Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-07-03

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the stairs leading to the press gallery
Langdon spread the paper before
him with difficulty with his trembling
hands. Slowly his whirling brain gave
him the ability to read. Slowly what
appeared to him as jumbled nothing
resolved into orderly lines and words
He read and again stood before the
senate, which had regafned its usual
composure after the fallen sergeant at
arms had regained his feet and rubbed
his bruises
1T do not think there will be any in.
vestigation," he said, with decided eff
fort struggling to down the emotion
that choked him. II ask this house to
listen to the following letter:
"Dear Senator Langdon--When you
receive this letter | shall be we'll on
my way to take steamer for Cuba. |
write to ask you not to think too
harshIy of me, for will always cher
ish thoughts of the friendship you have
shown me.
"Peabody and Stevens have finally
proved too much for me. When they
cot old Teller to swear to a forged
contract and wanted me to forge your
name in the land records at Gulf City,
| threw up my hands. Their game will
always go on, ! suppose, but you gave
them a shock when you broke up their
.Aitacoola graft scheme. And I'm glad
you did. They cast me aside today,
probably thinking they could get me
again if they needed me.
~ am going on the sugar plantation
Of a friend, whore ! can make new
start and forget that ! ever went to
Washington"
Langdon paused deliberately. The
senate was hushed. The galleries were
stilled. Not even the rustic of a sheet
of paper was heard In the reporters
gallery. The Mississippian gazed
around the senate chamber He saw
Stevens and Peabody craning their
necks across the aisle and talking ex-
citedly to each other
Then be stepped forward and spoke,
waving the paper In the air.
This letter is signed Charles Nor
TOM"
The old southerner gazed triumphant
ly at the men who had sought to de-
stroy him. 1t was with difficulty that
the presiding officer could hammer
down the burst of handclapping that
arose from the galleries.
Senator Horton, however was not
Satisfied with Langdon's sudden as
cepdestS. s1axsz4nss--------
How do we know that that letter is
not forgery. trick" he exclaimed.
go get Congressman Norton-if you
can--and get his denial" responded
Langdon.
The Junior senator from Mississippi
hurriediy pushed his way out of the
senate chamber. His days work was
done. EEwxasxsll.-sp-.-.-~s@
=
Down on broad plantation along
the Pearl river an old planter, who has
borne his years well, as life goes now
adays, passes his days contentedly. He
delights In the rompings of his grand
children as they rouse the echoes OF
the mansion and prides himself on the
achievements Of their father, Ran
dolph, who has improved the planta-
ton to a point never reached before.
Sometimes he receives letter from
his daughter, Hope Georgia, now Mrs.
Haines, telling him OF her happy life, or
perhaps 1t is a letter from Carolina,
describing the good times she is having
In London with the friends she is visit
ing.
And the old planter goes out on the
broad yeranda In the warm south
ern twilight, and he thinks of the
days that were: He reme9pers how
the Third Mississippi won the day at
Charlottesville. He thinks of the days
when he fought the, good fight in
Washington. His thoughts turn to the
memory of her who went before these
many years and whom he is soon to
see again, and peace descends on the
soul of the gentleman from Mlssis-
sippi as the world drops to slumber
around him.
THE END.