The Trials of the Soldier's Wife

  CHAPTER SIXTH

  The Spectator and Extortioner.

  Mr. Jacob Swartz was sitting in the back room of his store on Mainstreet counting a heap of gold and silver coins which lay on a tablebefore him. He was a small, thin-bodied man, with little gray eyes,light hair and aquiline nose. He was of that nationality generallyknown in this country as "Dutch;" but having been there for overtwenty years, he had become naturalized, and was now a citizen of thechivalrous States of Mississippi, a fact of which he prided himselfconsiderably.

  Mr. Swartz was busily engaged counting his money, when a little boy,who seemed, from a similarity of features, to be his son appeared atthe door, and mentioned that Mr. Elder desired to see him.

  "Vot can he vant?" said Mr. Swartz. Then as if recollecting, hecontinued: "I suppose it is apout that little shtore he vants to rentme. Tell him to come in."

  The boy withdrew, and a few seconds after a tall and scrupulouslydressed gentleman, with his coat buttoned up to the throat, andwearing a broad rimmed hat, entered the room. This was Mr. JamesElder, a citizen of Jackson, but not a native of the State. He camefrom Kentucky several years before, and was a man with "Southernprinciples." To do him justice, we will say that he was really truefriend to the South, which fact may have been not only from principle,but from his being a large slaveholder. He was also the possessor of aconsiderable amount of landed property and real estate, among whichwere several buildings in Jackson.. He was also looked upon by the_world_, as very charitable man, being always busy collecting moneyfrom the people in aid of some benevolent object, and occasionally hisname would appear in the newspapers, accompanied by a flatteringcompliment to his generosity, as the donor of a liberal amount ofmoney to some charitable institution or society. There were people,however, who said that the poor families, who hired a series oftenement buildings he possessed in the lower part of the city, werevery often hard pressed for their rent, and more than once turned outfor non-payment. These reports were considered as slanders, for beinga member, and one of the pillars of the Methodist Church, no one, fora moment, believed that he would be guilty of so unfeeling an action.

  On entering the room, Mr. James Elder made a stiff bow to Mr. Swartz,and declining the hand offered to him, as if it were contamination totouch the person of one of God's likeness, dusted a chair and sat downopposite his host.

  "Vell, Mr. Elder, have you decided whether I can get the shtore ornot? Tis place of mine is in very pad orter, and I tinks yours villshust suit me," began Mr. Swartz, after a silence of about threeminutes.

  "Yes, Mr. Swartz, I think you can have the place, if you and I cancome to terms about the price of the rent, which must be payablealways in advance," replied Mr. Elder.

  "I tont care," answered Mr. Swartz. "I would as soon pay you inadvance as not. But vot price to you charge?"

  "I charge fifty dollars per month," was the short answer.

  "Vell, dat vill do; and I suppose you vill give me the shtore for vonyear certain?"

  "I am not decided about that," replied Mr. Elder, "as I do not like tobind myself for any given time; for," he continued, "there is notelling what may be the worth of a store in six months."

  "I vould not take it unless I could get a lease by the year," repliedMr. Swartz; "for the fact is, I have made a large contract with thegovernment, and vill have to extend by pisness."

  Mr. Elder remained thoughtful for a few moments; then he replied: "Asyou wont take it unless I give a lease for twelve months, I will do soon one condition: that on your failure to pay the rent monthly inadvance, you forfeit the lease, and I am at liberty to demand yourremoval without any notice."

  "Shust as you like," he replied, "for I know te monish vill always peready in advance."

  "Well, I shall have the lease drawn out to-day and bring it to you tosign," said Mr. Elder, rising and putting on his gloves. "Goodmorning; be here at three o'clock, as I shall call round at thathour," and with those words he left the room, and the Dutchman resumedthe counting of his money.