Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1877-09-08

or as she was generally more respectfully
called, Mistress Elizabeth Peyton, the
sole representative, with the exception
OF a nephew who lived in another State
of an old and wealthy family. She lived
alone and secluded in large and time.
stained mansion upon her plantation
some four miles from Wilton, and rarely
if ever visited the village, not even com.
ing to church. Her present call upon
me was occasioned by her desire to pur.
chase an extensive tract of land which
agreeably to the wishes of the owner. for
whom I acted as agent, I had a short
time before offered for sale. We soon
satisfactorily arranged terms &C., where.
in Mistress Elizabeth showed herself pret-
ty shrewd in driving bargain. "And
now said she as she arose from her seat,
l must beg of you to accompany me to
the bank, the money with which will
pay you is deposited there, will with
draw it now, and tomorrow return,
when hope you will have the necessary
documents properly drawn up and ar
ranged ready for me so that will not be
detained longer than IN hour or so in
town." "Why not wait then until YOU
come in town to-morrow, to draw the
money from the bank,"I asked. Because
If get it this evening it will save me
that much trouble and time on the NOR
row." But Madame" returned, twill
it not b. safer in the bank !? pardon me
for saying so, but you live so isolated,
and if it is known that you have so large
q sum of money in your house, the knowI-
edge is quite enough to tempt the cupidi-
ty of the Designing" "I will run the risk''
she answered, with little good humor-
ed nod, no one will know that I've the
money at home but yourself, and I hope
You have no idea of becoming house
breaker, have never spoken to any one
else on the subject" "BuG your servants"
urged, care they trusty? 81 never
speak before nor to servants of nv busi-
ness affairs" she replied little haughti-
ly besides the quarters are fully mile
from the house, neither the negroes nor
the overseer, - good and honest old man
who lives near them, ever know what is
going Oh at the house. 1 have but one
family of servants in the yard, the cook
and her children one of whom is nv car
riaSe driver, their cabin is at the en-
trcme end of the yard, and they rarely
come near the house, Priscilla n woman
whom l raised and on whose fidelity 1
wonld stake my own life, is the onl:; ser
want keep near me; she sleeps in a
room adjoining mine, and am sure would
peril her life for ME, so you see your ap-
nrehensions are quite unfounded." Sill
'nccd but not convinced: said no more,
though afterwards had bitter cause to
myself for not ha!ing insisted
lpon her leaving the money in it's safe
repository. I rode to the bank with her
ind saw the money. Il tempting roll of
;risp notes, in all amounting to the nice
title sum of $4,000, delivered in her hand. |
Is assisted her in the carriage I could
lot forbear again eautioni'g her, laugh |
ng good naturedly she said I could not |
make her nervous, and that she would |
ONE i'll early in the morning for the tina. |
ettlemcnt Of the business, when she |
oped my fears would be Guieted. !
watched the numbering ola ark as it
rove in slow state out of town, little |
linking how Miss Peyton aud 1 would |
ext meet.
Late that evening the driver brought
le note from his mistress saying that
he had sprained her foot severely in de S.
ending from her carriage on reaching
ONE aud consequently she would be un
BILE to keep her appointment the next
ay, but as she wished no delay in the
usiness, could 1 go to her in the morning
18th the papers, tho Notary and necessa-
7 witnesses, adding that we should be
ell recompenscd for our extra trouble.
so CHANGED that Court opened the
day, and as Lad several cases
Il docket, knew I would be compelled
} start very early for Miss Peyton's if I
'ished to return in time 70 the opening
court; so putting on my hat sought
,e Notary and finding him wiling to
Sc at even o'clock in the morning, as
. averred, for an extra dollar, returned
ord to the old lady that we would be
her house very carly in the morning.
ccordingly sunrise found lis en- route; the
otary, young and jovial man, u mutual
lend whom 1 had asked to accompany
5 as a witness, q depended upon Miss
ey toms Overseer as the otller witness,)
nd myself. / we'll remember what a
vely morning it was, a light shower q
w hours before had laid the dust and
10 pendent drops were still qlivering on
le boughs and branches of the hedges
I'd trees that stretched along ON either
de Of the road. We were we'll mounted,
suppose about three fourth s of the dis
nee when we deserted u horseman ap-
'oachins, riding at full speed, as he
cared us, recognized in him, Miss Pey-
.i.,s onacl Icaan ,Ilaxa, I L. l