The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1907-02-01

what-er HON did you investigate
there?" he gasped. e ~ - q
<"Oh," said Cheney, smiling, Il in
vestigated the birth of. one Roy
Belcher."~S ..1s
"And you found out all about him o.
Eyes, and that's why I'm here. You
| know the story of Basket Charley
What is it?' 49, .t}
NO" gasped the preacher, Il don't.
I've just heard of him, that's ALL"
The mans manner ~ convinced
Cheney he was lying. He did know;
he must be made to tell.
would your flock care to know
! about your birth?" ~, - - 49,
No." Numbered Belcher. "No, I
don't want that, not now"
"Then tell me what you know of
Basket Charley" said Cheney. "You
| do know something, don't you?" 49,
Eyes, I know, and if you'll promise
not to reveal my identity I'll tell"
"You have my sacred PROMISE" re-
piled Cheney. "Candidly, Mr.. Belcher,
| all I want to do is to establish the
birth of Mr.. Farwell. It is simply an
act of Justice, and you as a man of
God should not hesitate to do that.
You preach justice and mercy to your
congregation every Sunday. Exempli-
fy those teachings now by clearing
this mystery. Practice what you
preach"
All right, sir, will. I don't know
you, but you look like man of your
Word.' Mr.. Belcher settled himself
back and closed his eyes as if think
ing, and continued:
Il need not speak of my origin, you
know that. When I was IA I went to
Exmoor and apprenticed with old man
Reyburn. The two girls were total
ly unlike. Jane was austere and al.
most puritanical in her ideas. Mag.
gle was the opposite and thought life
was naught but pleasure. Poor girl,
it was her undoing. She visited De.
troit once and while there met man
named James Eastman. He was OF
the world and she of the country. He
wrote her frequently and she was very
much in love with him. Mr.. Reyburn
and Jane did not approve and said So
but Maggie was set in her ways,
couldn't have been moved in any man.
ner. During one visit to Detroit a
marriage took place. Oh, it was a
legal marriage, all right"
"Thank God for that" murmured
Cheney under his breath.
Eyes, continued Mr.. Belcher
there's no doubt of the marriage
I've seen the certificate. But after
the marriage Eastman soon tired OF
his country wife. 1t was the old, old
story of neglect and abuse, and final.
ly desertion. After he left her
Maggie tried to get work but couldn't
work very hard. Things went all
wrong at the farm; Mr. Reyburn
died; Jane couldn't run it, neither
could I, and it was sold. 1t didn't
bring much money because a mort
gage had to be paid off, The night
we were to leave Maggie came home
and brought with her a baby scarce
ly three weeks old. Jane was in
censed, and stormed furiously, up.
braiding Maggie for her acts. She
finally refused to have anything to
do with the child. Oh, it was awful
that scene!" Mr.. Belcher shud
dered at the memory and resumed.
maggie was very ill and the &C
tons of her sister made her worse
She was desperate, indeed. I wasn't
much myself, but was sorry for her
She came out to the barn where
was and made me promise before God
that I would try and place her child
with some good family. Then she
would get well and 60 to work some
place. Her spare earnings would 60
to the child and later she would
come and claim him. promised and
then we cast our minds about for
the proper persons with whom to
leave the baby" Cheney was in.
tensely interested. Belcher's man
ner was very earnest and truth was
stamped on every word he uttered.
"Old man Farwell was one of those
dear fine men liked by everybody
He was poor as church mouse but
always willing to share his crust
| Will OAO uOAO uAAOA COAoIC. AAC
would look after the boy. Maggie
wrapped the baby up in some warm
clothing, wrote a note-my God
you have it there!" interjected the
minister noticing the old faded let
ter Cheney held towards him. yes
that's it. She pinned it to the baby's
outer garment, inserted two dollars
and a half, and that night I left the
baby on Mr.. Farwel]s doorstep. She
went without seeing her sister again;
left that night. Two weeks later she
died. That's all, sir, every word
know"
eyes," said Cheney, 'but the man
where is he? Was he never heard
of afterwards?" 81
Heard of? Damn him-damn
him!" said Belcher, justiaably forget
ting he was preacher. eyes, he was
heard from. Maggie hadn't been dead
week before he came to Detroit and
acted as if nothing had happened
Later he went west, I believe, mar
ried again and is now respected