The Hickman courier., 1873-02-08

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pleasantly, as if no deep-laid plots and
schenings had any power over her or
her happiness. 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 always found that his
practice had undergone n very sensible
increase, caused mainly by the warm,
| though covert, encomiums which the
good deacons heart compelled him to
utter here and there, in his keen appre-
citation of his Young friends tact and
2 management.
Time will fly, however, and the mails
brought at last to the Pilsey homestead
/ the welcome news that its absent hope
/ and heir wonld shortly return. There
were letters from Scott Pilsey to his
mother, and his sister Maggie, and to.
Irene Wyer, and even to his old cronies
and schoolmates, Joe Gaines and Bob
Humphrey, and TO each he had doubt
less some matter of special interest to
/ communicate.
No noisy, smoky, disgusting railway
trains as yet vexed the retirement and
repose of the village; but at last, ON a
morning when all things were in a state
of almost painful expectancy of
his arrival, not the ordinary stage
coach, but private hired carriage,
heavy with trunks and packages, brought
Scott Pilsey TO the door of his fathers
In an instant tho little -eransiala Sxs.s
full of those who awaited him, but
when the deacons tall, sunburned, and
bushy-headed son sprang out upon the
grass, he turned his back TO the veran-
dab for n 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 q my wife, my Lucia
Maggie Pilsey hugged her and kissed
her. and so did Irene wyer, and so. in
moment more, did old Mrs Pilsey,
and the deacon was too wise man to
seem altogether astonished, while Joe
Gaines and Bob Humphrey were fairly
boisterous. In fact, Scott Pilsey's Cal
ifornia bride was so overcome by the
warmth of her greeting, that the poor
rSning 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
young men walked off arm in arm, but
they were back again before the day
was over. III
The deacon's face was trihe serious
but not exactly cloudy, and before long
he managed to get Joe Gaines off by
himself for bit of private conversa-
ton
"And so, Joe, said he "you and the
rest knew all about this matter of
SCOTS some time ago?'
Well, yes; Irene told me in conf
dence, and then, when they wrote and
told Scott how matters were here, he
wrote to congratulate MS, and begged
us not TO spoil his surprise to yon. We
couldn't tell after all that, you know.
" Ahemi well-no-no-I can't say;
but p'raps not. can't be mad with
Scott; for she's brought him big
ranche and a mine; but what am / to
do with you now? l like Bob Hum
phrey first rate-I alters did like Bob
and now it can't be Scott, don't see as
L ort to interfere. You've armed my fee.
and I'll pay it but then, You see, there
amt no more use
Oh, no, not bit, " interrupted Joe.
Bob is good fellow, and he and Mag
gle are just suited. Irene and / think
that Maggie couldn't have made bettre
match, and we think SCOTS done splen-
didly we'll
Irene and you !" exclaimed the
deacon.
Yes, of course. I've explained to
Irene that can't afford to lose my fee
L told her at the beginning, and she
said must earn it. Seems to me I've
done that but I'll let you up. ~
"Done it ~ exclaimed the deacon.
Well, yes, Joe. on the whole 1 should
rather be inclined to say rather guess
1 think you hauet Yes-vou and
Irene ~