Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 94, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1911 — THE NOTE OF DREAD IMPORT [ARTICLE]

THE NOTE OF DREAD IMPORT

Debt of Honor That InyOlVed a Human Life.

About the middle of the last century, when the southern states were divided into a number of large plantations, Cuthbert Swayne, a recent graduate of a northern college, { took a fancy to become a tutor in sooie southern manor bouse. He found a position with an elderly widow, Mrs. Randall, whose children be was engaged to teach. There were two older children—Guy, who was leading a profligate life in Paris, and Evelyn, a girl of seventeen, with her mother on the plantation. Cuthbert Swayne had been brought up to consider himself the heir to the estate of an uncle, Mr. Seymour, who was childless. Mr. Seymour was old and feeble.

- The young northerner had not been long at the plantation before it was evident to every one except her mother that Evelyn Randall was desperately in love with him. Unfortunately Cuth--1 bert did not reciprocate. The girl was so incapable of concealing her passion that those about her were inclined to smile. But It was no laughing matter. One day after a scene in which she and Cuthbert were the actors he notified her mother that he would cancel / his engagement and go north immediately. The next morning Evelyn Randall Was found dead in her bed. She had committed suicide.

Naturally the blow fell heavily on Cuthbert. He was eager to get away, but Mrs. Randall, who was ignorant of the cause of her daughter’s act. begged him not to desert her in her trouble. The old lady sent for her son to come home, and Cuthbert agreed to remain till his arrival.

When Guy Randall arrived he. was made acquainted with the reason of his sister's suicide. He came also to other troubles. A mortgage that had been for many years on the plantation was about to be foreclosed. His mother. instead of paying the interest, had sent it to him to squauder in Paris. Guy invited Cuthbert into a room in a wing of the house where they were not likely to be disturbed, and when they were together Guy locked the door. He told Cuthbert that none but a craven would permit a girl to bear the whole burden of a tragic love affair and he expected him to inflict upon himself what his sister had suffered. Guy at the same time tossed a bowie knife—a common Weapon at that time in the south—to Cuthbert and demanded that he should kill himself. Cuthbert might have used the knife in self defense, but Guy covered him with a pistol. Indeed, had Guy s life been at Cuthbert's disposal to save his own he would not have 1 taken in The death of thei-sister was quite enough without having the blood of her brother on bis hands.

•*1 assure you.” said Cuthbert, "that I am entirely blameless, but anything I can do to atone for a fault for which I cannot hope that you will acquit me I will do. lam supposed to be heir to the estate of my uncle, estimated to be worth $200,000. My uncle is an old man. liable to die at any moment. I will sign a note for that amount due. on the day he dies, if Ido not inherit the property as expected then 1 will accept the same fate as the poor girl who died l>ecause she loved me."

A short discussion followed this proposal. at the end of which Cuthbert signed the note payable to whoever should he owner or owners of the Randall estate when it should fall due. When the two left the room Cuthbert went directly to the stables, mounted a horse and rode to a railway station ten miles away. He was never again seen at the Randall plantation. 0

S'pvenil years after this Cuthbert Svavne, having studied medicine, was house surgeon at a hospital in a large northern city. Among the young women being educated for nurses in the institution was Ruth Hoyt, a girl of more than ordinary refinement. Who she was and where she came from she kept to herst-K. Dr. Swayne fell in love with her. and his love was returned. As each year had passed ai d taken him farther from the tragedy the note he had signed Iwre harder upon him. but it was not till ho fed in love that he realized its true import. One evening Miss Hoyt went into Dr. S.wayne's office to make a report aud surprised him holding a leaded pistil to his tem pie. He lowered the weap n and gave her an explanation, ending by teiling her that he had just hoard of his uncle's death and that his property had been given to charity. “I had hoped,” he said, ‘‘that when my uncle died this incubus that has been hanging over me would be lifted and that I might take a new hold of life. In that event I had intended to ask yon to begin life with me. We are both obliged to work for a living, but I should have succeeded in my profession. 1 Now, my uncle’s estate having gone elsewhere, my life must be exchanged for my note.” As he spoke the last words he bowed his head, covering his face with his hands. He felt It lifted by another and looked into a face smiling with encouragement. “I will pay l your note,” she said. “Listen to me. I am worth three times its amount. I came here to educate myself the better to distribute my income among the poor. My first be .quest is in payment of your debt. This Will take a large portion of my possessions, but I shall gain in exchange the heart of an honorable man”