Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-08-31

helpless doing for those who have sue,
cored or shown kindness to them, but
my poverty is no disguise. 1 am poor,
indeed; absolutely without dollar or
friend in the world. Coming this way
was only wandering in search OF death
to avoid the almshouse, and 1t gr1eVes
me that I should have fallen where am
so heavy and unfortunate charge"
"Say no more, sir, or you will take
from our performance all the merit
which attaches to it, said the farmer:
"we would be in worse need than you If
We would afford so little relief grudging-
ly or withhold it.
You speak like one who knows
mans constant dependence, even IN his
highest fortune. But you have not Yet
told me who is this ine1orable creditor.
Tell me, that I may correct good report,
if such a. lie comes to my cars"
"He is rich, respected and OF excel
lent repute. His name is Asahel Pen
cost"
No stimulant could have so strength
ened the weak muscles of the invalid as
the simple pronouncing Of that name
did. He rose to his elbow, his deep set
eyes glowing with the fire OF excite
ment.
"Asahel Pencost," he repeated; do
YOU know where he came from2"
eyes. he settled in these parts near
ly forty years ago, coming from near
old Gloucester in Massachusetts,, I've
heard say. though information on that
point is not very definite"
"How old man is Lei Was he mar
ried when he came here"
"He is about seventy years OF age;
he brought wife and one son with him,
but his wife died and he married again. "
It was the dame, true to her womanly
Instincts, who was readiest when neigh
borly news were asked or asking.
eyes yes" eagerly continued the
sick man, "an1 the son-what became
of him2"
"He quarreled with his stern father,
Asahel Psncost, some say, and went
away over twenty years ago, and has
not been heard from since;' replied
Mis-. Liumar. "He was too gentle and
true lad, though, to have been born
of such father"
"Triumph and defeat in single
BREATH" murmured 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 thisa"
"Wayne."
"Then you have the ablest man IN
Wayne county to help you for your
debtor. I said Just now l was the
poorest; was mistaken. When Asahel
Pencost comes Oh Monday to seize your
farm, tell him that Marcus Whitney is
your security for further discharge OF
the mortgage end warn him to accept
whatever terms are proposed"
Monday morning came, and with it
Asahel PencosS, deputy sheriff and o
sel ing man. Farmer Linmar and his
wife b ID spent an uneasy interval, not
withstanding 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-
ly 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
up with pillows, his eyes closed and
head thrown forward, while the pre-
huinary demands were made by the
creditor previous to turning the busi-
ness over to the sheriff's officer.
"You can't pay, and won't accede to
my most liberal proposition ?" exclaimed
the great man, with an unctuous aud
sonorous voice, "then you'll have to
take the consequences. Turning to
the officer, and waving his hand in q
circle that seemed t sweep already with
creditors grasp the goods and lands
of the unfortunate debtor, he said
"Mr. Bimble, you will please to-
"Wait a minute" said the invalid,
sharply, giving termination not in
tended to Pencost's invocation. "Please
to wait little, MIR. Bimble, till there is
need of your interference"
"And pray, sir, who are you?" de-
manded Mr.. Pencost.
"Security for these good peoples
debts, and their protection against the
ayarice, greed, and persecution of Asahel
Pencost Whitney, formerly of Little
Salem, Massachusetts,, who is -
"Your only brother" interrupted the
pale and terror stricken man "for
Heaven sake, forbear."
"You didn't ioss your memory with
your name," sLeered the invalid,
"though your presence of mind forsakes
you. You never expected to see me
again z"
"I knew you would come some time,
sure as death, but not SO very soon."
"Soonl Call you eight-and-thirty
years soon7 You have enjoyed the
fruits of wrong doing, fraud-aye, theft
longer than Heaven permits most
men to do. I thought I was under its
ban not to rise again, when sunk faint
ing into the ditch a mile or so from
here, six weeks ago but now sec l
was simply subject to its wise, just, and
fortunate DEGREES. See! Asahel Whit
ney-calling yourself Pencost-here is a
paper bearing your debt in money to
me. You took everything I had in the
world opI if oop cfrin vou T'll do IT.