Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1883-05-19
PENRHYN'S WARD.

81 don't want 20 seem impertinent,
old fellow, but / should really like to
know how you happened to do it? 1
should, by Jovel"
"Got married, you meanT
"Why, yes; you were old enough"
"To know better, eh?" interrupted
Larry Penryhn, knocking the ashes
off his cigar.
Precisely" answered his friend;
"and you see, nobody expected it of
you, because you were always so GER
tain of remaining a bachelor, and
gave everybody your word for it."
when 1 said should die
bachelor, l did not think would live
to be married." quoted Penrhyn, yet
with reflected cast in his eye to
satisfy one that something more
rational was to be expected.
1t was cool night, and there was
confidence burning in the Goals upon
the hearth, and the two men sitting
beside it, with the tobacco between
them, were old cronies. Time and cir
cumstances had drifted in between
them, but for this one night, at least,
they were together again, and sat talk
ing as women are said to talk to each
other of the hidden life, but as only
men can, because of common morals,
common manners and common follies.
Il really could not help it, Tom,"
said Penrhyn, looking hard into the
lire. ut really seemed the only thing
to do at the time r
1t was rather a strange reason to
give for so grave an event, but looking
into the calm, strong face Of the man
taking into consideration the mass
i've, Intellectual brow, the firm, yet
tender mouth, one might know that it
could be nothing less than worthy a
true and honorable gentleman, how
ever anomalous in form.
You want to know all about itr'
at last, he said, with a laugh, and
blowing up a fog of blue smoke
around him he settled deeper in his
armchair as if the story were not
short one. "Well, to begin with. my
wife is the daughter of Halstead Scot,
whom you doubtless remember"
Now, indeed, did blank surprise sit
upon the countenance of Penrhyn's
friend, who did remember Halstead
Scot, whose stupendous rascality and
breach of trust had convulsed a city,
and of whose miserable self-murder
he world yet talked about.
81 do not wonder that you are sur
prised that | should have married the
laughter of such a man, especially as
that man was not supposed to have a
laughter up to the hour Of his death
but hear the story, and reserve your
Judgment until you get the case.
About six months previous to Scots
suicide, when his irregular practice
was only being limited at, softly, among
the knowing ones, he came TO my Office
me day and wanted me to join him in
Tie prosecution of some cotton claims
against the government.
Il thought it rather queer that
nan in his position should approach
ne-scarcely a full-nedged barrister-
with propositions Of such magnif-
cence, but, more out of curiosity than
my actual idea of taking hold of the
matter, I asked for time to look into
he case.
The papers were old, yellow, appa-
'ently without flaw, and involving
millions of dollars, yet l concluded that,
n Justice to my own clients, l could
not undertake to work in the case.
The next thing that came was Scots
'uicide, and the papers rang with his
attempted fraud, his forgery and the
Complaints of the people whose moneys
te had held in trust and speculated
away. At this point I'M the unhappy
nan's history, my real connection with
iim began. The morning following
Ills death there came to me, through
he mails, letter reading something
3. this wise:
"'LARRY PENRHYN-I believe you
o be an honest man. / therefore give
he inclosed papers into your keeping,
ceiling sure that the secret they con-
ain will be safe with you. and that
you will protect from all painful
knowledge the being whose life they
% vitally concern.
'(Signed), HALsrEAD Scot.
Now comes the most singular part
# the story. The papers inclosed were
certificate of marriage between Hal
,tead Scot and Gabrielle Wyndham
government bonds to the amount Of
thirty thousand dollars, registered in
Inc name Of Gabrielle Scot, and the
necessary directions for finding that
persOn.
1.-TWO days later there came to me
mother letter, written in cramped