The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1894-09-26


anigh a-countin' on Vile bein' so lib'l,
and hain't a idee he'd done 1t, exceptin'
Harnah have so struck him in'ards.
What do you think of 'em, Gustus2-
Wile's terms, I mean?"
"Think of 'em? Don't believe he is
in earnest in maxim em. Fly In the
thing, some'res, Uncle Lishy. Obleeged
to be-"
"No, Gustus, no, my son. He's dead
in yearnest; 80 Squire Watson say, and
you know man like Squire Watson
wouldn't let hisself be trifed with by
client in no sech way. No, sir, the
good luck Of tits, Vile have gone and
felled in love 18th Harnah, and he'll do
what he say and sign papers in the
present Of witnesses the very day and
hour she say the word"
"Uncle Lishy Flint, between me and
you, there's the slyest human or you
any one Of us ever laid eyes on, and,
he's the meanest. A man that'n SLAM
der young female like Wiley Amer
son slandered Hannah, and cut her and
her husband and her child out of what
he knows they're entitled to, and then
20 and offer to give to her what al
ready belongs to her by Godamighty's
good rights If she'll marry him and
not give it on no other terms as-well,
he's too mean, to my opinion, to say
how mean such a man is"
"Oh, come, come, Gustusl Don't be
too hard on poor widder-er of a feller
that have jes' drapped head and ears
in love where he can't get the purchase
to even kick hisself out. They amt,
betwixt you and me, they amt mare
doubt on my mind no more'n you but
what Vile Amerson would keep every
dollar O. that proptyexceptin' that he's
got stuck as he have with Harnah,
which is piece O. good luck I wern't
acexpectin' nor I wern't a-lookin out
for. And it do look like jedge-ment
on Vile that she have captuated him
as she have, and put him where he can
be made spill some of his meanness.
You're bachelor, Gustus, and, conse-
quent, you amt in conditions to under
stand how feller can git aggravated
in his mind by such female as Har-
nah, that to my opinion, old man If
be, she turn all of 'em down; but you
may pend on Vile a-meanin' what he
say, er he wouldn't darsn't be projeck-
in with Squire Watson In that kind O.
style--ah! hool This is monst'ous
good toddy. You may add thimble
or two more O. sperrits, and empty in
a trife more Of sugar and water. l
won't call 1t two drinks, 1t a-bein' my
rule, as you know, not to go over two
when come to town, and one of 'em
taken when come in first But it's q
dilicate business I've got on hand now,
promisin' Squire Watson I'd drap In
at Missis Elbows as went on back
and see how the land lay, and on sech
arrant man got to keep hisself
reasonable hot, well as cool. named
the thing to you for you to think on
it and let me know what you think OF
1t in business way, Gustus--in busi-
ness way"
II never-that is, don't often-give
my advice, Uncle Lishy, without it's
asked, and by them that's concerned.
Hannah'll decide for herself, possible
with you to help her. l suppose you'll
say take the offer"
II shall say to Harnah, Gustus, l
shall simple give it as my opinion to
her, that II it was me, and couldn't
git what think ought to have, and
couldn't git in no other way, and spe-
cial to the tune O. that pile o prop'ty,
I ruther think I should take the in
cumbernce and run the resk. For as
for the breakin' O. Pearce Amerson's
will, why, Squire Watson jes' laugh at
the idee, Gustus Rachels. And indeed
why, my dear friend, that ever senee
you was boy I've thought a heap of,
people must consider, and If they
don't, the jedge on the bench'll tell
'em, that mans will is his'n, and
arfter he's dead and gone it's the
onliest prop'ty he's got, and 1t won't
do to tromple on It,"
"Well, sir,lf was in Hannah's place,
I'd see Vile Amerson dead and gone
to the place he's bound for, before I'd
take such a offer. And, Uncle Lishy,
In my opinion they isn't twelve men In
this county that when they hear
what's-but that isn't here nor there,
yet awhile. He offering to buy his
brothers widow, and pay her off with
what he knows belongs to her! I've
got no more to say about It, Uncle
Lishy, and you sec I'm wanted to help
my clerk"
"That's 30. Well, good-by, Gustus." I"
"Good-by, Unole Lishy."
After he had gone, customer saids
"Gus, what have you and old man Flint
got on hand. that you talked 80 long
and seriousP"
"oh, q little something he had on his
mind he wanted to tell me. I had 10
break of from him"
"a body has that to do, when he's
got toddy inside and body's goS
something else to do besides listening
to him orate. But he's lrst-rate old
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