The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-06-05

in spite Of that they would have de
prived him OF the happiness Of this
brief moment.
Sam Morgan was rcjoiccd, yet trou.
bled. He was happy To see Sim aud
Louisa joined in love, but lie. too re-
mcmbcrcd the future and what it like
ly held for Sim. Turning to Pap Samp
son, he whispered:
'Pd give the world if Sim was only
free. 1t seems so hard to take him
from his wife now"
"Sim's innocent" Pap replied, "an
| don't blicvc he'll have to suffer"
81 wish could b'licvc that, Pap, but
can't. | don't see no reason for
hope"
"I'll hope to the last, sam, reason or
no reason. 1t pears like the squire
an them others is Stayin long time,
| don't it,"
DOCS SO. That fcl"r must IA had
heap -: business with 'cm. I'd give II
| punty to know what it is"
"Mrbby Wen know right soon now,
for see 'cm a-comn."
| Presently the squire entered the
room, followed closely by Jason Rob
erts and Hicks. The squire looked
very solemn, and his face was almost
sad. Hicks was quiet and impaSsivc,
but Jason was smiling all over. The
squire walked to his seat, and Hicks
followed and sat near him. Neither Of
them spoke to anybody. Jason, how
ever stopped long enough to whisper
Il word to Sim. What that word was
no one knew, but they all saw that it
|
ingly around.
The squire put on his specie clcs. took
a paper from his pocket an( mfoldcd
1t. Then he looked around over al!
those assembled and said imprcsSivcly
81 have here Il paper that am going
to read but first want To say, In the
presence of you all, that Sim Banks Is
an Innocent man."
a tlutter of excitement succeeded
these words, and two or three edged up
to Sim and extended him their hands
to show that they were glad. Sam
Morgan gave Il ycll and threw his hat
clear up to the ceiling, while Pap Samp
son began Il vigorous pounding on the
floor with his cane.
Squire Bccson raped on his table tc
bring Pap and Sam to order. Then Inc
proceeded to read the paper he held in
his hand.
That paper was the confession of 10
scph Thompson, formerly known tc
Iii jenkins and Jonathan Turner rs
Waite, but whose real name was Rob
ert Marchand He confessed I'm tn,
presence of witnesses and under oatl
that he fired the shot that killed Franl
J Shelton, alias James Melvin. He die
1t, he said, to avcngc the honor of hi:
sister and the life of his brother, an,
lie had no regrets for the act. He ha'
tracked Shelton to that place, and h,
had come there under the name o
J Waite for the purpose OF killing him
After that he had gone to the arm.
under the name of Thompson, and fat
had guided him to Sim Banks, tn
man who was suspected OF his crime
: When Sim came home, he had com
with him, knowing Sim would be m
rested and 1t would dcvolve on him (
clear him.
$50 now," the squire concluded
"Sim Banks Is discharged and stand
before the world an innocent and
free man."
can the happicst man this side q
kingdom come" Pap Sampson erie,
} "an Pm next!
Then was JOY turned loose. Jill
, Thorn and Mary Mann slipped Quietl
t out and stole away, but all the rest rt
$ maincd to congratulate Sim and l.,
: joice with him and Louisa. 1t was
= great scene and one that was ncvC
forgotten, and if Squire Blossoms Ollie
: floor was not punched full Of holes
was not Pap SIMPSONS fault.
E pap Is my true and tried old friend
@ Sim said, with tears in his eyes, "f,
p he stood by me from the first to IL
l last"
o "Lord, Sim, nobody couldn't cv,
]. make me b'lcvc you done it," Pap +
I nlird. "an when these fcllcrS lowed
Q was you Knowcd they was jest bavl
1 In ut n knot"
$ And this is all, except that two day
later Robert Marchand died In Sil
!. Banks arms ana that Sim and Louis
3 have settled down to n new life, wit
r the old dark past cut adrift, with Il
}, It's sorrows, suffcrings and misundc
standings.
;. Sim IS happy and contcnted, for |
r knows his wife loves him.
THE END.