The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1909-01-21

! right 10 revilc--a man apparently 10
! better than the boss himSelf-than any
/ dishonest heelcr i'll the organization,
! And. as if il were not enough that
! the Idol of n lifetime were hurled,
! crushed and dc,il"d. from its bright
pedestal, the family name must next
/ he ragged through the mire of pG!it-
/ ical Nth and i'll rcputc and the dead
+ mans memory forever blasted. Either
/ that or his son must withdraw from
! The gallant fight he was waging against
! civic corruption. for that lIJrrigan
! would carry out his threat and hlaZ"n
/ forth - the world the story and proofs
! of the elder Bcnnctt'S shame Aiwyn
had no doubt. With all his faults the
boss vas 4 man of his word.
Stop Your fight against U.s." Horri-
gan mad said. and the report is
! burned"
Yes. the boss was man Of his word.
Even Bennett admitted that. He would
! fU!f,l his promise in either event
ListlesSly Awyn began to review
the case. ON the one side Il perhaps
! QuiX";tc fight FOR an abstract principle
"A fight whose. reward was political
death. loss of the woman lie adorcd.
family shame that might crush his
fragile Old mother TO the very grave.
On the other wealth, honor. love, the
covernorship, future happy and clori-
oUS.
Was he not a foo, 10 hesitate: Had
hc hot saived his conscience sufficient
~ by vetoinC the Borough franchise
biz: Had he the right to bring this
new shame upon his mothers gray
head: Where lay his highest duty:
The soft ruStling Of silk and hand
laid in light carcSs upon his head
aroused the miserable man from his
reflections.
Bennett looked up TO see his mother
standing beside him. She had thrown
on wrapper and in slippered feet had
stolen noiseleSsly into the study.
Il was awakened by voices" she eX-
planned. II thought heard some one
talking cxcitedly in here. Is anything
the natter
Nothing. nothing dear" h~answer-
ed gently, drawing the little old lady
affectionately down t>Sa seat on his
knee and smiling mar. lilly into her
sleep flushed face; nothing is the mat
ter. Only a business call
"A business call Ut > o'clock in the
morning. she exclaimed. Dear boy,
you are working too hard. Your father
never brought his business worries and
work home. He always left them at
the Office. Can't YOU do the same:
You'll wear yourself out"
1y father tegan Bennett, but
the name choked him.
"You are growing to be so much like
him." went on Mrs. Bennett fondly.
"And it makes me so happy that you
are. Your splendid fight against that
infamous Borough bill, for instance.
How proud he would have been OF
that. 1t is just the sort Of thing he
himself would have done in your place.
He was surrounded with wicked and
dishonest men just as you are. But
through it all he remained true, hon
orable. incorruptible. What a grand
heritage for my son! He Alwyn"
she broke Off. alarmed, why do you
look at me that way? 1 never saw
such q look in Your eyes before. Are
you i'll? Has something happened that
you are keeping from me-
"No. no." evaded Bennett. Il only
You had 4 caller here before |
came in pursued the mother. refusing
to abandon the clew to which her wo-
manly intuition had led her. He
brought you bad news? Tell me, dear.
I'm your mother. and love YOU
You are making my course more
difficult for me by asking such ques-
tions, mother" he answered wretched-
ly, "and p
81 only want to help you. Alwyn.
can't bear TO see you miserable. A
woman's wit and a mothers love are
often combination that can solve
problems beyond even the wisest
mans powers of logic. Let me help
YOU
Il was trying to make up my mind
vaguely replied Bennett, sorely DIS
tressed by her pleading, whether a
man ought to follow his conscience.
even if it leads TO heartbreak for those
he loves. or whether he ought TO let
conscience go by the board for once
and protect the happiness of his loved
ones"
"Alwyn, How can YOU hesitate
second over such a question. One must
do right, no matter what the conse-
quence.'
Il don't know about that" he said
moodily.
you know it perfectly well. 1t Is
what your father would have advised
and But, Alwyn, you surely are not
making yourself unhappy over a mere
supposititious case"
"Wen," he continued, 'let us take
mere supposititious case if you like.
Suppose, for instance, that man hold
ing a position of trust had had IA