Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-10-02


when northern medical colleges were
mostly filled with southern students, IN
one particular city their dissolute. and
disorderly ways had become terror
and a reproach. There were certain
taverns and restaurants almost appro-
priated to their nightly gatherings
where many a wild scene was enacted
and such were their numbers, their
weapons, their gold, that the police took
scant notice of disreputable affairs, Of
ten hushed up by the professors them
selves to save the credit of respectable
families. Amid the seething mass OF
turbulent and uncontrolled spirits
many of them thrown for the first time
alone into the temptations and corrup-
tions of a large city, bloody trays
sometimes took place that left scars
about whose making, in after days, So
Der manhood would be ashamed TO
speak, for bowie knives were more
plantiful with these embryo surgeons
than harmless lancets, and pistols more
familiar than the scalpel; and when at
last the theater parquets were fairly
taken possession of by bodies of armed
and pugnacious youths, the authorities
woke up to a determination to abate
the nuisance, and at the instigation OF
peace loving citizens and order preach
ing press, decided to make strong and
intimidating example at the next op-
portunity.
Among the class that year were two
who, having been graduated in
southern college, had come north to at
tend the lectures of a celebrated pro-
fessor. They were from the same
town, both of good blood, and that gen.
tie breeding which made them very
knights in courtesy where women were
concerned; both highly educated, neith-
er with any marked character as yet
developed, and with just shade or un-
friendliness ranking between them.
Arthur Fletcher had been early left
an orphan with small property, and,
having no near relatives, had spent his
childhood and youth principally at
schools; while Charles Paget was the
son of rich and prominent man of his
locality, and was very full Of ideas OF
family importance; so that when he
surmised that Fletcher had formed an
attachment for his only sister, he Sc
cretly chafed at and resented 1t as
possible match that should by no means
have equaled her expectations. Some
thing Of envy, too, was added to this
almost causeless dislike and bitterness
by Fletcher's personal superiority, who
had evidenced an unusual versatility
and excellence in accomplishments;
and though this smoldering enmity had
lacked reasonable opportunity for dis
play, there had been SMALL irritating
signs Of it that more than once had
tried the others forbearance. For he
sincerely loved Constance Paget, and
had already set it before him as his
dearest hope and intention in life to
labor faithfully to win her.
1t was, therefore, with some annoy
ance that he thus found himself asso-
ciated with her brother in the pursuit
Of their studies, especially as he sus-
pected that Paget's principal induce
ments thereto was a wider and freer
run Of pleasures than their native
place afforded, rather than any leaning
to learning.
Fletcher had a remarkable and ma
tural aptitude for his profession, which
quickly attracted Professor Girtney's
attention, and gradually interested him
so much that he particularly distin-
guished him both in class and society.
This added to Paget's animosity,
though he himself made small endeav-
or to win any such appreciation, drop
ping in but irregularly at the lectures,
and spending much Of his time in a
fast and demoralizing set. Two or
three times. with the thought Of the
dear sister at home, Fletcher approach
ed him with the hope of influencing
him, and was repulsed at first coldly,
then almost Extensively so that at last
they only met in college, or at occa-
sional convivial parties, for Fletcher
was young and hot blooded, too and
did not disdain the enjoyments Of this
world within certain limits But one
night. at an invited supper held in one
of the noted taverns he found himself
in a mad and wild company where the
wine flowed too freely not to affect
him also, and where the uproarious
mirth gradually changed to an argu-
mentative and quarrelsome tone.
Paget was among them, far from So
ber where all were more or less intoXi-
Gated, and liquor had produced the ef-
feet of disclosing his i'll will to Fletcher
in a cool insolence that even at the
best of times the other could scarcely
have ignored.
Even in the confusion Of his brain
Fletchers chief aim was to avoid
contest with her brother, and he rose ir
his place with the intention of making
his way out from the noisy mob.
few words Of most cutting insult, di-
rected to him alone, and scarcely hearc
by any one else stayed him; man:
whole passion instantly fired his blood
a red mist swan before his eyes, ant
appalling fury that for moment made
him as white as death and as composed
at Fate. seized upon his nature ant
startled the careless lookers-on int
sudden silence Then pistol shot rams
sharp through the air, and all was con
fusion. horror and dismay.
The pistol dropped from his hand a.
soon as discharged; the report scatter
ed the fumes Of wine and the blood!
haze; he saw a dead body prone upor
the floor. a woman's face fitted an in
slant before his sight, and ne fel
down. as though struck by lightning
beside the man he had slain. WheI
the police came they found their pTis
oner easy enough to take, in a deel
swoon. which they at first also mistool
for death. and the boon companions
nearly all decamped.
The authorities obtained their chanc'
for example at last. and the occasion
was too important and impressive to b.