The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-09-26

| Il VI IN, olA lIOlllilS ago. bul lllul 3 uOln-
Ing new for me-"
Lawrence still stood motionless. He
seemed paralyZed with horror.
but ye haven't much to say to me-
Larry; perhaps ye'll have more when
ye learn what I've come for"
II cannot hope it is for any honest
reason, Miles Callan; | haNs known
only evil from your hands In the past"
And now yc'rc going to return good
! for 1t, according to the way Of the
righteous, and Ill see to 1t that we do"
Lawrence did not hear the sneer
| His thoughts were far away in Ireland
1t was moonlit summer night and
| four young men were returning to their
miserable home from meeting Of
| striking linen workers. AS they pass
ed through the deserted village streets
the eldest Of them, who had been in
Weighing loudly against the landlords
and all who owned property, stopped
and whispered something about linen
merchant whose store he pointed out.
The older lads were inflamed by pas
| sion and drink, and Lawrence, the
youngest, who had had his share of
| the liquor, went with the rest. Only
half comprchcnding what was intend
| ed, he did as the leader bade and
| stationed himself at the door to watch
while the others went In through a
rear window. The merchant happen
| ed to be sleeping in his shop that night.
| He gave an alarm and the housebreak-
ers were caught. Larry pleaded guilty
and was sentenced to three months In
| Jail. 1t was this disgrace which drove
him In shame and horror from his
| native land.
Miles Callan, the leader of that shah
| by little band of culprits, sat before
| him.
Had yc only robbed bank, now,
O'lIara, or made way wild big trust
funds it would have fine sound and
might be overlooked, but linen dra-
| per's till-'Larry the Till Tapper'-
'twould look ill in the country papers,
wouldn't it, iad?"
Hush, oh. hush" groaned Lawrence,
looking toward the door
AYE, I've heard of her, too, and tits
not likely yell have told her OF 1t nor
that yell be doing it soon"
lie held out grimy piece Of paper.
| There's an attested copy of an en-
try in the Jail warden's book at Cross
molina: Lawrence O'Hara, larceny; en-
tered June 13, discharged Sept 13,
1885, Its price Is $500. Take 1t if ye
wish. If not, yer opponent will be
glad to buy it,"
There was one swift passing mo-
ment Of temptation. Lawrence had not
an enemy in the town or district, but
he knew too well the cruel emergencies
which politics give rise to. His oppo-
| nent could not afford to ignore that pa
per. 1t would give him the election.
| Then he spoke. miles Callan, had you
come here as an old acquaintance In
need for all the debt Of bitterness I
| owe you I'd have helped you gladly.
But when you come ayowing black
mail not one cent Will you wiring from
me-"
From afar came family the sound Of
a strange commlngling of shouting
singing, the beating Of drums and the
footing of horns. An hour ago 1t would
have been the sweetest music In the
ears Of O'Hara. Now 1t sounded his
| doom.
Miles Callan sat watching Lawrence,
a malignant grin upon his face.
do you hear that" said the younger
man. THAT Is my friends coming to
rejoice with me. Now see, Miles Cal
Ian, what man dare do. I've lived
this thing down once. Please God I'll
DO 1t againw
Going to the door, he called, "Helenl"
When she came, he put his arm about
her. Dear" he said gently, "a great
trouble has come upon me. Are you
strong to help me bear It? Look at
that man. Do you remember my child
| Ing you tonight, Helen, for proclaiming
our happlness2 Oh. girl, how true 1t Is
that the consequences of a sin can new
| er be foreseen and that they may pur-
sue us to the grave! l made a misstep
once, Helen. 1t was In the faroff days
in the old country, and, though l
| thought l had atoned by years Of bit
| ter suffering, my sin has come home to
me In the hour Of my triumph, borne
by the very hand which led me into
temptation"
The sound Of the trumpets and the
shouting were louder now. The ad-
vance guard was already In front of
| s'Ao houoC' AASichb " uO Ilbu llSIeucu
with face growing paler, now threw
ber arms around her husbands neck.
Lawrence, Lawrence" she cried,
"you know / trust in you and believe
In you with all my soul. Who dares
say that my noble husband has ever
done an ignoble tbingW
| "He himself; 1t Is he who dares, not
that wretch there" cried the young
man exultingly. Girl, will never go
to Washington, but ye'll have no cause
to blush for me this night" In his ex-
citemcnt his tongue proclaimed in rich
er accent the land of his birth. Listen
while 1 tell them, and ye shall know
everything"
Hundreds OF voices were now shout
Ing his name I'm front OF the house.
Unclasping his wife's arms from his
neck Lawrence leaped upon the bal
cony. "My friends" he cried, but he
got no further. His appearance was
greeted with prolonged cheering.
Helen, half faintlng, leaned heavily
upon the table and now looked with
dilated eyes upon the dark, heavy fig.
ure In the corner.
Callan had risen from his chair and