The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-07-10
A MAJOR AND
A MASHER,
The Gruff Old Soldier Conquered
In Spite of Himself.
BY SUSAN n. ENDIcoTT.

Major James Godfrey. o. S. A, re-
tired and living in his own villa with
wife and daughter. had several fadS
and fancies to keep the family and the
neighbors busy. but one particular fad
was destined TO get him iuto trouble
sooner or later.
He could read in his morning paper
with the greatest equanlmity Of muir
ders, robberieS, assaults, thefts and
burnings at the stake, but when he
came across an item about masher
he fired up at once and shouted out
that he would give $500 out of his own
pocket to see the scoundrel lynched or
sent to prison for life.
His daughter used to look at him in
wonder when he broke out In this
fashion, while the wife was discreet
ly silent. Perhaps the latter had ttirt-
ed bit before giving her heart to the
major and he was remembering 1t III
his old age.
For three months Miss Kate had
wanted to attend an art school in the
CITY and receive instructions. During
those three months there happened to
be an unusual number Of ''maSies' re-
corded IN the papers. and the father
would not hear Of her even running up
to town TO do little shopping unless
ne or the mother went along. he
was as firm as the rock of Gibraltar.
After time. however. the record be-
gan to peter out. and us he was pleas
ed with what his daughter had already
done with the brush and had hopes Of
her future the major finally gave his
consent. It was only eight miles to
the city. and then a street car would
take her right 10 the doors Of the
school. All she had to do. going and
coming. as the father told her over and
over, was to keep her eyes cast down
and her purse clutched tightly in her
hand,
Unknown to her. he took the same
train to the city with her for week.
and then. as nothing happened and his
rheumatism got worse, he left her to
make Qer way alOue.
Two weeks had passed when Miss
Kate came home one afternoon In a
futter Her mother happened to be
out. and she must tell some one. She
therefore related to the father that
while on the street cur en- route to the
depot and home some thief had snip
ped the chain Of her purse and borne
the prize away. The prize held her
return ticket aud dime.
At the depot she found her tears
falling. but q good Samaritan had
come forward aud handed her change
enough for the fare. She couldn't eX-
actly say whether he was grand
father or young man, homely or good
looking. He had spoken only few
words and lifted his hat and retired.
1t might have been white hat or
black one-she could not tell. Obey
ing her father, she had kept her eyes
on the floor and they were filled with
tears besides.
The major heard the story to the
end. and then he roared. The man
who had taken pity on her financial
condition at the depot was q masher.
of course He had followed her home
on the train. He would meet her
again and make The matter an excuse
for addressing ncr.
He was no grandfather but a young
man and no doubt professional
masher Miss Kate should have re-
pulsed him with scorn. She should
have had him arrested She should
have hired truck to bring her home
or walked II all the trucks were busy.
For quarter Of an hour he scolded
and growled and then wound up by
saying that the art school business
was at an end She could attend no
more. He would sit on tue front ve
randa with shotgun across his knees.
and IL that plotting masher even
passed the house he should carry
away buckshct. fears were shed and
loving appeals made but the rock Of
Gibraltar WAS right there.
Two weeks passed and the maShcr
did not appear. 81 least the major did
not fire upon any of the young men
driving or walking on the highway.
The daughter felt that the stranger
had been act,!ated by the kindcst mo-
tfves. He had spoken just enough
not q word more. He had not offered
his card The fare was only - cents.
but she felt ashamed that she could
not return it. Had opportunity offered
Tor second meeting she would have
insisted on doing so.
Two weeks passed away. and then
tte mother went 70 the city 10 do Il
Ntt!c shopping. She also came home
with q tale to tel She thought she
was telling it TO h"r daughter alone,
but it so happened that the major was
ESt outside the window and heard
every word. She had finished her
shopping and reached the depot when
she realized that she had spent all her
money \ good Samaritan came for
ward. He smiled. r;;Isc! Ills h&,. and
that was all
But Mrs. Major Godfrey's eyes he'd
not been filed with tears and cast
down. She had seen that Inc was 4
gcntlrmnnly looking young man OF
twenty and that he took the same
train as she did and evidently lived
farther down the line Then Miss
Kate thought she remembered that In