The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-02-04
MISCELLANY.
SERVING TIE WRIT.
BY ERsKINE NJ. HAMILTON.

ly trying 10 comprehend PIE Ol law
books. These books had been left by OPP
posing attor neys in some case tried before
him, and from the cases therein cited he
was expected 10 make up his decision.
Had it been any other Q1estion-geOgra-
phy. astronomy, mechanics, or what not
the Squire would have settled it at once.
He had the most thorough confidence in
the ability of Squire Butterfeld TO settle
any thing. but now he was perplexed.
The more he studied, the more he became
convinced that the plaintiff had all the law
on his side; and so had the defendant
and that both sides had amply proved
their case. In this bewildered st Ite OF
mind he concluded to take a sort of mid
die course at once satisfactory to himself il
TO no one else, and he had just written
upon his docket, ''Case dismissed for want
ofjurisdiction," when the tall, thin, SON.
Der figure of Mr.. Grimp appeared in the
doorway.
Now Mr.. Grimp was an awfully solemn
man. -Arrayed in the blackest of broad
cloths, the stiffest of neckties, the whitest
of shirt frsnts and standing collars, with
features cold, austere, and severely sericus,
Mr.. Grimp somehow ever suggested I'M
pleasant thoughts of funerals, grave
clothes, and collins. He was a very re-
lgious man, too-very. In prayer meet
ing, class meeting, and on other occasions
his monotonous, sepulchral, metallic voice
was frequently heard speaking OF the
tsshOrtness of life." the certainty OF
death" and about becoming food for the
worms" and such other cheerful subjects.
Cold and passionless himself, be had no
mercy for the weakness or frailty of his
fellow, exacting the most formal religious
observance in others, and the last penny
due him by his debtors. And he was
rich.
"Ihave called, Brother Butterfield," be-
gan Mr.. GIimp in slow measured tones
81 have called to see you about little
matter that has been on my mind for some
time; matter hesitated bringing before
the courts, as l think the Scripture rule
should be generally followed about going
to law before the unjust and"
Humphl" And the Squire straight
ened himself on his chair and ran his hand
through his thin locks until each individual
hair stood out a bristling protest. g
reckon | amt bit more unjust than any
on 'em. If you're hintin' that way, why
in Sam Hill didn't ye take your case
afore some spiIitooal court, an done
with it?p
Mr.. Grimp colored slightly. al think
you misunderstood ME, Brother Butter
field; only used the expression in gen
eral sense, without allusion to you, whom
| know to be a man with clear ideas OF
Justice, or else the community had not
placed you in so responsible a position"
The Squire's testiness at once disap-
peared, the smile came back, and he bowed
in complacent asquiescence.
@But to return to my business" con-
tinaed Mr.. Grimp. "YOu doubtless know
Mrs. Barneyp'
"What, Widow Barney?' and the conf
placent look instantly gave place to an un-
usual flush on the queStiOner's face.
"Yes; | believe she is a widow. Her
husband-pOor man-became somewhat
involved before he died; but may we hope
in better world he has discovered the
things of earth to be but vanity and veXa-
ton of spirit. Like us all, Brother But
terfield, he brought nothing into the
world, and it is certain he carried nothing
out"
dispose not, as you got the hull ont y
answered the Squire, altogether mlslnter-
preting Mr.. Grimp's moraliZing.
"Abeml All, yes! | presume you al.
lude to the foreclosing of mortgage
held on his place. 1t was truly unpleasant
for me to do. but duty to my children, SO
lately deprived of a mother, impelled me.
As the Scripture SAYS, If any provide not
for his own, especially for those of his own
house, he hath denied the faith and is worse
than an infidel.'"
Better had some keer for other folks
orphans as well,' muttered the Squire
but Mr.. Grimp did not hear, and pro-
ceeded:
"Well, at the sale of Mr.. Barney's place
/ bought it in, and since then | have let
Mrs. Barney have it at a nominal rent, i
assure you, Brother Butterfield. And II
is about that have called"
"The long and short ont is she hahn
paid the rent and you want her put out "
"Well-yes and no. L wish steps taken
in that direction, but not to extremes.
would like process issued, but have final
measures kept in abeyance, as | think the
matter may be amicably arranged"
THAT is, you want some scarecrow to
hold over her to bring her to terms ~ sug-
gested the Squire, looking keenly at his
visitor. l
Mr.. Grinp nodded. "You will attend
to ii, Brother Butterfield?" be said.
"I'll tend to it," said the Squire.
Then Mr.. Grimp bowed solemnly, said
"Farewell, Brother Butterfield," and pass
ed out into the sunshine-his figure al
most too thin and dried up to cast shad-
ow in the bright sunlight, yet sufficient tC
cast moral shadow and unhappiness over
homes and lives around and about him.
For moment following Mr.. Grimp';
departure tue SQuire's face was full of con
fiicting emotions. He arose from hi:
chair, and his small boot-heels clattered or
the Office floor as he paced hurriedly K
and fro.
"The old skinflintr' ne muttered, "Jes
as If Itdidn't see through him like a book
II f-e 20 oVff widow
Grimp number two, an if she aiR't willin
-maybe she's refused him already-h'
wants me TO make her think she'd bette
be: That's what he wants. Ha! ha!
reckon there's widower that Widow
Barney or any other woman would jest o,
proud TO git; he's not a thousand miles OF
neither''-and the Squire paused snilingil
before smell mirror, adjusted his collar
and smOothed the few hairs carefully ovel
the bald spot on his head. mot so old al
ter all: and a sight better looking thai
ole Grimp! Guess he didn't know who
he was comm TO, did he? An he wants
me TO sarve a writ on Widow Barney
George! I'll sarve it myself an git IN
ahead of him Big joke it'll be on Grimp
Ha, ha "
In the main thSSquire was correct in hi
eopitations. To secure the lively, pretty
sensible yeung widow as an help-meet in
place of the "lafe lamented'' was precise
iv what Mr.. Grimp desired. He had al
rdiffsrent times made advances in that direo
tion- but receiving only negative reptile:
he concluded to try a little mild coercion
and /" bring her TO her senses as he in
wardlv called it. Now, singularly enough
the SGuire also was a widower. and he
roo. was matrimonially inclined toward
the Widow Barney. He had never made
any propositions TO that lady, thinking; Il
his conceit, he had only to offer hlmseii e
be accepted at once, and she be GLAD oi th'
opportunity.
But there was incentive TO lmmediaGe
action. There was a chance-it nstgh,
happen that the widow, being Ignorant