Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-03-19

y
career anew. None of my old friends
were informed of my abode. 1t was my
purpose, for the present, to oblit.ratc all
traces of myself If, mayhap. those who
had opce known me one day found me
out, it should he when had made the
name Of Percy Randall famous.
| went into politics, cultivated stump
oratory, and was finally nominated for
Congress. 1t was OH the eve of the cleo
tion, and my chances of success were
excellent. had gone to the railway
station 10 meet friend who had been
canvassing part of the districtund who
was to meet me and report progress.
"Hello! Hogg!" exclaimed voice, rs
the train stopped, and the passengers
swnrmed out to make the best of fifteen
minutes allowed them for refreshments.
"Hogg, ! say!" repeated the voice, as
l turned my back to avoid recognition
by any one who knew NE by that odious
name.
A heavy slap OH tile shoulder left me
no alternative but to confront the voices
owner, who proved to be an old chum
whom [ had not seen since the day ON
which our venerable Alma Mater had
turned us out, with her blessing, a couple
ofjolly Bachelors of Arts.
"Hogg, | say"
What an embarrassing position! 1
could not return the salutation without
admitting either that 1 was now passing
under an assumed name, or that was,
for some reason, the possessor of an alias.
Most of those present knew mo, and cir
cumstance so suspicious would be sure,
at the present juncturc, to be used to my
disadvantage. had to decide quickly.
The best course l could think of was to
give my old friend the cut direct and
walk off rs though did lot know him.
Next morning n handful come OUT adj
dressed to "The independent voters Of
Slashcm."
"NIcn of Slashcm!' it began-",lo you
wish to be represented i'll the halls of
nation by IL coward?" Then followed
statement backed by Numerous affidavits,
to the effect that | had suffered myself to
be publicly insulted--in short, to be call
cd "hog" three several times-withou.
rcscnting it.
1t WAS regular frc-cating community.
The taintest suspicion that man wasn't
ready to fight TO the death on the least
provocation, at cncc lost him caste, char
acter, and influence. J. had no plausible
explanation to offer, and no time to offer
it had | one. l was overwhelmingly de-
tcated, and went to hide my disgrace
where trusted none would ever invade
my obscurity.
Not long after, an advertisement in
newspaper attracted my notice. 1t re-
qucstcd the surviving relatives Of Ezekiel
Hogg to report themselves to certain
legal gentleman, from whom they might
learn something to their advantage.
had paternl uncle named Ezekiel,
who had gone abroad many years ago,
and of whom the family had never since
heard. 1t might be that he had died
leaving handsome fortune; and that |
was the nearest heir. AT all event, the
thing was worth looking after. The fail.
ure of my recent plans had placed me in
such circumstances that lucky windfall
would prove most acceptable.
| scraped together money enough to
make the journey necessary to reach the
lawyers place Of residence. 1t was as /
had conjeclured. Ezekiel lIogg was my
uncle. He was dead, and had left AN
enormous fortune-I don't want to recol-
lect how much.
l explained my relationship to the
deceased.
you establish what you say" repli-
cd the lawyer, "you are his nearest heir
And of course, entitled TO his fortune
remarked.
"NIay l ask question:" inquired the
lawyer.
Certainly" answered