Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-07-21

cries were beautiful, but they don't
work in life. And so / struggled on
until l walked one day to find that
was getting old, that had gone to
, fight other mems battles and had left
my loved one at home to perish. The
first hideous sense of failure crept
J over me and paralyZed soul and body
with fear. was becoming a pauper,
You see / had always believed that a
man who poured out his life for others
, could not fail. And then I-who had
!given, given, given, always given my
time, my money, my soul, and body
walked to find that I was sucked dry,
that was played out, that was bank
Irupt in money, bankrupt in life! The
great love l had borne the world sud-
denly grew faint under the sense Of
loneliness and failure. And gave up.
1 withdrew my suit and determined to
throw myself on the generosity of the
man who owed his wealth and power
to the start had given him, the man
who destroyed my business and wreck
ed my futuue. He had made me two
offers that seemed generous when I
recalled them. / judged his character
by my own and went to his house the
night of that ball without invitation"
The doctors voice broke and he
paused. And then with the tears
streaming down his cheeks unchecked,
his accents broken with unrestrained
sobs he told the story of his meeting
with Bivens, of his abject pleading
when he had thrown pride to the
winds, of the cruel and brutal taunts,
and the last beastly insult when the
millionaire boasted Of his squandering
of millions and rejoiced that he could
faunt this in the face Of his suffer-
ing and humiliation.
And then, boy" the broken man
moaned, ''he left me with a sneer and
told me to stroll over his palace and
enjoy the evening. That I would find
his wife wearing pearl necklace which
cost a half million and jeweled slip
pers worth enough to finish my baby's
education, but that he would see US
both to the bottom of hell before I
could have one penny"
| Again the doctors voice sank into a
strangling sob. When he lifted his
head his eyes were glittering with
strange light.
And then," he went on with quiv-
ering voice, Il began to see things
red. The lust of blood was beating
in every stroke Of my heart. In vivid
flashes of blasphemous fury l saw life
from a new point of view. / began
to ask where God lived that such
things could be in his world. / saw the
bruised bodies of my fellow beings
flung before such meh as Bivens and
ground to dust 1 saw the lies that
pass for truth, the low fights for gain
at the cost of blood and tears, the
deeds that laugh at shame and honor,
and gloating over it all the brutal glory
of success. l determined to kill the
little wretch as I would stamp on
snake. And then / saw my baby stand
ing near. My hand grew limp. I felt
lthat / must save her first and then die
if need be. felt for the first time the
cunning of the elemental man, the
force that gave him food and shelter
for himself and babies before the laws
of property had come to rule the world.
reached out my hand and took by
cunning what belonged to me by right"
Again he paused and looked into
Stuart's face with hopeless stare.
| 'I-stole-a-case- -of-jewels!"
Stuart sprang to his feet with an ex-
clamation Of horror.
| "You-did-what!"
| Yes" the doctor went on hoarsely.
Il stole a case of his jewels, and sent
my girl abroad. I'm going to plead
guilty now and go to prison. 1 shall
never again lift my head in the haunts
of men,"
Stuart sobbed in anguish.
You see, boy, l failed when put to
the test. 1t doesn't make any differ
ence about my reputation. Character
only counts, and I'm a thief"
shut up!" Stuart cried fiercely,
seizing his arm. Don't say that again
and don't talk so loudly. Whatever
you did, you were insane when yeu did
it,"
No, had gust failed" the older
man insisted in dull tones, failed in
all save one thing. I've done that, at
least And l didn't forget my honor. I
rsed it for my purpose. / did as old
Palissy the great mad potter. To get
the heat required to perfect his great
est work of art, you know, he brohs
the last piece of furniture in his house
and thrust it into his furnace. So
threw my honor into the flames Of he'll
to save my little girls voice. Maybe
it was a mistake / don't know.
couldn't think then. l only know now
that life is impossible any more, and
I'm ready to go. You can send me to
prison at once, Jim, I'd rather you
would do it, for I know that you love
me and at least no unkind word will
fall from your lips before l receive
my sentence. I'll make no fight. I'm
glad l don't have to say all this to a
stranger. Yon can send me up the
river at once. I'm glad you are the
district attorney"
But I'm not l resigned my office
this morning"
"Resigned?" The doctor asked in
dazed surprise.
Yes, to go into business for myself.
had only another month to serve.
You're not going to prison if | can
help it,"
But / don't want you to help 1t.
It's the only place to go now-you
see, boy, | can't live with myself any
more! Besides I'm old and played
out; the world don't need me any
longer"
We'll, l need you," Stuart broke in,
"and you're not going to give up this