News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1909-04-14
a Gentleman
From Mississippi
By THOMAS A. eVISE
NoxehScd From The Play by Frederick r. Toomh<
COPYRIGHT THOMAS A. WISE

retary.
II expect I'm going to be pretty bus
: the rest of the evening, Bud, so /
u case I forget to mention it again RI
member to show up at your old des
" In the morning"
81 will. Thank you. sir"
: "You sent for us, senator" said Nor
ton, approaching with his two dupes.
you are interested in Altacool
q lands" the senator angrily charged
! Il am, sir" he said.
"And you told Mr.. Haines that wa,
interested in Altncoola lands?"
The schemer hesitated, and the sen
| ator broke in on him in rage.
Speak out, man! Tel the truth ii
, you can"
81 did" admitted the congressman
finally.
WAS there any particular reason fol-
your not telling the TRUTH" demanded
the Mississippian in threatening tone.
81 told the TRUTH replied Norton.
''You are interested in them"
For an instant Langdon seemed
about to step toward him, then he con-
trolled himself
Il didn't know It," he said.
"You have several things to learn,
senator" declared the congressman.
81 have things to learn and things
to teach" he said. But go on. Why
am | interested|
you are interested, SENATOR" replied
the trickster, making his big play,
through your son Randolph, who in
vested $4,000 Of your money in Alta
coCla, and also through your daugh-
ter, Miss Carolina, who, acting on my
advice has put her own money-$25,-
000-in AltacoOla land also"
For moment Langdon was speech
less. 1t was too much at first for the
honest old southerner to comprehend.
"You mean," he gasped at last. that
you induced a boy to put $4,000 in
Altacoola land when you knew | had
to vote on the bill? And you even
let my daughter put her money in the
same scheme?"
"Of course | did. It>was a splendid
chance, and | let your son in for
friendship and your daughter because
she has done me the honor to promise
to become my wife"
"What! You have my daughters
promise to marry you, YOU
''She admits it herself"
"Then | reckon here's where l lose
a prospective son-in-law," sneered |
Langdon. But that's unimportant. |
Now, Norton. who's behind your"
81 must decline to answer that"
Langdon looked ut him sternly.
Very WELL" he said. You are too |
small to count. I'll find out for myself.
Now you go to my study and wait
there until send for you. l must be
alone with my children"
When Norton and .Haines had left |
them, Langdon turned sadly to the two
children who had disgraced him.
Can you understand? ?" he said. "Do
you know what you've done to me?"
What, father? We've done nothing
protested Carolina
They told me it was perfectly legiti-
mate" urged Randolph. They said
rybOdy-Peabody and Stevens and
he rest-were in it, and Peabody is the
BOSS Of the senate"
Yes, my boy" assered the old
PLANTER. hes the leader in the senate,
ma that's the shameful part of all this
that a Nnan of his high standing
hOuid set you so miserable an exam
lie"
Randolph Langdon was not vicious
adj. not youth who preferred or chose
for the increased rewards
offered He was at heart chival-
GUS. straightforward, trustful south
Tn boy who believed in the splendid
traditions of his family and loved his
ather as a son should parent having
he qualities of the old hero of Craw
Ordsville. Jealous of his honor, he had
cen victim of Norton's wies because
f the congressman's position and pur
because this companion of
is young days had won his confidence
nd had not hesitated to distort the
ads idea of what was right and what
vas wrong
Randolph began an indignant protest |
gainst his fathers reproof when the
enator cut him short
Don't you see?' said the senator.
l can understand there being rascals
! the outside world and that they
hould believe your careless. foolish
Id father lawful game. but that he
hould be thought tool for dishonest ,
lieving by members of his own fam
y is incomprehensible.
Randolph, my son, Carolina, my
aughter through all their generations !
he Langdons have been honorable. !
our mother was a Randolph. and this
'om you! Oh, Carolina! And, you. J
How could you? How ,
)uld you betray or seek to betray your
lther, who sees in you the image of !
BUR dear mother, who has gomez" r