The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-27
THE AMERICAN CLAIMANT.
BY MARK TWAIN.
WRITTEN ESPECIALLY FOR TIE HELENA INDEPENDENT.

more OF them omit the names; they make
one feel 10 uncomfortable"
"Vsfy we'll. then. AS I said. this one waa
not = %favorite in the family, and 10 he was
neglected in every way, never sent ia
school, always allowed to associate with the
worst and coarssst characters. and 70 OF
course he has grown up = rude, vulgar, ig-
norhnt, disaipated ~ruf1ian, and
Her It's no such thing! You ought Ia
be more generous than 50 make such
statement as hat about a. poor young
stranger Internationally, he In the very op
posite of that! He 10 considerato, courts-
GUS, obliRinR, modest. gentle. refined. oul'
tiyatsd-oh, for shsme!a how can you say
auch things about him?"
Il don't blame you, Sally-indeed
haven't a word Of blame for you for boina
blinded by your affection--bllndsd to thes.
minor defects which are 50 manifest te
Others who
minor d~efsots2 Do you call these minor
dsfscts2 What are murder and arson,
prayY"
straight off, and Of course estimates Of
such things vary with environment. With
US, out our wav. they would not necessarily
attract as much attention ~ with you, yot
they are often regarded with disapproval-'
Murder and arson are regarded with dis
]approval?'
with disapproval! Who are those puri-
tans you are talking about? But wait
how did you come to know SO much about
this family? Who're did you get all this
hearsay evidsnceY'
"Sally, it isn't hearsay evidence. That ia
the serious part Of it. / knew that family
personally"
This was a surprise. ts
You? You actually know them?"
knew Zylo, az We used to call him, and
knew his father, DIR. Snodgrass. I didn't
know your wi Snodgrass, but have had
glinpses of him from time to time. and !
heard about him all the tins. He.was the
common talk, you ass, on account OF hiss
"On account of his not being a house
burner or an assassin, I suppose. That
would have made him commonplace.
Whsrs did you know these psople?"
In Cherokee strip"
"Oh, how prepostsrous!'
"Thsro are not enough people in Chero.
kee strip to give anybody a reputation. good
or bad. There isn't . quorum. Why the
whole population consists Of . couple OF
wagon loads of horse thieves"
Hawkins answered plAcidly-
sour friend was one Of those wagon
loads"
sally's eyes burned and her breath came
thick and fast. but she kept 4 fairly good
advantage OF her tongue. The atatesna an
rat still and waited for developments. He
was content with his work. It was az hand
some a piece of diplomatio art as he had
evo1 turned. mt % thought; and now, 4lst
the girl make her vi CHOICE. He Judged
doubt Of it, in fact; but anyway, let the
choice be made, dnd he was ready to ratify
it and offer no further hindranoe. :
Meanwhile Sally had thought her case
out and made up her mind. To the majors
disappointment the verdict was against
him. Sally said:
HE has no friend but me and I will no
dessrt him now. ] will not marry him il
his moral character is bad; but If he can
prove that it isn't / willard he shall have
the chance. To me he seems utterly good
and dear. | have never seen anything about
him that looked otherwise except, of
course, his calling himself an earl'a son.
harm whom you get to the bottom of it. ]
do net believe he il Any such person as you
have painted him.. I want to see him. !
want you to find him and send him 10 mo,
I will implore him to be honest with ms
and tell me the whole truth and not be
afraid"
Very we'll; if that is your decision I will
do it. But. sally. you know he's poor.
and
oh, I don't care anything about that.
That's neither here nor there. Wall you
bring him to me?''
"Fll do it. When?"
"Oh, dear. it's getting toward dark now,
40 you'll have to put it off until morning.
But you'll find him in the morning, won't
you? Promise
I'll have him here by daylight
"Oh. now you're your own old self again
and lovelier thar evsr!"
81 couldn't ask fairer than that, Good
by, dear"
Sally unused n moment alone, then said
earnestly, Il love him in spite OF his
name!" and went about her affairs with a
light heart.