The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-04-14

the point IN hand Is just this, What alu
ye pay him."
"Has he tauld we HIMSELF asked my
uncle.
"Thats my concern said Alan.
''Weel," said my uncle, II dinnae care
what he said, he Iced, and the solemn
Gods truth is this, that L gave him
twenty pound. But I'll be perfectly
honest with we, forby that he was to
have the selling of the lad in Caroliny
whilk would be as muckle mair, but no
from my pocket, we seo."
"Thank Won. Mr.. Thomson. That will
! 40 eXcelscntly well" said the lawyer,
stepping forward; and then mighty civ
lily, "Good evening, Mr.. Balfour,"
said he.
And "Good evening, Uncle Ebenezer,"
said /.
And cts Draw NIGHT, Mr.. Balfour,"
added Torrance.
Never word said my uncle. neither
black nor white, but just set where he
was on the top doorstep and stared upon
us like man turned to stone. Alan
| filched away his blunderbuss, and the
lawyer, taking him by the arm, plucked
him up from the doorstep, led him into
the kitchen, whittier we all followed,
and set him down in chair by the
hearth, where the fire was out and only
a rushlight burning.
"Come, come, Mr.. Ebenezer," said the
lawyer, "you must not be down hearted,
for promise you we shall make easy
terms. In the meanwhile give us the
cellar key, and Torrance shall draw us a
bottle of your fathers wine in honor of
the event. Then turning to me and
taking me by the hand, "Mr. David"
says he, 81 wish you all JOY in your
good fortune, which l believe to be de-
served" And then to Alan with a spice
of drollery, Mr.. Thomson, pay you
my compliment; it was most artfully
conducted; but in one point you some
what outran my comprehension. Do l
understand your name to be James or
Charles, or is it George perhaps!
"And why should it be any of the
three, STRIP quoth Alan, drawing him.
self up like one who smelled an offense.
"Only, sir, that you mentioned a
kings NAME" replied Rankeillor, "and
as there has never yet been King
Thomas, or his fame at least has never
come my way, judged you must refer
to that you had in baptism"
This was just the stab that Alan
would feel keenest, and l am free to
confess he took it very ill., Not word
would he answer, but stepped off to the
far end of the kitchen and sat down
and sulked; and it was not till stepped
after him and gave him my hand and
thanked him by title as the chief spring
of my success that he began to smile a
bit, and was at last prevailed upon to
join our party.
By that time we had the fire lighted and
q bottle of wine uncorked; good sup
per came out of the basket, to which Tor
rance and and Alan sat ourselves down,
while the lawyer and my uncle passed
into the next chamber to consult. They
staid there closeted about an hour, at
the end of which period they had come
to good understanding, and my uncle
and set our hands to the agreementdn
q formal manner. By the terms of this
my uncle was confirmed for life in the
possession of the house and lands, and
bound himself to satisfy Rankeillor as
to his intromissions, and to pay me two
clear thirds of the yearly income.
SO the beggar in the ballad had come
home, and when lay down that night
on the kitchen chests I was man Of
means and had a name in the country.