The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-11-07

fully 70
$50 youare u westcrner, arc your" he
asked.
70 II was. but expect to DO a Southern
er now" said the young man. frankly,
"Aly mother LEFT this country nearly
thirty years ago, but have often heard
her describe her old homo. When |
made my pile concluded TO come down
here and look around: md II I liked tho
place, to stay permanently"
The cashiers face cleared Instantly,
'Goodl" lie exclaimed, you can't
help liking such grand country. All
II Lacks Is money aud energy. But what
part OF iheWeat are you frOm?"
"l.cRlvlllc, Col"
"Ah, begin to suspect Il. You have
been connected With tho house OF Wal
lrun & Co., and CalLu In to sec II the
check reached ltaf destination oil right.
lie came from behind the counter and
took the young mans hand warmly. II
am right glad to see you, sub. Yo'
house never sent out u better check than
that In all It's life. Miss Willie has paid
on n mortgage on her piantatln, ana
IL making wonderful improvements, sub
wonderfully. And do you know" lower
Ing his voice, III II had not been for that
check, 0chally believe she'd been
forced 10 go OF and look for work.
aclally forced. subj"
Indeed! That would have been too
bad" said the young man; but"
There's no butts now" Interrupted the
cashier, chcerfully. "IIer futures as
clear M June sky. II I'd received the
check myself ] wouldn't been hRlt ns
much pleased. Miss whites fine girl
"A gem In land that Is full OF Jewels,
You must excuse my enthusiasm. subj"
RpOlogctlcllly. but In sort OF wayyo
hOucs seems TO have had u hand In the
good fortune Hut come into my private
room and Wen talk over the country
You're to 10 one OF us now, and maybe
| can give you some points on buying
place. And I'll tell you about Miss
Willie and her plans" Here Il new
thought seemed TO strike him. How'd
you like TO 80 out and see hcr yo'SelfY'
lie asked abruptly. I'VE close early,
She'll be glad 10 See any one from Wal
drun 4 Co"
Nothing would please mo better"
VERY well. YOu'll take dinner with me
and IL I can be OF any assistance In yo'
plans do not hesitate TO use me. Now,
there's the Calhoun plantation. Joins
Miss Willie. aud Just now can BIO had for
q song. And, really, its thebrst thing you
can do IN the whole country. But you
haven't told me yo' name yet, sub"
"Smith-er Cali me Hamilton Smith"
- good name. suh-a good name. We
have Smiths in every county In the
South: but | tell them II good thing can
not be 10 common. Ny mother was u
Smith" C.
lie led the way into his private room.
and motloned the young man to nm easy
chair By an open window. Then he set
tied himself In an easy chair and gave a
glowing picture OF the Calhoun planta-
lion.
The young man said little. but on his
face was an expression of mingled
amusement and indecIslon. And this
amused indeclSIon remained with him.
and even appeared In his voice. until
they went out TO the Ctlhoun plantation
But when they returned late In the
evening. It had wholly disappeared.
Miss Willie Is an exceptionally fine
girl" he said. with suppressed enthusi-
assn, land II ! am not mistaken. the
community will yet be proud OF het
plantation. She seems 10 have the faculty
OF knowing just what she wants and
and just how 10 20 about doing II. |
could not have planned the improve
ments better myself. Miss Willie toldme
she wanted 10 plant trees along her
bank OF the river, which runs between
the two plantations, and chat II would
be nice II the owner OF the other side
could be induced 10 do the same. Are
you sure the place can be bought?" alb
ruptly.
The Calhoun place? Certainly. and
for I song"
well, I want. It. suppose It's too
late TO get It Tonight" regrctfully. but
II youth arrange for It's purchase early
in the morning. so that the papers can
be made out before noon. I'll be Infinite
~ obliged. And I'll make II worth your
while"
But you haven't seen the place yet?"
eXpostulated the cashier, in amnZement.
Yes l hnve-HcroSS the river, you
know. Besides, I'm willing to take your
word for 1t. IL you can hive everything
settled before noon, will go over AFTER
dinner and talk with Miss Willie about
the shade trees. And. do you know"
with an lmntIon. I've been thinking
that those bluffs above the live oak
grove will be fine place TO throw Il
bridge across the river. | wonder X
Miss Willie will like the idea"
The next day the good people off Tai
bottom We're stirred 10 unwontcd excite
inent by the news that an energetic
Strunger had bought the old Judge Cal
houn plantation. and that unlimited In
provements were contemplated. And
even while the report was being circu-
lated from mouth to mouth, II was tJl-
lowed by rumor5 OF lavish contracts
and engagements made with the towns
people OF the town. Decidedly the stran-
ger was no ordinary man.
And pvII.Otly WillI,. thOuYht 40. too.
for she would flash covert. inquirlng
Elanccs at him from under her long.
dark cyelnShes, and sometimes would
listen with almost batca breath, Won
dcring what daring scheme would be
proposed next. He was so different
from any man she had ever mct-sG en-
erEetlc and impulslvc and chivalrous.
She could not help liking him, and she
could not withstand his impctuosity
any more than the reeds OF the river
bod could withstand the current In
sprlngtimr. She offered objections 10
the building OF the bridge, and he over
ruled them In u single impetuous speech.
She did not like the idea of his ASSUME
Ing all tile expense OF improving the
river, but did not dare cXpostulatc for
fear OF the quZ2ICal look which she
knew would come into his merry eyes.
Inside OF month she began TO feel that
he was az much at home on her planta
ton as he was on his own, but she could
see no way 10 prevent IT,
And, indeed, she did not want TO. In
the fall their engagement was definitely
announced. and all 'rnlhOtton ERid It was
the most suitable match Of the year.
\ few weeks before the marriage he
carefully ovcrhaulcd his papers. There
were many letters addressed simply 10
Willie Smith; some were 10 Willie II.
Smith, and n few TO William Hamilton
Smith. All OF them were destroyed.
''lt isn't VOL 10 keen DnUerg" he So