Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1870-02-17

He caught her up in his arms and gave
kiss, while she laughed and shouted !;
but his eyes were seeking the stranger.
Helty said, prettily: My brother
caught in the shower, Ben, and is stay
| ing until it clears up. She has been so
kind to help me to get dinner, and has
made some splendid biscuit"
| They both stood mute minute, she
with surprise at the real Ben, young,
handsome and well bred; he with ad
miration and a strange new feeling he
could not define. He had hardly made
her welcome, with return of his self
possession, when there was loud rap at
the street door. Hetty went to the door,
l'came back pale, and whispered to Ben:
esquire Johns"
Millie drew quickly back from the half
open. door. Beniwent 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.
~ am in haste, young man; 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 r-..
"Impossible.', exclaimed the young
man in a surprised and excited tone,
''you are very much mistaken. 1t snot
due until the 2Sth, it is now but the 18th.
Atthat time if L sell the piece of land |
partly expect to do, hope, with some
other money coming in, TO be able to
pay it. -
Hol- har ic ha
gage, you can see for yourself that it is
the 18TH"
"Let me see it,"
The figures danced upon the page. He
passed his hands over his eyes and
calmed himself with greaI effort. He
grew ashy as he read.
sit reads so, certainly, but [ cac't un-
derstand it.n He went to the desk.'
"Here is a memorandum my father
made on the circumstance, and it is the
18th, and he was very sure, methodical
man, and would not be likely to make a
mistake, that might be fraught
with very important end evil conse-
quences to him. L believe a sudden
suspicion coming into his mind, as he de-
tected a lurking triumph in Squire
Johns eye, II believe there's some viii
lainy about this matter, and that you are
dI D1G DOblOLl vi III, CASldI1OO
citedly, 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 in trouble" he
said apgrily.
''Yes, sir, [ believe you are q base viii
lain! 1 remember that you are the law
yer who made out the mortgage at the
time, and know that you have been
FLOR years aching to get hold of this prop
erty. If there is any justice you shall be
exposed"
''In the meantime you had better have
the money ready" cody and insultingly
replied Mr.. Johns.
''That is impossible as you know. You
knew very well that L could not raise so
much money in two days, when you
laid your diabolical plans. +"
"Then you know the consequences. "
"And what is 10 become of my young
sisters?n
81 neither know nor care. That is
your look out"
The young man strove hard to repress
his passion.
esquire Johns, by the 2Sth I can pay
| this debt.
'sThat will do you no good. 1t must
be ready by day after tomorrow or |
take possession. [ might have shown
you mercy but for insinuatiOns. Now l.
will show you none.
"That is falsei liarI villain! and you
know it. You never showed mercy in
your life. You have won your ili-gotten
wealth by robbing the widow and the
fatherless. If you take this property,
may it bring you curse, now ana ever
more. But while it is in my hands |
y; ford "
scoundrel!H
The Squire was small man as well as
a coward, and while he was being ignom-
inously elected from the house by the
angry and excited young man, Hetty
was crouched down close to Millie, pale
and frightened, Eva was sobbing in her
lap, and Mfllie-it would be very diff
cult to describe her feelings.
Ben did not come into the room for
some time afterward. When he did, he
looked haggard and aged, and was pass
ing through hastily, as if to escape notice,
when Millie, business-like and straight
forward little girl that she was, began:
"Mr. Hazwell, l 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
saving, for L have heard every word. |
think [ know of some one who can help
you; but first may L ask you few ques-
tions ?"
Ben at first looked displeased and
naughty; but her kind, straightforward
manner disarmed him. He bowed assent.
"What was the amount of this mott
gage?" Il
'Two thousand dollars and interest, ~
was the brief reply.
What is the total value of the farm ?'
"My father valued it at ten thousand
dollars. "
"Are there no other mortgages
"None.
every well; 1 am quite positive l
know some one who can loan yor the
money. L am Millie Warner. Call on
me tomorrow, at my cousins, Mrs.
Sandford's.
Ben's dreams were strangely mixed up
that night with mortgages and hazel
eyes. The next day was Il long time of
suspense and anxiety, and early in the
evening found him at the Sanford's, |
where he was received by Millie herself. |
The next morning, accompanied by a
neighbor, he called on Squire Johus.
"He was at breakfast" the servant |
said.
An angry light shone in Squire Johns
cold, gray eye, when he heard who was
his visitor.
- H., -,