The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-11-19

Sam. LET us settle one thing at q
time. II you don't know what to thmk
I can tell you-at least 30 far as re-
CARDS the subject Of that letter. 10
allow your brain to get into what you
call a whirl whenever you receive un'
welcome intelligence Is bad; you must
conquer that weakness, or you Will al'
ways be the sport Of events. or course
as soon as you surmount one difficulty
another difficulty confronts you; 1t was
ever 50 with every man, and you Will
find the process continue until you are
confronted by death-the last diftcuity,
not to be surmounted or evaded by. any
Of us. As for your direct question l
unhesitatingly assure you that the
statements in your fathers letter lex
cept where he seeks by spurious an
alogy to associate me with the loss OF
his sequins) are perfectly true. and
not only are they true. but, as regard
the game Of Life, they are perfectly
tustifable."
This declaration shocked me. ! had
never before met with anybody who
entertained such unscrupulous opin'
ions, or was 80 honest in the express
sion Of them.
Most people," continued uncle Sam,
would infer from that letter that
was guilty OF great treachery to your
grandfather wolsey., whereas the very
reverse Is the case. I loved bis, eldest
daughter (she who afterward became
your mother, and my suit was ap-
proved Of by no one more than by
william wolsey. But when later on
your father bent his glances in the
same direction that same William VOL.
sey discouraged my visits to his farm,
favored the visits Of your father. and
not long afterward coerced his daugh-
ter into marrying him, well knowing
that she had promised herself to me.
And why was this? Not because OF
any fault in me. real or alleged. but
for that sovereign quality In the new
suitor-ownership Of couple Of thou.
sand Suffolk acres. forsooth"
Here uncle Sam paused and laughed
scorpfully. Presently he continued:
"Itrwas that circumstance which first
gave my mind a cynical turn, and in
duced me to devote myself to the &C.
QUESTION Of money, which I conceived
was the prime mover Of our kind.
Twenty years experience has confirm
ed the opinion then formed. I have
not gone out of my way to avenge the
wrong old wolsey did me. but when
about four years ago accidentally
met one who greatly resembles the
girl used to ramble with In the fields
and lanes Of Holdenhurst did not re.
strain myself by any consideration for
the man who had treated me 80 badly.
That she has secluded herself from
her father as long as possible has been
her own wish. and was always a mat.
ter Of indifference to me-"
Uncle Sans sophistry was very fas.
cinating to me. Systems Of reasoning
which in others, I should have de-
nounced as Illogical and absurd when
presented In his words. and with the
ease and charm Of manner for which
he was distinguished. seemed to lack
none Of the essentials Of truth. At
first It appeared to me monstrous.
But my uncle's way Of stating his
case obscured these considerations. and
led me rather to think of the perfdy
Of my grandfather Wolsey. which was
the origin Of the trouble. and to marvel
how my father could have accepted
for his wife a woman whose love he
had not fairly won. That the state
ment was true I had no doubt what.
ever. for uncle Sam had very effect.
lively alluded to the circumstance
when he denounced his brother, and
the latter had suffered 1t to pass with.
out challenge. Another. though an en-.
tirely different consideration. afforded
me much qualification, and that was
the promptness with which my uncle
had admitted the truth Of the charge
now brought against him. which con.
trasted strongly with his strenuous
denial Of having had anything to do
with the missing sequins, and afforded
IN additional proof Of his innocence
Of that affair.
"What do You purpose doing respect.
Ing this little affair" inquired uncle
Sam after long pause.
My mind was made up. and ! an.
gSered without hsitation:: :"I will 60
to England in the Umbria and carry
out the plan you have suggested. BY
that means hope ! shall convince my
father that he has done you IN injus.
tice. and he will readily agree that our
friendship shall remain undisturbed
Should fail to connect Adams with
the robbery Of the sequins. then I Will
assert my individual right to unrestrict.
ed action. for am nearly Of full age
now. and could respectfully and re.
gretfully refuse to obey my father IN
this matter on the ground that his com.
mand Is unjust and unnatural"
To be continued.
No More Capitol Echoes.
A new roof 10 being put on the "Stat
uary Hail. Of the Capitol. at Wash.
ington. the beautiful semi.circular
room that was used AZ the Hall Of the
House Of Representatives before the
marble wings were added to the build.