Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-12-26
"Duty,s duty. We know. MIRA pear,on !,

But we can pay-leastways Lucy
! will-the fall value ofthe hurdles. Dom
be hard upon us, for the Lords sake
Think what a good name we we kept
In the midst Of sore trials, and dom
take him to prison! Lucy, Lucy, he u
die IL he goes there /! ~ she walled, as shC
saw the uselessness OF her appeal TO the
! police officer.
BE quiet, mother" said her daughter
resolutely. Father shall never be i'm.
! prisoned, if can prevent it. am goinp
/ to see Farmer Lawson, and arrange II
with him. You III not mind waiting
| till come back?"
! Sergeant Smith, after short conyer.
sation with his satellite, consented tC
await her return and, snatching up hel
/ bonnet and shawl, Lucy sped away on
her errand. 1t was one that dyed hel
/ cheek with shame, for she inherited the
Pearson pride in that unblemshed char.
acter they had upheld for many genera.
tions and the poverty which had hith.
| erto troubled her SO seriously sank into
insignificance before this darker trial.
7 BY tf1e ncarest psth she- went, psntinp
with haste, until Farmer Lawson's door
/ was reached. But Lucy came at an un-
| lucky moment. The farmer, who was
man Of great personal strength, and
I proud Of his proves, often made bets.
in the parlor of the "White Lion ~ when
not over sober. One OF these was to be
decided this day, and some of his ac-
quaintances were lunching with him,
devouring the eggs, and ham, and dainty
fritters of the not over well-plessed mis-
tress, and sending out the dishes very
much faster than she could prepare them
On being told that young woman
was asking to gee master, ~ she came to
nd zl rr.ltr
swered that Ar. Lawson could not be
seen.
'But, indeed, ms'am" said Lucy, "I
must speak with him, if only for a min
ute.
Must, indeed! Do you know who [
am? l am Mrs. Lawson, and L don't
understand young women coming here
to ask for him after that fashion. Must
see him, indeed You we had your
answer, so you ID better go. "
Lucy was too much in earnest to be
frightened away by O few snappish words;
so, apologizing as humbly as she could.
she began to explain her business. But
not muscle of Mrs. Lawson's visago re-
laxed.
"If your fathers been thieving, he
must abide the consequences, the same as
other people. l In surprised to hear it.
| always thought the Pearsons were
decent folk IN too busy to stay and
hear any more" "
She was closing the door, despite the
entreaties of the half-frantic daughter,
when one of the unexpected guests can
tered into the yard on a pretty chestnut
mare. He leaped from the saddle, threw
the reins to gaping boy, and came for
ward, looking about him as if ifthoroughly
cogniZant OF his well-knit frame, and
the dark but handsome features beneath
his jaunty wide-avake. A careless. nod
and a ''how d. ye do" to the farmers
wife, and he was passing on, when Lucy's
aRgushed looks attracted his attention.
He stopped. "Why, mistress, whats
the matter here?"
But Mrs. Lawson, who did not like
him, went back to her culinary duties,
muttering something unintelligible; and
he looked to Lucy for reply TO his in
quiry.
Although years had elapsed since she
last saw him, Lucy recognized him. Who
was there in Halsum that did not know
Martin of Martins Holt? The gay,
reckless owner of one of the finest farms
in the country,-first in the field at the
hunt orthe steepl ase,-drinking, di-
cling, and altoge her living the fastest life
of q diSsipated and irreligious man.-
redeemed Indignantly beneath his bold
glance ofadmfration, but now she saw in
him one who could be useful if he would !;
and rapidly relating what had occurred,
she besought him to procure her all In
terview with farmer Lawson.
"Surely will. Come this way"
But she shrank from encOuntering the
farmer in the presence of his guests
"You ID rather speak to him hera,
Lucy? Well, that shall be as you please.
III make him come out; and do Mt spoil
those pretty eyes with crying. Lawson
will not DO hard upon a poor devil for
sixpenny-worth of old wood"
In a few minutes his promise was full
filled; but the lowering brows of the burly
farmer dashed Lucy's hopes.
"He could not interfere now" he told
her, for it was in the hands of the po-
lice. 1t was only the other night that
his fagot-stack was pilfered. He must
make an example of some one.n
Then Lucy eloquently pleaded her faith
er's excellent character, the long illness
that had followed his accident; and his
endurance of the severity
of the winter, without an appeal for re-
lief.
The only reply evoked was an assur-
Rnce that Pearson had not been alone in
his sufferings; that many had been as
badly off, and the poor-rates we're shame
fully heavy. Farmers had their burdens
to bear as well rs the rest besides, had
not his fsgot-stack been pilfered? and
whose property would be safe II men
were allowed to do such things uncheck-
ed?
Then Lucy produced herportemonnaie,
and offered to pay the value doubly or
trebly of the hurdles, but in vain. Some
one had advised him to make an exam
Pile of the next lawless vagabond detect
ed in pulling stake from his hedges or
q turnip from his fields; and Farmer
Lawson felt proud of the firmness with
which he was carrying out his resolve.
"I'm very sorry for you, young woman,
but the law must take its course, and this
is only distressing both of us for no pur-
pose; 30 III wish yeu good day"
Martin of Martins Helt, who had
stayed TO hear the conference, good
ihtsrposed.
Hang it, man! give way this once
IT Ia mt worth making such fuss about!
And how can you resist the pleadings of
such pretty girl? Come, say you IL not
" No, indeed! but he sha' MT say so,
Mr.. Martini" cried Mrs. Lawson, COM
ing forward with fiery face; mot Or
such q reason as that, anyhow! I'm
ashamed Of you, Mr.. Martin; and ~ for
you, hussey-"
But Lscy walked quickly away. Mar
fin loughipp Mt hia hnstasA'S iuvacfiyas