The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1900-02-24

| could see at glance that he was IN an eX-
traordinary fine humor.
81 am certainly glad" Judge Gary was
saying, that we have succeeded in wrestling
that fine old place from the grasp of those
shiftless, downstream Jessups it was really
duty we owed society in general to de.
eide against them!'
Dam'me, sab! you hand on that" en.r-
getically from the colonel. can" you
may be sho', sab, if see him loalin' round
Lissy any mo- III kick him off SOL" and
the iyrascible colonel administered q sharp
rap on the judges august shin.
Softly, softly, colonel" cried that gen
tleman, rubbing his bruised member
''don't do anything to arouse the young
lady's angerI am afraid have already
offended her in some way"
"Hang it, no, sab. She's Jest like all
girls-devilish skittish when a mans
round. She sho'ly ought to respect gen
tleman that has saved piece Of property
like that for her ole dad, an don't think
she cares picayune! Anyhow, she's yours
by tomorrow evenin' as soon as that place
is pintedly in my possession" and Colonel
Jessup, waving tiresome discussion, lean
ed back with closed eyes enjoying his new
found property.
The judge also INDUCED in pleasant med
itations, occasionally taking sip from the
glass at his side as he unused upon Lissy's
tempting red lips and glowing eyes,
''Evenin', cunnel, evenin', judge
Both men started from their reveries and
looking saw Amariah standing before them.
The colonels face was purple with anger
and establishment while sardonic grin
sped across the lawyers thin features
"Well, 'Riah, is yo biz-ness pressing ?"
asked the colonel sarcastically As he
Strengthened his rotund figure, Amariah
looked from one to the unsympathetc face
and his own flushed painfully
"My biz-ness is mo- private than pressin, )
cunnel," he answered with dignity after
pause.
"Well, you couldn't be mo- private than
with me an ledge Gary"
my biz-ness have nothin' to do with
Judge Gary t's-about-Lissy !" he
ierked forth with so visible an effort that
great drops OF perspiration stood out on his
forehead which he wiped away with large
plaid handk erchief.
"Oh, as to that-if it's bout Lissy"
chuckled the colonel, with a knowing wink
at the Judge "Jedge Gary has a half in
terest there, too !; mind, jedge, I've only
said half to-day"
Amariah's limbs were stiff and tired, but
he would not sit down unlimited, and now
an angry CLEAN shot from his dark eyes.
81 see you air very sho' of my gran
fathers place. cunnel, an much Joy may
you have-for whatever is come by honestly
is boun' to be enjoyed"
"flumph - growled the colonel "who
told you to come here with your impudent,
KNOWN talk ~
"Avery Solon," giggled the Judge
The young man felt that he was not
pushing his suit with policy, but his blood
was decidedly up.
You may sneer, jedge, an you, cunnel
may laugh, hut as sho as thar's God in
heaven that plantation is mine an hut
for kinks an law terms, that us folks can't
uuderstan' thar wouldn't a. been any suit
tween my father an you As for Lissy-I
love her, an she-she keers for me ; but SO
long as have only a POI shelter SIGH as
mine to offer her, | amt fit to kiss the
groun' she walks on God will help me
through feel tan | warn YOU the
Jessup plantation III never be yours -
"What y yelled the colonel, sprlnging
from his chair and glaring suspiciously at
the two men.
"What l tell you, you lyin raskill,
that I'm as sartin of that plantation as |
am of the-the-the iedge's honesty" lay.
ing heavy hand threateningly on the
judges shoulder.
| "An' to show you how sartin | am, |
promise you that if tomorrow evenin that
plantation amt in my possession you can
have Lissy an'-an'-half my place to
boot.
SOFTLY, colonel expostulated the
judge.
''Yes, | mean it, cried the excited col
onel you know, jedge, put my trust
on you no halfway measures suit me, an
you see am mighty sho' of you, cause |
never break my word
well, have yo word, cunnel," said
Amariah, calmly, IAN the jedge is my
witness" Then before either could speak
he had vanished among the trees.
The moon was at its full when Amariah
shut and fastened the door Of his little
room in the old stable, and SO bright and
soft was the light she gave that he smoth-
cred the feeble flame of his candle till it
fickered and went out ; then cropping
around on his knees he found plank, very
loose at one end, and running his hand
along the edge drew out small, leathern
bag and empted its contents on the floor
gold eagles and handful of silver the
savings of his life. 1t had seemed a great