The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-02-07

/ known, perhaps to the deacon, there
had been growing up more than a little
clOseness of intimacy between Joe
Gs- les and Bob Humphrey and that II
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
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 Pilsey eongratu-
late himself on his admirable selection,
and chuckle in his inmost being as he
witnessed the well-contrived success of
Joe's manBuvres. 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, ,,quietlittle 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 ap-
pear in the latter's 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 ad-
mirable manner in which Joe Gaines
worked for his fee.
g It takes a lawyer, after all, - said he
to himself 1" I don't care much what
he charges, I 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-Iaid 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-
citation 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
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
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
fT,I1 Of - l.,
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 graceful, welI-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"
Maggie Pilsey hugged her and kissed
her, and so did Irene Wyer, and so, in
moment more, did old Mrs. PiIsey,
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 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.
The deacOn's face was tTifie 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, D." said he ''you and the
rest knew all about this matter OF
Scott's some time ago?'
We'll, yes Irene told me in conf
dence, and then, when they wrote and
told Scott how matters were here, he
wrote to congratulate as, and begged
us not to spoil his surprise to you. We
couldn't tell after all that, you know.
Ahem! well-no-nC 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, I don't see as
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.
q Bob is a good fellow, and he and Mag
gle are Just suited. Irene and I think