The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-11-03

NV business increased. i was grow
ing rich. Not rich in the past war
sense of this year of grace 1866, but l
had enough to keep me in quiet way
without more work if / chose to re-
main idle. We saw little company,
and except some occasional visits from
n client, saw but few faces ut home.
People did say that l was getting fat,
but that was Il calumny.
ANY body been here to-day, Jack
son ~ This to my clerk, with me now,
man and boy, for twenty years.
"Only one man; queer-looklng chap,
Mr., Elder: looks like returned digger,
or something of that sort"
"What does he want ~ asked.
"Some questions about California
land claim" said jackson; "but he
will be here in half an hour to speak
for himself"
And in half an hour he :came. Why
jackson should compare him to dig
ger could not for the life of me imag-
Inc. He was tall, well-built, though
rather slender; had black, curling,
glossy hair, and full, dark beard, and
his eyes were full of gentleness. There
tongue and iron wachfulness of express
sion that have noticed about many
who have made fortunes in gold claim,
and lost them again in the gilded sa-
looms of San Francisco. But there was
a something-no matter; / will get on
with the case.
Mr.. Layton-that was the gentle
mans name-had, he told me, pur-
shased, several years ago, certain Cali
fornia reservations, and had paid for
them in full. There were now claims
advanced against him by the agents OF
certain Mexicans, and his object in Wis
itinc me was to have the title investi-
gated, and, secondly, to hand the whole
property, without restrictions Of any
kind. to his wife. The total sum in
yolyed, or rather the total amount Of
his money and the value of the dispu-
ted property, would place his wife in
possession at his death of over s20, 600.
She was in the city, and if her presence
was required, would be forthcoming,
but being of invalid habits, did not &c
abroad much. t.e i.
Twas, of course, ready enough to un-
dertake the case, and took charge of the
papers respecting it, and we parted with
an offer on my part to make his visits
as agreeable as possible. For the next
few weeks / had frequent visits from
Mr.. Layton, and became quite upon
companionable terms-so much so that
Oh his last call / invited him to my
house on the following Sunday, and re-
duested him to bring his wife; which
he promised to do.
Twill remember that day. The morn
ing had been showery, and the sky had
since cleared; all the trees and grass
were dressed in their brightest green,
and from the cool earth perfumes fioated
up with that indescribable freshness
only experienced after q rain or al
night. Punctual to their time, my Wis
itors appeared at the end of the lane
leading TO my house, and my wife Ian!
| weut 10 meet them. Mr.. Layton's
pleasant manner made introduction:
unconstrained, and the lady with hin
had Just the sort of winning manner
that attracts woman no less than men
She was pale, slender person, of 3
very gentle aspect. There was in every
gesture and word an appealing man.
9er and tone, which seemed to ask fol
kindness and affection. There was eyi
IDENTIFY a strong attachment between
husband and wife, and entire confidence
Judged, between them.
We have three children. They were
upon a few. hours visit in the neighbor.
hood, and so our day was o quiet one
Children are little noisy sometimes