Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-08-18
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER AN.
p lFTER supper that evening the
IAI Bishops sat out OH the veran-
Es.Z da to get the cool air before
N&J retiring. There was only one
light burning in the house, and that
was the little smoky lamp in the kitch-
en-. where the cook was washing the
dishes. Bishop sat near his wife, his
coat of and vest unbuttoned, his chair
tilted back against the weatherboard-
ing. Abner Daniel, who had been try
ing ever since supper to cheer them up
In regard to their financial misfortune,
sat smoking in his favorite chair near
the banisters, on top Of which he now
and then placed his stockinged feet.
"You needn't talk that away, Broth
er Ab," sighed Mrs. Bishop. "Yo're
Jest doin' it out o. goodness O. heart.
We might as we'll face the truth.
We've got to step down from the posi-
ton we now hold, an present way o
livin'. An thar's Adele. Pore child!
She said in 'er last letter that she'd
cry 'er eyes out. She was bent on
comm home, but 'er Uncle William
won't let 'er. He said she'd not do any
good"
can she wouldn't" put in Bishop
grufay. "'The sight O. you an Alan be-
fore me all the time is enough to show
me what a fool I've been."
"You are both crossin' bridges fore
you git to 'em," said Abner. "a lots o
folks has come out'n scrapes wuss'n
what you are in. ten to one. amt
never mentioned it, but my. land hain't
got no mortgage on 1t. an could raise
q few scads to hep keep up yore in
trust an taxes till you could see yore
way ahead"
"Huhw snorted his brother-1n-law.
"Do you reckon I'd let as old man
as you are, an no blood kin, stake his
little all to help me out Of hole that
is gittin' deeper an wider all the time
a hole l deliberately got myself into?
Well. not much"
II wouldn't listen to that nuther,"
declared Mrs Bishop. 'but not many
men WOulQ Ouer IT,
They heard horse trotting down
the road, and all bent their heads to
listen. "It's Alan" said Abner. 81 was
thinkin' it was time he was showin'
up"
Mrs. Bishop rose wearily to order the
cook to get his supper ready, and re-
turned to the veranda just as Alan was
coming from the stable. He sat down
on the steps. lashing the legs Of his
dusty trousers with his riding whip.
1t was plain that The had something
of importance to say. and they all
waited in impatient silence.
Father" he said, 1--WE had talk
with Rayburn Miller about your land.
He and l have lately been working on
q little idea Of mine. You know there
are people who will lend money on real
estate. How would 1t suit you to bor-
row $4,000 on that land. giving that
alone as security"
There was a startled silence. and
Bishop broke 1t in a tone Of great irri.
tation.
do you take me fer plumb fool?"
be asked. when l want you an Mil
Ter to dabble In my business. III call
on you. Twenty-Five thousand. | say!
If l could exchange every acre Of 1t
fer enough to lift the mortgage on this
farm an keep roof over our heads.
I'd do it gladly. Pshaw"
There was another silence. and then
Alan began to explain.
While he talked Mrs. Bishop sat like
q figure cut from stone. and Bishop
leaned forward. his elbows on his
knees. his big face in his hands. 1t
was as If tornado Of hope had blown
over him. shaking him through and
through.
You been doin' this to hep me out"
he gasped. IAN | never so much as
axed yore opinion one way or another"
I'D rather see you make money out
of that purchase than anything in the
world" said his SON. witt feeling