Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-03-18
A Gentleman
From Mississippi
BY THOMAS A. nvISE
Noyeiised From tie PEay by Frederick r. Toomb<
COPYRIGHT. 1909 THOMAS A.
COPYRIGHT. 1909. BY THOMAS a. WISE
By THOMAS A. n1I


I "And you told Mr.. Haines that l was
Interested in Altacoola lnnds?"
| The schemer hesitated, and the sem
ator broke in ON him In rage.
Speak out mani Tell the truth, IL
you can"
II did," admitted tho congressman
finally.
"Was there any particular reason for
your not telling the truth" demanded
the Mississippian in threatening tone.
II 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.
II didn't know It," he said.
| "You have several things to learn,
SENATOR" declared the congressman.
II 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
coola, and also through your daugh-
ter, Miss Carolina, who. acting on my
advice, has put her own money-$2h-
OOO-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 bill7 And you even
let my daughter put her money In the
same scheme"
"Of course did. 1t 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 1t herself"
'Then I reckon here's where lose
prospective son-in-law," sneered
Langdon. "But that's unimportant.
Now, Norton. who's behind your"
II must decline to answer that"
Langdon looked at him sternly.
every WELL" he said. you are too
small to count I'll find out for myself.
Now you goato my study and wait
there until Irsend for you. I 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. EDO
you know what you've done to met"
"What, father7 We've done nothing
wrong" protested Carolina.
'They told me twas perfectly legiti-
mate" urged Randolph. "They said
everybody-Peabody and Stevens and
the rest-were In 1t, and Peabody Is the
boss Of the senate"
Eyes, my boy" asssnted the old
planter, "he's the leader In the senate,
and that's the shameful part Of all this
that a man Of his high standing
should set you 80 miserable an exam
pie" st
Randolph Langdon was not vicious
lad, not youth who preferred or chose
wrongdoing for the increased rewards
It offered. He was at heart chival-
rous, straightforward, trustful south
ern boy who believed In the splendid
traditions Of his family and loved his
father az son should parent ha{ing
the qualities Of the old hero Of Craw-
louisville. Jealous of his honor, he had
been victim Of Norton's wiies because
of the consressman's position and pur-
suasiveness, because this companion OF
his young days had won his confidence
and had not hesitated to distort the
lads idea of what was right and what
was wrong.
Randolph began an indignant protest
against his fathers reproof when the
senator cut him short.
Don't you seeY' said the senator.
~ can understand there being rascals
in the outside world and that they
should believe your careless. foolish
old father lawful game. but that he
should be thought tool for dishonest
thieving by members Of his own FAM
lily is incomprehensible.
randolph, my son, Carolina, my
daughter, through all their generations
the Langdons have been honorable.
Your mother was Randolph, and this
from you! Oh. Carolina! And, you,
Randolph! How could you? How
could you betray or seek to betray your
father, who sees in you the image Of
YOUR dear mother, who has gomez"
(To be Continued)