davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1903-07-12
THE GENEROSITY OF JEREMIAH"
BY CHARLES s. FOY

! two-wheeled monstrosIty as though 4
was going to sit upon it
The harness. tied In every conceIvabl,
manner with pieces of string. gave wal
and the shafts fell 10 the ground. pitch
ing the man out and under the horse .,
feet
l stepped quickly forward, raised tn,
shafts and said: Good morning. ALLOW
me to assist you in getting your harnes:
repaired"
The recumbent figure arose, and such Z
rise. II was fully six aud half feet o.
long. slender. red man And 7 then and
there made the acquaintance of Jere.
miah
When say a red man I do not want
my readers to imagine that a savage
Indian had called upon me. Jeremiah
was red. but with a redness caused BY
the reflection Of his hair and abort
stubby beard. and the action OF the sur
upon his complexion.
He was the tallest. thinnest specimen
OF the human species had ever beheId.
To my offer of assistance he asked:
Air you Mister Forester
I replied In the affirmative.
wall, never mind about the harness.
The creeter will rest easier a-standin'
without 1t, an came for to see you on
leetle matter o. business"
l seated myself upon the outgrowlng
root OF a large live oak, and pointing
to another "a twin from the same par
emil a bOuf four Pao+ ,lgs+o,. gr-,..s -
quondam friend to be seated and state
his business.
He accepted the proffered seat and
''coiled'' q cannot bring myself 20 say
sat- himself upon 1t.
He did not seem TO be In talkatlve
mood He looked up into the tops of
the trees as though he would find some
thing which had escaped him long ago.
His pale blue eyes thsn roved around
the yard. After seeing everything worth
looking at. he probably remembered that
was sitting alongside of him. He
turned his head IN my direction. and In a
slow. drawing voice, asked:
Air you Mr.. Forester
said. Yes; what can I do for you?''
Again his eyes sought the branches of
the trees, and after lingering there
while returned to earth He took OF
his wide rim wool hat, ran his bony
fingers through his long red hair, and
said:
Eff you bees Mr.. Forester. my name
Is jeremiah Fyall."
told him l was happy to meet him
and glad to make his acquaintance.
After looking again into the top OF the
trees, probably to see II any changes had
taken place since he last saw them, he
said:
II hear-an-tell you has a vacant house
The Washington times., 1903-07-12

me. Send man in a cab There's
money In my waistcoat pocket here, il
you viii get 1t out for me-"
The inspector in charge was obviously
surprised. The possibility of Aveling's
innocence crossed his mind for the first
time A man on his way to see his
fancee Is hardly likely to commit 1
murder en- route. 1t may have been that
he wished TO test the truth Of the pris-
oner's assertion. At any rate, he gave
the required permission. and Aveling
hurriedly scrubbed guardedly- worded
note, explaining that he was unavoid-
ably detained. owing to an absurd mis-
take having arisen, but that he would
call the following day.
However. 1t was not the following day
nor the following week! nor for many
weeks that Aveling was able to come
and go at his own pleasure
AT the Inquest the jury, without hest
tation. unanimously found him guilty Of
the crime. Then came a long. weary in
teryal of suspense The police were At
work busily hunting up every clue they
could. Each week that passed the case
looked blacker and blacker against him.
letter In his handwriting couched in
angry terms had been found on the dead
man. There were many witnesses 20
give evidence of the quarrel between the
two men earlier in the day. and by an
extraordinary coincidence IL had been
discovered that on the particular night
in question not a single ticket for any
intermediate station had been either Is
sued TO or surrendered by a passenger
on that train.
The night had been miserably vet;
the hour was long after that at which
the busy hOrdes from the city usually
leave their Offices Nine tickets in ali
had been issued at the Mansion House.
Mr. Marshall was season ticket holder
Aveling himself had a return half. Of
the nine all were for Earl's Court, or
stations beyond, and all had been sur
rendered at their proper points. It
seemed impossible then, that, as Ave
ling maintained, some one must have
entered the carriage at, or after the
Temple station, committed the crime
while he slept. and left again at Vic
toria, leaving the door, the slamming OF
which had awakened him. ajar. The col
lector asserted most positively that no
one passed the barrier on the arrival
either of that train or the following 7ne,
and this point was regarded as over
whelming evidence of his guilt.
His solicitor and counsel took an al
most despairing view OF the situation.
Stoutly believing In his innocence and
the truth of his version of the affair.
they were utterly unable 10 refute the
chain of evidence against bin, and could
not conceal either from themselves or
their client that little short of miracle
could bring about an acquittal.
Throughout this long and wearing Time
Horace Aveling had one ray OF comfort.
The answering trust and deyotion of
his fnancee. Laura Marston-
Never for a single instant had she
had a doubt of his absolute guiltlessness
and. being q girl of wonderful energy
and self-reliance. she had been moving
heaven and earth to try TO ferret out
the truth of the mystery. Over and over
again. when the solicitors and detectives
The Washington times., 1903-07-12
AN ECCLESIASTICAL CUPID XsT4H4yaER SMITH

guine fin some encouragement dere.
Desc young niggers what yo' see 'roun'
nowadays is mighty po' trash; dey ain
no good. nohow. How 20 is guine mex
Sood sexton outen dey?"
! Cupid's employers. however, apparent
ly did not find the difficulty he so fondly
anticipated In filling his place, for
within two days he reported himself
ready for his new duties.
For a time all went well. Never had
the silver shone so brightly; never had
the table been setter set; never had the
other servants performed their duties
more promptly and respectfully. Our
first dinner party, given soon after IN
fear and trembling, was a grand sue
cess, owing 10 the admirable manner
ia which Cupid conducted the entire
affair. and Cora held her head on high
anc pitied those acquaintance who were
always having trouble with their serv-
ants.
Alas, II was not long before we
made the narrowing discovery that
though Cupid's bodily presence was ours
his heart was still in his old calling.
He began 10 neglect his work and spent
large part of his time in watching
from the piazza the proceedings of the
ebony-faced young negro who had sue
ceeded him next door.
watch dat ar niger tekln' he ease
'gainst de church gate" he would ex-
claim excitedly. wen he duty to sweep
out de church ready 70 de Sabbat. Am
dis de way he guine do de Lord wuk ?"
Then in louder voice. "Hyl wha 20 de
do dey? CWhat are doing there2)
Wuffer 20 vase 20 time? Am de aisle
70 go duty vile 20 shet 20 eye? Ell 20
ain rouse yosef, niger. I is guine git
my place back. sho' ez Judgment Davl"
This was the threat with which he ac-
tually drove his successor to shoulder his
broom. and then, and not till then. did
our elderly Cupid awake to his own
small duties In the Same line 10 our
solves
Once. for an entire afternoon, our af
fairs we're entirely dropped, while Cupid.
again upon his native heath otherwise
the church porch), gave his substitute
practical lesson in the duties Of a sex
ton, going through all his old evolutions
for the benefit OF the novice. whom he
constantly adiured 70 ''hoT he head up
an tu'n out he toe"
Later. various household articles dis
appeared mysteriously-a couple Of buck
cts. q feather duster and step ladder
Crpid's attention having been called to
the fact. he acknowledge having appro-
priated them for use in the church. evil
IDENTIFY expecting that this disposition OF
our property would give US keen delight.
Il rather think Cupid will have TO go"
said to Cora. his devotion next door,
The Washington times., 1903-07-12

REMEMBER with vividness the spring
morning that first saw jeremiah
I had arisen early and was walk
ing out in the large yard which incIoses
my house. inhaling the cool. sweet morn
ing air. and gazing with pleasure upon
the awakening of nature from her LONG
cold sleep.
The young. tender grass was Just be-
ginning 10 carpet the lawn. early shrubs
were budding out. Narcissus, snowdrops
and bright yellow jessamine were filing
the dew-laden air with their languorous
sweetness. Overhead in the wide spread
ing live oaks (trees that are found no
where else in such perfection as upon
the lands bordering the seacoas) the
birds were flying among their branches
busily engaged IN the important occu-
patton OF house hunting.
l was walking in and out among the
tangled border hedges. when I heard the
sound of a horses feet upon the smooth,
hard pine barren roads.
In a short space OF time the animal
in question came into view.
And I was struck with the singular ap-
pearance It made.
The horse was one of the small pony
kind known upon the Sea Islands as a
marsh tackey.
But what a tackey!
A nearer inspection which was soon
granted me (the driver having turned In
at my gate) showed me the queerest out
ft It had ever been my good fortune to
behold.
As stated above the horse was small;
in addition to It's diminutive size the
horse barber had been engaged upon 1t.
His name was reached Chat Is. cut OF
like a mule's). his tail was locked and
banged. the docking extending 10 the
lower end and that was cut TO rule or
by the square; the balance of the tail
was shinglcd or terraced.
All of its bones were there, for ! saw
them. They were in plain sight. and its
beauty being less than skin deep did
not obstruct the view
The harness was in keeping with the
rest OK the rig. which consisted Of one Of
those engines of horror and punishment
running at large upon two wheels and
known 20 the modern world as a road
cart.
The occupant of this remarkable turn
out was as much of a rara avis as the
team he drove.
did not have the chance to get a good
look at him before he stopped near me.
In stopping the horse the man swung
back on the rope lines he was driving
with. and said in a loud voice. Whoa,
SahI'
The horse whoad so suddenly that IL
braced back against the crOss-bar OF the
The Washington times., 1903-07-12

engaged by her for the defense relaxed
their Efforts in sheer despair, she
spurred them on to renewed activity.
There was not man among them xho
would not have worked himself 10 a
shadow If by so doing he could have
banished the worn. anxious look from
Eer white face and deep. grave eyes.
Yet among themselves they were con-
WINGED that all efforts were vain.
One faint hope there had been at first.
Miss Marston was positive, not only
that the curiously carved dagger pro-
duced at the inquest was not the prop
ertyNof Horace Aveling. but also that
she had seen it somewhere previously.
1t was hardly probable that there
could be in existence two weapons so
strangely fashioned, and Miss Marston,
who had a passion for curiosities, de-
clared positively that she had seen the
dagger in the window OF small dealer
Attracted by the look OF the thing. and
the strange glass blade of Venetian
work. she had even asked the price: but
finding it more than she could afford
had refused to buy it. But-and this Isl
perhaps, one of the strangest features
of the case-try as she would. she could
not recollect where it was she had seen
1t, neither the shop nor the locality.
She had happened upon II quite by ac-
cident in the course of a long ramble,
and as time went by the incident had
slipped from her memory. till suddenly
revived in so gruesome a fashion. Ad-
vertisements had been put In all the
leading papers, but without result. In
quiry agents, official and unofficial, had
searched in vain. Yet both Miss Mars
ton herself and Avelings solicitor were
convinced that. could the shop be found,
it might prove to be the end OF a thin
thread which would lead them to the
discovery of the truth
The Washington times., 1903-07-12

NUPID was his inappropriate name
and he was sexton at the church
next door. We often watched
him on Sundays as he stood on the porch
ready to do the honors to strangers, ar
rayed in an old-fashioned and dingy
frock coat, but with an air of grandeur
quite impossible to describe. When SER
vice was over he watched the congrega-
tion dispense, with benignant eye. then
closed the building, and with a scruti-
MIXING glance around the churchyard 10
make sure that no small boy fingered
within it's precincts. marched I'm a state
iy manner through the iron gates, lock-
ing them behind him with large key
which clanked tremendously as II turned.
Cupid had no humble ideas concerning
himself or his position, but like other
great aand wise men, knew when to IN
bend. He was kind enough to approve
OF US, and before we had been long in
the neighborhOol became quite at home
on the premises. even condescending to
be made use of at times for such odd
Jobs as laying carpets. wedding the flow
erbeds and so on. when not engaged in
his important duties next door. His
imposing and dignifed air made deep
Impression on Cora.
II would give anything TO have him as
4 servant" she cried. Imagine the Of
feet when he announced dinner or OPEN
ed the hall door" Cora is only recently
a housekeeper and has aspirations.
She is also persistent. How she ever
reconciled IL with her conscience "a wo-
manly one. 10 be sure) don't pretend 10
know, but one day she told me that che
had offered Cupid an advance OF 81 on
his present wages II he would desert
the church and take up his permanent
think the matter over. and she hoped
be would consent.
Next morning Cupid appeared with the
solm expression of one who has restfully
reached a conclusion after a narrowing
consideration OF pros and cons.
Il bin lay de matter befo' de Lord
Nissus," he remarked. removing his hat
politely. IAN He bin mex me de foller-
"a reply: Two dollar amt no trinin'
nattah wha' yo' kin ford 10 'spise, my
PIC fren' Cupid; deys a heap OBJ good
bbin' in dat sum, is gwine miss 20 in
a. church. To- sho'. but amt want 20
10 consider Oh me on dis yere CASTOR
De gain oh de one mus be de loss oh de
Idcer!' So ] done tex um at He wud,
Bissus. an is reform de vestry oh de
&C"
Then you can come TO US at once.
-upid!" observed his would-be mistress
fifth enthusiasm.
Jess ez soon ez dey kin fill my place.
sissus." Cupid assured her. An dey
The Washington times., 1903-07-12

on your plantation. an would like to git
some one to go cen it,"
l admitted that such was a true state
ment Of facts. l had an empty house.
and would like TO get a good. Industrious
man as tenant. I even went further and
remarked that the tenant who had last
occupied the premises was a good man
and had only moved away because he
wanted to go TO the city, where he could
educate his children; that he had left the
dwelling and outbuildlngs in order. and
was always doing something TO improve
the place
He said: Yes, hear all the IanI-
owners down on the coast makes; the
tenant do lot towards buildin' I'D their
places. but here is one coon that dol.rt
build UP no mans place. Ny good IA
tur' doin' for other people an agtviu'
things away is what keeps me po'. My
ole woman says some day 1 will give the
shut of my back. Now ef I kin git your
place to go cen an you put II cen good
order. I'll leave it Ike fine It. but az
fur buildin' an Akin, not for Jerry"
We came to terms. however. and Terry
moved in.
All OF that spring when business call
ed me to the part of the plantation oc-
cupied by Jerry. I would see his slim.
tall figure sitting at the foot of a tres
doubled up like a jackknife. whiting a
stick. or ne would be standing at the
head of row, looking like marker 5
stake, watching a ragged little negro
boy pulling the bell line over an cid
white horse.
Jerry had traded his tackey.
Wen, the spring waned. summer came
and went. and the fall was upon Us. The
poplars had decked themselves out in
their golden panoply aud the blackgum
trees looked like the burning bush chat
appeared TO and frightened Moses The
song OF the harvester was heard on all
sides, and nature was dressed In her
bridal robes for her coming marriage
with death.
The rentals were due and the tenants
were pushing forward with their work
TO meet the obligation.
On the morning Of the day OF pay
ment the last one TO arrive at the OF
fee was jeremiah
He was riding this time.
He rode up 10 the door, and often
looking up into the air, up and down
the road. then into the Office window,
said:
''Tain't no use to light. I Jus come
TO tell you I've done moved. Crops wus
a failure an | amt made nothin' wuth
talkin' bout no how, an ! CANT pay
no rent. I've helped your place power
full. though. considerin' I tuck two black
Jack stumps outen Hacklebarney her,
an as / hate TO leave without giyin' yon
sumthin' ef you'll sen your Vaughn
to the blackgum pom you kin take the
pile o. pine straw 1 raked TO trash your
stables"
The Washington times., 1903-07-12

and convulsive shudder, she had KEEP,
her self control
Later, when her lover was lying under
sentence OF death IN the condemned cell
she. of all others. refused to give Nm
hope. while there is an hour Of time
left. or the remotest chance. will leave
no stone unturned," she said when they
tried 10 dissuade her.
From the earliest hours of the morn
Ing till late at night she was out In ali
weathers intent on finding the object OF
her search.
At length she was successful. Stroll
ing hopelessly enough through a portion
of old Chelsea. she glanced up by chance
at little. dirty window. with small
dingy paRes. and at the board which bore
In dim lettering a name. In a fash il
came to her. She could remember the
scene wildly. The name. "Lawsley,
dealer in antique curios,'' brought It all
back TO her mind.
Trembling, she entered the small en-
porium. An old man with a wrinkled
and beseamed face, a pair of cheap spec
tacles perched high on his bald head
stood behind the counter and peered at
her curiously.
So violent was her emotion that az
first she could barely trust herself to
speak.
Il want some information from you. 3"
she said at last, in answer to his In
quiry. Il will pay you well for II. be-
lieve that some time ago you had on sale
in this shop a dagger with a blade Of
glass and a curiously carved hilt. Like
this" she added, showing him a photo
graph of the weapon itself.
The old man examined II carefully.
Yes. miss. yes. remember IT we'll.
And now 1 come TO look more closely
think remember you also. You wished
to buy it. is It not so?"
Yes" said Laura.
The man shook his head. You're too
late. miss. if It's that you're after. It's
gone. gone long ago; sold It months
back
Laura shook some sovereigns from her
purse. IF you can tell me to whom you
sold it," she said. gripping the counter
IN ner agltatlOn. I Will give you twenty
pounds. Here is some on account; 1 will
bring you the rest.
Mr.. Lawsley smiled. "LOr', missy.
don't want your money unless I earn It.
A little thing like that isn't worth
twenty pounds. 1 can tell you as easy
as anything"
ooh. speak, For heavens sake tell
me, then," she cried
Why. miss. answered Mr. LawsIey,
II don't know as 1 can rightly tell you
the party's name-not knowing IT but If
so be as you could look In about this
time tomorrow you'll be able 70 see the
party yourself. I've got some little
things here for her. She's an old Gus
toner Of mine, and she's coming here
between three and four"
II will come" said Laura; but want
you TO put me where I shan't be seen
and yet can see what goes on in the
shop. You understand"
Mr.. Lawsley did.
Il shall be here at halfpast two. BY
the way. do you know there have been
advertisements for you for weeks past in
The Washington times., 1903-07-12

thither by smothered tones which coulC
proceed from but one person in III,
establishment. At the door I paused IL
| Indignant amazement al the sight which
| presented itself. Kneeling on a foot
stool, which l recognized as my own par
| ticular property. and pouring forth z
! stream of eloquence calculated to as
/ tonish the mind OF an ordinary layman
! beheld that venerable humbug Cupid
| The other members OF our domestic
force. kneeling also, wore upon their
| faces a look Of extreme and pious in
| terest in the proceedings. Add to this
the fact that was hungry, and that
! from the range proceeded a smell OF
/ burning eatables which augured badly
| for the dinner of which hoped to par
take shortly. and you may partially IN
| derstand the feelings of wrath which
| took possession of me as the following
words fell upon my ear:
Spare my Boss, oh Cord, eff yo' Tub
me. Spare dat miserable sinner. I bin
! lay he fault befo' de t'rone: wash he
white. Lord. wild by healin stream. an
/ use plenty oh soap. An, now, he ain
got but one mo- falin' wha' I ain numer-
ate l delude to de temper. Lawd. Wen
he git rouse, he blaze up same like fire.
He too easy to rouse. Wen he boot aim
shine 70 please UNI. he langwidge Nigh
/ ty fo'cible! Wen dis. by humble sar-
/ bent, been tree To- minute late 70 au-
swer de bell. he done madrest me lax
gemmen ain oughter speak to one an
nurrer, nohow. Forgib he, or Dou ma
/ lignant Fader! Spare he, Lawd, Let de
prayer oh de righteous prevail 70 sabe
he soul"
Here the cook, whose attention had
slightly wandered for some time, rushed
precipitately, but too late. TO the res
cue % the dinner. and fed.
Cora almost shed tears on being in
formed that an entire and immediate
change of servants was absolutely nee
essary, but was firm felt that never
again could l face that cook. those
maids. with my usual air of conscious
rectitude, and as for that scoundrel
Cupid-well. IL he had gone back to his
position next door, l should have been
forced TO leave the neighborhood. For
tunately for me, however, his pupil had
prohted so well by Cupids Instructions
and given such satisfaction to his en-
ployers that they refused TO turn him
out in favor of his predecessor, to Gu
pid's indignant surprise.
The last thing heard concerning our
eX-butler was that ne had turned
preacher. He Is, no doubt. therefore.
happily engaged In using his valuable
influence wish heaven in BEHALF OF an
admiring and grateful congregation OF
his own color. May his efforts be
crowned with success