very dear |
to them. They have lived on this
ranch ever since they came to Cali
fornia, young married couple. You
surely cannot have the heart to take
It from them! You will wait, won't
you?"
only till Saturday, Hope" he re-
piled. IF you love your parents as you
pretend to, and want them to keep the
ranch, you know how 1t may be done"
He rode away, leaving the girl to
brood over his words.
Hope had at first thought she might
be able to persuade him to give them
a chance, but she was now convinced
that he would show no mercy unless
she would promise to marry him The
idea of her father and mother turned h
out of their home in their old age and
poor health overcame her and she
buried her head in her arms and wept
the bitterest tears she had ever shed.
Then, somewhat relieved, she recov-
cred herself, sat up and looked about
her.
In spite Of hardships and poverty
there were many pleasant associations
connected with the ranch that had
been their home for all these many
years. Even the dilapidated old corral
wall where she was now sitting and
which her father had built Of rock
taken from the ravine In the pasture,
recalled the happy days of her child
hood when she had watched with
eager eyes the placing of each individ,
ual stone and kept account of how
many we're laid every day. Yes, 1t
would be hard to give it up to any one.
but to Barden, to whom it meant go