The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-26

let fred from fiintlock musket in the
hands OF an Indian 180 years ago. The
bullet was meant for the stout heart OF
Mistress Nancy Billop, who, with her
two sons, was defending the house
against a raid OF the savages during the
absence of her husband on trading trip
TO the coast. For the house, as well as
probably, not very different from what
they do now. You may be glad TO know
that the Indians were beaten off, after
three Of them had been shot dead while
unsuccess.ully trying TO set the building
on fire; and the valiant little garrison
was relieved betimes next morning.
mention this episode merely TO give you
an idea what sort of stuff these Billops
had In them. Be we democratic as we
may, we cannot help liking our friends
the better for descending from stock like
that.
Let us now make skip of a cent ury
and half or so, during which the Bill
lops generations succeeded one anot her
in steady, honorable, but somewhat un-
eventful career of posperity raising crops,
breeding cattle, senoing representative
to the wars, when there were any, and
voting for that form of government
which stands for liberty, security, and
minding your own business.
The original Billop was pioneer in that
region, and owned everything in sight
from his windows. When, in course Of
time, other settlers came along, he had
treated them Hospitality, and bid them
help themselves to anything they wanted
in the way OF farms, up to within ra-
dius of mile from his doorstep. The
land within that radius got to be known
as Billop's farm; and il contained the
finest land-upland pasture, forest, and
meadow-to be found in the neighbor-
hood. Early In the century about half
of this farm was sold TO a man by the
name OF Corvin. We have business with
some of his posterlty in the present mar
rative.
The house which Corvin built stood
half way between the old Biliop home
stead and the village of Fenbrook (which
had been in gradual course OF materiali-
cation since before the Revolutionary
war. Corvin was lawyer. He brought
money with him, and made more. He
was pushing, shrewd man, and before
his death had served term In the State
legislature His son adopted the profess
sion OF law also, but dId not make out
30 well with II. He seemed to lack the
gift OF success. Being, upon time, in
straits, he got a considerable loan Of
money. Now, no details as to this loan
were known, but 1t was the general i'm
preston that II came from Matthew Bill
lop, the then head of the Billop clan,
with whom Corvin was understood TO be
on rather intimate terms. What security
did Corvin give for il? What was there
for him 20 give, except a mortgage on his
landf Ii was not known what use he
made of the loan; but there were indica-
tions that he never paid interest on it.
fore, when II would be foreclosed. For
Matthew Billop was not the sort OF man to
give up his just dues tc anybody.
This Matthew is known in local history
as Miser Billop. He was the last male OF
his race, and perhaps the ablest of any
of them. For reasons best known to
himself, be never married. He had two
si sters, one of whom, Sally, married
John Linton, and died year after, fol-
lowed several years later by her husband; I;
the other, Nancy, remained an old maid,
and kept house for Matthew. We shall
have the pleasure of her nearer acquaint-
ance shortly. ! will only observe here
that she was In love, in her salad DAYS
with certain good-looking, easy-going
young fellow Dy the name OF Brent.
Brent, being more good-looking than
otherwise good, Tilted her, and married
her bosom friend, Mary Selwin. The pair
went TO New Orleans, had a daughter,
and then both died OF yellow fever. Nancy
might have said ''Serve 'em rightp' hut
she did not. not being that sort OF a
woman. But she had the little girl
brought mp north, and took care of her,
and made her q daughter OF her own. Be-
trayed by both her lover and her friend,
she loved their little Nellie all the more
tenderly for their sakes.
This transaction took place about 1870
Now Sally, before her death, had pre-
sented ber husband with a son, Thomas;
and this Thomas became an orphan at
almost the date OF the New Orleans trag-
edy. Thomas was eight or nine years
Nellie's senior. IL win not surprise any
one to learn that Nancy adopted him
also; being her own nephew, and desti-
tute, she could hardly do less. Thus, al
though an old maid, she was provided.
ut the age of(say) FIVE and thirty, with
son ana a daughter, whom she cherished
and indulged as only an old maid
mother can. But how did Miser Matthew
like these proceedings?
Why. nobody knows for Miser Matthew
had died the year before the proceedings
took place. when ] say that he died,
however, I speak hastily. should have
6aid, be disappeared. As he never reap.
pesrsd, and sent no messages, it was