Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-05-30

than increased evaporation OF the
public mind by the way he meant to
discuss his conduct in the courthouse.
II he did not contest it would evince
fear, or ct least a sense ef weakness.
Then it would be well to make the
issue as distinct and Is hostile as pos
sible, so that people would thinl. and
talk about it freely. Already he had
alluded to the will several times on the
streets, in the hearing of town and
county people, and been pleased at the
sight OF their Indignation. He was not
a lawyer of distinguished ability, but
he was studious, courageous, vigilant
and entirely honorable. Cullen. be-
cause of his affection for Wiley's wife,
had resolved TO make no public move
ment durir G the remainder of her life,
which he foresaw must be brief. His
lawyer, when not occupied with the af-
fairs of other clients, went upon what
deer-shooters call still-hunts, wherein,
without the sound of halloo and hound,
quarries may sometimes be stolen
upon. Cullen's death intensified his
interest in the case. He did not ask of
himself all the reasons One day,
thinking what sort of man Gus Rach-
els was, he went into the Big Indian. I"
The owner being alone, he said to him:
"Gus, I'm sure you pitied Cullen
Amerson in being put out in the cold
by his father, and that you sympathize
with the widow and child. n occurred
to me that occasionally, between
cups, as they say, you might hear
things that it would be worth while to
make note of. If you do"
"Mr. Dabney," with cold, quick in
corruption, he answered, "I don't
think it's my business to try and pump
people that takes drinks at my coun-
ter. I rather feel like it's my duty to
try and protect 'em ag'in' bein' hauled
up for what they thoughtless might
say when taking of my drinks. Yit,
IL anything happen that / can help
Hannah. that her mother is my own
dear cousin, in way that's perfect
fair and honor'ble, I'll let you know.
I'm jest as sorry for Hannah as / can
be, and my opinion of Wiley Amerson
is that he's the crowdinest man on
them that'll let him they is in the
whole of Bald'in county. If anything
happen to Hannahs advantage in a
way that's fair and honor'ble, I'll let
you know about it. But my advice to
you would be to study up Owen Car
ruthers, that know more of Wiley Am
erson's business than any other man,
either in the town or in the county.
Little account if Owen be in genu,
he's one not to talk ag'in' anybody,
special them as has been good to him,
and he have to be squeezed like body
have to squeeze a red grasshopper to
get the molasses out Of him. Yit. when
he answers at all, he answers the
truth, nigh as he can come at it."
"Thank you, Gus; although / didn't
come in for that purpose, believe I'll
take julep."
Don't you take it without you feel
like 1t, Mr.. Dabney."
"Why, of course feel like L or
Wouldn't have asked for 1t. What do
you mean?"
Nothing, Mr.. Dabney, exceptin' Of
/ don't want to be paid for what little
help can be to Hannah"
Come, now, Gus, don't misunder-
stand me. Don't make the julep II you
think I'm trying to buy you. Really, ]
don't care for it; but, as happened to
be In here, thought I'd take II. I've
got enough confidence In you to be-
iieve that II would take nothing be-
yond your sense of right to make you
willing to help anybody that you be-
hepe to have been wronged."
ST beg your pardon, Mr.. Dabney."
Then, taking especial pains, he made
up as nice thing of that sort as a
man ever drank in that or any other
county.
On Tuesday of the following week.
in the Southern Recorder, Milledge-
Vile weekly newspaper, appeared ap-
plications by Hannah Amerson for
letters of guardianship of her son
Pearce, and for similar of administra-
tion de bonis non las such matters are
STYLED in the law on the estate of
Pearce Amerson, lately deceased. When
these were noticed by Wiley Amerson,
he smiled with some scorn. After read
ing them again and again, he blamed
himself for not sooner going 10 Han
nah. This he would have done but for
supposing she preferred he should keep
away until after a decent interval. In
his calculations about her, marriage
had been given not much thought,
mostly because he did not regard 1t as
necessary, and partly because of the
encumbrance of her child, who some
day would become a man. Not doubt
ing that she would marry him on the
asking, he regarded this movement as
an indication of fretfulness at hE de-
Law, and q threat that unless he mar
ried her he might expect troublesome
litigation. Therefore he decided to
call upon her and see what was to be
seen. The next week, his wife having
been dead something over four months,
under pretense of some business at the
further place, on his return he came
to the gate, alighted. fastened his
horse to one of the trees, and went
into the house. Hannah, noting as
he passed, had prepared herself for
the visit which she was sure he would
pay Never had she looked more lovely.
Her widows garb, with the tasteful
white cap and cape worn by married
women of the period, set off her COM
plexion and figure to excellent ad-
vantage. A sudden suspicion, raised
hg her manner, that she whom he