The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1903-10-09
A CATSPAW.

BY Edward Willett.

VA Was AtI Adlutl olAtl W Nub
young men who coveted her, but
tongues off. and even eyes off. She
was not to be touched. OF talked to, or
even looked at, and woe to the daring
youth who ventured to transgress thu
sources command.
No wonder the young men Of Bung-
town coveted Betty Coram. Not only
was she very pretty, but reputed to
be very amiable and intelligent and
was certainly an heiress.
Squire Coram was a rich man. for
Bungtown, and Betty was his only
child, his darling, the apple Of mis- eye.
He would undoubtedly leave her all
his property. But the young men Of
Bungtown sighed and longed in vain.
Squire Coram kept strict guard over
his jewel and warned all intruders OFF
the premises.
Among these who went wild after
Betty Coram was Excelsior Podd. the
only sen Of Philetus Podd, editor of
the Bungtown Banner Excelsior had
not been named after the celebrated
racer, but had been so called because
the elder Podd felt a prophetic impulse
that his son would rise higher in the
world than any one else.
"Why not?" asked Philetus Podd. If
The boy should inherit his fathers in
tellectual overs, and those powers
should be developed under the saga
cious instructions Of that father, there
would be no limit to his capacity for
rising in the world. 1t was well,
therefore, that he was named Excel
sior.
AS yet, however, Excelsior Podd had
shown no remarkable appreciation OF
the exalted destiny that awaited him.
He had just advanced beyond the po-
sition of devil" in his fathers print
ing Office, and had been promoted to
the dignity of case"
He was chiefly noted for being an
overgrown, gawky youth of 10, who
had mo more sense than the law al
lows" and was often the butt of the
village wits.
But Excelsior had no knowledge of
his deficiencies, his opinion of himself
being reflected from that Of his father,
who looked upon his offspring with ad-
miring eyes. AS his bump of self
esteem was we'll developed, he did not
consider that he was at all presump-
tuous in aspiring to the hand of sweet
Betty Coram, or in believing that he
might succeed where so many had
failed.
His disadvantages, of course, were
the same as those under which the
other young men labored, but
no showed considerable ingenuity in
overcoming the principal obstacle, He
invented all sorts of pretexts for gain
ing admission to Squire COram's house,
and for obtaining interviews with the
lovely Betty In these efforts he was
often successful the more So perhaps,
because the squire did not believe that
his daughter could be in the least en-
dangered by the presence of Excelsior
Podd.
Iieyed himself to be a lady-killer, and
was sure that Betty Coram had fallen
before his invincible onset. The truth
is that Betty was kept so secluded
that the visits Of even Excelsior Podd
were a relief to her, and she did not
try to conceal her pleasure at the
sight of c young man.
This young man was sure that he
had made a conquest, and his assur-
ance was rendered doubly sure when
George Deering, the son of the post
master, brought him a note. directed
Ia delicate, feminine hand.
you are in luck, Excel" said Deer
ing. Here is a note tor you from Bet
ty Coram."
creation, George! how did you get
hold of it?"
easy enough. She came to the Of
fee this morning with the squire, and
managed to slip the note into my hand.
I supposed it was for myself, and was
right mad when I saw that it was for
you. don't know how it is, cid fell
low, that you have got so far ahead
of all the rest Of us. and / can't help
envylng your good fortune"
Excelsior eagerly grasped the note
and went of to read it by himself 1t
was In these words:
my dear friend. Excelsior Podd: I
have noticed your looks, and believe
that you love me. II you do, now is
the time to prove it. l can no longer
endure my fathers tyranny and am
anxious to leave home. If you are
willing to take me out of here, I will
trpst YOU to do so. Come tonight at