The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-18

Richard MOnktonS face betrayed de-
snondency over the coming election for
Nlavor of Sumterville in spite of the
words OF. encouragement his friend Lee
care Injected into the conversation
from time to time.
81 know what report to thank for the
present state of feeling" said he,
brushing the ashes from his cigar
and throwing his feet across an unoc-
cupjed chair standing near. TO
morrow will settle the matter, how
ever. Then if defeated. l shall seek a
home where If find no friends / shall
at least be spared the modification of
meeting some | mistook for friends,
and found wanting when l most need
ed them"
81 am sure you feel too gloomy I'M
der the rcumstances," said Legare.
perhaps, too, you are doing many
treachery. Let me advise you to go out
to the rally this morning and do your
best-or l shall be satisfied if you do
half your best The whole town will
matter whether they are inclined to-
ward you or the opposition, your man
ner of presenting your case has never
failed to attract the people,
''Fiddlesticks!" exclaimed Monkton,
half-impatientl It's the reverence
they have for the name of barbecue
that's going to fetch 'em out to-day
But l shall brush up my. faculties and
end the affair with as stiff a fight as
! can put up"
Legare paused at the door when
starting off. Il am honest, Dick-I look
for two men to meet their Waterloo
to-day" said he.
My good friend Legare and his
grateful friend Monkton|' interrupted
Monkton. "Of course, but you might
have kept the prophecy to yourself"
Il mean your political opponent, and
your rival for the hand of Miss Dox-
ley" -
Il admit that l would be entirely
content could down my rival though
losing the rnayoralty," and Monkton' S
features took on additional gloom. But
l have no hopes there. She has as
good as informed me to that effect.
think that report which has been a
milestone about my neck had its effect
on her before anyone else, though since
it was first circulated her father has
shown me unusual regard. Or maybe
it was merely pity"
Left to himself, Monkton turned TO
his mail which had remained unopened
during his friends stay.
There were half a dozen letters, and
a paper on the wrapper of which he
noted the legend: Marked copy" He
read the letters, mostly of business
nature, then half-curiously tore the
wrapper off the paper. 1t was The
Vindicator, published in another state
and at the home of his boyhood. He
noted from the date that IL was quite
a month old, and for this and the fur-
Their reason that he had for years re-
fused to read paper from the section
which had no pleasant memories Tor
him, he threw it aside
Reconsidering, however, he took 1t UP
again and searched for the marked
article. Beneath a half-tone engraving
of an old man were these words:
This morning, Jacob Monkton, life
convict. was released from the state
prison Pathetic to relate, there is IN
dubitable proof that for twenty years
he has been suffering for another
crime. and this coming to the Governor
brought about his pardon The case Is
a sad one, and the history of the affair
will appear in full in to-morrow's issue
of this paper" ..-
Monkton's hand trembled as he read
and then re-read the brief article sur
mounted by top-heavy neadlng
Locking the paper in his desk, he went
to a sofa and lay down. completely
unstrung What would be the outcome
of it all? Would not his defeat be
blessing in disguise, serving as an ex
cuse however poor, for his leaving
he Iod QdnntP6 SOnf
fifteen years before? He even felt MIN
self fearing-and was ashamed be-
cause of the feeling-that his father
turned out upon the world withou
money or friends, might nnally coin'
to him. His law practice had peei
lucrative. and his social position up u
a few weeks before had been satisfac'
tory. He would gladly send his father
ample means for support, but telt ina
he could not bear to have MN colii'
to SumterVille and become puoh'
spectacle.
Whether this unfilial feeling of tn
moment was natural or not. there wer'
some extenuatlng circumstances. ~
was a lad of ten years only wnen MI
father was incarcerated. The PROOF o
guilt was clear enough for a jury U
find his father guilty and for the Judg
to pass sentence. The ehlld saw III
mother die of a broken heart, am
heard himself referred to as the Sol
of convict until he determined u
take up his residence where his mis-
fortune would not be held as sin
his own committing. He rememoere'
how hard the struggle had been .
rise, and it was all because OF nj
fathers disgrace; how he had peei
an office boy for a leading lawyer o
Sumterville. how he had been denle'
the advantage of a thorough education
and how he had been discouraged whel
entering upon his profession. To com con,
plete his discontinue, the opposltio
in the race for Mayor had learned o