The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-12-09

FORGOTTEN OF Mem.
. 3
By ". Bert Foster.

in the sunniest angle Of the debtors
court. The much hacked armchair
which he occupied had evidently seen
service in its better days at the desk
of some good-natured official. His
thin hair showed in silver streaks
between the rim of his battered hat
and the frayed collar of his coat. His
other apparel correspondent with the
hat and coat; he was shabby, but not
unkempt. The shiny coat was
brushed speckless; the old shoes,
rudely patched by the prison cobbler,
were polished; his face was clearly
shaven. Old Jimmy's neatness was
a source of wonder to his comrades in
debtors row.
He was a patriarch of the constant
ly changing company who idled daily
in the court behind the workhouse.
They called themselves "boarders"-
a pleasantly at which each was *
pected to laugh; but after a time the
laugh grew hollow, and the jibe was
a mockery.
Some idled away the dragging
hours at dominoes, or wrangled nois-
lily over the quoits at the further end
of the court. There were those, how
ever, who walked the court incessant-
ly-"for exercise" they said; but it
was the exercise of the Gagged creature
used to the wild freedom of the for
ests and plains.
Old Jimmy was past both stages
of the experience. AS the nonchalance
of the first few weeks gives way to the
lash of anxiety which drives a man to
and fro like the captive beast, so the
latter had, in old Jimmy's case, grad
ually grown into a gentle apathy.
Old Jimmy had been in the debtors
prison five years. The grave and the
prison door successfully shut out the
memory Of a man, and five years is
a long time for ones friends to re-
member. He had no kin and few
friends when the prison door closed
upon him and he had been forgotten
long since.
But there was n who had not.
He was not quite forgotten of men,"
The pitiful spite of the man who
had sent ole Jimmy to this place, and
the pitiful s~tubbornness of the debtor
himself, still. kept him here. Some
times newcomers asked the patriarch
why he did not take the OATH" and
the question always brought a flush
to his withered cheek and an express
sion to his eye that few understood.
He felt that it would give his enemy
more satisfaction for him to obtain
his freedom in that way than it did to
keep him shut up; therefore he re-
fused the proffered means of escape.
The officers were all friendly with
old Jimmy. He never made any trou-
BILE and he was useful in breaking
in" newcomers. Sometimes they mar
yelled that so quiet and unobstrusive
a man could be so stubborn.
What would you do if you got
out, jimmy" somebody asked.
I'm sure I don't know" replied
the patriarch, gently. Il had begun
to find it hard to get work because of
my age when I came in. 1t would,
I suppose, be much harder now.
Well, I expect I am much better off
here, and as long as 1 am here l know
that there is at least one of my fel,
lowmen outside who thinks of me-"
A ghost of a smile fickered across
his face. Yes, yes" he repeated, Il
expect l am much better off here"
AS he sat in the fall sunshine to-
day, his face was as grave and i'm
passive as usual; but memories were
stirring within him that had not trou-
bled him for months. 1t was the
anniversary of his entrance upon
prison life and-but who can express
the feelings Of a soul whose limits
have been the bare gray walls of a
prison pep for so long a time? Per-
haps not the soul itself.
So wrapped in thought was he that
he did not notice the sudden hush in
the court, or hear the firm, quick step
at his side. 1t was only when a hand
rested on his shoulder, that he looked
up. The deputy himself stood beside
him.
We'll, Jimmy, I've got news for
you. The CHEEKY voice rang out in
sharp contrast to the hum of subdued
conversation that had before filled the
air.
For me, deputy" The old man
had, risen and looked into the officers
face with slowly dawning surprise.
Yes, Jimmy. The best kind of
news" Then he added, in a lower
tone: You're going out"
"Im-going-out?"
THAT'S it, my man"
The old man moistened his lips be-
fore speaking again and his voice
shook:
Are you sure it's me, Deputy"
"Of course | am" The deputy's
laugh again filled the court. Il came
to tell o myself, old man. Why, |
verify believe you're not glad"
Old Jimmy's face had paled and
his voice still tremblea.
"What-what has happened, SIR"
ITO him."
Old Jimmy always spoke of his en-
envy in that way and the official al
most unconsciously adopted the term.
The patriarch nodded.
Il couldn't tell you. Simply the
money for your board hasn't come, so
that lets you out. Go get your traps
and come along"
NIL IL o- II,