The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-08-19


morning hath made it more bitter
than my heart we'll knows how to
bear" And she hung her pale face to hide
her tears.
"Jane!" exclaimed her husband sternly,
"there is ma need for thee to put III. Ut
Shaw is here to give US some news; we can
await his leisure. Keep thy tongue quiet
It's sign of a light head to fret over the
past. Whom to upbraid we know; but LIT.
Shaw bath no hand in our grief"
Madam" said the doctor, haughtlly, not
to be Modified by the deacon's admission-for
the manner was offensive, though the WORDS
were. kindly-"between you and me there
should be silence in the matter of reproach.
If you have to mourn oyer a daughters de,
ceit. have to lament sons folly. AND
there stop; for the world shall judge VINO
is the. greater sufferer.
Neither husband nor wife answered hin.
aMr. Strangfeld," he continued, turning
quickly upon the deacon, with the sudden
contrite air of a man who feels that he Is
wasting valuable time, II have left my
home early this morning expressly to bring
you two items of news. one of which should
properly be delivered by me only. First,
as to my son's disappearance:
aThere came :. man to my house late last
night to inquire after me. He was man
belonging to the preventive service, ana ne
said, being at an ale house in the town not
two hours before, there were persons there
talking over the disappearance of DR.. Shaws
son, and likewise the impreSsment OF three
men out of Greystone on that night or there
about,, as it is concluded, Of my sons going.
Now, it is very exactly known that three
men were impressed; for no other man Is
missing, unless it be my son. This coast
guard sat considering what he had heard,
and, taking particular note OF the conJectures
concerning my son thrown out by the gosslps,
he came round to my house fiaving finished
bis glass, and being off duty for the night
and asked me if it were truo that had son
who was missing. replied that 1 had, and
wondered he should not know it, for l con-
ceived it was every mans talk in this district.
However, was sure the matter was nows to
him.
"Now, he said that, having learned that
only three men were kidnapped, and being
satisfied upon this point from what tho fel-
lows in the room told him, his reason for
calling upon me was to state that on that
night. when the press gang was ashore, ne
was on duty with another man at the Eut
that stands to the south, upon the Cliff near
nv house, and at the head Of the pass that
leads to the sands. 1t was windy night, ne
said, and his mate had gone half mile
along the cliff to look at that curve OF sand
where some smuggling was done last Christ
mas, as you may remember, sir: There was
moonlight abroad, and, riding clear of the
breakers, though nightly tossed by the IN
shore seas, was q man-of-war's boat, which
my man, about whom 1 am telling yeu,
knew to belong to a brig Of war that had
that morning dropped anchor off the town.
"Now, while he stood in the shelter of his
hut, he saw q crowd of the boats crew conf
ing along through the dust, and among them
walked three prisoners, and on the shoulders
OF two of them q fourth man was borne,
bound like the others, but plainly insensible.
The preventive man stood FORTH and some OF
the men-of-war's men called n greeting to
him as they pdssed Indeed, he was as near
to them as yonder window is to me- and
could not, therefore, mistake what he BE-
held. Most sclemnly does he swear that the-e
were four mon pinioned, and not three, as
tho towns gossip would show, and that of
these four, who were clearly kidnapped men,
as he might Judge, one was carried, and
though confusion Of shadow was cast upon
them all by tho hurTying of clouds over the
moon, and the unequal and swerving steps of
the men, yet is he positiye that the carried
man was young, and such description does
he give mo of him as leaves ME In no doubt
that the figure on the mems shoulders was
my son."
He told the story in an equable voice, and
on pausing extracted pinch OF snuif from
his box; but the quiver of his nostrlls pro
claimed hard struggle with emotion, and
it was easy to see that his application to bis
snuff box was stratagem to drop his eyes,
and an excuse to hold his peace for
moment.
Mrs Strangfeld was about to speak; but,
with an imperious gesture Of the hand, her
husband silenced her.
"This coastguard's tale seems likely one,
sir, and makes the riddle Of your sons disap-
pearance easy" he said, with his hard eyes
axed upon the DOCTOR ut is O pity there Is
but one witness"
"But one witness may rescue man from
damning dishonor, though there be no other
evidence to prove his aspersers liars" ex-
claimed the DOCTOR lifting his head with
flashing glance.
MIR. Strangfeld met his gaze with faint
contemptuous smile.
"These coastguards," lie said, "hke other
men of their condition, are fond of glass,
and the hope Of earning shilling will make
them smart at inventions. One may be sure
the man did not leave the school house un-
rewarded"
The skin about the doctors eyes tightened
and an expression of unspeakable contempt
settled down upon his face.
aThis is not the first time, Mr.. Strangfield,
that have experienced your qualifications
to render yourself offensive Aman so skep-
teal should surely possess Judgment above
ali chance of laundering"
Or Shaw, I am a plain man, with little
knowledge Of fine words. Your tale may be
truly believed by you, but it doth not satisfy
me- Your son has acted the part of vii
lain, sir, and nothing that does not prove
linn villain in every step Of the vile wrong
ne has done ne and mine will credit. Tell
mo rather that, having betrayed my child,
he has mcanly fed to escape my vengeance,
1N-ipr his