Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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/ >**%?■“* ■ JTIS I ABNER DANIEL By .. . WILL N. HARDEN A.ulhor of “tOtJterfelt" Copyright, 1902. by HARPER BROS., Who Publish the Work in Book Form. All Rights Reserved • • V t CHAPTER XXIX. HE mass meeting at Spring- town was a most important event. It was held in the Courthouse in the center of the few straggling houses which made up the hamlet. The entire Bishop fam ily. including the servants, attended. Pole Baker brought his wife and all the children in a new spring wagon. Daiiey society was represented, its the Springtown Gazette afterward put it. by the fairest of Ihe fair, Miss Dolly Barclay, accompanied by her mother aud father. The courthouse yard was alive with groups of men, eagerly talking over the situation. Every individual whose land was to be touched by the propose:! road was on hand to protect his rights. Pole Baker was ubiquitous, trying to ascertain tin* drift of matters. He was. however, rather unsuccessful. He discovered that many of the groups ceased to talk when lie entered them. “Some'n's up,” he told Alan and Mil lec In the big, bare looking courtroom. “1 don’t know what it is, but I smell a rat, an’ it ain’t no little one nutlier.” “Opposition,” said Miller gloomily. “1 saw that as soon as I came. If they really were in favor of the road, they'd be here talking it over with us.” “I’m afraid that’s it,” said Alan. “Joo Bartell is the most interested, and he seems to be a sort of ringleader. 1 don’t like the way he looks. I saw him jneer at Wilson when he drove up just sow. I wish Wilson hadn’t put on so much style—kid gloves, plug hat and a negro driver." “No, that won't go down with this crowd,” agreed Miller. “It might in the slums of Boston, but not with these lords of the mountains. As for Bartell, i think I know what ails him. He’s go ing to run for the legislature and thinks he can make votes by opposing us—convincing bis constituency that we represent moneyed oppression. Well, he may down us, but it’s tougli on hu man progress.” At the hour appointed for the meet Ing to oi>eu a young man who held the office of bailiff in the county and seemed proud of his stentorian voice opened one of the windows and shout ed: “Come in to court! Come in to court!" and the motley loiterers below began to clatter up the broad stairs and fall into the seats. Joe Bartell, a short, thickset man in the neighborhood of fifty, with a liorid face and a shock of reddish hair, ic'd about twenty men up the aisle to the Jury benches at the right of the stand. They were the landowners whose consent to grant the right of way was asked. Stern op position was clearly written on the Ipader’s brow and more or less distinct ly reflected on the varying faces of his followers. “Ef we needed it, it ud be a different matter." Miller overheard him say in a sudden lull ns the big room settled down into sudden quiet, “but we kin do without it- We’ve got along so fur an' we kin furder. All of us bus got good teams." Wilson in his crisp, brusque way made the opening speech. He and his capital were going to dispel darkness where it had reigned since the dawn ol civilization. All that was needed, be finished, was the consent of the proper ty owners appealed to, who, he fell confident, would not stand in their own light. He had hardly taken his seat when Joe Bartell stood up. Alan and Miller exchanged ominous glances. They had at once recognized the inappropriate ness of Wilson’s speech and did not like the wHte. twitching sneer on Bar tell’s smooth shaven face. It was as if Bartell had been^for a long time seeking Just such an opportunity to make himself felt in the community, and there was no doubt that Wilson’s almost dictatorial speech had made a fine opening for him. “Fellow citizens an’ ladles an’ gen tlemen," he began, “we are glad to welcome amongst us a sort of a second savior in our Sodom an' Gomorry of crackerdom. What the gentleman with the plug hat an’ spike toe shoes ain’t a-goin' to do fer us the Lord couldn't. He looks nice an’ talks nice, an’, to use his words, 1 don’t believe he deceives appearances I’ll bet one thing, an’ that Is ’at he won’t deceive us. Accord in’ to him we need Mm every hour, as the Sunday school song puts it. Yes, he’s a-goin’ to he’p us powerful an’ right off. An’, fellow citizens. I’m beer to propose a vote o’ thanks. He's from away up in Boston, whar, they tell me, a nigger sets an’ eats at the same table with the whites. When his sort come this away durin’ the war. with all the’r up to date implimeots of slaughter, they laid waste to ever’thlng they struck, shot us like rabbits in holes an’ then went back an’ said they'd had a good bunt But they’ve been livin’ high up thar sence the war, an’ the’r tim ber is a-playin’ out. an’ they want some more new, an’ they want it bad. So they send the’r representatives out to find It an* lay hold of It. How does be htrppen to come beer? As well as I kin make out old Alf Bishop, a good man an’ a southern soldier—a man that 1 haln't got nothin’ agin, except maybe he holds his head too high—made up his uilnd awhile back that lumber would bo In demand some day. an' he set to vork buyin' all the timber land he could lay his hands on. Then, when he had morc’n he could tote an’ was about to go under, he give this gentleman a’ option on it. Well, so fur so good; but. rentlemeu. what have we got to do • :,, i this trade? Nothin’ as 1 kin see. But we are expected to yell an’ holler an’ deed ’em a free right of way through our property so they kin ship the timber straight through to the north an’ turn it into cold Yankee coin. We don't count in this shuffle, gentle men. We git our pay fer our land in bein’ glad an* heerin’ car bells an’ steam whistles in the middle o’ the night when we want to sleep. The en gynes will kill our hogs, cuttle an' bosses an’ now an’ then break the neck o’ some chap that wasn’t hit in the war, but we mustn’t forget to be glad an’ bend the knee o’ gratitude. Ot' course we all know the law kin compel us to give the right of way, but it pro vides fer just and sufficient payment fer the property used; an’, gentlemen. I’m agin donations. I’m agin ’em tooth an’ toe nail.” There was thunderous and ominous applause when Bartell sat down. Wil son sat Hushed and embarrassed, twirling his gloves in his hands. He had expected anything but this per sonal fusillade. He stared at Miller in surprise over that gentleman's easy, half amused smile as he stood up. “Gentlemen,” he began, “and ladies,” he added, with a bow to the right and left. “As many of you know, I pre tend to practice law a little, and I want to say now that I’m glad Mr. Bartell ain’t in the profession. A lawyer with his keen wit and eloquence could con vict an innocent mother before a jury of her own children. [Laughter.] And that’s the point, gentlemen. We are innocent of the charges against us. I am speaking now of my clients, the Bishops. They are deeply interested hi the development of this section. The elder Bishop does hold his head high, and in this case he has held it high enough to smell coming prosperity in the air. Ho believed it would conic, and that is why lie bought timber lands extensively. As for the accused gen tlemnn from the Hub of the universe, I must say that I have known him for several years and have never heard a word against his character. He is not a farmer, but a business man, and it would be unfair to judge him b$ T any ether standard. He is not only a busi ness man, but a big one. lie handles big things. Tli!s railroad is going to be a big thing for you and your chil dren. Yes, Wilson Is all right. lie didn’t fight in the late unpleasantness. He tells the women he was too young. Wilson is here to build a railroad for your good and prosperity, and be can’t build one where there is nothing to haul out. If he buys up timber for his company, it is the only way to get thorn to back him in the enterprise. Now, gentlemen of the opposition, if there are any here today, don’t let the thought of Wilson’s possible profit rob you of this golden opportunity. I live at Darley, but. as many of you know, this is my father’s native county, and I want to see it bloom in progress and blossom like the rose of prosperity. I want to see the vast mineral wealth buried In these mountains dug out for the benefit of mankind wherever God’s sunlight falls.” Miller sat down amid much applause, a faint part of which came even from the ranks of Bartell's faction. After this a pause ensued in which no one seemed willing to speak. Colonel Bar clay rose and came to Miller. “That was a good talk.” he whis pered. “You understand how to touch / "Wc'U take a vote on U an’ let you know." • ■ ’em up. You set them to laughing; that’s the thing. I wonder If It would do auy good for me to try my hand.” “Do they know you have any timber land over here?" asked Miller. Ob, yes; I guess they do,” replied the colonel. “Then i don’t believe I’d chip in,” ad vised Miller. “Bartell would throw It up to you.” “I reckon you are right.” said Bar clay, “but for the Lord’s sake do some thing. It never will do to let this thing fall through.” “I’ve done all I can,” said Miller de jectedly. “Bartell’s got the whole gang hoodooed, the blasted blockhead! Wouldn’t he make a fine representative In the legislature?” The colonel went back to his seat, and Wilson came to Miller Just as Alan approached. “It's going to fall flatter than a pan cake,” said Wilson. “My company simply cannot afford to buy the right of way. Can’t you choke that illiterate fellow over there or—or buy him off?” “He ain’t that sort,” said Miller dls- lonsolately. Alan glanced at Ids father and moth er. On their wrinkled faces lay ample evidences of dejection. The old man seemed scarcely to breathe. i : p to Bartell’s speech he had seemed buoy antly hopeful, but his horizon had changed. Ho looked as if he were wondering why he had treated himself to such a bright view of a thing which had no foundation at all. At this juncture Abner Daniel rose from his scat near the stove and slow ly walked forward till he stood fac ing the audience. Immediately quiet reigned, for lie was a man who was in variably listened to. “Gentlemen an’ ladies,” he began, clearing his throat and wiping hia mouth with h s long hand. “This ain’t no put in o’ mine, gracious knows. I hain’t got nothin’, an’ I don’t expect to lose or gain by what is done in this matter, but I want to do what I kin fer what I think is right an’ proper. Fer my part, I don’t think we kin do without a railroad much longer. Folks 1 is a-pokin’ fun at us, I tell you. It’s God's truth. T’other day I was over at Darley a-walkin’ along the railroad nigh the turnin’ table, whar they flirt engynes round like children on a flyin’ jinny, when all at once a big strappin’ feller with a red flag in his hand run up an’ knocked me off’n the track ker- whallop in a ditch. It was just in time to keep me from bein’ run over by a switch engyne. He was as mad as Tucker. ‘Looky’ beer.’ ses he, ‘did you think that thing was playin’ tag with you an’ ud tap you on the shoulder an’ run an’ hide behind a tree? Say, ain’t yon from Short Fine destrict, this side o’ (lie mountains?’ I told Mm he’d guessed right, an’ he said, ‘I Mowed so, fer thar ain’t no other spot on the whirlin’ globe that produces folks as green as gourds.’ Well, gentlemen, that floored me. It was bad enough to be Jerked about like a rag doll, but it was tough to beer my section jeered at. ‘What makes you say that?’ I axed Mm as I stood thar tryin’ to git a pas- sle o’ wet glass out o’ my hip pocket without euttin’ my lingers. [Laugh ter. led by Foie Baker, who sensed the meaning of the reference.) ‘Beca’se,’ ses he, ‘you mossbacks over thar don’t know the war's over. A nigger from over thar come in town t'other day an’ heerd fer the fust time that he was free. Tv,’o men over thar swapped wives without knowin’ thar was a law agin it. Half o’ you uns never laid eyes on a railroad an’ wouldn’t have one as a free*gift.’ I turned off an’ Wt Mm an’ went up on the main street. Up thar a barber ketched me by the arm an’ said, ses lie: ‘Come in an’ le’ me cut that hair. You are from Short Fine, ain’t you?’ I axed him why he thought so, an’ he said, ses he, ‘Beca’se you got a Short Fine hair cut.’ ‘What’s that?’ ses I. An’ he laughed at a feller cocked up In a cheer an’ said: ‘It's a out that is made by the women out yore way. They Jest turn a saucer upside down on the men’s heads an’ trim around the edges. 1 could tell one a mile. They make a man look like a bobtailed mule.’ [Laughter, loud and prolonged.] “Yes, as I said, they are a-pokin’ all manner o’ fun at us, an’ it’s chiefly be- cn’se we hnin’t got no railroad. The maddest I ever got on this line was down at Filmore’s store one day. A little, slick chap come along soilin’ maps of the United States of America. They was party things on black sticks, an’ I wanted one fer the wall o’ my room. I w: s about to buy one, but I thought I’d fust make shore that our county was on it, so I axed the peddler to p’int it out to me. Well, after some s’areh he put his knife blade ou what he called this county, but lo and be hold. it was mighty nigh Livered with round dots about the size of flyspocks. ‘What’s the matter with it?’ I axed Mm. ‘Oh, yon mean them dots,’ ses he, an’ he turned to a lot of reference words in the corner of the map. ‘Them,’ ses he, ‘them’s put thar to indicate the amount o’ ignorance in a locality. You’ll find ’em in all places away from the rail roads. A body kin say what they please agin railroads, but they fetch schools an’ books an’ enlightenment. You’ve got a good many specks,’ ses he, kinder comfortin’ like, ‘but some o’ these days a railroad will shoot out this away, an’ them brainy men amongst you will git the chance God intends to give ’em.’ Gentlemen, I didn’t buy no map. I wouldn’t ’a’ had the thing on my wall with the specks n-stariu’ me in the face. It wouldn’t ’a’ done any good to scrape ’em off, fer the’r traces would ’a’ been left. No, friends, citizens an’ wellwishers, thar ain’t but one scraper that will ever rake our specks off, on’ that’s the cow catcher of a steam engyue. 1 say let 'er come. Some objection has been raised on the score o’ killin’ cattle. That reminds me of a story they tell on old Burt Preston, who has a farm ou the main line beyaut Darley. He was always a-gittin’ his stock killed so fast an’ u-puttin’ in heavy claims for damages, until folks begun to say he made his livin’ by buyin’ scrub cattle an’ sellin’ mashed beef to the corpora- tlon. One day IUr road scut out u de tective to watch Mm. an’ be seed Burt drive a spindlin’ yeerlin’ out o’ the thicket on the track jest in time to get It knocked off by a through freight. The detective went back an’ reported, an’ they waited to see what Freston ud do. By the next mail they got a claim in which Preston said the yeerlin’ weighed 800 pound an’ was a fine four gallon milk cow. M’hey threatened to jail Mm, an’ Preston agreed to with draw his claim. But he got downheart ed an’ traded his place fer a farm ou t’other railroad, an’ the last I heerd o’ him he was at his old trade ag’in. I reckon that’s about the way we’ll be damaged by gettin’ our stock killed. That's all 1 got to say, gentlemen. Let’s git this road an’ scrape our fly- specks off.” The house shook with the applause that greeted this speech. Even the op position seemed to be wavering. Only Bartell kept a rigid countenance. He rose and in a low voice invited his group to repair with him to one of the jury rooms. They got up and followed him out. As he was about to close the door after'them he nodded to Miller. “We’ll take a vote on it an’ let you know,” he said coldly. “lie’s going to talk to them,” said Miller aloud to Wilson. “Mr. Daniel’s speech almost shook them out of their boots, and he saw he was losing ground. It looks squally.” “You are right,” said Wilson gloomi ly. “Our chances are very slim.” Miller caught Adele’s eye and went to her. “I’m bound to say the outlook is not so favorable,” he said. “If we could have put it to a vote just after your uncle spoke, we would have clinched them, but Bartell thinks his election depends ou beating us today, and, be ing the chief landowner, he has influ ence.” “It will break my heart.” said the girl tremulously. “Poor father and mother! They look as if they were on trial for their lives. Oh, I had so much hope as we drove over here this morn ing, but now”— “I can’t bear to see you take it that way,” said Miller tenderly. "I did not intend to speak to you so soon about another matter, but I can’t put it off. You have become very, very dear to me, little girl. In fact. I never dreamed there was such a thing as genuine, un selfish love til! I knew you. It seems to me that you were actually created for me. I want you to be my wife. 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