The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1907-04-11

1t Uas that of tau gentleman endlr-
ting hts nineteenth tDfnter.
Henry Louden's about the saddest
case Of abused stepfather ever saw"
"Its his own fault" said Mr.. Arp
"twice not havin' sense enough net to
marry. Him with son Of his 3wn
toor'
YES" assented the colonel, mar
ryin' a widow with son Of her own,
and that widow Fanny"
Wasn't 1t just the same with her
first husband, Bantry? Mr.. Dayey
asked, not for information, as he i'm :
mediately answered himself. you
bet it was! Didn't she always rule
the roost? Yes. she did. She made
god Of Gene from the day he was
born. Bantry's house was run for him.
like Louden's is now"
And look" exclaimed Mr.. Arp, with
satisfaction. "at the way he's turned
outw
HE amt turned out at all yet. He's
too young" said Buckalew. Besides.
clothes don't make the man."
, Wasn't he smokin' cigareet" cried
Eskew triumphantly. This was final.
Its a pity Henry Louden can't do
something for his own son." said Mr..
Bradbury. "Why don't he send him
away to collegeT
"Fanny won't let him." chuckled Mr..
Arp malevolently. Takes all their
spare change to keep Gene there fh
style. I don't blame her. Gene Ger
tainly acts the fool, but that Joe Lou
den Is the orneriest boy I ever saw in
an ornery world full"
"He always was kind Of miscteev-
ous." admitted Buckalew. Il don't
think he's mean, though, and 1t does
seem kind Of not Just right that Joe's
fathers money-Bantry didn't leave
anything to speak of-has to SO to
keepin' Gene on the fat Of the land,
with Joe gittin' up at half past to
carry papers, and him goin' On nine
teen years Old"
Tt's all he's ft torv' exclaimed Es-
kew. Hes low down, tell ye. Amt
1t only last week Judge Pike caught
him shootin' craps with Pixies niger
driver and some other nigger hired
men in the alley back Of Pixies barn."
You ever hear that boy Joe talk pol
| itics?" asked Uncle Joe Davey. cross
ing a cough with chuckle. "His
heads SO full Of schemes fer running
this town, and state. too, it's wonder
it don't bust. Henry Louden told me
he's see Joe set around and study by
the hour how to save 100000 for the
state in two years."
"And the best he can do for himself"
added Eskew, "is deliyerin' the Daily
Tocsin on a second hand Star bicycle
and gamblin' with niggers and riffraff!
None Of the nice young folks invite
him to their doin's any more"
That's because he's got so shabby
he's quit goin' with 'em," said Bucka-
lew.
"No, 1t amt" snapped Mr.. Arp. Its
because he's so low down. He's no
more n a town outrast. There amt
ary one Of the girls ii have a thing to
do with him, except that rip-rarin' tom
boy next door to Louden's, and the 9TH
ers don't have much to do with her
neither, ] can tell ye. That Arie Ia
| bor"-
Colonel Flitcrofr caught him surrep-
titiously by the arm. "Sh. EskewT" he
whispered. Look out what you're
sayin'."
You needn't mind me-" Jonas Tabor
spoke up crisply. II washed my hands
Of all responsibility for Rogers branch
Of the family long ago. Never was one
of 'em had the energy or brains to
make decent liyin', beginning with
Roger-not one worth his salt. I set
Rogers son up in business, and all the
return he ever made me was to 60
into bankruptcy and take TO drink. till
he died sot, like bis Wife dsd Of
shame. I done all 1 could when
handed him over my store, and never
expect to lift a finger for 'em again.
Ariel Tabor's my grandniece, but she
didn't act like 1t, and you can say any
thing you like about her for what I
care The last time spoke to her was
year and half ago. and I don't
reckon I'll ever trouble to again."
"How was that. Jonas?" quickly in,
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