The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1912-12-26

story. No one else paid any attention
to 1t, and 1t passed away. as a Mum
chausen tale.
During the first decade of the TWEEN.
tieth century. when the WithrinNon
property had long ago passed into the
Pushcarth family, man apparently
about twenty-five years of age entered
the place and. advancing to the house.
rang the bell, sent up his card-Ralph
II. Wilmington with the word that he
belonged to the family thrt had for
merly oM Led the property.
The butler took the card ushered the
visitor into drawing room and after a
brief absence returned. saying that the
only person who could srs Mr. With
rington was Miss Pushrarth. who
would be down directly A young lady
of naughty mien appeared, who main
tanned that reserve to be expected
from one of high degree. But no soon
er had she taken a fair look at her
caller than she started. There was an
unwholesome leathery look about him
that appalled, her. She knew all about
the family from whom her father had
obtained the place; that since one
named Ralph Wilmington. the owner.
had not given deed to the property
the title was defective. and dreadful
Idea came to her that he had returned
from the dead tO claim his own
Pardon what may seem an intru-
sion," said the visitor. "You have seen
by my card that | am a Wilmington.
| have been spending some time in
Germany and since my return have felt
desire to visit the home of my boy
hood"
Miss Pushcarth shuddered the mo-
ment Mr.. Wilmington began to speak.
for his voice had something of the
sound of pair of leather bellows. His
throat appeared to be dry and the vocal
organs stiff. When he spoke of the
home of his boyhood she interrupted
him:
Excuse me. You have mistaken the
place. was born and have lived here
all my life. and must be nearly your
age"
MY ancestors. should have said"
hastily replied the visitor
81 have heard" the lady continued.
that one of the Wilmington family
named Ralph disappeared great many
years ago Indeed. / understand that
he was the owner of this property at
the time of his disappearance. there
fore the title to il is defective. Perhaps
you are a descendant of this Ralph
Wilmington and can supply the def
ciency."
A singular expression came over the
young mans face. As Miss Pushcarth !
looked at him in the light dimmed by
the heavy curtains it seemed to her
that she saw In him the soul of a very
old man. AS 70 his body. it was neither
old nor young. There was something
about 1t to remind her of a certain
bachelor she knew Of seventysfive who
kept his position as beau in society.
He was so artistically made up that
one could scarcely tell whether he was
seventy-fve or twenty-five. Without
making q direct reply. her guest, In the
courtly manner of half a century be-
fore, assured her that he could make
good the title to the place and asked
her If she would inherit it."
'It is mine already" she said. my
mother died when | was a child and
my father year ago. There Is moth (,
ing to trouble me in the settlement OF
the estate except the outstanding in
terest of this namesake of yours.
Doubtless he is dead long ago and will
never trouble us. but ! wish the defect
could be supplied"
Glancing at Wilmington, she noticed
another expression on his face that
startled her II was or resembled the
look Of one who was thinking Of love.
of marriage marriage with her. But
1t was not the look a young man would
have given her with such intent; II %as
more like leer from septuagenarian.
without directly pursuing the mat
ter her visitor broke out in an i'm
passioned manner. telling her that he
found himself in world from which
all who had loved him and whom he
had loved had departed and left him
alone He was hungry for affection.
IL no new attachment came to him,
nothing to fill the frightful void, he
would go mad. If such an affection
could be purcha he would give for
it this, his family homestead, were 1t
still his.
During this address at times he
seemed to be an attractive young man
offering her his devotion. at times
broken down antiquated piece of dried
flesh. begging for some one to take
care Of him in his old age, Suddenly
recovering himself he arose and said:
But | Nil lnfiict no more of this
on you. may see you again. and 1
may not At any rate, ! will see that
you have clear title to this manor
house"
Without waiting for reply he hur-
ried away.
That was the last time Miss Push
earth saw her visitor. A few days
later there came to her through the
mail a document got up In proper
legal form which. If the signature