Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1870-10-29

Ben. VINO was Den Two Vi Iueoc
inquiries had amounted to nothing.
The children spoke as If e1erybody
must know who Ben was. Was he
an uncle, cousin, hired man. II what?
Evidently somebody very OIL by the
way Hctty spoke of him. But she
shrugged her shoulders as 81 G looked
out at the still pouring rain.
Young Ben Hazel, out in h field,
pitched up the last hay on The load,
leaned his pitchfork against q tree, and
took off his straw hat to cool bis moist
forehead. His gaze followed he hay
cart, went over the broad lalas, and
returned.
"Th9 hay is all gone in &c said,
with a long breath ofrelief. ] could
not aflorn to lose ole load now; 7
don't know that l can edo it, but if |
could sell par of the land ] may. 1t
will be a hard pull, though"
The young man followed the cart
into the barn. The storm was at its
height when he went toward the
house from he back way. lie stopped
in surprise, as he say through the
window SOM one stal ding at the Ia
blc with arms )are te Tie elbow, mix
ing flour. 1t must be \ artha.
No; those fair viii c arms are not
Martha's, neither lie 5 the slender,
graceful figure. As le came nearer,
he could distinguish the sparkling,
piquant face She Yves laughing and
talking with Hetty, and evidently CIV
ing her dire ,tions for what she was
making Hetty was Gazing upon her,
eager and absorbed. Little Eve was
sitting at the table in Ter high air,
working at a piece of cough.
By and by there was spattering OF
water heard in the leXt room by
lletty,
"Ben has come running rastily
forward and opening the door
"Ben has tum" echoed the little
one, clapping her hands and lisping as
he came in. bright and smiling, what
she had in store for him. / is maIc
a tate for 90, ! is"
lie caugh her upon his arms and
gave her a kiss, while she la9sheu
and shouted, but his eyes were seek
ing the stranger.
Hetty said, prettily my brother
Ben then to him: " This lady 90
caught i'll Jhe shower, Ben, and i
staying till it clears UP. She has beef
so kind as to help ,Je get dinner, an'
has made some splendid biscuit"
They botn stood mute minnie, 81
with surprise at tie real Ben, youns
handsome, and well .-bred, he with nd
miration, ald q st,qnge new teelln
he could not define. lie had hardl
made her welcome, with return
his self-posscssion, whLp there was
loud rap at the street door. Hett
went to the door, came bacl; pale, an
whispered to Ben esquire Johns"
! Mile drew quickly buck from Il
; half open door. Ben went in to h
visitor, closing the door after him, b
: every word was distinctly heard
l Millie, for Squire Johns did not spe'
in the suave tone she was accustom
l to hear him but loud and percmp'
\ rily. :,
c IL am in haste, young man; JI
a stopped to say that the time for t
pavment of the money due me bel
Il day after tomorrow, ifit is not rea
It | shall be obliged Immediately to
C sort to severe measures
c "Impossible! r exclaimed thcyou
II man in a surprised and excited tol
"you arc very much mistake 1t
o not due till the 2Stn, it is now but
Is 18th. At that time shall I'll
k, piece of land | partly expect to
d and hope with some other ION
"a coming in, to be able to pay It,
G. "You are laboring und3 VI
D singular mistake, young m: l. Her
yo1r mortgage, YOU can Sc for yo
re self that it is due the lStl
~ Let me see it.
II The figures danced upon the pa
ut lie pressed his hands ovcr his e
rs and calmed himself VITA great cll(
lr lie grew ashy pale as hCread.
" at reads so, certainly but | cal
Sc understand it, lie went to the dC
a "Ucrc's memorandum my tat
ry made of the circumstance, and /
It dated the 2Sth, and he was a V
I'll surc mcthodical man, and would
III be very likely to make mistake I
to might be traught with very import
ed and evil consequences to hlm'
lis lieyc-" sudden suspicion com
| into his mind, as he detected a lU
he inc triumphin Squire john cyc,-
N, believe there's some villainy au
wv this matter and that YOU arc at
bottom of it, lie exclaimed eXcite'
Il fixing his eye firmly upon the law
ire W. o changed color in spite OF hims
rs, "Bc careful what you say, yo
ed man, as YOU may get yourself
his trouble said angrily'
en- "Ycs, 5, believe You are a
he william! remember that you are
III lawyer WNO lhHuo WV wv - - =
he the time, and know that for J,
ed Won have been aching to get hold
o. ,his property. Ii there is any jus
IN. in law, you snall be exposed
nat "In the meantime YOU had be
nd have the money ready" cooIly
,ht insultingly replied Mr., Johns.
to That is impossible, YOU II
md You knew very we'll that | could
.ed raise so much money in two {
ter when YOU laid your diabohcal pla
er- "Then you know the consequent
Md "Ard what is tC become of
op- young sistcrs3' -,
not IL neither know nor care Thi
the your lookout"
be The young man strovc to reT
lor his passion. " Squire Johns, by
in 2Sth can pay this debt, l expect,
tor "That will do you no good
ON must be ready by day after to-
ars row, or take possession. | n
wo have shown you mercy but for
yn. insinuations. Now, none,'
,in "That is false! liar! villain!
mo ven know it. You never she
! in mercy in J our life. You have
,,o,u. ;ll-0otten wealth by robbinl