American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-05-25
VOL. NNII.
MIL CANTON

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,
encomiums which the good deacon's heart
compelled him to utter here and there, in
his keen appreciation of his young friends
| tact and management
| 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
| Nyer, and even to his old cronies and
schoolmates, Joe Gaines and Bob Hum
phrey, and to each one he had doubtless
some matter of special interest to COM
municate.
No noisy, smoky, disgusting railway
trains as yet vexed the retirement and re
pose of the village, but at last on morn
ing when all things were in state of al
most painful expectancy of his arrival,
not the ordinary stage coach, but private
hired carriage, heavy with trunks and
packages, bore Scott Pilsey to the door of
his fathers home.
In an instant the little veranda was full
of those who awaited him, but when the
deacon's tall, sun-burned and bushy-
bearded son sprang out upon the grass,
he turned his back to the veranda for
moment, while he aided the movements
of graceful, well-favored, dark featured
young lady, who followed him, and
whom, even in the first warmth of his
welcome home" he introduced as "my
wife, my Lucia
her, and so did Irene Wyer, and so, in
moment more, did old Mrs. Pilsey, and
the deacon was too wise a man tic seem
altogether astonished, while Joe Gaines
and Bob Humphrey were fairly bolster
Gus. In fact, Scott Pilsey's California
bride was SO overcome by the warmth of
her greeting that the poor young thing
forgot her pride, and burst into tears In
half a minute after that there wasn't
lady visible, and then Bob and Joe knew
enough to leave the deacon and his son to
themselves. The two young men walked
off arm in arm, but they were back again
before the day was over.
The deacon's face was trifle serious,
but not exactly cloudy, and before long
he managed to get Joe Gaines Off by him
self for a bit of private conversation.
and so, joe" he said, you and the
rest knew all about this matter of SCOTS
some time ago?"
well, yes; Irene told me in confidence,
and then, when they wrote and told Scott
how matters were here, he wrote to con-
graduate us, and begged us not to spoil
his surprise to you. We couldn't tell
after all that, you know
"Ahem! well-no-I can't say; but
p'raps not. 1 can't be mad with Scott,
for she's brought him big rancho and
mine; but what am | to do with you now?
like Bob Humphrey first rate-I alters
did like Bob-and now it can't be Scott, l
don't see as l ort TO interfere. You've
earned your fee, and FL pay it; but, then,
you see, there amt no more use"
ooh! no; not a Bit" interrupted Joe.
Bob is a good fellow, and he and Maggie
are just suited. Irene and 1 think that
Maggie couldn't have made better
match; and we think SCOTS done splen-
didly well.''
Irene and you?" exclaimed the dea-
con.
Eyes, of course. I've explained to Ir-
enc that L can't afford to lose my fee. 1
told her so at the beginning, and she said
mast earn it. Seems to me I've done
that; but I'll let you up"
Done itn' exclaimed the deacon.
''Well, yes, Joe; on the whole, 1 should
rather be inclined to say 1 guess l think
you haze! Ies-.you and Ienei"