The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-08

uluttcf NJ once, VIII yous L am opposed
to looking backwards, 1t isn't healthy
nor hopeful"
"He got up and strobe restlessly back
ward and forward while was formulating
his remuneration OF all claims to the Mont
rose property. 1t was not in my province
TO insist any further. "If that was my
mother" i was saving TO myself us the
pen flew over the paper, 81 should dispose
OF her where she could not impose her dis
agreeable personality upon my wife, 90
back TO Montrose and marry Miss Ran
som" But some people are constitution
ally fitted for self crucixion, and he
lieved that gaunt young man, under whose
restless feet the loose planks of the floor
were then quivering was one of them.
Queer, how many trains OF thought one
can carry on simultaneously While | was
making out that legal document, with its
full complement OF "wherases" and ''be
it knowns," disposing of tho obnoxious
Mrs. Frazer and marrying my hero and
heroine off in true novel style, | was can
didly acknowledging to myself that II had
been reared as that boy had been should
have been dazed, too. When submitted
the paper for his inspection he read it care
fully.
"a shall write to Mamie myself, " he said
as he took up the pen to sign his name.
lie did not do it at once, however. 81
should have liked" he said slowly, look
ing at me wistfully-"I should have liked
very much TO have made over all my
rights to-Miss Ransom. But l suppose
that would not do'
He threw down the pen after signing his
name and stretched his hot hand across
the table to me. 81 am quite sure you
won't gossip about my affairs, and | thank
you for all the unprofessional sympathy
you've thrown in. It's hard not TO be at
liberty to send back one word of greetingto
any of them, not even my poor, faithful
old Scip. am sorry you have been put
TO so much trouble and expense cause
| lessly."
watched him as he walked away down
the railway track in the direction OF his
home, thinking that il il was ever possible
for man TO be too conscientious by half,
Frazer Holcombe had achieved il. The
station-master came up behind me, where
| stood in the front door looking after the
rapidly lesscning figure.
"You know Fazcr2" he said with the
easy familiarity Of his neighborhood, which
was not, however, devoid OF courtesy.
mot before today. had some business
to transact with him."
| "Pd like 10 hear OF something good hap
pcning to Wallie. He's got hard row TO
travel. The Frazers used to be somebody
in these parts. The father of that boy was
one OF the best friends ever had. It's
true he was the son of the richest man in
the county, and my father was only the
doctor; but that didn't make any differ
ence. We went through Harvard side by
side. We both planned to turn the world
upside down, but then, you know, We
didn't calculate on the world being turned
inside out in our time. The father OF that
boy had the prettiest start in the world.
Don't know what did become Of him
finally. II seems he got rid OF everything
he had in the world but that miserable
little shanty Wallie and the old lady live
in. IL used To be n meetin' house for the
Frazer darkies The Fnzers used 10 own
every foot OF land about this station for
four miles. i tell you people opened their
eyes when Wallie came home TO live after
the war. You see, we'd never heard OF
his existence. And as for the old lady,
she was q sockdologcrl She was n different
sort Of Mrs. Frazer from what this county
was used 10. | reckon she's something OF
|
nobody ever hears q word Of complaint
from him-not even about her opium bills.
lie makes his own vegetable garden and
that way, he could marry Miss Fanny
Dangerfield and take life easier"
"Who is Miss Fanny Dangcrfeld2' !
asked, experiencing n twIurs'of Jealous
wrath on Mis- RansOm's account
/ stShafa oil nans..rn.llfa 1aus.It.r nau
gcriield was overseeing on the place when
this boys father came into possession. lie
wafn't married then. People Eay Frazer
gnmbled the place or 90 his oyenccr.
don't know how true that IL, but they used
to have some awful bouts up there. Frazer
went Off 10 New Orleans suddenly, and the
next We heard Of him was this boy coming
here with that old dowd. Dangcriicld'f
son is studying medicine In Europe now,
and fnlzer's son Is Clerking for old Nc.
Cracker mt $50 month. / was thinking
II you were a lawyer and Wallic's friend,
you might put him up 10 making old Dan.
gcrfeld show his vouchers. II looks sus
picious, the old mans anxiety TO bring
Walle and Miss Fanny together. Mis-.
Fanny amt nvcrse."
"But I understood You to say that you
were n lawyer"
"Was." the station.masler said with an
easy laugh. "But that was before the war
After came out Of the fight, I'd have
starved TO death on myproies,ion. There's
no litigation now, sir; there's squabblc,
over mule, or n pig, or something like
that I'm among the has.bccn. They're
as think M hops about here. I've got q
brother-hc was studying medicine under
pa when the thing broke out. He's brake
man now ON n railroad, and good brake
man, too" he added, with his jollicsI
laugh. "Wo'ro not dead yet by q long
shot"
looked at him admiringly. I should
have liked TO offer 10 shake hands with
him, but feared il might strike him ~ .
piece Of patronage.
"whcrc do the DangcrGclds liver"
asked.
"Straight up that lane" lac said. point
ing. "ln the very house this boys great
grandfather built It's worth trip az
that way 90 cross the old battlefield whcr,
your folks and oun had tolcrably ho
ltifsle. Maybe your friend would like e
90 with you" / called up 10 Brown
through the open window aud suggested .
walk. lie came down yawning aud pro
tested against having his nap broken into
"Whai do you propose 10 show me2
This did not exactly know myself. u
was not picturesque localiiy-broWn
bare fields, given over 90 weeds and bum
blcs, drying-shcds, with the years 10
baccO crop hanging stiiliy from their roof
by their stems, n few lisllCss tOilen u
tnrnip or potato patches. Nothing mon