Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-03-24
CHAPTER XII.

MR.. MATTHEWS CALLS FOR HIS PHYSICIAN.
Vaudeville had the usual contingent
Of charitable and uncharitable people,
of reticent thinkers and people given
to speaking their minds plainly In sea-
son and out. In short, humanity was
mixed there as elsewhere.
DR.. Govan had to rebuke old Mr..
Langdon, the druggist, quite sharply
more than once for asking him, How
comes it Horace Matthews has got
rich practicing law in Melton county,
where no other man has ever been able
to more'n grabble a living ut that busi-
ness?" And Mr. Mills, the most pro-
gressive man in Vaudeville, who had
actually had the temerity to import a
man who had something to do with an
electric light system, with view to
seeing if Vaudeville could not be Sc
duced into discarding its old oil lamps,
actually heard Lawyer Matthews talk
ing to the electrician about his line OF
business, wanting to know If he could
point out any opening for young
friend of his who would soon be re-
turning from the other side and would
want to 60 into that sort Of business.
OF course his young friend must be
Tom Broxton. Mr.. Mills was one OF
the reticent thinkers, so he did not con-
fde even to his wife his great astonish-
ment at hearing that Rufe BroXton's
son would have to go into any sort OF
business. But, although he d:screetly
refrained from proclaiming it upon the
house tops. his private conviction was
that Horace Matthews end Of the
seesaw had gone up as fast as Tom
Broxton's had gone down."
DR.. Govan would have scored Mande-
ville's most progressive man with the
same severity he visited upon the ire
sponsible old druggist-"a quacking
ouack," as he bitingly called him
only it is impracticable to wage active
hostilities against a man who simply
raises his eyebrows and shrugs his
shoulders.
DR.. Goean's broad catholicity and
gentle Judgment Of his fellow man
were the logical reflex Of Ills own
sweetness Of nature and abounding
GOOD health. 1t was natural that Hor-
ace Matthews should have come In
for a goodly share Of discussion at the
time Of the fire. for Vaudeville was
never so rich in sensations as to let one
slip too rapidly through its mill. But
1t was time to create a diversion. The
doctor began his missionary work at
home. If he could convert Mrs. Govan
into q partisan. Matthews would be re-
instated with his neighbors. \ mans
wife is his best and surest safety
valve. Mrs. Govan innocently immo-
lated herself.
81 was down to see the old lady yes
terday. John. Malvina says she wishes
you would stop in the first time you
pass their gate"
whats Mother Spillman up to
now?"
Nothing new. Malvina just gets
fretted over the way the old lady pecks
on Horace Matthews. She says it's
regular monomania. She says she Is
almost afraid to let any Of the neigh
bors mention Mr.. Matthews name in
her mothers presence for fear she Will
blaze out something ugly about him."
And yet" the doctor said gravely.
"Alatthews has been consistently kind
to the old creature. He has kept up all
the friendly services BroXton used to
render her"
81 know it. know that, John, but
Mother Spillman's woman Of strong
convictions, and she is not to be bought
over by any amount Of fattery or sub
stantial help"