Orangeburg news and times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877, 1877-06-30

his home Ada returned to it. There
had been between her and George
Aske II wcarisomc succession Of fierce
disputes, and at length, in n moment
intense passion, George had struck
his wife. Mrs. 1'hirske was dumb
before two such sorrows, and was
really i'll, and Stephen was danger
ously angry.
Askc suffered three days to pass
and then sent for Ada. Ada refused
to return, and Mrs. Thirskc supper
ted her i'll the refusal. in week
Askc's messages became SO insolcnt
that Stephen vas compelled to reply
to them, and the poor father, against
his sense of what was best Tor his
child and himself, WAS forced into
supporting the refractory wife. In
tolcrablc words passed between the
husband and father, and when they
next met they instantly gave each
other the Yorkshircman's warning
Il word and blow, and the Blow
first.
After that it vas open cnmity, and
Stcpcn was well aware that he was ill
armed to fight so rich and so bitter
an enemy. Askcs revenge was sub
tile one. He began within a week to
build OH the same stream az Stephens .
Il much lager mill. Stephen WINGED
at the coming competition but had
not at first any idea Of Aske's real
motive When the mill was finished
he 'loched' the st. cam, and thus, as
his mill stood higher up than Steph-
ems, deprived him ofthc water when
ever he felt disposed to do so.
lie had no right to do this or
course he had not. He knew that
very well, and quite anticipated the
lawsuit which would follow. But in
the meantime the Askc mill kept
Stephens virtually idle, Askc was
making money enough to dcfray the
expenses Of the weary lawsuit which
w'ts' iasf crippli;is Stephen inall&of
his resources.
Every one knew that Stephen was
right and ut first lie fouud many sup
portcrs. Bat twas Aske's policy to
wear out Thirskc and rs month after
month and year after year went on !,
and Stephen grew poorer and poorer,
and more desperate and unrcason-
able, even his friends gladly seized the
pretext Of his imprudcncc to desert
him.
At the end Of four years he was
ruined and the presence Of the man 5
wife who had ruined hi.n, in his house,
was no peculiar comfort. One night
Il strange longing for his son came
over him; lie was in so much trouble
that he could not put away his anx-
letics even TO soothe Lydia, and leav-
ing her and Ada To find what comfort
they could i'll each 9th cr, he went to
seek Mary Hutton.
She still livcdm a quiet street of
small lioiiscs i'll the lower part Of the
town, and when she answered his re-
quest to speak to her, he was not as
tonished at Antony's love. But it
angcrcd him nevertheless; and though
it was always hard for Stephen TO be
cross to beautiful woman he said,
sharply:
Where is my son, lass 2
IN New York, slr.'
What is he doing there 2
Making home for nc and my
father. sir
Write and bid him come to his own
father. You may tell him I'm ruin
cd mana ruined man, lass. You'll
make naught by marrying Antony
Thirske now, Mary
1 am very sorry for you, Mr.
Thirske. You may believe me or not;
and | will write and tell Antony what
you say
But before Antony could return,
things hud como to IL crisis with
Thirskc. lie had won his case-and
been ruined in tho winning Of it. He