The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-03-07
The Old
| Corral
| Wall
BY Addison Howard Gibson

Hope Marshall sat perched on IN,
old stone wall Of the corral. facing tn.
horseman who had halted before her
She had recently returned home. q
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 a red face and small
shrewd eyes. Periodically and with
Irritating persistence he had sought
the girls hand In marriage ever since
she was Is. She was now 81. and her
youthful dislike had grown with her
years. II was not so much that his
personality was repugnant. but she
knew 1t 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-tbe very
last"
But | cannot marry you. Mr.. Bar
dem she returned Il have told you
that do not love you"
"Love!" he exclaimed, sarcastically.
"All bosh, Silly sentiment" Then he
added tauntingly. Il 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 suppostion 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 large stakeholder 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
day-no longer-to think over my pro-
7,4sal Then, If you are still obstinate,
the mortgage will be foreclosed. 1t Is
overdue and your father has not kept
up even the interest. | shall not ex-
tend the time or show any favor un-
less have your promise"
Surely, Mr.. Barden,' pleaded Hope,
''you won't foreclose on us so soon.
Wait a little and | 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 i'll for long time and seems
worse today. and they are both dis
couraged. If you foreclose ! 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 Call.
fornia, young married couple. You
surely cannot have the heart to take |
1t from them! You will wait, won't |
your"
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
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
here were many pleasant associations
with the ranch that had
Jeen their home for all these many
1ears Even the dilapidated old corral
vail where she was now sitting and
which her father had built of rock
AIKEN from the ravlne In the pasture,
ecalled the happy days of her child
lood wher she had watched with
ager eyes the placing Of each indiyid.
lal stone and kept account Of how
many were laid every day Yes, It
would be hard to give 1t up to any one,
ut to Barden, TO whom IL meant so
title when II was so much 10 them
er mother she feared might not sur
i've the loss.
The wretch. she cried passionate
y, shaking her fist at the retreating
cure Of Barden. which she could Just
iscern disappearing down the noun
ain trail Il know he bought up the !
iortgage just TO compel me TO marry {
i'm, There is no one to loan us the
,aprv Ar Ifpmopd fpEpht h,,t ?