The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-26

eral years, 1 ulu not ann at nOiulnS OFFICES
myself; my energies were directed TO bring
ing honest aud efficient men before the
voters and to making tue voters realize the
necessity of eiecting honest and efficient
men. Cur national vice is an easy-golng,
cynical influence; we put up with abuses
until they became despotisnls; and though
we are apt to throw off the deSpotisms when
they become too open and outrageous, yet
the day may come when we shall encounter
some despot who will not be deposed. 1t
was not long before l came to the convlc-
ton that the most dangerous despotism we
would have to deal with would be that of
wealth. Our country offers facilities for
the amaSSlng of enormous fortunes i'll com
paratively short time; and there is no guard
ing against the contingency of this wealth
falling into ignorant or unpri cipled hands.
Everybody is i'll ,rsuit OF money, and the
man who gets the most will generally be
considered to be the ableSt man.
81 was approaching fopty years of age
when | met the woman who afterwards be
came my wife. Yes, Miss Give, | have
been married, though very few people are
aware of it. She was a beautiful < II then
-Suikingly so, and she was accomplished.
took 1t for granted that she was everything
else that was lovely in womanhoOd. As to
her origin, did not inquire closely into IT.;
it is not the custom in this country to wor-
ship ancestors | was satisfied in believing
that she loved me and that she was lovable.
We were engaged and after few months
clergyman pronounced the marriage service
over us.
"Our honeymoon lasted four weeks. The
day after we returned, as | was sitting in
my Office down town, a card was brought
in to me, and | was told that the person
whose name it bore was DESTROYS of seeing
me. gave orders that he be admitted He
came ina man of eight and twenty, hand
some, but with an air about him that | did
not like-a rascally air. His manner was
polished, however; he was well dressed and
seemed to be well educated | asked him
what he wanted.
He said, 4 must begin by telling you
that the name on that case is not my real
name 1t is one l have assumed, for good
and sufficient reasons. But do not wish
TO approach you under false cOlors.'
II answered that l did not perceive how
that concerned me.
HE said: 1T does concern you, though,
more than any one else. | shall tell you my
real name but it will depend upon you
whether any one else ever hears it
"'How does it concern mes" | asked. Il
never saw you before
"'Well he lid. You know a man does
not change his name for nothing. He has
some reason for it. Either the name is an
ugly or common one and does not please
his ear, or else he has done something to
bring it into bad odor, and changes it to es-
cape the consequences. The latter is my
case!n
4 ask you again, L said, how does that
concern meg If you are a rascal, as your
words seem to imply, it is my concern to
see that you leave this office and don't re-
turn to it; but l have nothing further TO do
with you.n
"'Yes, you have he said. And you will
not turn me out of this office
II began to think the man was crazy, or
that he had mistaken me for somebody
else. If | had been guilty of any rascality
in the past should have supposed that he
had become aware of it, ana meant to make
me pay for his knowledge. But my con-
cience was clear, and had no fear of him
or of any man. | decided to let him speak.
Say what you have to say | told him,
and then go.
care we where no one can hear usF' he
asked. I make the inquiry in your inter
est quite as much as in mine
II told him that he must be under no ap-
prehension Of eavesdroppers.
"'Then here it Is said he. Il was ar
rested three years ago for certain crime.
needn't tell you what the crime was, for
my real name will probably be sufficient to
recall the crime to your memory Here he
told me his real name, and did recognize
it as that of the perpetrator of dastardly
roguery that had created sensation at the
time. Il was tried and convicted, he went
on: and | may tel you in confidence that
the jury was quite right; | was guilty. The
Judge very properly sentenced me to fifteen
years Imprisonment with hard labor. 1t
was not too severe a sentence
And this was only three years ago. l
said.
"'Only three years ago. he answered;
and here | am again, as right as trivetp
"'Have you broken jaip
"'No; and | haven't been pardoned out,
either. | am out on better grounds than
either of those. My lawyers discovered
a flaw in the trial, and got me out
on the technicality. | am just as free and
and as safe as if | had lived virtuous all my
days
" For the last time, 1 said, what do you
wanll
"'Well, he said, ten thousand dollars
will be enough for to-day; but l warn you
that shall n ed some more at the end of
the month.
"'You are welceme to S1O,0OO, said, if
you can getit. But meanwhile get out of
this room
eff leave this ROOM he said, it will be
to call on the lady VINO calls herself Mrs.
Weymouth. l am confident she will refuse
me nothing.
"'Beware how you speak the name of my
wife again. 1 said or l viii throw you
through that window.
"'Your wife said he. Nonsense, my
good fellow | married the woman myself
five years ago; we have never been divorced,
and her little escapade with you does not
alter her legal relation to me-.