davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The evening world., 1894-07-21
JENKlNS'S ATONEMENT.
The story Of Bribery Fund Which
Brought GRIEF and Happiness.

more unintelligible .scrawl than usual In
his notebook. And Mr.. jenkins sent a
bland smile broadcast, ,guckerins his
a fragile man, indeed. WAS Natson-well
nigh picked clean by the crows Of mis-
fortune. For years he had been wither-
Ing IN body and estate until people had
come to take IA certain pride IN his gen
eral mouldiness. just as they did In that
OF sundry antique houses with gable ENDS
to the. street But now, as he rested his
trembling hand On the Bible, II was ap.
parent that an energy more unnatural
than excitement was enthralling him;
The pensive. submissive expression had
passed from his face; In It's stead low
cred a stern. even desperate, determine
ton. unhseding the soothing preliminary
questions which the aetute Jenkins was
beginning to put, he swung mis- chair
leaned forward with outstretched hand,
Your Honor" Watson gaspcd, and
yet the ,furthest spectator could hear
wont to settle IN that old courtroom
through which agonized heart throbs
would NITRATE, Your Honor, you know
me, you knew my father before me-
that, lnough uniucky, | am an honest
man. That attorney there has tried to
bribe me-oh, but I'm ashamed to tel
such AN attempt He gave me 5000,
- him. II / would testify as he
wished. Here It isr' And he cast a
settled back CHASTITY of face, with lips
what ettorney?" demanded Mr. jus
tice Stanley, In voice like arhe's crack.
"Eliphalet jenkins, there A.
"Oh' p!sh: pshaw!" CALCULATED Mr..
Jenkins, rising deliberately. Come get
down, Watson: you've spoken your
piece. and | don't want you, It's quite
apparent Your Honor, that some one has
tarnpered with my witness. Those Ia
miiiar with the history Of this case can
readily surfhise. AS for this ridiculous
charge, / throw myself on the protection
of my character"
A disciple OF DGnton, doubtless, was
Counsellor Jenkins. and never was Dam
ton more out-Dantoned than In this as
You may step Gown, Mr.. Watson
Trembling and widening, the Witness
crept offN the stand, down the aisle and
out Of the room. Yet as he passed he
The evening world., 1894-07-21

met the jury with firm. candid gaze.
las for this extraordinary ACCUSE
tion," continued the Justice, II shall
refer It +" the pistrct.Att9rney. I'm
liver it to him. oincers, preserve order
or clear the courtroom. Now. then.
gentlemen. proceed at once with the case
The case was promptly brought to a
finish. and though Mr.. jenkins retained
his self-possession and TESTED and gibed
and stormsd with even abnormal vigor.
him. Perhaps they. believed the message
OF old Watson's glance: perhaps indig-
nation swayed them. for II is the readi-
est as y Is the most evanescent. of pas
SONS. II so, they were of mind with
the general public, for the whole town
resounded with the scandal. People
talked iiereely about the prevalence OF
nouncing Jenkins and his client and vot-
Ing confidence TO Watson.
ns newspapers ieemei with original
metaphors regarding the smirching of
fair fame. But Counsellor jenkins said
nothing except with that droll left eyelid,
and. as was his habit when rejecting,
and presented an Indictment against him
for bribery. but he still made converts
with his confidential III, sun cons led
himself with mellow piping. He well
knew that his resources would outiast
popular Juror
And 30 the result proved. When, after
repeated ad1ournments and infinite hear
ings and iDnumerible sendings back for
rehearinRs the case was finally brought
10 trial before Mr.. Justice Greeng9ods,
me entire matter was currently deemed
toke which somehow reflected credit
Cor wdness on the community Its
dtspos ttion Is too well known for eX-
tended description. The witnesses were
nippant. except poor old Watson. who
was confused; the counsel good humored
and chummy, the Judge Indifferent ex-
cept when expatiating on the many vir-
tues OF the accused. The Jury voted
Not guilty" without leaving their seats,
and then thronged around the defendant
each one enjoying In his handshake the
proudest moment or his life.
iOus. never more sinking. crept home to
die, 1t had Frustrated him TO be Judged
40 unworthy as TO accept a bribe. II now
crushed him to have his word publicly
ulscFedited ~ ome ae crept 10 die, de-
spite the tender binding OF mis- wounds
bv his wife. DESPITE the balmy tears of
his little daughter Lillian. u child too
young to understani, but quite old
enough to feel. a weak, .unlucky failure
OF a man. and hence, devotedly loved,
for the floodsates, OF true womanly af-
died, ana yet lived as many a successful!
man might crave In vain TO iiye-in gem
tie hears enshrined. by loyal memories
As Eiiphaiet Jenkins was passing
through the corridors OF the building
after his triumph. fulfilling that impu-
dence which creates an Observed OF all
ob3frvers' he met Judge stanley.
WELL Judge" he said, With unenti-
The evening world., 1894-07-21

gers, and that those strangers of all
people on earth should be the wife and
child of that old nun, Alexander Wat
which, through his failure and ruin, he
tad been able to ignore by virtue Of
s2if-rs;ccm preserved, nov by sur
Prise We're crushing him.
He hated the neat little room where
he lay: he hated the widow whose hands
and voice were sJIt, even " her face at
times grow stern, ana he hat,I the
her kindly attentions. HIS very .choler
made his dull'd senses acute, and often
when ne s'cr9.ad 10 sleep h" was watch
ing ara liStrnSrS Thus he got 10 know
the simple secrets " the housrholl-the
low, between Lillian Crd Herbert La
Grange, tn" weakness Of their poverty,
the strength of tr,li hope. one might
suppose that the Wow Of such AT idyl
might haS, Suiicuy4 hiS temper, ior
the toughest iclr.strinG VIII often
strike accord t. "Hrtmelihl drama.
bat in his prosperity his sympathies
contracted thcm Tar closer than lis
A. he lay helpless and wttherins, with
spread, one other problem besides his
mortality were they working out, and
that how to rcpaI Ibis cursed ,ohlisa-
counts were hllaurcd, his ral,.y ac,
counts in which base income had paid
for haspr appetitesi tie had nothing
but hr owed uuthinS. Had that stroke
given him a tN"-Winute respite OF life
arI rouICiousncss he would have died
proud AZ his record of independence
Ru' now two miserable paupsrs hnt re-
lipNed him, n" must die indebted to the
women whom Alexander Watson mad
left pcnniI'-s ON, Il WAS unbea BILE I,
what "A DunsuumRte U!d ass and dOlt
and fool that man had been TO cast
away such gpod money Tor an idiotic
sCrUpl". lie rad been out of his mind,
IT, indeed he ever had any. Why, with
that snug little patrimuuy, these two
marry and make each other mSGrs;,te
TO their hearts content. As II was.
there was 5000 us IL hidden away in a
hole, forgotten and useless. No one
claimed II; II belonged to no one. Oh!
but Was that true Did not he himself
among his papers have proof of the
title" Might he not assign this claim.
auI then die as he had lived, hehol9sn
TO no one: The skeleton fingers ceased
their picking, and painfully scrawled a
note
In response to this m!ssive. Judge
Stanley came, impelled by u sense of
duty.
I'm sorry TO see you in such distress,
Jenkins" he said. Il suppose You lack
You can attend to matter OF bust
ness for me on the usual business con-
ditions." repl;sd Jenkins. Il am not
4 stiff refusal strang to Judge STAN
ley's lips. The idea that he would touch
any Of the foul matters with which this
man had been busted! But, then. there
was q mute appeal on that wasted.
ghastlYSfaee; be could not dispute, he
The evening world., 1894-07-21

angel. but the sweetest fesh and blood
in the most tempting, fascinating proper
tons. She herself would have laughed
TO acorn any pretenssons 10 celestial
qualities, ana On, how merry was That
laugh! And oh! how JOYOUS t. was to be-
young and to love! Why should they not
wander through the sparkling fields while
the sun shnne? PERHAPS the hstan,
break, not gather! Surely Judge stan,
ley. his employer, sometimes praised
him, and always showed such an inter
est that the other young men called him
" the faNorite," ana unSrUdgiuslE ~.
too Come. now, how MARY forensic
h'robcs had risen from lusey wuolsuy 10
the ermine, Even the Judge hlmSr'!
had ploddcd t. town hsrrfoJt.yi boy,
and surely not the most fortunate one
Of them had struggled Tor such prize
The widow Watson and her daughter
Lillian lived in low. broad cottage On
the outskirts OF Aberdeen the sIle re-
naming piece OF what hal JuCe been Il
great family property. The house wts
comfortable and commensurate 10 their
simple needs. Ia the slopiug second
story were their sleeping apartments, on
the gIouni rpor wcro sitnnG-r"oHl, I'm
iug-room, Kitchen, Ard off ~ sitting
room guest chamber reminiscent oil
forme: station ani. OF course, never
used. one night quite late, th.s gentle.
patient pair were st'il busted with thor
sewing, when family from d,wn the
street they heard uneven steps ana
Sia tt0tS 81 TiuNaI| NHilSr ANNF h'N"
louder, AZ n the Waytaitr We're Hp.
pruavhing, and then abruptly ccasg !,
ard silence WAS MS profound As vas tIc
surrounding darkness, Af,cr ~, little
Mrs. Watson spoke - think hear a
cruan," she said " I'm sure do" RE-
pliea Lillian, and In TelIsn'&" siluces
ihey exchanged the thoughts that each
was too courageous to utter
Thon Lillian went into II" rear room
aud secured lantern ANA out into the
gloom they Crept Under tree nearby
when the feeble raFs from IN" lamp
touched II. II took on shape, yet grew
more h,Ieous. In that shape Lillian saw
stricken man. bleeding, insensi BILE
dreadful from sGUalur ana evacuation,
but Mrs. watson ognl2"d EllphaI"t
Jenkius, the man who had encompass" d
her husba nd's life,
"Oh, mamma" cried Lillian, such a
poor old man! He must have ial!tn aud
That streaming white hair reminds me
OF father"
Hush" warned her mother sterniy.
Don't say that, or ! may forget my
humanity Yes We must take him IN, ="
aud the two women bore this neighhor
NJ theirs into the house and laid him
in the chamber for so many years await
ing In vain its guest.
II took old Eliphalet jenkins many
shattered REASON into definite .concep-
lions as 20 HE Identity. his being. his
whereabouts,A When he did grasp the
situation he vsregarded utlsriy It's real
seriousness unayaidable and rapid
approach hath. He was mortified.
chagrinef pied. for the hrst time In
VIE. IL that hsrFA-uld be de-
The evening world., 1894-07-21

just as he obtained other business. for
the one and the other Were essentials Of
his existence. ie required adulation he
soon found there was a class eager to
yield ii. one bound to he "A king can
always have Kingdom II he will but
change his subjects. lie now stroled
through low streets ana cl tied in bar
rooms as proudly ~ he had paced the
avenues and had advised financial mag
mates. There was an abundance of bust
ness, oh YES. Get Lawyer Jeakins'
became the talisman FOR every rogue In
As the years rolird on the high places
that had known him knew him no more,
put ~ the police courts, in divorce cases.
IN AL those manifold shady proceedings
where dishonesty may an. and escape
ne sui preserved the supremacy Of lid
and lip. But for every tat Of change
thtie Is iit Of cost, From low assoc
hlso appct'tes that consumed II. The
cnnslImi ton. however In IT, turn
yi9Iueo recompcnsr 10y eras'np anv
rant trace OF sensihility and by snlarp
lng. his conccit He thus ever saw him
SIT aqroit, cunning, resIurCcful. the
nero Of scores OF LEGAL traditions and
hhily lhaLsurating others
AS lfc years rolled on ali how they
90 ron Tor one on the downward SLOPE,
anu hSW men progress sweeps such a
one one Along IifEen had thundcred by,
IN J. Ole more irresistible than its pre-
eStssof' since the day that Lawyer
Jenkihs had 50 arrogdntlv pool -roohed
pa Matson's accusation, and now he
himscif was moro tremulOuS. more
shak"il' more thoroughly picked by the
crows or misfortune than even that
l'oof wall mad been. \ wrctCh,i hanger
on about the lower courts he had be-
come, with his oiicc in his hat, and
pieadings dependent on stray scraps OF
memory ara paper. And yet his as
soIiates slapped him on the back AMI
called him Squire" and hoasted tina /
the old man always kept his end up"
so ne sun found cOnsOiinr pride in his
suihciency, brncing himself Ike a glaliu-
Tor about tu defer cNen scrfs had
their ignoble games though lap and Ia
Mere imputent TO his VIII
such ruin, then, had time wrought
ana with shameless Chis,l, Perhaps the
beauty OF other work preserved thr old
gods oquanimity. There was Lillian
touch had rounded her into model OF
loneliness. So young Herbert "a Grange
thought, for in her presence nature
seemed 10 be revealing the possibilities
or eternity She was so bcaut iful, She
was so good; he was almost AhnShed TO
recall the marvels OF her eye and check
when he remembered her pure. simple
life, her constant, unselish devotion TO
her mother. How could hr hope to OBJ
trude his personality ON such n noble
existence, and indeed what benefit
vocRs his passion prove? The Watsons
Srook,vn enough. surely barely able
iiary's Hospital 81 ,n ssppo'' win ''re-
Gle - cheap
boa "'gos
ana
despite
The evening world., 1894-07-21

One day in the ccatrai decade of this
cen NY there ,ccuvel il dramatic scene
in the county hail at Aberdeen. where MIR
Justice Stanley vas holding term of the
Circuit Court. The great =. and q.
Railroad Company was defending its
right or rong Of way. but at all events
It's way, along the river front against
claim of posse ssion on the part Of the
city E,ipha!et Jenkins, Esq, than
whom to Use the clumsy cncomium OF
fellow practitioners, no article was
slckcr," was resisting the Anarchis-
Tic attack instigated by irresponsible
ue'nagogueS,' as ne termed 1t, with all
MS sickness. \ tail and portly man
was this famous counsellor, with an ex-
pfesslye under lip and a more expressive
ieit eyelid. He said rany a sharp and
Willy thing; but his manner always con
hdeu something sharper and wittier to
both Bench and Bar. AS for the ground
Hi'sr' they alJred him as the type of
what they were able to produce. A self
sAushet man was this counsellor, as well
h' might he, for his practice was & mined
oNly by his veto. Had he regarded God
dc 'ne aI.hor of his being, he would have
"''n exemplary In piety, As, however,
=, ooistei that he was a self-made man.
"'' Worship, though heartfelt, never ap-
preached the infinite
ne city attorney had rested for the
p.aihuH. Mr.. Jenkins had opened for the
ue'ense, revealing as through parterre
VI howers the single point on which he
uepehdci That would be established by
VIC evidence of an unimpeachable wit
ness, and him he now called.
hhi,exander Watson" proclaimed Mr..
y, Jericho. a fragile, white-faced, nerv-
snS man skunk out of a remote corner
ersn Ssept up the aisle. The spectators
vigorously. The city attorney slappei
n as papers hercely and looked the powers
~ ,hs inaoisitlon. The clerk ceased from
n,tAng the arm OF his chair.
i'ustiee Stanley made q thicker,
The evening world., 1894-07-21

protectsd her humble servant sSS ' ia" mas
Yes" replied the Judge sternly, but
! think equity would have scourged
Equity" repeated the unabashed
lawyer. I'm the words Of one OF your
worthy predecessors, Who's equity?
And SO the great bribery case ended in
a laugh. The District Attorney wrote
up MS docket and closed tina. page with
ing had made him wondrous kind. The
5000 still remained in his hands s., 900
In crisp new bills, each one with skill
iul particuiarity described in the indict-
,nent! &,WO embodying the powers Of
health, happiness prosperity, l!fe and
death. actually begging for an owner,
Oid Watson had avowed that the sum
fairly forced into his hands. and that he
had taken the FIRST opportunity 10 rcpu-
date II. Counsellor Jenkins had sworn
smelt. tasted, nor touched the accursed
thing, and the sympathizins jury mad
believed him. What should the District
Attorney do with III Not, what could
other sigh-not Of relief--that learned
Official turned the money ovcr 10 the
county Treasurer, as a special deposit,
and there II remained until time once
laore brought its potentialitics into ser
vice
Notwithstanding what he was pleased
" 'IIf MS NlIuIrdtlCn, there was an
aftermath Of trouble 10 Eliphalet len
kins. The directors OF the Up. n -. Il.
r. Co" dismissed him from further
duty, IT. was not that he had been ne
cused, alone. although a truly practical
man never falls into the passive form
but he had lost his case. As the Presi-
dent very properly said: Jenkins must
he getting fat-witted not to know that
n sensitive old idiot Ike Watson
couldn't be- reasoned with" Then. too.
the board utterly repudiatc1 "A certain
. large item In his bill OF disbursements
and jenkins. from his naturally exag-
gerated view OF his own reputation.
couldn't quite see how he could enforce
bade him TO try. That self-cOnfidenCe
which assured self-advancement had
bred prided itself on continuous freedom
from obligation. What ne received he
earned: II he made a mistake, he would
stand the consequence; fRYors were sup
ports which he would always disdain.
Mr. Justice Stanley, too was out
spoken, and II the righteousness of his
words was lacking In strength, the in
fluence OF hts position made up Tor II,
And, although the populuce yielded IA
certain base glory, tn gradually worked
us own revenge. Cautious people. that
counsellor a shade ti5 sharp, a tribe too
clever 10 be alto sether safe. They
laughed at his wit md enjoyed the con-
fidences OF his I'D End lip. but they to2k
their cases elsewhe.e. In hduciary mat
tiers q shake OF the head will exceed the
resources OF commercial agencies.
Mr.. Jenkins retained his 1aunsy a.
surance. but he perceived his Respected
clients deserving him. He retainedT II
The evening world., 1894-07-21

authority of death
Vol we'll" he added. tell me what
you want "
DO YOU know IN whose house lief"
cert ainiy, in the Widow watson's. .
gonl-heGrted, charitable woman, too"
Watson. 30 you know, Judge, you were
right In what you said about equity. I
have never forgotten 1t. l did bride the
old driVrlier."
You did,
"pf course I did. II was our only
hope. and money was no object with me
then. Thc ~. Il O. would have al
lowed twice the amount for Incidental
expenses had won. But you can't buck
know"
Il trust YOU realize. MIR. Jenkins. the
gray consequences OF such an infamous
confession to me-
Grave nonsense, If | We're alive and
EicklnL. Instead OF nine-tenths corpse.
you could do nothing, as you very well
know. | was acquitted for bribery. ana
the time for indictment Tor perjury has
long since iapsed."
= will tell you. want YOU TO recover
that money for me. It's mine, l adj
vanred It,. Here Is proof of where l
DIV i; the number Of rthe bills. and
conceal his trail, but to remember every
winding
You must excuse me- began Judge
STANLEY.
Il want you to recover that money"
persisted Jenkins, "and hold il III trust
fur one Herbert La Grange, who is n
clerk in Your office. Invest II for him in
any way 80 that he may marry LILLIAN
Watson, the daughter OF that old block
head
HUM reflected Judge Stanley. 1.-THE
daughter of Alexander Watson. the man
Won wronged. Well, | believe it's the
thiug for you TO do. | consent. You
wish to make reparation. Wen, repent
aucc AT the last hour, il sincere, IL
eihcacious Remember the dying
INV good sir" said jenkins, with a
touch ~ old-time acumen entirely dis
tinct from didatic recreation, they
make a musiy mess. Ny motive Is sim
pie, | always pay my debts My career
These people have befrlended me, hence
they are entitled to quid pro quo. They
need never know whencet the money
comes. Indeed, such h course Is prudent.
for all mental disorders are strictly en-
tailed, you know. and the girl might re-
The Judge shook his head and sighed
and In silence took his departure. Then
followed the signing OF papers, re-
suit. EiiphRlet Jenkins gave his evf-
before a commissioner. The next MORN
ing he lay dead in his bed. and on his
face was smile OF peace.
After little Lillian and Herbert La
Grange were married. and the money
which for 50 many yearr had been dead
ened In powSr now became fScund Win
happkness Ptt1ahnrH 49, - 49,
The evening world., 1894-07-21
DRIVEN CRAZY BY HUNGER.
Mrs. Burns Mistook the Harper
Mansion for q Hotel.
Glcctully Hailed an Ambulance Ms
Her Carriage.

Mrs Delta Burns, forty-iive years old,
OF GiS Myrtle avene. brooklyn. was found
insane in Fifth avenue this morning, and
the police have every reason 10 believe
that the woman was driven crazy by
hunger.
Shortly after o'clock Policeman Will
lam Sellman, al Forty-sixth street aud
Fifth avenue. noticed a curious figure
standing by the iron fence near the
house of Joseph W. Harper. the pub
Usher. on the corner. AT first he
thought 1t WAS a Child. for the fence is
scarcely four feet hish. and the figure
did not reach the top of it: but on go
ing nearer. he saw that tho figure was
II little poorly dressed woman. As she
chung to tho fence the woman looked
wlstfully At the big windows OF the Har-
per mansion
What are you doing here?' asked
Sellman.
reply. ''Do YOU think I could get any
thing to cat in that big hotel?"
That's not a hotel, that's a private
| residence"
so il Is, so It Is" the little woman
murmured. Then she put one hand on
the policeman's arm, and with the other
pointed to the house.
"Do you know, Mr.. Police, live In
that house? It's my house. II l don't
get the work done. l can't have any
thing to eat"
Realizing that the woman was de-
mented, Sellnan started with her to the
station In East Fifty-third street. She
by the policeman's side save that now
and then she would stop before house
and say:
Now. you know, they might be able
to give us n chop In there"
Al the station she complained bit
terly of being hungry. Sergt Kane sue.
ceeied finally In getting her name and
address, then no sent to bellevue HOS
little woman taken TO the Insane pa
vilion. a., ,,,.
my carriage. at LAST 1oyfully eN-
claimed the woman when the ambu-
lance drove up.
The evening world., 1894-07-21

little SELF from soliciting advertising to
getting the Lyric Hall for nothing. Her
friends volunteered to sing, dance, whis-
tie, recite or plav for the Sick Babies
Fund, and the show was a good one.
in vaudeville and the character of their
entertainments:
James F. Kennedy comic songs; James
Bailey. song: George w johnson, Whis-
Ting; Constance Wallace, fancy dancer;
Ii =. Kahn, monOloSue; Annie Ed
wards, songs: Harry w. Thayer. funny
sayings; Miss McDermott, recitations:
Ar. Connolly. MIR. Lewis Miss Tames
Our Reach" Foreman ard West. sketch
team: Agnes Tsnes, recitation, and Lit
IL Lillian In her charming dances.
Alvin p. Seilhaner wrote the play for
the occasion. The flowers were donated
by f.. Schurnann, florist. 100 Ninth ave-