Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-05-29

1
Joe Gaines and Bob Humphrey. and
that it was treachery to his friend as
well as unfairness to the pretty heir
ess, to which the young lawyer had
allowed himself to be bribed by the
deacon's promised fee.
a deep fellow was Joe Gaines. and
marvellous manipulatcr of social af-
fairs. Again and again. as days and
weeks and months went by, did Dca-
con Pilsev congratulate himself on his
admirable selection, and chucklc i'll
his immost being as he witnessed the
well-contrivcd success OF Joc's ma
neuvcrs. There were pic-nics and
drives and parties, anu entertainments
of various kinds. but in vain did
Bob Humphrey invite orproposc; the
young lawyer was sure TO be before
hand with him. and il almost seemed
as If sweet, unassumi;ig quiet little
Maggie PilScv herself, the dcacou'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. two, there were the home cvcu-
ing> at the Gcacon's house, when the
subtle-min'lcd old plottcr could have
huggcd himself with satisfaction rs he
sat by and witnessed with his own
eyes the admirable manner in which
Joe Gaines worked for his fee.
at takes Il lawyer. after all said
he to himself. Il don't care lS,rh
what he charges. | only hope he'll
keep it up that Way till scott gifts
home again. And then to see Bob
! Humphrey. Why. Tic trller's got
the perseverance, of the saints, but
he ain't nowhere with Joe Gains
As for irene Wyer herself, her red
lips laughed and poutcd, and Eer
bright black eyes >parkled and deep
cned. and her life seemed flowing on
ward very pleasantly, rs if no deep
laid plots and schemings had any
power over her happiness. More
over. through it all Joe Calls seemed
ia. scmblamcc of tfrank-hcartcd friend
shipS with Bob Humphrey. Odd a
il may seem, the Young lawyer also
found that his practice had under
gone very sensible increase, caused
mainly by the warm. though covert
encuuiums which the good deacon
heart compelled him to utter here and
there, in his keen appreciation of Iii
Young friends tact and management
Time will iiy, however, and tic
mails brought at last to Pil-ry home
stead the welcome news that its alb
sent hope and heir would shortly re-
iturH. There were letters fr"m Scott
i.ll>cy To his mother. and hi, sister
Maggie, and to Irene Wy"r. and even
to his old cronicS and schoolmatcs
Joe Gains aud Bob Humphrey, ant
TO each he had dOubticss some mat
ter of special interest to communi
cate.
noisy. smoky. disgusting rail
way trains rs vet vcXcsl the retire
mcut and rrposc of the village. bu
ut last. on Il morning when all thing
were in Il state of almost painful OK
pcrtalcv of his arrival. not the ort!i
nary stage coach. bnt 4 private hirec
carriage, heavy with trunks and pack
age. bore Scott pii>cy to the door o
his fathers home.
In an instant the little Y 'rauIa Wa
/, full of those who awaited him, buI
. when ne dcacon'S tall sum-bUruJd
/ and bu>hyhcadcd son >pranG Uuj
. upon tl," grass, he turned his back IC
. the vcrandt for Il moment. Will. h'
/. aided the movements OF Il graceful
i: wcll-i,lvorcd. dark-ic;tturrd youm.
, lady, who followed him. and whom
even in the first warmth "i his ''w"i
come homc.' he inlr"duccd as. IN!
f wife. my Lucia.'
, Maggie Pii>cy hUg""i her and Kiss
ed her. and 50 did Irene Wyrr. ant
so. in i moment more. did old Mrs
> pii>cy. and the deacon was tn" wis
Il man to seem altogether a-t"ni-h"tt
while Joe Gaines and Bob Ilunphrr,
, were fairly boi>t"ronS. In fact. scot
D.. pil>ry' Cal tormia bride WIS - over
come by the warmth of her "r""tin"
that the poor thing forgot her pride
and burst into tears. In half :. iiiin
ute after that there wasn't :: lad,
, visible, and then Bob and Joe kmcv
enough to leave the deacon and hi
;. son TO themselves. The Young me-
=, walked of arm in arm. but they wcr
back again before the day was over.
The dcacon's face was triil" scri
Gus. but not exactly cloudy, and b"
fore long lie managed t" get do
Gaines OF by himself for Bit of pri
, vatc conversation.
!, "And so. joe" said he. lyon an
he rest knew all about this matter q
+, Scott's some time aSo:"
"Wcll, yes: Irene told me in conf
dcncc, and then. when they wrot
and told Scott how matters wrr
here, he wrote To congratulate II,
!, and begged us not to spoil his sur
prise to Won. We ronl,in't tell altr
all that You know.
"Ahcm, we'll -uo-l can't say: bil
p'raps not. | cant be mad wit
Scott, for she's brought him a hi
rancho and Il mine: hut what am t
do with YOU now? lik" Bob IIumpl
rev iirst-ratc--I al.cr| did like Bob
and now it cant Ne scott. | don't Sc
as ort TO interfere. You've arnc
;, YOUR fee, and I'll pay il; bat thcu.yo
gee. there ain't no more u>e''--
,, "Oh. no; not Il bit Interrupts
Joe. "Bob is good fellow. aud h
and Maggie are just suited. Ircn
y and l think that Maggie couldn't hav
made better match, and we thin
Seott's done splcnddly we'll"
"Irenc and you!' exclaimed til
-, deacon.
ayes. of course. I've explained t
Irene that I can't afford to lose IN