The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1919-04-30
CHAPTER TX
THE ASCENT is BEGUN

While Samantha was ATTENDING
parties at Devondale and making
love to Oscar her pledge to Merlir
almost forgotten, The, far away II
the west was laying the foundation
of his future and taking firm foot
hold on the steep trail that leads
upwards to the heights OF Success
Amidst the most trying conditions
battling temptations like a Lion
never doubling her fidelity, he was
shaping for himself glorious ca
reer all for her sake. Despite his
combats with a sordid environment
and his deeper insight into the al
fairs of men, the nobler ideals OF
his boyhood had not been shattered
His faith in the sublimity and
steadfastness of true love had not
been shaken. So he hoped and
trusted and struggled upward look
ing always forward to the time
when the broken links of his ro-
lIldHCt WOuil uhi'NN'
When he first came to Smith
vile, he reached there, as we have
recorded, in the night. Being an
utter stranger and knowing of the
town he was at q loss to know
where he should spend the night
so he politely ask an old gentleman
where he could find a lodging place.
"Air We stranger here" the aged
man asked, cycling him closely.
Eyes sir, l am a perfect stranger
And what might your business
be?"
Il have none just at present
answered Merlin with a smile,
but | am looking for a position
and intend to locate here if l can
land anything"
"Oh, l see.' you're from the
east The old man, finding that
Merlin was not of questionable
character, took quite an interest in
him. Eyes | can show you a place"
he said 81 run a little boarding
house down the street" Its the
only one in town, and if you can
put up with my simple fare, l
should like to board you.
Certainly anything suits me ex-
cept a costly place answered Mer-
lin.
SO he followed his to be host
down the dimly lighted street until
they came to a large building on
the corner 1t was crowded with
men and women, brilliant lights
were streaming through the win
dows and in the center of the drunk
en- crowd sat mexican singing a
plaintive spanish air and strumm-
ing softly on a guitar. The old man
paused in front Of the building,
do you ever drink anything?" ne
asked turning to Merlin.
mo sir" he answered, half in
dignantly.
"Then would you like a cigar"
NO, I do not use tobacco in any
form"
so much the better for YOU
said the elderly man, as they con-
tinued on down the street But
thought ! would offer to set'em
up for sociability sake, anyhow"
IF / drank / wouldn't care to go
to that place to do it. 1t seems to
be a kind OF imitation hell, doesn't
it?" Merlin motioned toward the
saloon.
yes that is a pretty tough joint
but no worse than any other of it's
kind. They are all baby bells, but
she seems TO be on boom tonight
all the miners are on a spree, l
think. They are keeping Pedro
pretty busy from the looks of
things"
"Who is Pedro" ask Merlin
"Oh that's the Mexican who was
pickin' the Guitar in there. He's a
boaTdeT up at my house, mighty
nice fellow when he likes you, but
sneaker and mean as the devil
when he dOesen't. If he takes up
with you he would die for you but
if he don't like you, you'de better
ch him."
You say he boards at your
house"
"Yes and so does three niggers
and a Chink. That's what will get
your goat. You fellers from the
east are 50 blasted proud and think
so much of family tradition that
you wouldn't speak to man unless
he had a family tree as big as
red oak. but you will have to get
out of that if you succeed in Smith
Vile. Everybody goes shoulder
to shoulder here"
Merlin did not exactly like this
talk but he walked on in silence