The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-05-16

WMHMMMNHVOS@SS ar tn -lhnI peIso son,
W60WW&S call call C Csrpet ~ on
Coke, because that was not his name,
was not a rich man as we reckon
riches nowadays. But in Virginia in
the old days he was regarded as very
comfortable. That is to say. he
owned one plantation near Richmond
whose lavish hospitality exceeded it's
productive capacity by several thou
sand dollars year, and two planta-
tons In Mississippi that were profit
able enough to make good the de-
ticiency, with ten or fifteen thousand
dollars year to spare.
Better still, his credit was undis-
puted, and to the Virgiuian of those
old days credit was vastly more i'm
portaut than cash. l shall never for
get how he made me ride forty miles
through cruel winter storm in order
to pay few hundreds of dollars to a
friend to whom he owed the sum.
The friend observed that as nothing
In the world could tempt him out in
such a storm TO use the money. he
could not see why Mr.. Coke had made
anybody face the bitter weather in
order to place it in his hands. But
when l repeated his remark Mr.. Coke
said: "Never in my life have failed
to pay a debt-big or little-on the
day that it was due. That is why my
credit is always good"
But he enjoyed another kind of
credit that was even better. He was
the best loved and most honered gen
tleman in all the country side-the
one man whose word was law to all
his neighbors
He had n friend whom [ will call
William B. Arkwright He was man
o. as good family" as any in Yir-
g1nla. But he was not prosperous
His planting was successful enough,
and he might have lived comfortably
upon its proceeds But he was Wis
ionary. He was given to projects,
each of which he expected to yield
him great fortune, but each of which
left him with n somewhat heavier
debt than before TO carry.
1t was in his enthusiasm for one of
these projects that Arkwright one day
asked Carleton Coke to help him to
funds by indorsing his note. The re
quest was declined on the ground
that the project was visionary and I'M
certain, and would probably have no
other result than that of plunging it's
author into new difficulties.
Three months later Carleton Coke
received notice from a bank in Rich
mond that note for $4,000, indorsed
~ himself, would fall due within a
few days.
He went to the bank and asked to
see the note. 1t had been executed
by William b. Arkwright. II bore
MIR. Coxe's Endorsement, forged by
its maker, unquestionably in full con
tidence that he would be able to meet
the obligation and thus wrong no one.
TWAS the old story of good intentions
thwarted
Without n word as TO the forgery
Carleton Coke took up the note, Civ
ing his own obligation in it's stead.
Meantime Arkwright went South upon
some plea Of business, and his family
heard no more OF him. Nevertheless
name that had always been held in
honor was saved from disgrace by the
act OF self-sacrifce. And the self.
sacrifice was the q eater because that
year Clubhouse fire had burned
Coxe's Mississippi cotton xcrop and
thus deprived him of his income.
Arkwright had disappeared, but no
shsaOw of scandal rested upon his
name TO grieve his wife and render
his children Outcasts by an inherit
aHce OF shame. The country South
was infested with bandits at that time.
nd the disappearance Of any man
Yelling there with a good horse was
difficult TO account for The
nor Of distinguished family was
we'd, and even TO his own wife the
an who had saved it at 30 dear a
rice breathed no word Of the hideous
nth.
a month or two later Mr.. Coke was
ummoned TO serve upon the grand
ury Of his county
Be went to court, for he never
ahirked and never equivocated and his
soul simply could not consent 10 a lie.
But he declined to serve upon the
grand jury. When questioned by the
Judge as to his excuse, he replied
u have none. ] simply decline t.
BeTve"
'But, Mr. Coke, there must be a
reason said the Judge
There ~. n is n reason touching
my honor, and / ana bound 10 indicate
1t 10 you. The oath Of a grand iuror
binds him 20 hiring before the grand
Jury any facts that be may know con.