Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-07-21
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sons. the Midthornes, might nave been
hectored into a natural defiance of all
the laws of God and man. simply be-
cause the home influences that sur
n them were not calculated to
inspire gentleness of spirit or contrite-
ness of heart. With an equal chance.
Chetwynd could have been saved, but
no! The parents of that young mar
stood between him and the true agents
of God. They set themselves over
against their closed gates and said to
Gods minister: "Hands off. This is
ours"
At this ju%ncture, Horace, pallid as a
ghost, arose from his chair and. with
III looking to right or left, stalked
from the chapel, followed by his wife.
whose whitened head was bent and
whose limbs tottered.
The next day, bright and early.
Horace Blagden sent out a command to
the officers and chief men of the First
church. They obeyed, and 3 o'clock
found all of them gathered in the prl-
vate offices of the banker. They came
away from that meeting with grave
faces and troubled hearts, but just the
same, they affected no sign of hes
itancy in asking Mr.. Presbrey for his
resignation.
had known all along that he was kick
ing against the pricks but. to quote
Uncle Jabez Carr, 'he didn't know
there was a mule watin' to kick back
when he was a-lookin' t'other way"
Mr.. Presbrey refused to resign. A
great hullabaloo ensued. Corinth had
never known the like of 1t. Todville
'chuckled. and. to a man came out for
Mr.. Presbrey. The same spirit inflated
the narrow by-ways along the water
front until they were ready to burst
with acclaim. Notwithstanding Mr..
Presbrey's rigorous efforts to reform
that section of town, or to obliterate
brothel house owners and the human
dregs of Corinth joyfully took sides
with him in the fight against Horace
Blagden, a rather anomalous condi-
ton. you may say. but perfectly natur-
al If you pause to consider the rela-
tive Influence Of the two c~ontenders.
Lower Corinth had no fear of God, but
Therefore. If it could destroy Horace,
there would be nothing to fear.
A subsequent letter from Mary in
formed Eric that Mr.. Presbrey was to
open a school for boys on the old Dex-
ter farm. just above Corinth. A
youngish mar from Boston was likely
to be called to the First church. He
had preached for two Sundays on trial
and Uncle Horace was quite enthusiasts
tic over him.
Few n far between were the let
tiers the young man received from his
uncle. They were always of a business
nature. absolutely undertaking in that
respect. Drafts from dividends, re-
ports on properties, n matters of that
sort. There eve was a letter from
Aunt Rena. She made no effort to be
friendly.
But one day. a month before he was
to sail for home. Eric received from his
uncle a letter that sorely disturbed his
peace of mind. 1t revived the old dread
that grew up with him from childhood
and which had lain dormant for the
past few years-the dread of the pro-
phecy concerning himself and Mary. He
had killed his man. That much of it
was fulfilled. Now. what of Mary?
Was she to fulfill her part Of the ugly
prophecy?
His uncle. after apologising for call
ing his attention to the unpleasant mat
ter to follow. wrote:
Il am very glad to hear that you are
coming home. 1t is not, as l have stat
ed before in this letter. my custom to
Interfere in the affairs of others. Since
you and Mary reached an age that war
ranted the belief that you would be
capable of thinking soundly for your
selves, L have not undertaken to OBJ
rude my opinions, much less to offer
criticism of any act or impulse.
You, Eric. I knew to be level headed
ana steady. 1 have had no fears for
you: Regardlng Mary: I cannot speak
SO c~onfldently. She is hayward and
she is extremely pretty. The combina-
tlon Is not as desirable as it may seem,
as viewed from the vantage point of an
older head. We have tried to keep the
path she traverses clean and free from
communicating influences. But she sees
NJ TO resent III thoughtful considera-
ZION. / am NOR Yr0foo7fn~ - roe. 5000
delusivelv. that she has overstepped
the bounds of propriety in any sense Of
the term. / believe Mary to be a good
girl and pure minded.
You recall young Payson. He is now.
as you doubtless know, living in New
YORK. where be has a position with a
large bond house-a responsible posi-
ton. 1 hear. He belongs to several
clubs and is what is termed a mar
amout town. The influences Of Corinth
seem to have deserted him. I am not
questioning his integrity. That privilege
was denied me long ago. l a mistaken
about him once: shall not fall into
wrong. Had it not been for III arrogant
demands of Adam Carr. I should have
been inclined to restore him to his po-
sition in the bank. But that was not to
be considered. I W nothing to the
generosity Of Adam Carr. He is my
enemy.
Now to come to the point. Mary. who
will o o be 81. has taken a great fancy
to this young man. He visits his mother
here regularly and. while l cannot ask
him to come to my home. Mary sees
him frequently and in a clanGestine
manner. Your aunt and I have remon-
strated. but to no avail. She goes about
with him when the occasion presents
itself. She rides In his automobile with
strange men and women from New
York-flashy women who drink and
smoke. am sorry to say that She
seems to be estranged from her friend