Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-07-23
had heard hinted at but only hinted at,
and even that the next. moment WAS
elnoOtbed over. for Snnirn Inhna mas a

hhu eVou mAb the next, mOnleRt WAS
mnoOtbed over, for Squire ohns was q
rich and influential man, and people could
not afford, without some reason, TO lose
his favor. She remembered il all now.
Gould he IN reality be such scoundrelP
She could judge better about the truth
OF the story when she, had seen Ben.
Who was Benz Two or three enquiries
had amounted 70 nothing. The children
spoke Just as " everybody must know v who
Ben was Was be an uncle, cousin, hired
man, or whati Evidently somebody very
old by the way Hetty spoke of him
Whoever II was, what would he think Of
her intrusionp But she couldn't help
what he thought and she shrugged her
shoulders as che looked out at the still
pouring rain. ftsT. rv.t .ff.-V te.H
Young Ben Hazwell, out in the field,
pitched up the last hay on the load, leaned
his pitchfork sgainst tree, and took off
his straw hat to cool his moist forehead
His gaze followed the hay cart, went over
the broad lands, and returned.
The hay Is all gone IN = be said, with
q long breath of relief "I could not af
ford to loose even one load now. I don't
know that I can do it; but if can sell
part OF the land may. 1t will be hard
pull though"
There was noise of carriage wheels,
and he looked towards the road His
brown face darkened as he looked
coult, perhAps, have got an extension
Of time il that villain had not got the
mortgsge in his hands !; and, dsstardly
rascal who makes it his business to rob
and defraud the poor and the fatherless,
he may take this farm; he will If he can /,
for he has been maneuvering for it long
time; but he shall have II with the sound
est horsewhipping that ever a man had
Twice 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 q good trade, l
should not have been so helpless, If the
worst comes to the worst. But won't
look on the dark Hide."aeN gasEN &
The young man followed the cart into
the barn. The storm was at its height
when ne went towards the house from the
back way. He stopped in surprise, as he
saw through the window some one stand
ing at the table, with arms bear to the
elbow, mixing -FOUR Itmust be Martha.
No. those fair, white arms are not Mar
tha's, neither hers the slender, graceful
figure, AS he came nearer, he could dis
tingu;sh the sparkling piqusnt face. She
was laughing and talking with Hetty, and
evidently giving her the directions for
what she was making. Hetty was gazing
upon her, eager and absorbed Little Eva
was sitting at the table in her nigh chair,
working at piece of dough. lT1 COL
/" A tate for Ben" 1t was as black as
her soiled little fingers could make it but
1t did not occur to Eva that that could be
any objection. 1t was pretty, pleasant
sight In that long desolate home; and he
stood there, unconscious of the pouring
rain, eagerly gazing at this fair young
stranger, himself q picture of manly beau.
ty, till the voice of one of the men calling
to the oxen, awoke him from his reverie.
By-andby 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 her hands and lisping, as he came
in, bright and smiling, what she had in
store for him: " l is made tate for 90
is"
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 is staying until il
clears up. She has been so kind as to
help me to get dinner, and has made some
splendid biscuit" ~ -yv - =.
They both stood mute a moment, she
with surprise at the real Ben, young, hand.
some, and well bred he with admiration
and a strange new feeling he could not de-
fine. He had hardly made her welcome
with a return of his selfpossession, when
there was a loud rap at the street door
Hetty went to the door, came back pale,
and whispered to Ben: esquire Johns.
Mile 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 Millie, for
Squire Johns did not speak in the low
suave tone she was accustomed TO hear
him, but loud and peremptorysA p
"I am in haste, young man; l just
stopped to say that the time for the pay
ment of the money due me being day
after tomorrow, If it is not ready l shall
be obliged Immediately to resort to severe
measures"
"Impossible |" exclaimed the young
man in q surprised and excited tone, you
arc very much mistakens 1t is not due
till the 29th, it is now but the 18th. Al
that time, if sell the piece of land part
ly expect to do, hope, with some othel
money coming in, to be able to pay it."
"Your are laboring under a singular
mistake, young man. Here is the mort
gage, and you can see for yourself that i
is the 18th"
q" ,et me zee IT, arrssp gTsag5
The figures danced upon the page. H'
passed his hands over his eyes and cslmet
himself with great effort. He grew ashN
pale as he read.
ait reads 30, certainly, butI can't under
stand it.p He went 10 the desk. I" Her,
is a note my father made Of the circum
stances, and it is the 28th, and he was
very sure, methodical man, and would no
be likely TO make a mistake that might b.
fraught With very important and evil con
seqaences 10 him Il belieVe-'ta suddel
Suspicion coming Into his mind, as he de
tected lurking triumph in Squire Johns
eye, " believe there's some villsiny abcu
this matter, and that you are at the bot
tom of it." he exclaimed excitedly, tXinI
his eye firmly upon the, flawyeFT VIII
changed color IN spite OF shimbeAs @'
"Be careful what you say, young mar
as you may get yourself into trouble,
he said aDgrily.
ayes, sir, believe that you are bas
villain! ! remember that you are tn
lawyer who made out the mortgage attn
time, and know that you have been achin
years TO get hold of this property.
there Is justice in Law you shall be el
posed p N"F
ain the meantime you had better hay
the money ready" cody and insultingll
l. That is impossible asyOu know. Yo
knew very we'll could not raise so muc
money in two days, when you made you
disbolical plans"
"Then you know the consequences.
+" And what is to become of my yeun
sistersP ?"
"I neither know nor care. That isy YOU
''THSss Tss spass man !strovdurrsp !
esquire Johns, by the 2Sth can pa
this debt, expect"
"That will do you no good. 1t must /
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