Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-09-11

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Then he added, pulling viciously at hi
grizzled beard:
+" He will come back in a week, lik
enough, and own that he's rarnt les
son !"
But Harry did not come back in week
or in month. A year passed with n
tidings from the black sheep.
Then there was d steamboat disastt
on one of the great rivers, and anon
the list of the killed Deacon Washburl
read the name of his son. There wa
deep sorrow at the cottage after that
and gloom settled upon the hearts of it
inmates.
Six years passed.
Deacon Washburn's younger sons, Jo,
and Charlie, married and settled down tt
a humdrum existence within half mile
Of THEN fathers roof-tree.
But Petronilla Wayne remained with
her benefactors. Mrs. Washburn had
become too feeble and tremulous to at
tend to the household duties. and the
brunt of them descended upon Pets
strong, young shoulders. So she went on
with the simple routine of Homework, a
trife wan and sad-eyed after the news OF
Harrys death.
One day new misfortune came TO
them The deacon's carriage shop, with
all it contained, was burned. And while
attempting to extinguish the flames, the
deacon himself was severely injured. There
was chance for his life, the doctor said,
but his physical labors could never be re-
sumed.
Misfortunes never come singly. Be-
fore Mr.. Washburn was able to leave
the house former resident Of the town
put in an appearance, declaring that the
Washburn cottage, and the valuable cul-
,ivated ground belonging to the estate.
were held by spurious title, in other
words, that Deacon Washburn did not
own them at all.
This was startling discovery to the
unfortunate man. The claimant Of the
estate brought proofs which only long
and expensive suit could set aside.
Sorry to turn you from your home,
which you have paid for fair enough, y
said Mr.. Hoskins, blandly. but it is
not my fault that the person who gave
you the title to this property has no right
to do so. Indeed. you were in fault for
not learning the responsibility Of the
party when you made the purchase. /
shall not force you to move away until
you have sufficiently recovered to do so.
| am kind man at heart, you .se, Mr..
Washburn."
The "kind-hearted Hoskins smirked
and bowed, and left the cottage.
The deacon was half crazed by the sit
uation. He could not afford to carry on
an exPesiye..legal suit, with the probabil-
ity Of being defeated in the end.
There seemed to be no alternative.
They must give up their home and go
whittier
The week dragged along.
Then letter came to Deacon Wash
burn, witten in scrawly business hand.
1t was pithy affair, and read as fol-
lows
read In a newspaper that one Albert
Hoskius disputed the legality OF JOSEPH
Washburn's title to the house aud lant
which the latter was supposed to own
Knowing Mr.. Hoskins to be an unscrupu
lous villain, / will come to Centreville ant
legally oppose his claims in your behalf.
Respectfully, ETC.,
| LANSING, Attorney-at-Law.
A sort of Joy choked the voice of Pet.
ronilla as she read the singular epistl
aloud to Mr.. Washburn.
"But who is this Lansing. Anothe
fraud. it is likely" exclaimed the old man
not daring to believe turn in fortunes t
be possible.
Perhaps not, Uncle Joe; We musn'
give up in that way, for do not believ
God has forsaken u.s." exclaimed Pet
stroking the silser-gray locks Of her ben
efactor. 80 Cd b..
"That's so, child. At any rate thi
|, Lansing can't do any worse by US tha
Hoskins will, and we might as well &C
cept his aid, if he has any to offer
So it was settled. . n.
Within week civil suit in the cour,
began, when Deacon Washburn was un
able to attend.
But he learned that Lansing, the Law
yer who had volunteered his aid, was
brilliant young man, and that Albel
Hoskins dared not push his claims aft,
the attorney had presented the other sic
J Of the case.
The claimant seemed to stand great