The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-06-21

EoPYRIeHT lS92 By Ai1ktll0ss NEWSPAPER ca
Shortly after / entered the room, the
son, my rcscucr. came in. He greeted
me with the same cordially his par
cnts had shown. and like them, made
no reference to the past. His name,
learned, was Charles, and, now that
had the opportunity Of observing him
well, ! discovered him to be what |
should term perfect model of a fully
developed manhood. He was tall, broad
shouldered, broad chested sincwy,
robust, yet not rugged or Overgrown.
His eyes were keen and penetrating,
and | felt that when they looked at
person they saw to the bottom
of the heart yet they possessed II
sparkle Of mcrTirncnt, and there was Il
softening light about them that spoke
plainly OF generosity and tcndcrest
sympathy. | knew nothing then of
Charles Cornell, save what have writ
ten, but somehow was impressed with
the thought that he was a fit champion
of the cause Of the weak and oppressed,
and that his syrapathics were al with
the poor ard friendless, and his great
est happiness was in serving them.
My impression, soon discovered, was
well founded, for soon after we were
seated ut the breakfast table the father
and son entered into conversation re-
garding some local land trouble, by lis
tening to which | learned that their
sympathies we're with the poor settlers
who were in danger of losing their
homes through the greed of capitalists
who held mortgages on them. Mr.. Cor
nell, who isped, began the converse
ton by saying;
"How wuth the meeting lath night,
Charlotte"
at was well attended, father" the
son replied, but there was very little
accomplished. The agent Of the cap
italists wGs present and he listened to
our requests, but lie gave usno satsfae-
ton in his answer"
''Wull." exclaimed the father, what
doth he propothc? reckon he thurely
don't wanth to tal1cth the pcopleth
homcth from them, docth hc?"
"Wcu | don't know" said Charles.
at looks very much rs though the
hOIttEo VI IilC l4AJl - is,CS WHY IIcO
going to he satisfied with anything
short Of full and complete compliance
with the strict letter Of the contract
under which the mortgages were made"
"You thinllth they wonth, ch?"
I'm afraid they won't, father. I
have no hopes of compromise being
effected"
"Wull," cried Mr.. Cornell, why
didn'th You explain to the agenth that
the thettenenth would be ruineth if
they wath held to the contract?'
ave did, father" the son answered.
ave explained everything, and showed
how utterly impossible it was for the
people to mcct their obligations and
redeem their homes after two success
sivc crop failures"
"Wuli, what didnth the agcnth thay
to that, ch?"
'iie had Il great deal to say, ulto-
gether. lis main objection, though,
was that the settlers didn't try to pay
off their debts and that the more
leniercy he showed them the more they
would ask AID expect"
"Heth a fool, Charlcth. Doth he
expecth that people can pay when they
can't live hardly? How it'll they to
try to pay when they amt got nothing
to pay with?"
"I'm sorry, father" Charles said, in q
tone of true sadness, "that the meeting
resulted as it did. | am sure, though,
that the blame of our failure rests
chiefly on the shoulders of 81 Anderson.
He is the leader Of the settlers, you
know, and all through this trouble has
taken IA leading part. He has been their
representative in their negotiations
with the agent, and he was the insti-
gator of the meeting last night Yet
yesterday he went to town and got
drunk, as is too common custom with
him, and did not attend the meeting at
ALL"
/ looked up quickly when Charles
Cornell spoke the last sentence, the idea
for some cause possessing me instantly
that 81 Anderson was the man whom l
met the night before out on the prairie.
The fact that Mr.. and Mrs. Cornell both
turned their eyes on me at the same
moment confirmed me in that idea, and
i afterwards learned from Mrs. Cornell
that it was correct.
"A fit man he it'll to rcprethcnt peo-
pie" Mr.. Cornell exclaimed. 'Ill tell
You what think Charleth."
'Whct is that, fathcr?" Charles
asked.
why, think that thuch advocaths
ath Thi Anderthon it'll pothitiye him
dranthe TO the peopleth cauthe. Thuch
fellowth ath him doth the moth good
by keeping their mouth thut Don't
you think tho, Charleth?"
'Nes | do" the son answered, posi-
lively. ut would have been much bet
ter for the settlers in this instance if 81
Anderson had kept his mouth shut.
The agent told me after the meeting
last night that he had about arranged
to offer the settlers very fair terms, but
that Anderson got to clustering around
town yesterday, threatening repudia-
ton and all kinds of things, and one Of
the mortgage holders hagpo4iss - be
in town and hearing She thrststs or
dered that no compromise be offered.
"'If we make terms with the settlers,
now, after hearing the threats said
the capitalist to his agent, this fellow,
and others like him, will give out the
suppression everywhere that we were
F,-.oI 70 II ord no ro,coupApna will