Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-08-29
Tht Sturp Tener.
HOW WIDOW WILLETS WAS SOLD OUT,
BY MRS. Nj. A. DENISON.
CH A P T E r I.
THE ATTORNEY.

hook.nosed men went in and out, and discon-
tented men leaned against the door.post, dis.
putting with old Pinchbeck, and ruddy checked
men called occasionally to hear the news, and
pale.faced widows, who wanted to raise little
money on house or land, and, now and then,
fresh, sweet young girl-say, for instance
beautiful Lucy Willets-came to give some
message from her mother, whose little proper
ty was all in his hands
1t would have done you good to see the
sudden brightness that illuminated Peter
Pinchbeck's countenance at sight of this glo-
rious little beauty-if it had only been some
what different countenance; but when nose
which is permanently crimson, and cheeks
that are perpetually red, and eyes that are
always inAamed take on more light than color,
one is reminded instantly of a conaagration,
and not of that supremest of all passions-the
passion of innocent love.
1t happened one day that stranger came
to Pottstown. 1t also happened that, stroll
ing through one of its narrow, picturesque
streets-I say picturesque, because one side
was not as vet built up with modern French
roof villas in wood, and there were enormous
posters of every conceivable and inconcelva.
bic quack medicine under heaven staring one
in the face, for mile or so-this stranger
saw the following notice:
"FoR SALE.-The premises and all effects there
in contained of the Widow Willets-a fair, two
story house, nine rooms, good barn on the prem
ises 5000 feet of land, and all the 1urnit9re at
auction, on Thursday next tho 10Th OF July 10
be sold under hammer to the highest bidder"
The stranger, a staIwart, handsome man of
forty or thereabout, ran his eye over this notice
at least four times. His demeauor, had only
any one been looking, might have been con.
sidered singular, to say the least
At first he set his lips hard together, and all
the color seemed to die out of his bronzed face.
Then be lifted his hat and wiped the great
drops of perspiration that all at once gathered
at the roots of his hair and began to roll
down Then, when he had replaced his hat,
his fingers came gradually together, as if there
was something for them to close on.
He stepped out from the shadow of the
great. branching elm, and looked at the sign
over the low doorway. A very unpretentlous
sign-simply--
PETER PINCHBECK,
Attorney at Law.
And he then made straight for the Office.
Peter Pinchbeck looked up. His rheumy
eyes watered and frightened at sight of the
stranger There was business in bis face.
Morning, sir" he said, ducking his head,
and half:rising from his chair.
"Good morning, sir !" said the stranger, with
a clear, strong accent. 81 see there is cot
tage to be sold.'
Eyes, sir-a snug, tight little place. Just
the thing for good country residence, sir
Just the thing for man with little money to
invest. There's the plan, sir. Won't you
look it over ?"
"Hunph Was the widow hard pushed ?"
"Very, SIR Can be got at bargain-as
pretty little piece Of property as you would
ever wish to see"
"Was there mortgageY'
"Yes foreclosed month ago."
did you hold t?'
"Yes I have had it for year or two"
"And she tried her best to pay ?"
ooh we'll, she wanted time-they always
do. gave it; then she wanted little more.
Why, sir, she might extend it till eternity, if
she would"
The singular look which accompanied this
statement, infamed the curiosity of the stran-
ger.
81 don't understand you, sir" be said; and
his fingers came together again.
"Of course, you don't; can only say that
there's pretty girl in the case
"Oh! her daughter ?" questioned the stran-
ger, eagerly.
"Her daughser-a mighty nice piece Of
flesh and blood-a splendid young 6lly"
"You speak of her as if she were no more
than bit Of horse-hesh."
"Oh! ay, that's my way; we men of busi.
ness have an off:hand manner that men of
the world understand. dare say you do !"
and he laughed with an impudeDt swagger
that made the blood of his listener tingle.
"And if this girl had married you-1 sup
pose that's what you mean-you wouldn't
have foreclosed ?"
"You take-that's just what meau-eve-
ry time" was the coarse reply. "But as she
won't take the chance of saving her mother
and her home, the proud, cantankerous little
huzzy, why, she may 60 to the deu-"
Another second and he was spluttering and
gasping and struggling under the heavy hand
of the stranger, who had grasped him by the
throat, and, with livid face and heaving chest
and set teeth, pinned him to the wall.
"Mur-mur- p shouted the attorney,
as, after writhing desperately, he slipped from
under the others aggressive hand.
what do you mean, sir, to attack re-
spectacle man-the only lawyer in this vii.
lage sir" Death and destruction!" And a
torrent of vituperation followed.
The stranger stood his ground, quite cool
and composed, though his lips were set and
white, and in his eyes we're dangerous glare;
but he merely said, in the most Indifferent
manner IMAGINABLE:
my friend, am subject to spasns, partic
ularly when men of your calling stigmatize
young and innocent girls Just as you spoke
the spasm came on with great power, or l
might possibly feel it my duty to beg you
pardon"
II think you had better, as tits" muttered
Peter, measuring the tall figure of his antag-
onist. "Im not used to such rough handling,
sir !" he continued, growing fierce again.
"Suppose we come down to business, then"
said the other, calmly. "I've mind to buy
this place, if we can make terms"
Before considerations of money all other
matters vanished into thin air, and the attor-
ney pocketed his insult, with the best grace
in his power, and then turned to the plan
again, and the two were soon deep in consul
tation.
When the stranger left the Office, curious
smile overspread his face.
$50 that's the sort of men that have the
power" he said; "and he thought he could
ride roughshod over the hel pless and the de-
pendent! Great heaven, how he made my
blood boil So, the widow and the orphan
& ob hnp oh DO hIct