Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-10-18
There was a momentary silence after these

There was a momentary silence after these
EXPLANATIONS of astonished recognition. Mr..
Grimp was the first to break it.
"Will you allow me to inquire, Brother
Butter6eld, what you were doing on the roof
of my house, at this late hour?"
"Sartainly you may, Mr.. Grimp. ! came.
because-that isl came to sarve that writ
of yourn," answered the Squire, relieved to
find some excuse.
"Ahw
eyes an I'd like to know what business
you had up there, Mr.. Grimp?"
81 came to see you serve it," said Mr..
Grimp, with perceptible tightening Of his
thin lips.
"Well," said the Squire, rapidly recover
ing his composure, "if your writ don't stick
better'n you did on that ere roof, it won't
amount to nothin' that's all"
What reply Mr.. Grimp would have made
to this thrust is not known, for just then the
door opened and Tom Harwood and the Wild
ow, alarmed by the noise came out. Both
the Squire and Mr.. Grimp would gladly
have avoided an interview; indeed they turn
ed to hasten away, but were too late The
widow recognized them at once.
"Why, Mr.. Grimp! and Squire Butter
field, tool" she exclaimed with the most
charming of smiles "Why, thought it was
burglars, or horse. thieves, or something, and
I was so frightened. And, why, Mr.. Grimp
you are real wet, aren't you? Is it raining
or snowing?" And she held out her little
hand to catch the falling drops.
mo, marm, 'taint snowin', or rainin' either.
Ye see, Mr.. Grimp was jest shown me the
uater privileges about the place, an tryin' to
see how much rain bar'l would hold" res.
ponded the Squire, sarcastically, pointing to-
ward the aforesaid barrel. ....
"Brother Butler6eld, will you bc so kind
as to attend to the business on which we
came?" said MI. Grimp, sternly.
"Sartainly I will. Here, Widow Barney,
is "a writ from Mr. Grimp, notifyin' you to
give up these ERE premises"
II will take charge of that" said young
Harwood. rather haughtily. Twill call upon
you tomorrow, Squire, and settle the matter.
I would say, also, MIR. Grimp, that the time
for redemption not having expired, the mort
gage and costs on this lady's place have been
paid in to the County Clerk, and you will not
be troubled in caring for it further"
After that-well, Mr.. Grimp made some
indistinct reply, and the Squire very profuse
and incoherent apologies. Then they took
their leave as best they could, feeling very
awkward, mortified and bumiliated. They
did not go home together either, nor ever af.
ter speak of that evenings experience to each
other. However, month later, when Tom
Harwood married the widow, the Squire was
observed to shake his head mournfully and
murmur:
"If it hadn't been for old Grimp comm
Jest as he did that night, things would have
been different. Widow Barney never would
have married that conceited young Harwood,
never" ..
AS for Mr. Grimp, his face and his prayers
grew longer day BY day, and the Sunday fol.
lowing the marriage, he spoke feelingly of
"this vale of tears" the "vanity of human ex'
pectations," and the uncertainty Of earthly
things" and when the collection was raised
for the poor, he sadly gave torn bit of cur
rency which his grocer had refused the day
before