Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07

J him. He had money, owned slaves.
house was among the hills of Tenness
glare of red brick when the sun struck squarely up
The land had been cleared and the house built i
early days by a man who proved ancestry by
Britts, an active young fellow with a smart knac
making money, had set up small establishment, a
the door of which hung a sign announcing the sd
general merchandise. After a time he spread a 7
gage piece of land, took a negro in payment
note past due, and thus became landed proprietor
a slave owner Gradually he branched out into
business, and by the time he was thirty-fve 9
cred Clint, the name Of the brick house.
The former owner, old man chichester, hot
away from the place, swearing out the echo of a {
heart. He was led to a cabin on the hillside,
one window, through which he blinked at the
when it was, like himself sinking Britts Gale
him. "Show the ruffan in" the old man said
BrittS entered. chichester was lying on LOT
He turned his heavy eyes toward the visitor. ''
sir, have you fastened your clutch upon this hovel
have you come to drive me out?"
"No, sir, I've come to see if l can be of any
service to you.
"Egad, you can"
"MuCh obliged. Tell me in what way"
"You can be of great service to me- You
can get out of my sight and never come into
tia gain, That's the only request I've got to
make Of you"
Britts tried to smile, an unsightly attempt at
pleasantly on his part-a red cash. "Man has
a right to buy property, Mr. chichester"
LOUISE" said the old man, speaking to
his granddaughter, eff my instructions have
been followed there's an old horse pistol in the
drawer of that bureau. Please hand it to me-"
Brtts duCked his head out of the low door
and was gone. But he returned the next day.
though not to enter the cabin. He watched
his chance and beCkoned to the girl to come
out to the fence. She obeyed, frowning.
"What do you want with me? ''she inquired
Il want to help you"
but you can't. Don't you know we couldn't
accept anything from you? 1t is bad enough to
be ignorant, but to be vulgar and brutal"
she broke down.
"N1iss Louise, you are abusing me, believe,
but anything you say sounds sweet; and I
would stand here forever just to hear you talk
Don't 90; wait Just a minute" She turned
about and looked at him.
Il am not as bad a man as they make out"
he said, Il come in here to make living and
because l am sharp enough to make more than
living they don't like it. They commenced to
scrap with me as soon as | got here, and [ out
sCrapped them. That's all there is to it. | let
your granddaddy have money when he was hard
pressed; nobody else would let him have any He
swore he would be my friend for life if I'd accom-
modate him. did, and, as is always the case, he
mates me- QlQnt push MIN; L let MN alone
found that he couldn't pay me, and then the
took its course. His notes are long overdue.
exactly what anybody else in this neighbour
would have done - what your grandaddy did
self once with poor fellow that lives up the Ct
So | hope you ="
"But what have 1 to do with it, sir? I know
that | have been turned out of my home"
He moved up closer to the fence. "NIiss Louise
have stepped out of your home but you may step
again. Be my wife and l will make it over to Y
The look she gave him was more like blow TIL
look, for he threw up his arm and staggered b
GLOW did you do that?" he asked, gazing at
ut seemed as though somebody was throwing
into my eyes with looking glass. But why can't
do as | say? I'm not a smart man perhaps, ex
when it comes to = to making money, and they t
boys all round here that's the right sort of smart
I'll move the old man back and give him the best r
in the house, and you have got any poor kin folks
take care of them - and with it all, | love YOU
a minute. And it isn't for me to love but once
are the only human that ever made me forget
money looks, and the only one that can. And I s.
the truth when l say that I'd rather be a niger
belong to you than to be the richest man in the CO
without Vol owe has GONE Drettv far with a