Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-08-04
AModern Shylock
[Original.1

ABOUT the mlQQlo or the last century,
when the southern states were divided
into a number Of large plantations.
Cuthbert Swayne, recent graduate of
a northern college, took fancy to be-
come a tutor in some southern manor
house. He found a position with IN
elderly widow, Mrs Randall, whose
children he was engaged to teach.
There were two older children-Guy
who was leading profligate life ia
Paris, and Evelyn, a girl of seventeen,
with her mother on the plantation.
Cuthbert Swain had been brought mn
to consider himself the heir to the es-
tate of an uncle, Mr.. Seymour, who
was childless. Mr.. Seymour was old
and feeble. Since it was expected that
be would live but few years every
one considered his nephew in the light
of wealthy young man. Cuthbert did
not count much upon his uncle's for
tune, always averring, There's many
a Slip 'twixt the cup and the lip"
The young northerner had not been
long at the plantation before it was
evident to every one except her mother
that Evelyn Randall was desperately
in love with him. Unfortunately Cuth-
bert did not reciprocatc. The girl was
so incapable of cOncealing her passion
that those about her were inclined II
smile. But it was no laughing matter.
One day after a scene in which she
and Cuthbert were the actors he mott
fed her mother that he would cancel
his engagement and go north immedI.
ately. The next morning Evelyn Rap.
dali was found dead in her bed. She
had committed suicide.
Naturally the blow fell heavily On
Cuthbert. He was eager to get awav
but Mrs. Randall, who was ignorant
of the cause of her daughters act, beg
ged him not to desert her in her trou.
bic. The old lady sent for her son tn
come home, and Cuthbert agreed to re-
main till his arrival.
When Guy Randall arrived he was
made acquainted with the reason of
his sisters suicide. He came also to
other troubles. A mortgage that had
been for many years on the plantation
was about to be forecloSed. His moth
er, instead of paying the interest, had
sent it to him to squander in Paris.
Guy invited Cuthbert into a room in
wing of the house where they were
not likely to be disturbed, and when
they were together Guy locked the
door. He told Cuthbert that none but
a craven would permit a girl to bear
the whole burden of a tragic love at
fair and he expected him to infiict
upon himself what his sister had suf-
fered. Guy at the same time tossed a
bowie knife-a common weapon at that
time in the South-to Cuthbert and de-
handed that he should kill himself
Cuthbert might have used the knife in
self defense, but Guy covered him with
a pistol. Indeed, had Guys life been
at Cuthbert'S disposal to save his own
he would not have taken it The death
OF the sister was quite enough without
having the blood of her brother on his
hands.
II assure you," said Cuthbert, that
l am entirely blameless, but anything
can do to atone for fault for which
l cannot hope that you will acquit ne
will do. am supposed to be heir 10
the estate of my uncle estimated to be
worth 100000 My uncle is an cd
man, liable to die at any moment. I
will sign note for that amount due
on the day he dies. If do not inheit
the property as expected then l VIII
accept the same fate as the poor grl
1hn oh
A short discussion followed this prO-
posal, at the end of which Cuthbet
signed the note payable to whoeve-
should be owner or owners Of the Ran
dali estate when it should fall due.
When the two left the room Cuth
bert went directly to the stables |
mounted a horse and rode to a rail
way station ten miles away He wasI
never again seen at the plantation
Several years after this CuthbertI
Swayne, having studied medicine, was
house surgeon at hospital in a large
northern city. Among the young wo-
men being educated for nurses in the
institution was Ruth Hoyt, a girl of
more than ordinary refinement Who
she was and where she came from she
kept to herself. DR.. Swayne fell i'll
love with her, and his love was re
turned. AS each year had passed and
taken him farther from the tragedy
the note he had signed bore harder
upon him, but it was not till he fell
in love that he realized it's true import.
One evening Miss Hoyt went into
DR.. Swayne's Office to make a report
and surprised him holding a loaded pis-
t0l to his temple. He lowered the
weapon and gave her an explanation
ending by telling her that he had just
heard of his uncle's death and that his
property had been given to charity.
81 had hoped he said, "that when
my uncle died this incubus that has
been hanging over me would be. lifted
and that l might take a new hold of
life. In that event l had intended to
ask you to begin life with me- We are
both obliged TO work for a living br+