Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-04-19
HIRAM GoRmEEY.
BIZ NARY KYLE DALLAS.

button OF the good things ol Ills WOFid. ne
had 6ne fortune, a magnificent dwelling, and
q plump, good tempered wife Moreover. he
had great reputation for sanctity ard up
riehtuess. and was an elder of the cfuecb 10
which he belonged. a very good man and d
thorough christian Old Hiram csn7iae-e1 him
self; for he had family prayers every morning
went to church every Sunday, a''t' q owed the
cook to give all uneatable scraps Of broad
which remained 10 the harder to ans 7g2ar
who applied for them. A jadieta1s parent be
believed himself to be: aia d lua5 one: uT
when his only daughter had marr.ed against
his will. he had cast her off forever, and retu5-
cd to see her when she stood weak and trem-
bling at his door. to tel him that her husband
Law on the verge Of death and that starvation
stared them in the face. rt
"As she had sowed so she must reap he
muttered, as he saw her turn away, hiding her
prieyed face in her shabby bonnet. She had
her own choice and must abide by it." And
so saving, he went b tck to bis account books
and banished his daughter from his mind
' Old Hiram Gormley was, as l have said,
very wealthy, but he yet clung to trade with
ahe utmost pertinaciiy. Money getting was
his life, and he was never so happy as while
making a bargain. Amongst other things he
speculated in -four, and had made more, per-
haps. in that line of business than in any 9th
or. How old Hiram and his bfJtEers Ip the
trade chuckeled as the poor maa; loaf dacreas-
ed and the store in their Golfers augmented, 1t
is best known to themselves. p.
It was at such season that Hiram Gormley
sat before his parlor fire, basking in its blaze.
and sinking gently into an after dinner nap.
His portly form filed the huge velvet chair,
and his own portrait looked from its gilded
frame upon its drowsy original with dignity
entirely of the artists own invention. Mrs.
Gormley had gone out to dine, and the car
riage was to be sent for her at an appointed
hour, SO that the old man and his portrait were
alone together in the comfortable room.
They were alone, at least for many minutes
But as the silver-toned time-piece rung out the
hour of seven, and the outer door was opened
and small man, clad in a faded green velve-
teen coat entered the room with the soft tread
of stealthy cat He was queer looking
individual, so withercd ami 50 wrinkled that
he might have resembled soiua Old goblin. and
his white hair stood out strangely enough aP-
on either side of his brown igrehcad Upon
his meagre lower limbs he wore great mad
stained boots, world too wide for him, and
in his hand he carried cap Of the same color
and material as his coat. He looked FIRST at
old Hiram, then at his portrait, then back
again to the original, and finally stepped for
ward and touched him on the shoulder.
Hiram Gormey awoke with start. and
springing to his feet, regarded him with aston
ishnlcnt
"who are you and what 10 you want here.'
he asked, in manner sufficiently imperative
Who I am is matter Of no Importance
replied the stranger but ara here or busF
ness. believe You arc buying rP four
Il am" replied old Hirsta. hacouirg in
terustcd and gracious in I6o.aeal- = 'ii'' d
scat sir and let meundeista0- YoaF h0aiaesS-
He pointed to chair. a,J sac ylsiJar seattf
himself Immediately, crossing his lau+av ur15=
and folding his elfin arn.s upaa lis bosom, ai
he beat down his head sn, P-2F,l mic Li'fau
Gormleys eyes.
:" We have -four to SELL l. sand.
"We?" said Hiram, interrogatvey.
al and my partner, or more politely speak
ing, my partner and l." responded the lttl'
man.
"Oh," said Hiram, "may I ask the name o
the tirm?"
aid rather not mention names until In
sure that we shall come to terms" replied th'
little man. But let me tell you Mr. Germey
that such chance has never been offered t.
one man before If you accept it. bread viii
run up this year to such price, that loaf o
the better sort will be worth its weight in gold
and aigh men will give great sums for wha
they esteem as nothing. How nsny barrei
do you think we have on hand, my partne
and ?"
How many +" asked old Hiram, trem
bling with eagerness. r.F
The little man bent forward and whispers
something in his ear which made him start t
his feet once more. ..s
$50 many?" he cried. "Why the Yer
spectators themselves viii fall at my feet
shall be the richest man in the whole world
III buy it all in all, all. When can see ii
when can sign the contract? Be quick
tell me where all the store is hidden?
In our Office" said the little man.
Where ?"
Hush " whispered the little man ''ther
is an underground passage anda cellar or Van
capable Of containing ten times what 1t hold
AS for the time, you may come with me t
night, if you like, all hours are the same
my partner and me-" 4sif ID. f,.l.,r -
" r The words were hardly ont ofhis mouth ei
Hiram Gormley had hurried Oh lis, over-cof
dashed his broad brimmed hat over his eye
and seized his gold-headed cane with nervoJ
grasp of his heart and band "Lead the way
he said" lead the way-Id follow you if &c
were going to the moon.'' ~ a1 -
The stranger only grinned and passed. IN
Of the door before him. A
At the gate stood small vehicle, black
lia ink, and capable of containing only two pc
700 sons A small elEIike pony was fastened I
it's shafts, and o little blnck boy held ih'' rein
Is Hiram glanced doubtfuIly at the shabby tu
out, but in compliance to nod from his II
low traveller, stepped in and took his seat b
side him. If the shaggy pony was small al
uncompromising to look at, he was neverii
o., less as feet of foot as any race horse and
dingy vehicle spun along at rate which MA
old Hiram cling to the sides with both han
and shut his eyes that he might not grow g
dy. Upon passing from the vil!ags, II turn
down the broad country road, aud paused
the margin of a little piece Of . 'ad and
GYour Office seems to o. ve
strange locality" muttered Old Hiram sl9
eiously.
"Not at ALL" replied the F-,'e a'.4. IA Esr-
"only we are going by the o:iairsr7-'d 0i
so as not to attract attention.
k"Ah," said old Hiram: "We.-, n'a aee4 50
TO be an under ground passage, sure anoug
for they were turning now into a sort OF ca
and only one faint ray of light in the far {
Eance saved them from being wrapped in ut
darkness. "I shall be glad when am safe no
again." he added to himself. "HOw do kn
where the fellow is taking me?"
But even as be spoke the distant light gr