The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-06-12
(Concludcd.)


never heard Of the two first mention
ed books, but had read the life Of
Frank and Jessie James, and became
alarmed. / knew Mrs. Arthur, and
considered her an excellent Christian
woman, and wondered if it could be
possible that she was entertaining the
boys with such damaging literature
| obtained several Of the stories and
read them. They really were intense
~ interesting, and T did not wonder
that the boys were delighted. 1t was
only natural that their Young hearts
should thrill over such daring and
dangerous adventures. or that they
should adore such courage, bravery
or daredevil rccklcssncss. But I
felt mtuitivclv that Ncrnon'S mind
was being poisoned and his judgment
warped. | began to see Il vein Of
rccklcssncss i'll department, and was
always uneasy when he was out of
sight. He began TO absent himsclf
from Sunday school and would only
60 to church at night. My husband
was always Il quiet, say-nothing-man,
and though 7 knew he was worried
about Vernon. he seldom spoke a
word to him in rcmonstrancc. Hus-
band often said that I talked
to Vernon too much.
'Wcll, on Sundays the boys, six
or seven Of them, banded together,
and were almost little outlaw gang.
1t was astonishing at the tricks they
played on people and at the mischief
they planned and executed, and how
they managed to avoid detection and
punishment. They would make raids
in the surrounding country, steal
chickens and 90 into camp on Sunday
night, and have fcaStS beyond any
thing ever attempted by Brlshazzar
1t wasn't at all difficult for these
boys to get wine and stronger drink
and many toast was given to
Dick Slater and Bob Estabrook,'
, the names adopted by Vernon and
NFrcd; but it was long time before
T. learned all this. | had been to Mrs.
Arthur and tried to convince her that
she was doing the boys an injury,
btt. like YOU. she insisted thai any
thug was better than letting them lie
around the company store every
night, listening to all kinds Of vulgar
chat She was honest in her convic-
tons, too. and fully believed she was
doing her duty as Il Christian! I beg
ecd her to read Dickens. Scott or T..
p. Roe : works and she did try but
Was mortified tn have the boys desert
her in favor Of the company store.
and 10 keep Fred nome WAS her
whole ambition. :" she l'clulMcd to
their favorilc authors. and continued
to stuff them with poisson.
cone Sunday niYht-i shall never
forget i'll sat on tn" moon lii porch
waiting for Vernon 10 come h"mc. 1t
was 10 clock--laicr than he uSl-
ally STAYED out. and ] Was in an
agony Of suspense. y freight train
went numbering by going toward
Charlotte. and at the crossing" Shrick
cd like Il demon. Never in all my
life have | been so near Mysteries.
That train seemed to be tcarin" my
soul and body asundcr. I stopped
my ears, trying vainly to shut out
the sound. Coin" in the house |
walked my husband and insisted tha:
he go with me over to Mr.. Arthur's S
to inquire about Vernon. Man like,
he grumblcd a little at my 'unrcnson-
able fears but tumblcd out of bed,
dressed and went with me. Mr.. and
Mrs. Arthur had retired They said
that Vernon had left there at 8
o'clock and that Fred was in bed. L
insisted that they look in Fred $
room, and just as my heart told me,
they found it empty and The bed I'M
touched. 'Gonc! gone! Oar boys are
gonc' I cried, and God in heaven on
ly knows what my heart endured.
Mrs. Arthur was almost distracted,
but poor thing, it was not a new cx-
pcricnce with her. Fred had ran
away more than once and was an
adept in the art of 'bcating' trains.
Sadly we started back home, and
met two Of the gang who declared
positively that Vernon and Fred had
gone to Norfolk. I could not believe
it. In spite of every argument to the
contrary, and without the least bit Of
. evidence tt bear me out in the sup
osition, I was positively sure that
W had monf to Charlotte. T wrote