The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-09-13

away over twenty years ago, anu nAs
not been heard from s%ince;" replied
Mrs. Linmar. "He was too gentle and
true a lad, though, to have been born
of such a father"
"Triumph and defeat in a single
BREATH" murmurcd the invalid, sinking
back.
Presently he revived and said to the
farmer, slowly, yet with firm accent
"You need not concern yourself fur
ther. What county is thisl"
"Wayne."
"Then you have the ablest man in
Wayne county to help you for your
debtor. I said just now I was the
poorest; 1 was mistaken. When Asahel
Pencost comes On Monday to seize your
farm, tell him that Marcus Whitney is
your security for further discharge Of
the mortgage and warn him to accept
whatever terms are proposed"
Monday morning came, and with it
Asahel Pencost, q deputy sheriff and q
serving man. Farmer Linmar and bis
wife had spent an uneasy interval, not
w~ithstanding the assurance OF their in
voluntary guest; and every attempt they
had made in their quiet, unobtrusive
way to gain insight into the reason OF
the strangers confidence had been met
with evasion too patent to be further
questioned. The first they knew of the
old mans name was when he called him
self Whitney; of his career, connection
with the rich, arrogant neighbor Pencost,
or his intentions, they were asprofound-
~ ignorant as before they took him into
their troubled confidence. He had been
removed from the bed in the little cham
Der to the old haircloth sofa, which
stood between the two windows that
lighted the best room, and sat, propped
n D with pillows, his eyes closed and
head thrown forward, while the pre-.
liminary demands were made by the
creditor previous to. turning the bust
ness over to the sheriffs officer.
"You can't pay, and won't accede to
my most iberalproposition ?" exclaimed
the great man, with an uuctuous and
sonorous voice, "then you'll have to
take the consequences" Turning to
the officer, and waving his hand in a
circle that seemed IT, sweep already with
O creditors grasp the goods and lands
of the unfortunate debtor, he said
"Mr. Bimble, you will please. to-
swat a minute" said the invalid,
sharply, giving a termination not in
tended to Pencost's invocation. "Please
to wait a little, MI. Bimble, till there is
need of your interference"
Sand pray, sir, who are you2" de.
manded Mr.. Pencost.
"Security for these good peoples
debts, and their protection against the
avarice, greed, and persecution of Asehel
! Pencost Whitney, formerly of Little
Salem, Massachusetts, who is
"Your only brother" interrupted the
pale and terror stricken man !; "for
Heaven 8 sake, forbear."
"You didn't lose your memory with
your name" sneered the invalid,
"though your presence of mind forsakes
you. You never expected to see me
again 2"
"I knew you would come some time,
sure as death, but not so very soon."
"Soonl Call you eight-and-thirty
years soon9 You have enjoyed the
fruits OF wrong doing, fraud-aye, theft
longer than Heaven permits most
men to do. I thought I was under it's
ban not to rise again, when I sunk faint
ing into the ditch a mile or so from
here, six weeks ago !; but now I see I
was simply subject to its wise, just, and
fortunate DEGREES. Seel Asahel Whit
ney-calling yourself Pencost-here is a
paper bearing your debt in money to
me. You took everything 7 had in the
world, and if I a strip you I'll do it.
Here is the amount compounded annual
ly at six per cent. it amounts to two
hundred and eighty-si1 thousand and
forty dollars. Can you pay it9"
"Have you no mercy2 Will you not
hear me9" begged the now humbled
man, in tears. GARNER Linmar, plead
you to him to listen to me ; he will
grant you SO much"
"Il say this MUCH" returned MI.
Linmar, q" The that hath no mercy on
his fellows will hardly get it in his dirost
need"
You almost steel my purpose, while
You do dissuade me-" said Marcus
Whitney. 81 need mercy, and I'll
show it, though I'm afraid it is mis-
placed. Thirty-eight years ago, my
brother, standing there, was trustee Tor
my portion Of our fathers estate. 1
was married and away at sea-, my wife
and child in his care, IS well as the
money that had been left to me-. I had
been gona for five years, during all OF
which time my letters to my wife were
suppressed, and those to me were falsi-
fed. When I came back to Little Sa-
lem it WIS to find my family all gone.
My wife had been persuaded OF my
death and married with my brother, who
had sold out and gone no n knew
where. From that day to this I have
wandered up and down in the land seek
ing my own, till my footsteps were led
hither. Another time will do then,
traitor, to talk of money reparation.
Tell me, now, where is my con z" This
demand wa made in so earnest q tone
that it told Of no COMPROMISED; that
debt, ct least, was to be atoued in full.
"Idont KNOW replied the shrinking
man. He recognized that he might be
forgiven many of the paltry dollars
claimed, but this claim for flesh and
blood would not be forgone a jot nor
TITLE"
"You are telling me true 2"
"It is no time to do otherwise now.
When we quarreled I told him he was
no son of mine, and he swore he would
not bear my name; he left, and left no
trace to track him by, though I tried
hard at the time. Some ten years ago I
heard that he had taken his mothers
name and was calling himself Lambert
Morrison; whether the information was
true or not I cannot say; but, true or
false, that is the last have ever heard"
eco you out into the world and seek
my boy till you find him; seek as I
sought you, in poverty, hunger, dirt,
sorrow and madness, for weary, weary
years. Bring him to me only and I'll
forgive you every penny that you
wroneed me Of" The father spoke, and,
speaking, told the sole object Of his
life's secret. Money is nothing to a man
going down to the grave, but love and
kin all.
"Already the bread has returned"
said the farmer, OBTAINING Asahel Pen
cost, who was turning to leave the
house. "Your son." he continued, ad-
dressing the invalid on the sofa, sis in
New York, if Lambert Morrison and the
handsome, bright boy Morris Pencost, I
remember, be one and the same. Wife,
get those letters. It was he who nursed
our boy in his last illness and closed his