The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg · Ch. 1

.

. . , . , , , . , , , . , ; ; .

, , stranger—possibly , , , . , , , . , . , , : , , . , . , himself"That do—I ."

, . , , , . said"Come in,"and , , the"Missionary ald"by :

"Pray , , . re—now ; . , ?"

, , .

"Very , , . , . ; ; . , , . . , ."

, . , . :

"TO , , inquiry—either . —"

"Mercy , !"

. , , , . , , :

"I , , . ; citizens—a Hadleyburg—I . . . . . . , . help—in ; . . dollars—that , , . ; . , , ; : . , , , , , , . . , ; , . , , . ; .

"And : , . . answer,'I ; so-and-so,'apply test—to : , . , , , .

"But , paper—with , : , (Friday), , , . . (if ); . , , : , , , ."

. , , thinkings—after pattern:"What !... !... it!—for , poor!..."Then, sigh—"But ; , . ; now..."Then, shudder—"But ! ; ; . ; defilement."She chair..."I , ; ; ."

. , saying"I come!"he saying,"I tired—tired ; , . , , , salary—another , , ."

"I , , ; ; ; —"

"Yes, , . talk—it's . me—there, , . ? ?"

. ; :

"It ? , , dollars—think it—a ! . ."

:

"Isn't ! , ; , life."He ; , . , humorously,"Why, , , ; . , say:'What ? before;'and , —"

"And , , , ."

"True. , do—make ? , ; . . ! ; , . . , ."

"But stop—stop—don't , !"

. , . editor—proprietor , , said"Here , Cox—put ."

"It , . , ."

, ; . , ? ; —

"Barclay ."

"Yes,"said Richards,"he , , ."

"Everybody , Edward—grant , . , , more—honest, , , ."

"It , death—said , ."

"Yes, ."

"Oh, ; . , ."

"We , it—he . ,

. , ?"

"We , yes—it . is—that —"

"Why -ing? ?"

"Mary, ."

"Much !"

; , . , ,

"Mary, ."

.

"Nonsense!"she .

"He . . thing—the ."

"That'one thing,'indeed! , ."

"Plenty. . ."

"How ! ! ."

"Mary, word—he ."

"I . ?"

"It . , . . , and—and—well, up—I . . , ; ; ."

, . :

"I—I to—to—One mustn't—er—public opinion—one careful—so—"It , ; again."It , but—Why, , Edward—we . , !"

"It , ; then—and —"

"What , , ."

"He? ."

"Oh,"exclaimed , relief,"I . , he—he—well . , , , . . , , , Burgess,'because . ; ."

"I . . , , , , ."

"Edward! —"

"Don't! , . ; . , . , . , Mary—glad ."

"So , , . , ; , . , , , !"

"It ."

"Why?"

"Because ."

"Of !"

"Certainly. . , . , ; says,'So , you?'Sawlsberry was.'H'm. , do?''If , , . ; first.''Very , , hell—I . , ; , .'"

"Just ; . ; ."

"It , , . ."

"Bless , ."

, . breaks—interruptions . . . , , . , . , , . ; . , , . murmured,"Lead ... but—but—we , !... .... , it?—and .... us...."The . , —

"He ! , , late—too .... not—maybe time."She , . , , throat,"God me—it's things—but.... , made—how !"

, , ; . ; mutter"If waited!—oh, , !"

, , . , . . , ,

"Nobody ... ... ."

, , ; , , wife—a . . , , . , .

, . , , ; . :

"Nobody ?"

:

"Not soul—on , !"

"If —"

; , ,

"Is , ?"

"Yes, ."

"You mail—nor

; ."

"It's , ."

"Gone?"It .

"Yes, . , sir—had . ; —"

, . ; , ,

"What , ."

:

"I , , , . —"

"Next ! ."

, . eager"We ll?"—then , . sort—a ; , , . . . :

"If , Edward—if ; , ."

"It ."

"That ; , . , now—is , ?"

"Why, yes—yes, ; , —"

"Oh, , ; , , , ; , , and—and—"

, . , :

"But , , best—it ; . —"

"Ordered! , , . , , Providence—and ? , was—just , —"

"But, , , , —"

"Oh, , it—it's honesty—honesty , , ,

, , . now—and , , I—Edward, ; . , , , ; , , . , , , ; , , . again—I ."

"I—We , , : . , , . it—never."

; . :

"I , ."

.

"I , , —"

"It's , , ."

"I . ."

"You , ."

"It's . . ?"

"I'm . ; ... , dear—if !"

, :

"The sesame—what ? . ; ."

"And ?"

"No; ."

"Yes; ."

, in—to , , , , ; ; , .

: . , . . :

"Send thing—all details—twelve ."

! ; . , , ; , , soon—right .

.

world-celebrated—astonished—happy—vain. . , , , , — , —destined ! . ; ; , , , , , , , ; , , , , , postmaster—and , , , , , , , , typical"Sam Lawson"of . , , , , , , . , .

; , , delight—a , , . , .

. ; ; , , ; , , . ; ; , ; , , .

stage—or stage—a bedtime—with , usually—by :

"Ah, ?"

straightway—with shudder—came , :

"Oh, ! ? , !"

night—and . .

again—with , . time—and night—the , . .

responded—longingly:

"Oh, !"

. , , . : . . , , said"Ready!—now , please,"but .

passed—one . . , . parlour—miserable . : , , , , , , ago—two ; , , visited—the , , , . .

. post-mark—unfamiliar, both—and . good-night—custom now—but , , . , , . . , :

"Leave , . letter—read !"

. , . , :

"I , : . , . , , . . , . , . dark—it . , . talk—most , : . say'favourably'—nothing . town—not ; you—I you—am sure—had , , , , . , , , , . , , , . : , .'

"HOWARD . ."

"Oh, , , , , grateful,—kiss , , kissed—and so—the money—and , ; ."

; again—days . :

"Oh, , , ! , . it."Then, reproach,"But , , , ."

"We , I—er—well, , —"

"Now , , . , . , you—Edward, ?"

"We ll—er—er—Why, , !"

"You ? ?"

"You , he—well, he—he ."

, , :

"Made—you—promise? , ?"

"Mary, ?"

, :

"No... . bearings—God ! . now—now , we—we—"She , , brokenly,"Lead ... , . . . Now—that ; ; ."

, wandering—trying .

, , , . . . Mary—if . reflection—suppose

? ? ? ? ? Mary—look . , ? . ?

sting—the . :

? , ; that—it . . ... , . . other—and, , ! go—and . . , situation—ah, ? ?

.

, ? . , . , along—until . , .

, : service—that ; ? it—he ; . . things—possible , services—but , , money—worth . , , . , then—now, then—what ? Ah—the ! . , , , , as—he ; , , , . , , , —

!

failure—he . . : ? , do—he . ? ! . , . , . , .

, , . . ; , , . , . , , : , , rendered"without value."And .

— : rendered"possibly it."Why, , hunt—much . , . , , , , ; , , . , , . , .

; ; ; ; service"without it,"in ; , , . , , ; , , , . ,

. , .

citizens—nineteen . , , . Richards—handwriting all—and , .

time—they . ; .

, , , . sack—a .

. . , . . , . . , himself,"Her kittens"—and ; , , . of"Shadbelly"Billson (village ), , . thing—he ; mistake."And Pinkerton—Pinkerton—he lose."And , . , . himself,"Anyway : ; ."

, . ; , . . :

"Come week—but . ."

. . .

country-seats—but . .

thing—a . , it—"and , , course."People , , another,"Why, , , it."Several husbands,"It , ,

."

, , , . , . , spent—on . , , , , , , , , rest—at . , . , it."The , ; ; ;

happened—it ."

, too—the . . . , , ; , , , whisper"To evening,"then . sack—doubtful, , dead—but . , .

.

. ; ; ; ; , , . . 412 ; 68 ; ; ; . . , . , .

. , , ; , , , . .

on—there ; , . . , , . , , . ; , , , , , . [Applause.]"And fame—the ? ! , . , . you—does you—accept ? [Tumultuous .] . . reproach—see . own—see . ["We ! !"] communities—some ; , ; . [Applause.] . , , ; . , , ."

. , . . . contents—slowly impressively—the , :

"'The this:"You ; , reform."'"Then continued:—"We ; so—and will—this land—Mr. !"

; , ; , place—of tenor:"Billson! , , ! stranger—or

— ! marines!"And , , . . , .

. , :

"Why , . ?"

"Because . ."

"With . ."

"It ! ."

. , . . , :

"I ."

, :

"John ."

"The re!"shouted Billson,"what ? ?"

"No , ; , . . ; , , ."

; ; crying"Chair, ! ! order!"Burgess , :

"Let . , . . envelope—and did—I ."

, , , , . , , , . :

"Read ! ! ?"

, :

"'The this:"You . [The .] , reform."'[Murmurs:"Amazing! ?"] one,"said Chair,"is . ."

"The re!"cried Wilson,"I ! ."

"Purloined!"retorted Billson."I'll —"

Chair:"Order, , ! , , ."

, . ; . . . ; ; . :

"Mr. , , ? , , ? —"

. ; , . . :

"Sho, !

happen—twice years—but . dollars!"[A .]

Billson."I !"

Wilson."I !"

.

Chair."Order! , please—both . ."

Voice."Good—that !"

Tanner."Mr. , : , . , . [The Chair."Order! !"] , , , ."

Voice."How?"

Tanner."Easily. . , ."

Voice."Name ."

Tanner."The , ."

Voices."That's so—he's !"

Tanner."And , , frauds—[The Chair."Order!"]—which adventurers—[The Chair."Order! order!"]—which gentlemen—[laughter applause]—is town—which , out!"[Vigorous .]

Voices."Open it!—open !"

. , , . . :

"One marked,'Not Chair—if any—shall read.'The Test.'Allow . worded—to :

"'I , , ; , ;

, . , . this—and memory:'You —''"

Voices."That it—the ! ! ! ! !"

, fervently—meantime :

"Order, ! ! ! , please."When , resumed—as :

"'Go, reform—or, words—some , —TRY .'"

. ; , ; ; , , , . voice—Jack :

"That's !"

, . . , , . , , last—long . , ; , ; :

"It fact—we . town—it . . . , —"

, , ; , .

"Sit down!"said , , obeyed."That, , . was—but . ; . , ? words."He . , added:"The . gentlemen—Was ?— ?"

; was,"He's ."

; . . , , :

"I . , . , , believed—as . speak—and . shame—and it—that , . [Sensation.] , , . , ; ; , . , , ; expect—could believe—could imagine—that, , test?—set me?—expose ? ; . . . . . , , words—ending with"Go, reform,"—and . , desk."He , , , added:"I ; , , . door."[Sensation.]

:

"It's ! !"

Chair."Be , ! . ."

, :

"Those . . , , . . ; , . , : . test-mark—by

. ."

. . ; , . , :

"But , , !"

, :

"But , , ?"

Voices."That's ! ! , !"

Hatter."I . , —"

; them—and also—some . :

"Order! ! read."When , , saying"I ; read."He , , it—seemed astonished—held it—stared .

"What ? ! !"

did—slowly, :

"'The stranger—[Voices."Hello! this?"]—was this:'You . [Voices."Great !"] , reform.'"[Voice."Oh, !"] . ."

. ; , , ; , . din:"We're — Incorruptibility!—without Billson!""Three!—count in—we many!""All right—Billson's elected!""Alas, ! !"

Voice."Silence! ."

Voices."Hurrah! ? ! ! !"

[reading]."'The made,'etc.'You . Go,'etc. Signed,'Gregory .'"

Voices."Four Symbols!""'Rah Yates!""Fish !"

, . , , , :

"The , doors—close ; ! , everybody!"The .

"Fish ! ! !"

, lips—"'You —'"

"Name! ! ?"

"'L. .'"

"Five ! ! , !"

"'You —'"

"Name! !"

"'Nicholas .'"

"Hooray! ! !"

, (leaving out"it's") lovely"Mikado"tune of"When maid;"the , ; , , —

"And —"

. —

"Corruptibles —"

. , , —

"But , !"

, . , , for"Hadleyburg ."

, :

"Go ! ! ! ! !"

"That's it—go ! !"

. , . —

"Sit ! ! ! . ."

"Mr. , ?"

.

"Together , ."

.

"Perhaps . sort—and ."

"Second !"

carried—uproariously. , . , . , , :

"My , two—Mary me—all , —"

:

"Allow . true—that , . ; ;

; ; more—it

—"

:

"That's , ! , . ! , then—hip! ! hip!—all !"

, , , .

:

"What : , . , . [Shouts of"Right! !"] , —"

"But —"

"Please , . . notes—simple . done—I this—you ."

voices."Right!—the right—no ! on!—the ! names!—according !"

, wife,"It ;

."

.

"'You man—'Signature,'Robert . .'"

"'You man—'Signature,'Eliphalet .'"

"'You man—'Signature,'Oscar . .'"

. . . (with chant)—"You man."Then said,"Signature,'Archibald Wilcox.'"And , , , . , , words,"And Hadleyburg—try for-or-m-e-r!"and imposing"A-a-a-amen!"

, , , , , , :"... , . , , , ; , . , ; . ; . . lips—sullied. merciful—for ; can."At , . chanting,"You f-a-r,"etc.

"Be ready,"Mary whispered."Your ; ."

.

"Next! ! next!"came .

. , , . , :

"I ."

, , :

"Oh, , saved!—he ours—I !"

its"Mikado"travesty, , —

"But , !"

for"Hadleyburg ."

, , cheers"for , money—Edward ."

; that"Richards , ."

, ; the"Mikado"again, —

"And , !"

; —

Voice."Now, , ?"

(with sarcasm)."That's . . apiece—and remark—each turn—it . stranger—total , $360. back—and interest—forty ."

[derisively.]"That's ! ! ! poor—don't !"

Chair."Order! . says:'If [grand ], , [Cries of"Oh! ! !"], [more cries]—a lustre."[Enthusiastic .] . No—here :

"'P.S.—CITIZENS :

test-remark—nobody . [Great .] , , compliment—these . [General .] story—it . , . , , ; . all—and, , , . , woman—and , vanity—the . . . , it—it , . , . , , . , . . . . . , yourselves,'Goodson devil'—and . ; , . , , . [Voices."Right—he ."] -money, , , , . renown—one —and . , .'"

Voices."Open ! ! ! ! Forward—the !"

, , , , , .

"Friends, !"

, , :

"By , . . , ."

Voices."Wilson! ! ! ! !"

[in anger]."You , , !"

Voice."Oh, !"

Voice."Seventeen ! , , !"

pause—no .

Saddler."Mr. ,

, , ; , . , man—the honour—Edward ."

, ; , , , , , , , , , , , —

wife:"Oh, , ? It—it—you , honour—reward, , and—and—can ? and—Oh, , do?—what we—"[Halliday's voice."Fifteen bid!—fifteen sack!—twenty!—ah, thanks!—thirty—thanks ! , , thirty!—do forty?—forty ! , , rolling!—fifty!—thanks, Roman!—going , , fifty!—seventy!—ninety!—splendid!—a hundred!—pile , up!—hundred twenty—forty!—just time!—hundred fifty!—Two hundred!—superb! h—thanks!—two !—"]

"It , Edward—I'm tremble—but, , , , to—["Six hear?—thanks!—six , f—SEVEN !"] , , think—nobody susp—["Eight dollars!—hurrah!—make nine!—Mr. , say—thanks!—nine!—this , all—come! hear—a thousand!—gratefully yours!—did eleven?—a Uni—"]"Oh, Edward"(beginning sob),"we poor!—but—but—do best—do ."

fell—that , ; , .

, , , ; . this:"None ; ; that—the ; ; , too—some . , , . ; man:—I , . , — , . , , . , ."

. , : . waited—and . ; , . . , ; ; , , his—at $1,282. cheers—then ; , . .

"I , . , . , ; , , , . , . , ; , . [Great . the"invulnerable probity"made ; , , .] majority—I vote—I , . . —"

moment—dog all—and .

, except"Dr."Clay , , —

"I me,"said calmly."I , bluster."[Applause.] down."Dr."Harkness . , . ; , . , . , . ; , ; , ; , . , . . , , ,

"What ?"

"Forty ."

"I'll ."

"No."

"Twenty-five."

"No."

"Say ."

"The ; ."

"All , . . ; ."

"Very good."Then :

"I . , , ; . . , . Richards."They .

"At , . . ."

, , , the"Mikado"song, , chant,"You man—a-a-a !"

.

. . , . :

"Do , — blame?"and , . ; , :

"We—we , . It—well . ."

, . :

"I . But—it , now—Edward?"

"We ?"

"Are ?"

"N—no."

"Resign?"

"In morning—by ."

"It ."

:

"Before , but—Mary, , —"

"We ."

. . bank—drawn to"Bearer,"—four $1,500 , $34,000. , , $38,500, , . . . , , . , :

"I ! ."

"He ?"

"I ."

"Then , . , , . , , . ; $8,500 ."

"Edward, ?"

"Cheques ! $8,500 bank-notes—for , Mary—but , . . ; ; . —"

"Oh, , bad!"And .

"Put ! ! . , , and—Give , it!"He ; , , . .

"Fan , , ! !"

"Oh, , ! ?"

"Signed . , ?"

"Edward, —"

"Look here—look ! Fifteen—fifteen—fifteen—thirty-four. ! , , Harkness—apparently—has ."

"And , think—instead ?"

"Why, . to'Bearer,'too."

"Is , ? ?"

"A , . . that—a ?"

"Yes. ."

the"Stephenson"handwriting, . :

"I . . , , , . you—and . . , . . , ."

, :

"It fire—it . Mary—I ."

"I, . , , —"

"To , Mary—he ."

"Oh, , Edward—I ."

"If , Mary—and once—I . , , . now—We , ."

.

. ; :

"You , . . , , . . , , ; ; . [Signed]'BURGESS.'"

"Saved, . terms!"He fire."I—I , , !"

"Oh, , , . , , deep—and !"

memento—one . words:"THE WAS—"Around these:"GO, . [SIGNED] PINKERTON."Thus , . ; .

, ; . , , . . ; ; , , ; : ; . , , what—vague, , . . . ! ; . ? mean—it might—mean—oh, . , ? , ; ; , . , , ; . , . questions—questions ; , . , , guilt—guilt other—without . . :

"Oh, it?—what ?"

"The note—Burgess's ! , now."He quoted:"'At , , , accused'—oh, , , ! ! . trap—and , . —!"

"Oh, dreadful—I say—he ."

"No—kept . , . it—I . . , recognition—he !"

. ill—prostrated , , , . ; , .

. , . , cheques—for $8,500? No—for —$38,500! ?

news—and . , ; pillow—vanished . :

"Let ; ?"

"We —"

"You again—they . . , sin."Then , .

; .

, ; . , .

. . , , .

, . . , . :

"Let . ."

"No!"said Richards;"I . , , . clean—artificially—like ; . , . . , (and ) . . , , , —"

"No—no—Mr. , —"

"My —"

"No —"

—"And ; ,

me—as —"

"Never!—I —"

"Out ."

; . .

; . , .

Legislature—upon petition—Hadleyburg (never what—I ), .

, .