Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1873-02-15

Gle res and Bob Humphrey and that it
was trcachcry 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
promised fee.
A deep fellow was Joe Gaines, and a
marvellous manipulation OF social affairs.
Again and again, as days and weeks
went by, did Deacon PiIsey congratu-
late himself on his admirable selection,
and chuckle in his inmost being as he
witnessed the well-contrived success of
Joe's manmuyres. There were picnics
and drives and parties and entertain
ments of various kinds, but in vain did
Bob Humphrey invite or propose; the
young lawyer was sure to be before
hand with him, and it almost seemed as
if sweet, unassuming, .'quiet,lttle Maggie
Pilsey herself, the deacon's daughter,
had joined the secret league again her
friend Irene, so often was some excuse
devised by which she was made to APP
pear in the latters stead.
Then, too, were the home evenings
at the deacon's house. when the subtle
minded old plotter could have hugged
himself with satisfaction as he sat by
and witnessed with his own eyes the adj
mirable manner i'll which Joe Gaines
worked for his fee
Z" 1t takes Il lawyer, after all, >" said he
to himself. 81 don't care much what
he charges | only hope he'll keep it up
that way till Scott gifts home again.
And then to see Bob Humphrey Why
the fellows got the perseverance of the
saints, but he amt nowhere with Joe
Gaines"
As for Irene Wyer herself, her red
lips laughed and pouted, 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 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 a 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 appre-
ciation of his young friends tact and
management,
Time will fly, however, and the mails
brought at last to the Pilsey homestead
the welcome news that its absent hope
and heir would shortly return, There
we're 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 a private hired carriage,
heavy with trunks and packages, brought
Scott Pilsey to the door of his fathers
home.
In an instant the little verandah was
full of those who awaited him, but
when the deacon's tall, sunburned, and
bushy-headed son sprang out upon the
grass, he turned his back to the veran-
dah for moment, while he aided the
movements of a 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 y
Maggie Pilsey hugged her and kissed
her, and so did Irene Wyer, and so, in
a 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
thing forgot her. pride, and burst into
tears. In half 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 We're 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 |
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 conn
dence, and then, when. they wrote and
told Scott how matters were here, he
wrote to congratulate us, and begged |
us not to spoil his surprise to you. We
couldn't tell after all that, you know"
"Ahem! well-no-no--I can't say
but p'raps not. can't be mad with |
Scott; for she's brought him a big |
rancho and a mine; but what am to |
do with you now? I 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
oin't no moro uga