The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-12-21
ACROSS THE BOUNDARY
A Christmas Story.
ClI IhITER

thirly vearS ago was Il period MANY of us
did not live in; but our parents were AS.
soclated with its current events. and in
whatever The dear old father, whose chsii
IN The corner is vacant forevermore-in
whatever they felt an interest, we should
be interested also.
In 1880, and for years before, there
ived on Iclfair street, Augusta, two
ol"cEs or more east of the Medical Col.
ieege, family named (for the purpose OF
inns story Latimer, consisting of a
widowed lady and an only child, a boy,
VINO WAS twenty years old in the wear
named. Berett of q fathers guardian
ship at the age of ten, he had been sub.
lected, except when under surveillance OF
instructors, during school terms, to only
such restrictions as doting mother i'm.
posed. Up TO his seventeenth year, in.
deed, his conduct required no repruof
lie was studious aud admirably behaved
~ school, obedient to his mothers every
~'sh and fond of his home. Remarkably
hands"me, well-formed, intelligent, and
oi preposscsslng manners, he bade fair
10 grow to manhood an honor to his
mothers training and an ornament to
society.
His aiiec:ionate attentions TO his moth
er "as subject of admiring comment
No persuasion from friends could induce
him to remain f,om home at evening
when abe was there alone. Many look
of admiration greeted there entrance in
church, every Sabbath-the gentle moth.
cr leaning upon the arm OF her manly
son. And if her love assumed a species
of idolatry-if her eyes at times involun.
tarily turned from the figure in the PM.
pit TO the graceful one opposite her a.
the voice Of the former spoke of heaven.
ly plessings-wbo that knows the depth
OF mothers devotion could condemn the
emotion
But as Frank Latimer crossed the i'm.
pcrcePtible boundary. which lies between
the esta,es Of childhood and manhood.
with the forming of new association, he
was introduced 10 pleasures which were
soon occupying his evenings at the cx-
pense "t his mothers being alone Be-
lleving him TO be in innocent companion.
ship, she was happy even in her isolation,
III tie contemplation Of his enjoyment
with his young friends. As, however, the
boundary was left further behind him,
her tender devotion in his dependent
years of childhood grew dim in his mem.
ory. and her Christian precepts we've un-
needed when intcmperance beckoned him
to join its ranks and participate in it's
reve.rles. And now when the anxious
mother, on his return home past mid.
night. places her arms about his neck,
and Pleadingly demonstrates with him
against his thus forsaking her, his breath
Is hot and his tongue thick from drink
ing, and he answers with harsh words,
demanding to be ''let alone"-walks
from her with unsteady steps TO his room,
to sink into drunken sleep. ., that
boundary line! how different this from
the afiectionate good-nighls said in all
the innocent years before he crossed il. =
while the mother with streaming eyes
sinks upon the floor in lamentations over
her distigured and dethroned idol.
We hasten 10 the conclusion of this
painful part of our story. 1t is reached
Oh Christmas Eve of 1850, after a year of
unblushing dissipation on the part of the
son, during which he had squandered
very nearly the last dollar OF the now
broken hearted mother. In wild de-
bauch, late in the night, Frank Lalimer's
hands were dyed in The blood Of one of
his companions in the orgies, and on
Christmas morning news was carried TO
the mother that In company with disso.
lutte character he mad fled the State.
Upon her recovery from prolonged
illness, which followed upon the terrible
news, the mother disposed Of the little
effects remaining to her, and, without
telling any one her intended destination,
left the scenes OF her great snrrow, never
to revisit them. She evidently suffered
keen modification, for she would receive
&c callers, 30. even friends ~hoa. she
had been intimate with for yeap. Only
once did she leave home, which was 20
attend church the Sabbath before che
went away. She sat where she was &C.
customed to in the happier time, beyond
the boundary between his boyhood and
her Affections, and ever and anon she was
| observed to turn her eyes wistfully to the
unoccupied seat which formerly was his,
when low moan would escape her.
Two years later it was currently report.
ed in Augusta, on what authority is not
known, that Mrs. Latimer was desd and
| 30 two letters to her address five years
later were unclaimed, and to one OF ip-
quiry concerning her, from some unknown
party writing from Western town to Que
Of her former neighbors, answer was
made that she was dead murdered by
the Conduct of her own son. Tho man
Frank Latimer had almoat cut to pieces,
lived, and in time recovered.
CHAPTER II.
The river cities of Memphis, Yicksbure,
Nalchez, and Others on the lower Missis.
sipr;, were in their earlier history resorts
iur abandoned classes of gamblers,
thieves and cut throats, who piled their
! nefarious ventures with an impunity
which, under the more rigid surveillance
Of law Of this day, would be impossible.
Nine years subsequent to that which
furnished the incidents Of the preceding
chapter, there was in the frst named city
q professional gambler, who, though still
young, was notable character on the
river. He was known in all the towns
for hundreds Of miles up and down, and
on the boats, and even among the worst
desperudOes, who were not unfrequentiy
his associates, there was not one but held
him j: degree of respectful fear. When
yet younger he had led a reckless life on
the river, carrying his life in his hands
the widest rOisterer in the mad reyel, the
Hotspur in any embroilment--ever ready
alike for frolic or fight. His devil.may-
care courage had proven superior tn such
tests rs had gained for him q repute for
utter contempt of danger which no cne
who had heard of him would have, will.
iDgly, undertaken 10 impeach. But after
q few years OF this career, in the space of
a night, his life underwent marked
transformation, changing the reveler into
a nisanthrOpe. The cause Of the
change no one knew, and his taciturnity
forbade any inquiry of him. From that