Mower County transcript., 1871-08-17

on about his business Still third had
seen the OLD man wandering about in the
old church-yArd, attentivrly examining tho
inscriptions, and had finally seen him
seated on {. gras1-grown mound, with his
head buried in his hands, aud apparently
uncons cious Of nbscrvatin And last OF
all, about twilight, home came Mr.. John
Thompson himself, looking worn and
weary, but with grntltr tone n his voice,
as he asked that his supper might be sent
up to his room. And SO the gossps were
none the wiser, for that night, at least.
The next day they got "a slight crumb OF
comfort, terminating in only deeper
myst; ry. Afer he had partaken of his
breakfast, Mr. Thompson drew the meek
and lowly host into d corner, and quietly
inquired "Who is the best la"s cr VIC have
in these parts?'
"Wcll, there arc three or four good
ones" was the answer. "'Suuire Jcssup,
over th': way, is about as sound aud square
u man as any OF .hem, guess"
A young naan?'
"No, sir, he's been practicing here
tbs: fifteen years, and must be hard onto
fifty"
"Thanls you " said the visitor and in a
quarter ct a.! hour after h" was ClrSctrd
genial, benevolent mein, whose mild greet.
ing, as he ushercd in his unexpected
caljcr went far to convince the latter that
he had fUui.d ths sort Of man he
wanted
II shall have to request" said Mr.
Thompson, with something of his former
tartness, after he had seated himself in
the cozy arm chair, removed his HIT, and
wiped his forehead with a great bandanna,
81 shall have to request that what l am
about to say to. you, Mr.. Jcssup. shall be,
for the present, strictly confidential" The
lawyer nodded assent.
slam John Thompson" continued the
visitor, ''and my home is New Orleans.
Years ago, was for time resident of
this village, and have now come back to
it in my old age to sec what changes time
has made"
The Squire was about to ask some.
thing, but was Interrupted by" Pray don't
ask me any questions now, sir. What l
have to say shall be said in a busincss-like,
secure your services Can trust you:'
At this sudden and direct interrogatory,
the lawyer turned and looked his visitor
full in the face. "With anything that is
honorable and right, Mr.. Thompson, /
say yes, you can trust me. ask no higher
endorsement than the respect which my
fellow -townsnen bear me- and the love and
affection, especially, Of the poorer classes
among them. ask no better encomium
when die than the tears which the needy
and destitute whom Providence has en-.
abcd me to befriend, may shed over my
grave" His countenaice warmed as he
spoke, and the pride Of an honest, gener-
Gus heart shone in his mild blue eyes as
they met the attentive glance of the
stranger. The latter felt ref.ssured
ITO be brief thcn," Sal he, II want
you to buy me piece of property-a part
Of the Matthews farm
"A good piece Of land, that" said the
Squire, land worth good figure"
II shall want abb ut ten a res Of it," he
continued, "iucludng the site Of the old
| farm house which stood on the knoll near
| the road"
"And how high do you want to pay for
it?"
| "a fair price, which you can better
Judge Of than can Who is the owncr?"
Matthews still owns it-that is the son
of the old man, Joshua Matthews
| "Can you arrange ali interview q
"Yes, he lives near at hand. Can send
for him now"
Better send for him then," said Mr..
Thompson.
In less time than the old man had ex-
/ pected, there came rap on the door, aud
the brown, sunbucned lace Of man of
thirty, tall, and uncouth in figure, peeped
in. Want to see me, 'Squire?''
-" Yes" said the lawyer; leone in, Mr..
Matthew'S This is Mr. Thompson, gen.
q notion to settle down in W, and is
| 1onk jnr for cn,ua 61irihlo nro,,ortx
With this introduction, the three sat
down, and in half al hour the bargain was
struck. Mr. John Thompson had pur-
chased of Mr.. Caleb Matthews all his
right, title, aud interest in the ten acres
aforesaid, in consideration of the sum of
ten one thousand dollar notes, all crisp
and new counted out on the table before
him, the said Caleb Matthews, (slightly be-
wildercd) by him, the said John Thomp-
son (as cool and self possessed as cucu,n-
bcr). Then Mr.. Thompson, raiterating his
request that the purchase might for the
present be kept a perfect secret, ba(le the
other two good day, promising to call to-
morrow for his papers.
But, spite of the injunction of secrecy
laid upon him, Caleb Matthews, with his
ten new bank notes rushing in his pocket,
found the news too good, and too surpris-
him and q garrulous wife and half dozen
brothers and their wives, the information
soon spread itself through the village, and
Of course it gathered strength and dimen-
sions with each repetition. Stories of the
fabulous wealth of the mysterious stranger
we're circulated, and it was with deferen-
tial regard that the glanccs of those he
met On his liily ranbles were directed
toward him. Day by day the public Gu
rlOslty about him became greater, but he
seemed to care not straw-in fact, ap
peared unconscious Of being the best no.
ticed man in the village. lie had no TO-
tercourse with any casual acquaintance
As the days went on he even grew
moodier and more reserved than ever,
passing an hour or two every morning
! uryeying his newly bought ten acres,
tramping them over and over again, and
busying himself in all sorts of quiet spec
ulations. One day, just a week after the
The kind h. arted lawyer received him
cordially, as before, and wonder< d that he
had not called sooner for his papers.
"pv.. been very busy, all by myself"
Was MIR. Th,npsons answer. And
now I've called ,n engage your s-rvicys
again. Lst me see. The deed is all right,
; il ts'
4 Perfectly. There it is, sir, sigued,
! sealed nnu delivered"
| Sir. Th,nlpson took the document, read
it carefully through, asked Que or two
questions, and then, folding it up again,
laid it away in his capacious wallet, and
proceeded:
II Wish to begin building ct once The
! plans and specifications for the roDosed
euiiice have here with Inc, and ready for
the builder. Now what want you TO do
is to obtain for me fair estimate OF the
! total cost of materials and labor required
for its com nlction before the 18th Of next
December"
Mr.. Jessup stretched ont his hand to
take the drawings which his visitor had
! produced, and glAlCed over tntin hastily
i "Why,' said l.o, "this ;uI.s for o Ia ger
and finer building than any we have in
! town."
Mr.. Thompson's eyes sparkled for o.
moment. "lnleed:" was Ill nc said.
"Of brick, with one hundred and fifty
feet front and one hundred feet Depth"
the lawyer read. "Why, you don't mean
! to occupy such house rs this all alone, |
/ hopc!" he said, Icughingly
Not replying, Mr. Thompson continued:
"1f the estimates, which, by the way,
should like you to submit within week,
are satisfactory, would ask the privilege
of naming you, sir, as my representative
in carrying out the details Of the work, in
drawing up the contracts, Al 4 in making
the pay mcnts when they fall due; in return
for which you have only to name your
/ compensation. l have MY particular rc,.-
! sons for asking this Of you. and hope