Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-08-31


s'The old shark!7 he muttered, as
he strolled leisuTely on. "What on
earth put it into his plotting old
head to pitch on me for his tooR lie
never was more'n half decent to me
before. reckon I'll earn my fee,
but I'll be fair and square with Bob
Humphrey. What would Irene say
if she knew what was up? Wouldn't
those black eyes Of hers strike fireI'
Now, it happened that of late, un-
known, perhaps, to the deacon,
there had been growing up more
than a little closeness of intimacy
between Joe Gaines and Bob Hum
phrey, and thus it was treachery TO
his friend as well as unfairness to
the pretty heiress, to which the
young lawyer had allowed himself
to be bribed by the deacon's prom
ised fee.
A deep fellow was Joe Gaines,
and a marvellous manIpulator OF So
cial affairs. Again and again, as
DAYS, weeks and months went by,
did Deacon Pilsey congratulate him
self on his admirable selection, and
chuckle in his inmost being as he
witnessed the well contrived sue
cess of Joe's maneuvres. There
were pic-nics and drives and parties,
and entertainment of various kinds,
but in vain did Bob Humphrey in
vite or propose; the young lawyer
was sure to be beforehand with him,
and it almost seemed as If sweet,
unassuming quiet little Maggie Pll-
sey herself, the deacon's daughter,
had Joined the secret league against
her friend Irene, so often was some
excuse devised by which she was
made to appear in the latter's stead.
Then, too, there were the home
evenings at the deacon's house,
when the subtle-minded old plotter
could have Rugged himself with
satisfaction as he sat by and wit
messed with his own eyes the admi-
rable manner in which Joe Gaines
worked for his fee.
ait takes a lawyer, after ALL" he
said to himself. 81 don't care much
what he charges. only hope he'll
keep it up that way till Scott gifts
home. And then to see Bob Hum
phreyl Why the feller's got the
perseverance of the saints, but he
amt nowhere with Joe Gaines.
AS for Irene Wyer herself, her
red lips laughed and poated, and
her bright black eyes sparkled and
deepened and her life seemed flowing
! onward very pleasantly, as If no
| deep-laid plots and schemings had
| any power over her or her happi-
ness. Moreover, through it all Joe
Gaines seemed to maintain the most
complete external semblance of
frank-hearted friendship with Bob
Humphrey. Odd as it may seem,
the young lawyer also found that
his practice had undergone very
sensible increase, caused mainly by
the warm, though covert. encomi-
ums which the good deacon's heart
compelled him to utter here and
/ there, in his keen appreciation OF
his young friends tact and manage
ment.
Time will fly, however, and the
mails at last brought to the Pilsey
homestead the welcome news that
its absent hope and heir would
shortly return. There were letters
from Scott Pilsey to his mother and
sister Maggie, and to Irene Wyer,
and even to his old cronies and
schoolmates, Joe Gaines and BOt
Humphrey, and to each one he had
doubtless some matter Of special In
terest to communicate.
No noisy, smoky, disgusting rail-
way trains as yet vexed the retire
ment and repose of the village, but
at last, on morning when all things
were in a state of almost painful ex
pectancy of arrival, not the ordina
ry stage-coaeh, but private hired
carriage, heavy with trunks anC
packages, bore Scott Pilsey to the
door of his fathers home.
In an instant the little verand;
was full of those who awaited him
but when the deacon's tall, sun
burned and bushy-beardy sol
sprang out upon the grass, he turn
ed his back to the veranda for mo
ment, while he aided the movement
of a graceful, Well-favored, dark
featured young lady, who followe'
him, and whom, even I'M the hrs
, warmth of his "welcome home,
he introduced as "my wife, m
. Lucia"
Maggie PiIsey hugged her an,
kissed her, and sc. did Irene WyeI
, and so, in a moment more, did oil
, Mrs. Pilsey, and the deacon was to
: wise q man TO seem altogether as
? tonisb ed, while Joe Gaines and Bo
, Humphrey were fairly boisterou'
, In fact, Scott Plsey's Californi
bride was so overcome by tn
: warmth of her greeting that th
| ! poor young thing forgot her pride
: and burst into tears. In half a mir
5 ute after that there wasn't lad
/, visible, and then Bob and Joe kne'
: enough to leave the deacon and hi
I son to themselves. The two youn
q men walked off arm in arm, bJ
: were back,again before the day Wa
e over.
/, The deacon's face was trifle 81
: rious, but not exactly cloudy, an
4 before long he managed to get JC
{ Gaines off by himself for q bit I
o private conversation.
S "And so, JOe," he said, "you an
the rest knew all about this matte
l. of Scott's some time ago?'
+ "WelI, yes; Irene told me in CO.
a fidence, and then, when they wro
- and told Scott how matters we
e here, he wrote to congratulate u
n and begged us not to spoil his su
Z DEls6 10 lOus we COullu bSAA al y
It all that, you know"
I "Aheml well-no-I can't sa
but p'rhaps not. L can't be ma
{, with Scott, for she's brought him
}, big rancho and mine; but what a
l to do with you now? like B'
" Humphrey first .rate-I alters d
n like Bob-and now it can't be Scot
< don't see as l ort to interfeI
II You've earned yodr fee, and Pll pI
= it; but. then, yOC see, there ANTI
g more use"
t "Ohi no; not bit," interrupt
Il Joe. ''Bob is a good fellow, and
.e and Maggie are just suited. Ire
le and l think that Maggie couldl
have made abetter match; and '
r, think Scott's done splendidly well
IS "Irene and you?" exclaimed I
r. deacon.
"Yes, of course. I've explain
n to Irene that / can't afford TO lC
he my fee. l told her so at the begi
7e ming, aud she said | must earn
It. Seems to me I've done that; but
e, let you up"
~ Ozone itp' exclaimed the deacC
"Wen, yes, Joe; on the whole,
,e. should rather be inclined TO say
guess l think you hare! Yes-y
n and Irene :"
m. Boy smokers.
k,
so We cliD the following from a l.,