South-eastern Independent. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1871-1871, 1871-08-11

L
| Washington House, the veritable hesC
quarters, twas said, of the Father of hi
| Country in the old Revolutionary day
One straying from this business cente
came in the one direction upon an oil
stone bridge spanning a swiftly Tunnin
brook, ,-and saw before him the dusty roat
winding its serpentine course up an almos
| interminable hill beyond; in the opposlt
direction he passed the village church,
relic of the olden days, renovated by mod
ern hands. and came suddenly upon tn
banks of a canal, the favorite resort of III
chins for swimming in summer and ska'
| ing in winter. Aad then beyond wer
hills, and meadows, and corn-tields, an
groves, and swamps, and endless vista @
worm fences, with here and there farn
house peeping out-in short, scene o
tranquil beauty, telling only of peace ant
prosperity.
Now, the unannounced advent of MI
John Thompson, of New Orleans" TO
little place like this did at all events pro
duce no small sensaton-among the GOSSIP
hunters. There were, naturally enough
two or three families of resident Thomp
sons, each and all of whom, after diigen
inquiry Of their memories, failed to recall
any relatives living in the remote city iron
which the new conner hailed. Specula
tions as to the old gentleman's financia
status were no less varied and diverse
The rusty garments in which he again
made his appearance at breakfast on thu
morning succeeding his arrival, earned fol
him, in different quarters, the several ap
pellations of poor man, probable miser
and disguised millionaire. Meanwhile
Mr.. Thompson was stoical, was unap
proachable; hesitated not to express his
emphatic disgust at whatever did not sun
him about the house, cast whitening
glances, coupled with short replies, at one
or two adolescent rustics who had the
hardihood to accost him on the front piaz
"a, and finallV, with his hands buried deep
in his coat-tail pockets, limped and shutfied
down the steps and turned down the cross
street as if for a stroll, leaving the vii
layers in a state of doubt and curiosity
bordering on despair.
All that day he was absent. 1t cannot
be said none knew where, for different
ones, lounging in and out of the hotel at
various hours through the day, spoke OF
having met the stranger, and inquired who
he was. One had seen him standing on
the doorstep of old Mother CampbelPs
cottage, rapping vigorously at the door
another he had accosted on the road about
a quarter of a mile away, with the in
Quiry of where Farmer Matthews house
had stood. The house had burned down
some wears before, but the man had pointed
out the spot, as near as he could, and gone
on about his business. Still third had
seen the old man wandering about In the
old church-yard, attentively examining the
inscriptions, and had finally seen him
seated on a grass-grown mound, with his
head buried in his hands, and apparently
unconscious of observation. And last OF
all, about twilight, home came MIR. John
Thompson himself, looking worn and
weary, but with gentler tone in his voice,
as he asked that his supper might be sent
up to his room. And so the gossips were
none the wiser, for that night, at least.
The next day they got slight crumb of
comfort. terminating in only deeper
mystery. After he had partaken of his
MIR Thompson drew the meek
and lowly host into corner, and quietly
INQUIRED "Who is the best lawyer we have
in these parts?
"Well, there are three or four good
ones" was the answer. Squire Jessup,
over the way, is about as sound and square
a man as any of them, 1 guess"
"a young mang"
"No, sir, he's been practicing here
these fifteen years, and must be hard onto
fifty"
6Thank you," said the visitor, and in a
quarter of an hour after he was closeted
with Squire Jessup, an elderly man, of
genial, benevolent mein, whose mild greet
ing. as he ushered in his unexpected
caller, went far to convince the latter that
he had found the sort of man he
wanted.
al shall have to request" said Mr..
Thomson, with something of his former
tartness, after he had seated himself in
the COW arm chair, removed his hat, and
wiped his forehead with great bandanna,
Il l shall have to request that what l am
about to say to you, Mr.. Jessup, shall be,
for The present, strictly confidential" The
lawyer nodded assent.
al am John Thompson" continued the
visitor, land my home is New Orleans.
Years ago, was for a time a resident OF
this village, and l have now come back to
it in my old age to see 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 business-like,
straightforward way. have called to
secure your services. Can trust your
At this sudden and direct interogatory,
The lawyer turned and looked his visitor
full in the face. with anything that is
honorable and right, Mr.. Thompson, L
say yes, you can tTustme. l ask no higher
than the respect which my
bear me, and the love and
affection, especially, of the poorer classes
among them. ask no better encomlum
when die than the tears which the needy
md destitute, whom Providence has en-
.bled me to befriend, may shed over my
yraye." His countenance warmed as he
spoke, and the pride of an honest, gener-
Jus LI.cart shone in his mild blue eyes as
hey met the attentive glance of the
stranger. The latter felt reassured-
"To be brief then," said he, want
you to buy me piece of property-a part
If the Matthews farm"
"a good piece of land, that" said the
SQUIRE, and worth good figure"
Il shall want about ten acres of it, !" he
continued, including the site of the old
arm-h house which stood on the knoll near
he road"
"And how high do you want to pay for
tt"
"A fair price, which you can better
Judge of than l can. Who is the owner?"
Matthews still owns it-that is the son
Of the old man, Joshua Matthews"
"Can you arrange an interview ?"
"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, and
the brown, sunburned face of a man of
thirty, tall, and uncouth in figure, peeped
in. "Want to see me, 'Squire?"
Yes" said the lawyer; "come in, Mr..
Matthews. This is Mr.. Thompson, gen.
tleman from the far South, who has taken
q notion to settle down in W, and Is
looking for some eligible property"
With this introduction, the three sat
down, and in half an hour the bargain was
struck. Mr.. John Thompson had pur-
chased of Mr.. Caleb Matthews all his
right, title, and 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-
wildered) by him, the said John Thomp-
son las cool and self possessed as a cucum-
ber). Then MIR. Thompson, relteratlng his