The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-05-14

the ground, lost in puinful thought
Then he went slowly into the house
and sitting down before tho fire, lct
his head sink upon his breast, and
there mused on the trouble that was
closing around him. But there came
no ray of light, piercing the thick
darkness that had fallen so suddenly
Nothing was then said to his family
on the subject, but it was apparent
to all that something was wrong, for
the lips that gave uttcranco to SC
many pleasant words, and parted SC
often in cheerful smiles, were still
silent
care you not we'll, to-day?' asked
Mrs. Bacon: as the family gathered
around the dinncr-table, and she re.
marked her husbands unusually so.
Der face.
mot very WE'LL he replied.
"What ails you. father?' said
Mary, with tondcr concern in her
voice; and her eyes were turned
upon him with ahcctionatc earnest.
ness.
Nothing of much consequence
child, was answered cvasivcly. 81
shall be better after dinner
And as Mr.. Bacon spoke he poured
out n larger glass of brandy than
usual-hc always had brandy on the
table at dinner timc-and drank it
oft. This soon took away the keen
edge of suffering from his feelings,
and he was able TO affect measure
Of chcerfulncss: But he did not de.
ccivc the eyes Of Mrs. Bacon and
Mary.
81 wonder what ails fathcr..' said
Mary, as soon as she was alone with
her mother.
81 don't know answered Mrs.
Bacon, thoughtfully, che seems trou-
bled about something
II saw that Nh. Dyer, who keers
's.rsr ..f~'css'~ a. T!ea2i!,ssu' aaf,A
morning.
"You did, Mrs. Bacon spoke with
n new manifestation Of interest.
"Ies; and l thought, rs / looked
at him out of the window, that he
appeared to be angry about some.
thing
Mrs. Bacon did not reply to this
remark. Soon after, on meeting her
husband, she said to him.
"What did Mr.. Dyer want this
morning.
"Somcthing that he will not get,'
replied Mr.. Bacon.
'rhc money he loaned your
"Ycs.'
"It's impossible to pay it back
now, in the dead of winter, said Mrs.
Bacon, in troubled tone of voice,
che ought to know that
"And he does know it.'
"What did you tell him?'
"That to lift the mortgage now
was out Of the question ,
"Won't he be troublesome? You
remember how he acted towards poor
old Mr.. Peabody
~ know he's hardhcartcd,
selfish man. | don't believe that
there is a spark Of humanity about
him. But he'll scarcely 20 to ox
trcmitics with me. | don't fear that.
Did lie thrcatcn:'
YES. But ! hardly think that he
was III earnest
How far this last remark Of ole
Mr.. Bacon was correct, the lollowin.
brief conversation will show. 1t tool
place between Dyer and a miserable
pcttiiogging lawyer, in Brookyillc
named Grant.
I've ght a mort gage on cid Bacon
farm that | wish entered up, sal,
the tavern,kccper, on calling at th'
lawyers office.
Can't he pay it OFF, inquired
Grant
"Of course not. Hes bee,
running down Tor the last SIX 0
seven years, and is now Oh his las
legs
and so you mean to trip hin
up before he falls of himself IN
lawyer spoke in an unfccllng ton
and with n sinister smile.
"If you please to say So rcturnc
! Dyer. I've wanted that farm Of hi
for some time past. When | too
the mortgage on it my object was Gs
a simple Investment at legal intcrcs,
you know that can do better wit
money than six per cent q year
Il should think you could
responded the lawyer, with chucklc
"Whcn I loaned Bacon tire
hundred dollars, of course ncve
expected to get the sum back agair
/ understood, perfectly well, thu
| sooner or later the mortgage woul
have to be entered up