The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-11-17

| and talking with Hetty; and evidently Civ
| ing her directions for what she was making
Hetty was gazing upon her, eager and abb
sorbed. Little Eva was sitting at the table
in her high chair, working at a piece OF
dough. ...
"A tate for Ben." 1t was as black as her
little soiled fingers could make it; but it
| did not occur to Eva that could be an OBJ
lection. 1t was pretty sight in that long
dcsolate home; and he stood there, uncon-
scious of the p uring rain, eagerly gazing
| at the young stranger, himself a picture OF
manly beauty, till the voice of one of the
men calling to the oxen awoke him from his
reverie. (
BY and by there was suffering of water
heard in the next room by Hetty.
ben has come" running hastily forward
and opening the door. n1 i"
ben has tum!" echoed the little girl
clapping her hands and isping, as he came
in, bright and smiling, what she had in
store for him, I" / is made tate for 90, l il"
He caught her up in his arms and gave
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 it clears
| up. She has been so kind to help me to get
| dinner, and has made some splendid bis
cult"
They both stood mute a minute, she with
surprize at the real Ben, young, handsome,
and well bred he with admiration and a
strange new feeling he could not define. He
had hardly made her welcome, with a re-
turn of his self possession, when there was a
loud rap at the street door. Hetty vent to
the door, came back pale, and whispered to
Ben: Squire Johns"
Mile drew quickly back from the half
| open 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 suave tone she
was accustomed to hear him. but loud and
peremptory.
Il am in haste, young man; l just stopped
to say that the time for the payment of the
money due me being day after tomorrow, if
it is not ready shah be obliged Immediate
ly to resort to severe measures"
"Impossible :" exclaimed the young man
in surprised and excited tone, You are
very much mistaken. 1t is not due until
the 2Sth, not due till the 2Sth, it is now but
the 18TH At that time if sell the piece of
land partly expect to do, | hope, with
some other money coming in, to be able to
pay it"
You are laboring under Il singular mis-
take, young man. Here is the mortgage,
YOU can see for yourself that it is the 18TH"
"Let me see it."
The figures danced upon the page. He
| ,naeca1 HE hands nvor bic arac and ca1ma6
himself with great effort He grew ashy
as he read.
1T reads so, certainly, but cant under
stand it." He went to the desk. Here is
a memorandum my father made of the cir
cumstances, and it is the 2Sth, and he was
a very sure methodical man, and would not
be likely to make a mistake, that might be
fraught with very important and evil conse
Quences to him. believe a sudden sus-
picion coming into his mind. as he detected
lurking triumph in Squire Johns eye Il
believe there's some villiany about this mat
ter, and that you are at the bottom 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 trolbe," he said
angrily.
| "Yes, sir, believe you are base villain !.
l remember that you are the lawyer who
made out the mortgage at the time, and
know that you have been for years aching
to get hold OF this property. If there is any
| justice you shall be exposed ~
"In the meantime you had better have the
money ready" coolly and insultingly replied
Mr.. Johns
THAT is impossible as you know. You
knew very well that could not raise so
much money in two days, when you laid
your diabolical plans"
Then you know the consequences
"And what is to become of my young
sisters?"
Il neither know nor care That is your
lookout"
| The young man strove hard to repress his
passion.
esquire Johns, by the 2Sth can pay this
debt
"That will do you no good 1t must be
ready by day after to morrow, or take pos
session. l might have shown you mercy but
| for your insinuations. Now will show YOU
| 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, now and eyermore. But while it is
in my hands 1 will kick you from it, you
dastardly scoundrel,"
| The Squire was small man as well as
coward, and while he was being ignomin-
lously elected from the house by the angry
and excited young man, Hctty was crouched
down close to Millie, pale and frightened
Eva was sobbing in her lap, and Milie-it
would be very difficult to describe her feel
ings
| Ben did not come into the room for some
time afterward. When he did, he looked
haggard and aged, and was passing through
hastily, as If to escape notice, when Mlllie,
business-like and straightforward little girl
that she was, began:
| MIR. HaZwell, | want to talk with you Il
few minutes. There would be no use in pre-
tending that | haven't heard what you and
Squire Jones have been saying, for l have
heard every word. think know of some
one who can help you; but first may l ask
you a few questions ?"
Ben at first looked dispieased and naughty :;
but her kind, straightforward manner dis
armed him.. He bowed assent.
"What was the amount of this mort
gage?"
| 1.-TWO thousand dollars and interest," was
the brief reply.
| what is the total value of the farm q
| "My father valued it at ten thousand dol
lars.n
"Are there no other mortgages ~
| None
"Very well; AM quite positive l know
some one who can loan you the money. l
am Mile Warner Call on me tomorrow,
at my cousins, Mrs. Sandfords.
Ben's dreams were strangely mixed up
that night with mortgages and hazel eyes
The next day was long time of suspense
and anxiety, and early in the evening found
him at the Sandtord's, where he was re-
ceived by Mile herself.
The next morning, accompanied by
| neighbor, lie called on Squire Jones.
HE was at breakfast" the servant said.
An angry light shone in SquireJohns' cold
gray eye, when he heard who was his visitor.
"How dare he come Warrant though,
the chap isn't quite so high and mighty as
he was the last time l saw him. Humble
enough this morning. | will hold out hopes
of mercy until he grovels and begs my
pardon-groyels low as he laid me, and
then I'll be revenged. Tomorrow this
splendid farm, added to my other property,
and the possession of Mile Warmers hand
and fortune, will make me rich and
happy man indeed. will tantalrzc him to
his hearts content.
-" You are early this morning, young man.
eonctoee you ss~e
cyl" he said ironically.
tThat's my errand," replied Ben coolly
Squire Johns started back aghast and
thunderstruck.
DO you mean TO say that you have rails