Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg Court House [S.C.]) 1877-1881, 1880-06-25
flNlI'ien for the Orangeburg TIMEs.l
~ By RUTH GOoDLEY.
CHAPTER v.

4 man of brilliant intellect. En-
dowcd with all the qualifications
which charactcrizcs an honorable
gentleman. Ele had the respect and
confidence of the community. He
had been successful in his PRACTICE.
and marrying an ,hciress, placed him
among the most wealthy in the city.
lie expected, IN q few years, to retire
to private life, and resign his prac
tlce to his Youngest son, Harry.
There were times, when his thoughts.
relaxed from business, would dwell
on other subjects, and his learned
bSQw would he clouucd, so slightly
perhaps, as 10 be perccptible onlyto
Il. close observer. What care can
this favored son Of fortune have?
lis home is luxurious, and his sons
are honorable and respected lie
has means to satisfy every wish of
BIS heart. If we follow him to his
palatial residence, whose thickly car
Petcd balls give no echo TO his foot
steps, and into the darkcned cham
Der where reclines his invalid wife,
we will understand, that, there are
fhree things, which gold cannot
ipurcnasc-lite, health and happiness.
\ Mrs. Courtland was a happy wife
Ind mother, until she lost her infant.
for whom she gricved. Her husband
thought, change of scene would be
beneficial, and preferred taking her
to the Ocean House, on Long Island
Sound, TO 4 more fashionable resort.
hey had one daughter remaining:
ia beautiful child Of three wears.
The nurse had tallcnitho little one
'ior her accustomed walk on the beach,
and while her attention was occu-
pied, in watching 4 passing steamer,
tire child disappeared. Her hat was
found floating Oh the water, but the
body was not recovered. From that
time, Mrs. Courtland's health dc.
zcllncl, until she became an invalid.
IN vain her husband cndeavored to
persuade her to Join their eldest son,
who was travelingin Europe. She
,sii-pult II not.coHsent to go on the water,
and had ncvc: been t., the sea shore,
siMcc her los.
Mr.. Cou";!,;:! | vas sitting in his,
Office, when " poorly dressed man,
apparently in the last stage uf con,
sumption, entered y servevo spell
OF coughing, prevented his speaking
for some minutes.
Take seat, said Mr. Courtland,
and rest awhile before telling me
your business.
Are you Mr.. Courtland?' asked
the man.
Yes, that is my name "
i wanted To see lawyer, and was
directed to this Office. l want to
make 4 confession to YOU. feel
that have but Il short time to live.
and may die before T get through,
50 will make it rs brief as possible.
| think it would be best to tell YOU
something Of my life, before l reveal
the act, for which this confession is
the only rcparation can make
i had been carefully reared. hut
after the death ofny parents, | chose
evil companions, and was lead from
one vice to another, until became as
deeply dyed in wickcdncs as they.
Our Club, as we styled ourselves ,
consisted of four men, whose object
was to rob aud plumber. We robbed
banks, stores, and private houses, and
did not coniinc our operations to one
place. We went from one city to
another, but our principalirendczvous
was in New York. After ~ robbery,
we would disprrsc for n time, each
going Il different route. On one oc-
casion, ! found my way To a town in
Delaware. My gentleinanly appear,
ancc, enabled me TO make acuuaint-
ances, and was received in the most
respectable families. attended the
services of the church, and assumed
the air of picty. There was IL wealthy
merchant in that town, who seemel
to be suspicious OF me He treated
me politely, but did1po extend the
cordial hospitality which received
from others, and to be rcvengcd on
him, ! wooed his daughter, and pre-,
vailed ON her to elopc with me. /
provided Tor her comfortably, far from.
her former home, and she became as
dear to me smy life Often when
would give her large sums Of money
she would tell me, she would rather
have less Of that, and more of my
society. She had no idea, now the
money was obtained, We engaged
IN daring robbery out West, and
when closely pursue', one ofthe men
tired his pistol, and policeman was
Killed Immediately after this, /
made arrangements to take my wife
from New London to Boston. I did