Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-08-13
CHAPTER xXVI.
The Major Files An Objection.

the dusky air, the card OF MAJOR hey'
nolds was brought in to Mrs. Fair
burn. She greeted him warmly when
he came into the room, telling him
how glad she was that he had call
ed, and added that he had almost
forgotten her during the push and
struggle of the campaign. When q
lamp had been lighted and she could
see his face, however, she knew that
something must have gone amiss
and she remembered then that ne
had said nothing since he sat down
stifly.
1.-The campaign will soon be over"
she said. "And then, of course,
shall see no more of you"
He turned his eyes upon her; a
frown was traced upon his brow.
HAS anything gone wrong, Major?'
He cleared his throat. Decidedly
Madam"
Indeed May ask what 1t is?"
You shall know. A few moments
ago, while in drug store, I was
deeply grieved to hear that you had
been seen in front of the post-office,
talking to Governor Crance; that you
had not only encouraged him to talk
to you, bu. that you permitted him
to walk home with You. ! said that
II could not be true; and I could not
believe It."
But you must have believed it,
Major. Your face and the tone of
your voice tell me that you did be-
lieve it."
"Ah, but your face and the tone of
your voice tell me that it is all mis-
take" he replied.
1T is true" she said.
"You acknowledge it?"
eff it's true, why shouldn't I ac-
knowledge it?"
"Ah, but why should 1t be true
How could you so scandalize your
state and your family? I ask you
that How could you?"
Major" she said, slowly, "a good
man deserves little credit for doing
right. 1t Is his nature to do so. But
one who for any reason has gone as
tray deserves a great deal of credit
If he makes an honest effort to re-
form. Such man deserves our SYM
pathy. He deserves something more
than our sympathy; he commands
our aid, our support, our grateful
recognition"
IF you are going to defend him I
will not stay to"
wait. I am not defending the
past record of Governor Crance. ]
know that he represents a bad cause.
but I cannot shut my eyes to the fact
that of late he has done deeds meet
for repentance"
But think Of yourself" the Major
insisted. And consider who he is
and what he represents. Think of
your standing in this community.
Alice, 1 have known you all my life
and 1 speak to you with an authority
of long friendship. 1 know the good
ness Of your heart, but you must not
allow it to bind your judgment or to
mislead your discretion. You are
rich, honored, respected; he is poor,
despised, reviled and it is believed
that to gain a political advantage he
has not hesitated to put an unspeak-
able outrage upon my family"
You don't believe it, Major" cried
Mrs Fairburn, hastily. you know
it isn't true. Have you forgotten that
night among the magnolias? Has
the memory of that mans generosity
faded from your mind?"
The tall Southerner WINGED. II am
willing" he said, Ito give him full
credit for everything that"
Then, why should not 1? 1 be-
lieve-I have good reason to believe
that this man whom you despise is
not a bad man at heart, but victim
of circumstances and environment
That he has done wrong I grant, but
I know he is capable Of better things
You and I, Major, should make II
easy, not make it difficult, for him to
reform. He has turned over to
committee two hundred thousand
dollars to"
Yes, I've heard of that" broke in
the Major, impetuously, land Its
well enough in its way. But where
did he get the money? Whose money
Is it? Did he bring it here with
him? Did he save it out Of his sal
ary? Didn't the money belong to the
state? And If so, has he done so vir-
.,o,,o thing
Eyes, he has, Major. 1t shows that
he Is trying TO make amends. 1t shows
that he is not lost to honesty and to
honor"
Alice" he said, Il have always
held you up as the model woman OF
the South-the model woman Of the
world. But 1 cannot approve OF
your action today. A thief may be
repentant, and may do good, but we
must not lose sight of the fact that
he has been a thief"
There was once a thief on the
cross" remarked the widow.
Yes" replied the Major, land ir
my opinion he has done more rea
thieves combined. He is the emblem
of eleventh hour repentance"
She was shocked and did not hest
tate to tell him so. He had presum-
ed to question the wisdom and the
mercy of the Son of Man, and she
thought him little better than a bias
phemer. He bowed his head under
her rebuke and apologized, acknowl-
edging that it was sinful of him, and
hoped that she would forget it.
II may have been indiscreet," she
said. but 1 did what I thought was
right" A Frightening change spread
over the Majors countenance. Nov
you are the girl 1 knew so well years
ago." said he. And really, Alice,
can't see that you have grown any
older"
They heard Roy in the hall, COM
manding a column of imaginary SOL