The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1869-07-30
and he looked towards the road 3
brown face darkened a he looked

and he looked towards the road. His
brown face darkened - he looked.
"I could, perhaps, have got an extension
of time If that villain had not got the
mortgage in his hands; and, dastardly
rascal, who makes il his business to rob
and defraud the poor and the fatherlesa
he may take this farm; he will IL he can ;
for he has been manouvering for It long
time; but he shall have 1t with the sound
est horsewhipping that ever . man had.
Twicei thrice the number Of strokes of
the united years of my tender little sisters |;
and my arm is strong" And he looked
after the carriage with his hands firmly
clenched.
my two years at college did me but
little good. If could have finished, and
got profession, or had . good trade, /
should not hsve been 30 helpless, II the
worst comes to the worst. But won't
look on the dark eide"
The young man followed the cart into
the barn. The Storm was at its height
when he went towards the house from the
back way. he stopped in surprise, a. he
saw through the window some one stand
ing at the table, with arms bear to the
elbow. mixing four. 1t must be Martha.
| kNOs tuUSc idtI, WuiVC LOS ekS HUI n III
tha's, neither hers the slender, graceful
figure. As he came nearer, he could dis
tintuish the sparkling piquant face. She
was laughing ard talking with Hetty, and
evidently giving her the directions for
upon her, eager and absorbed. Little Eva
was sitting at the table in her high chair,
working at piece of dough.
"a tate for Ben" 1t WAS a. black As
her soiled little fingers could make it but
it did not occur to Eva that that could be
any objection. 1t was pretty, pleasant
sight III that long desolate home; and he
stood there, unconscious Of the pouring
rain, eagerly gazing at this fair young
stranger, himself picture Of manly beau
| ty, till the voice of one Of the men calling
to the oxen, awoke him from his reverie
By-and by there was spluttering Of
water heard In the next room by Hetty.
"Ben has come" running hastily for
ward and opening the door.
"Ben has tuml" echoed the little one,
clapping Ler hands and lisping, - be came
| in, bright and smiling, what she had in
store fjr him. II is made tate for 90,
lis"
He caught her up in his arms and gave
her kiss, while she laughed and shouted
but his eyes were seeking the stranger.
Hetty said. prettily: "My brother Ben"
Then to him This lady got caught in
the shower, Ben, and iB staying Until it
clears up. She has been 90 kind as to
help me to get dinner, and has made some
splendid biscuit"
They both stood mute . moment, she
with surprise at the real Pep, young, hand
some, and wsll bred: he with admiration,
and strange new feeling he could not de-
fine. He had hardly made her welcome,
with return of his self lfpossession, when
there was loud rap at the street door.
Hetty went to the door, came back pale,
and whispered to Ben esquire Johns."
Mi;lie drew quickly back from the half
opened door. Ben went In to his visitor,
closing the door after him, but every
word was distinctly heard by Milhe, for
Squire Johns did not speak in the low
suave tone she was accustomed to hear
him, but loud and peremptory.
~ am in haste, young man; Just
stopped to cay that the time for the pay
ment of the money due me being day
after tomorrow, if it Is not ready shall
be obliged Immediately to fesoft to severe
measures"
"Impoesible exclaimed the young
man in surprised and excited tone, "yoI
are very much mistaken. 1t is not due
till the 2Sth. it is now but the 18th. At
that time, if ! cell the piece of land part
ly expect to-de, hope, with some other
money coming in, to be able to paw it."
"Your are laboring under singular
mistake, young man. Here is the mort
gage, and you can see for yourself that it
Is the 18th"
"Let me see it."
The figures danced upon the page. He
passed bis hands over his eyes and calmed
himself with great effort. He grew ashy
pale as he read.
at reads SO. certainly, but can't under.
stand it." He went to the desk. "Here
is q note my father made Of the circum-
stances, and it is the 28th, and he was q
very sure, methodical man, and would not
be likely to make mistake that might be
fraught with very important and evil con-
suspicion coming into his mind, as he de-
tected lurking triumph in Squire Johns
eye, 81 believe there's some villainy about
this matter, and that you are at the bot
tom of it," he exclaimed excitedly, fixing
his eye firmly upon the lawyer, who
changed color in spite of himself
"Be careful what you say, young man,
as You may get yourself into trouble"
he said apgrily.
"Yes, sir, believe that you are base
villainl l remember that you are the
lawyer who made out the mortgage at the
time, and know that you have been aching
years to get hold of this property. If
there is justice in law you shall be ex-
posedp
"In the meantime you had better have
the money ready" cody and insultingly
"That is impossible as you know. You
knew very well could not raise 80 much
money in two days, when you made your
diabolical plans"
"Then you know the consequences"
"And what is to become of my young
sistersf"
81 neither know nor care. That your
lookout"
The young man strove to repress his
passion yet
Squire Johns, by the 2sth can pay
this debt, / expect"
"That will do you no good. It must be
ready by the 18th, or take possession.
might have shown you mercy but for your
insinuationa Now, none."
"That is false liar villain and you
know it. You never showed mercy in
your life. You have won your ill-gotten
wealth by robbing the widow and the
fatherless. If you take this property, may
it bring you curse with it, now and ever
moreI But while 1t Is in my hands Ill
kick you fromit, you dastardly scoundrel!"
The Squire was small man a. well as
a coward, and while he was being igno-
miniously elected from the house by the
angry and excited young man, Hetty
was crouched down close to Mile, pale
and frightened Eva was sobbing in her
lap. and MilIie-it would be difficult 10
describe her feelings.
Ben did not come into the room for
sometime atterward When he did, he
looked hsggsrd and aged, and was passing
through hastily, as if to escape notice,
when Millie. business like and straightfor.
ward little girl that she was, began:
"Mr Hazwell, I want to talk with you
few minutes There would be no use
in pretending that haven't heard what
| you and Squire Johns have been saying,
for have heard every word. I think /
know of some one whe c,n help you; but
first may ask you few questionsi"
Ben, at first, looked displeased and
naughty; bat her kind, Straightforward
manner disarmed him. He bowed assent
"What ia the amount of this mortgage?"
1.-TWO thousand dollars and interest"
was the brief reply.
"What is the total value of the farm :"
my father valued 1t at ten thousand