The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-02-10

! II We got no use Tor Gnctn SORT %
! Epeople,'s putainrFom. "About fiv'
! years ago one OF 'em cheated rue on
of the golljest crap Of tobacco thai
was ever raise I in KaihtHels.' .
TOMS ruefnl 8countenafce raised 8
general laugh at his expense. in thf
midst Of which the strangers re en-
tered the room. Their Eresappear
ance caused an instant cessation OF
the merriment and a return of the
curieus inspection of. their persons
and eeportmeHt.z Suspicion wassnov
blended with curiosity, awakened By
the remarks which bad been elieited
by their Temporary sojourn in the
dining room. 2 02p gcs sfsso I
The young stranger, bidding his
companionto look after their horses
and see Z that they we're fed and
Brought forward as soon as they had
finished eating, picked up a newspa-
per of no very recent dare and began
running his eyes down the colnmns.
7 His companion. piloted by a small
urchinTwho, seemed to be the general
errand hoy OF the establishment. has
tened out to tire Stahtesv q The young
man continued TO read without pay
ing any attention Whatever to the
idlerssof the Bathroom, who on their
part. seemed disinclined to renew,
their conversation Within, content
ing themselves with nervous NOV
ings about, the room.s and occasional
disjoiuted remarks to each Other. and
finally returned to their loungfhg in
the, porch. just as the horses were
led forward by the elder stranger,
followed by the small boy.
The latter went into the house to
Inform the young man that the hors-
ses were in readiness, and Instantly
laying aside paper he stepped cut on
the porch. aud scourteously inquired
the way TO Lawyer Hardy's. Having
gained the desired information
(Which two or three assisted in Civ
ing). the two men remounted their
horses and briskty cantersd away,
aud were soon beyond the range of
the dozen eyee that followed them.
The distance was not great
a mile-and they exchanged
but few remarks, until sudden turn
in the road brought them in sight of
and rather stately home
of Lawyer Hardy, which they in
stantiy recognized from the descrip
ton given Of it at the tavern.
Passing through the unkept lawn
they dismounted at the yard gate,
aud. walking up through grove Of
lofty Iocusts, they suddenly camel
upon a pleasant looking young man
Wing in the shade of a tree aud
sleepily turning the leaves of vol
lme Of the Wandering Jew" In
stantly rising, he politely welcomed
the visitors, and m answer to their
inquiry for Lawyer Hardy. he au-
bounced himself as that. parsonage,
md led them to seats in the cool
porch. --r-s
The younger. guest Immediately
teclared his business, by announcing
lis desire TO purchase the Morse
arm. The terms were soon agreed
ipon. as they were very geasy, owing
% the fact that the place had been
such a drag in the market. In a
'ew days the purchase was complet-
ed (the strangers. in the meantime,
stopping at the Milton House) and
he right and title OF the old Morse |
arm was conferred upon George
Rathbufn. 4--- - A2 4
The next day George Rathburn
and his companions, Rufus Grinder, |
Ieft as sil9nty as they had come
eft without satisfying the curl
osity of the villagers. who remained |
IN most distracting. state of con-
lecture. as to what their motive
could possibly be in making such a |
bargain as that just concluded by |
5hems q Certainly they could not
have been urged by agricultural
for the land. always bard
ZEN and broken. having been for
many years untended and fenceless, |
was in a most uainviting condition,
md it would require years-and /
years. too, of toil--to restore that |
state of fertility which had forsaken |
d for so long a time.
The purchasers and purchase were I
he most popular topics with the
of the village as we'll as
he villagers themselves. IT
Tie subject from much turning
vas beconirrg a little threadhare, /
when in the course of fortnight Che
.egular steameriand at the Milton
wharf MIR. George RathbuEn, and I
Rufus Grinder.
With them were put offsome pl laiu |
,rtic!es of furniture and two or three
,runks. But the curiosity of Che
was highteped to a pitch
IF frenzy almost. when a box, about
wo feet square and closely nailed.
vas conveyed to the shore by two
uen who fairly staggered under its |
weight.
Win Kendrick, alias Coon, at
empted to lift it slightly by way of
esting its weight; and finding his
Utmost strength scarcely sufficient
o elevate IL six inches above the
position in which he found it. felt
convinced that the mysterious box
vas flied with metAI-probably gold !
'r silver and whispering his saspE /
lions among his companions, the
umor became current that the strar.
yers had brought with them a box
# coin. 500 r~rc
This time they made no halt in
he village, but passed on with their
urniture. their trunks. and their
lox, over the rough road. and
through the gloomy ravipe leading |.
o the dilapidated old house. Il
After that the Miltopites saw
cry little OF them. Occasionally,
Rufus Grinder would come into The
illage for some article of nlerchan- L
ise which; having obtained. he