Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1897-12-02

! father who had plowed through
poverty and obscurity and dreadful
hardships TO a fortune for nothing.
That fortune intact he had foolishly
left to his foolish widow. She was a
''character"-a term which means one
of two things, either that woman has
none of any sort or that she has too
much of an Objectionable description.
This particular woman belonged TO the
latter class.
well, I tell you, Dolly, do get low
in spirits. You see, my prospects aren't
good"
Jack took her hand and caressed it,
smiling that hopeless, bitter smile that
means so little and looks so much on the
face of boy of 90.
THE name of Stuart" he went on,
cant carry chap through life; it can't
make him rich or famous; it can't give
him the girl he wants, and he's not 60
ing to steal her when she's rich girl
that would look like highway robbery,
grand larceny or something of the sort.
Of course that's what your mother
would say"
oh. mamma"
"And it's what the rest OF the world
would say, too. Here l have been on
government salary of less than 500 a
month for two years. came here and
found lots of old friends and went into
society. I tell you I'm sick of it. It's
q sawdust life-this thing of fellows
taking room and living on sandwiches
Mt afternoon teas and counting on the
dinners he's asked TO for his square
meals. l wanted to stop, and then l
met you and couldn't; and here am,
worse off than ever. If l go away, L
will lose you; if I stay here and try to
study profession, it will take years
and years, and 1 couldn't ask you to
wait for me-"
She patted his hand tenderly. ooh,
Jack" she said, sit would be dreadful
for you to go-awful for you to leave
me with mamma and the count; think
of i'll Why, it would be brutal" Tears
welled in her eyes. Il could be true; L
wouldn't forget, and would be brave;
but think OF mamma and the count"
Yes" said Jack, touching the soft
love locks about her forehead; but
think of the hole I'm in. You see, that
plantation OF mine"
oh, Jack, do you own plantation?
Why, of course you do; all southerners
have plantations"
Yes, and mine is the worst Of the lot,
and that's saying great deal. ! never
told you about it because l get hot.
Whenever l think of it want to fight.
I want to fight woman, and that's I'M
gallant"
The scarlet mounted to his brow and
and his voice was low and tense with
hatred.
"Wen, 1 will tell you," he went on.
''It's a fine Virginia plantation and it's
all have in the world. twas my moth
er's property, and when she died my
father married again-an old maid, his
housekeeper-and when he died my
stepmother, being u shrewd woman and
as mean as the mischief, employed
some tricky lawyers, who got her a
widows dover out Of the rent of my
mothers plantation-a widows dover
Of $4,000 year out of my mother'sprop-
erty. That's all the income the planta-
ton affords. You wouldn't think I'd
stay there and work it, would you?"
81 should think not"
cts my property, and every cent of
the income goes to that old harpy."
"But, dear, she will die some day"
"Die!" with bitter incredulity.
"Never! Never! The llnotty variety of
parasites like mistletoe live forever"
"And so you have nothing-absolute-
ly nothing-out of what is rightfully
yours through your mother? Shame
full! Shameful" said the girl.
''I'm big coward to tell you all this, y
he went on, "but felt so down in my
luck that 1 had to talk. Now, might
have made money out of the plantation
if 1 had staid and worked it instead of
leaving it to tenants. 1 might have
made five hundred, perhaps thousand
dollars extra for myself out Of it, but
I couldn't do it, Dolly; 1 just couldn't
stay there and clothe and feed that old
woman with my own hands. She lives
in the house, and-oh, we'll"
eyes, dear, have mamma"
eyes, but your mother is-excuse me,
Dolly, but your mother is fat-plump, [
mean to say-and portly women must
be more endurable than thin ones with
claws and beaks."
jack"
'eYes."
I'm thinking of that plantation.
I'm so glad you've got it."
"Well, I'm not"
"Oh, but you viii be. You see I didn't
know you had property, and that was
making it hard for me. 1 thought of
that collection of old family miniatures
of yours. you showed me, and l thought
that might do"
DO? Do for what?' he calculated.
"Neyer mind. 1t really wouldn't any
way. What l want you to me now
is mortgage auuine mortgage for
$1,000 on that yira44ia property"