He, it was, whom Squire Edwards approached with
vehement protestations. He might well be somewhat agitated, for being
the only merchant in town, the proposed measure was little more than a
personal discrimination against his profits, which, it must be
admitted, had been of late years pretty liberal, thanks to a dearth of
money that had made it necessary for farmers to barter produce for
tools and supplies, at rates virtually at the merchant's discretion.
If the storekeeper had been compelled to trade at the committee's
prices for awhile, it would perhaps have been little more than a rough
sort of justice; but he did not take that view. It is said that all is
fair in love and war, and this was the manner in which Perez proceeded
selfishly to avail himself of the Squire's emergency. He listened to
his protestations with a sympathetic rather than a hopeful air,
admitting that he himself would be inclined to oppose the new policy,
but remarking that the farmers and some of the committee were so set
on it that he doubted his ability to balk them. He finally remarked,
however, he might possibly do something, if Edwards, himself, would
meantime take a course calculated to placate the insurgents and disarm
their resentment.
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