Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg , livre ebook

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34 pages

English

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pubOne.info present you this new edition. It was many years ago. Hadleyburg was the most honest and upright town in all the region round about. It had kept that reputation unsmirched during three generations, and was prouder of it than of any other of its possessions. It was so proud of it, and so anxious to insure its perpetuation, that it began to teach the principles of honest dealing to its babies in the cradle, and made the like teachings the staple of their culture thenceforward through all the years devoted to their education. Also, throughout the formative years temptations were kept out of the way of the young people, so that their honesty could have every chance to harden and solidify, and become a part of their very bone. The neighbouring towns were jealous of this honourable supremacy, and affected to sneer at Hadleyburg's pride in it and call it vanity; but all the same they were obliged to acknowledge that Hadleyburg was in reality an incorruptible town; and if pressed they would also acknowledge that the mere fact that a young man hailed from Hadleyburg was all the recommendation he needed when he went forth from his natal town to seek for responsible employment

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Short story

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Publié par	Pub One Info
Date de parution	06 novembre 2010
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9782819930365
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0050€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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THE MAN THAT CORRUPTED HADLEYBURG
I.
It was many years ago. Hadleyburg was the mosthonest and upright town in all the region round about. It had keptthat reputation unsmirched during three generations, and wasprouder of it than of any other of its possessions. It was so proudof it, and so anxious to insure its perpetuation, that it began toteach the principles of honest dealing to its babies in the cradle,and made the like teachings the staple of their culturethenceforward through all the years devoted to their education.Also, throughout the formative years temptations were kept out ofthe way of the young people, so that their honesty could have everychance to harden and solidify, and become a part of their verybone. The neighbouring towns were jealous of this honourablesupremacy, and affected to sneer at Hadleyburg’s pride in it andcall it vanity; but all the same they were obliged to acknowledgethat Hadleyburg was in reality an incorruptible town; and ifpressed they would also acknowledge that the mere fact that a youngman hailed from Hadleyburg was all the recommendation he neededwhen he went forth from his natal town to seek for responsibleemployment.
But at last, in the drift of time, Hadleyburg hadthe ill luck to offend a passing stranger— possibly without knowingit, certainly without caring, for Hadleyburg was sufficient untoitself, and cared not a rap for strangers or their opinions. Still,it would have been well to make an exception in this one’s case,for he was a bitter man, and revengeful. All through his wanderingsduring a whole year he kept his injury in mind, and gave all hisleisure moments to trying to invent a compensating satisfaction forit. He contrived many plans, and all of them were good, but none ofthem was quite sweeping enough: the poorest of them would hurt agreat many individuals, but what he wanted was a plan which wouldcomprehend the entire town, and not let so much as one personescape unhurt. At last he had a fortunate idea, and when it fellinto his brain it lit up his whole head with an evil joy. He beganto form a plan at once, saying to himself “That is the thing to do—I will corrupt the town. ”
Six months later he went to Hadleyburg, and arrivedin a buggy at the house of the old cashier of the bank about ten atnight. He got a sack out of the buggy, shouldered it, and staggeredwith it through the cottage yard, and knocked at the door. Awoman’s voice said “Come in, ” and he entered, and set his sackbehind the stove in the parlour, saying politely to the old ladywho sat reading the “Missionary Herald” by the lamp:
“Pray keep your seat, madam, I will not disturb you.There— now it is pretty well concealed; one would hardly know itwas there. Can I see your husband a moment, madam? ”
No, he was gone to Brixton, and might not returnbefore morning.
“Very well, madam, it is no matter. I merely wantedto leave that sack in his care, to be delivered to the rightfulowner when he shall be found. I am a stranger; he does not know me;I am merely passing through the town to-night to discharge a matterwhich has been long in my mind. My errand is now completed, and Igo pleased and a little proud, and you will never see me again.There is a paper attached to the sack which will explaineverything. Good-night, madam. ”
The old lady was afraid of the mysterious bigstranger, and was glad to see him go. But her curiosity was roused,and she went straight to the sack and brought away the paper. Itbegan as follows:
“TO BE PUBLISHED, or, the right man sought out byprivate inquiry— either will answer. This sack contains gold coinweighing a hundred and sixty pounds four ounces— ”
“Mercy on us, and the door not locked! ”
Mrs. Richards flew to it all in a tremble and lockedit, then pulled down the window-shades and stood frightened,worried, and wondering if there was anything else she could dotoward making herself and the money more safe. She listened awhilefor burglars, then surrendered to curiosity, and went back to thelamp and finished reading the paper:
“I am a foreigner, and am presently going back tomy own country, to remain there permanently. I am grateful toAmerica for what I have received at her hands during my long stayunder her flag; and to one of her citizens— a citizen ofHadleyburg— I am especially grateful for a great kindness done me ayear or two ago. Two great kindnesses in fact. I will explain. Iwas a gambler. I say I WAS. I was a ruined gambler. I arrived inthis village at night, hungry and without a penny. I asked forhelp— in the dark; I was ashamed to beg in the light. I begged ofthe right man. He gave me twenty dollars— that is to say, he gaveme life, as I considered it. He also gave me fortune; for out ofthat money I have made myself rich at the gaming-table. Andfinally, a remark which he made to me has remained with me to thisday, and has at last conquered me; and in conquering has saved theremnant of my morals: I shall gamble no more. Now I have no ideawho that man was, but I want him found, and I want him to have thismoney, to give away, throw away, or keep, as he pleases. It ismerely my way of testifying my gratitude to him. If I could stay, Iwould find him myself; but no matter, he will be found. This is anhonest town, an incorruptible town, and I know I can trust itwithout fear. This man can be identified by the remark which hemade to me; I feel persuaded that he will remember it.
“And now my plan is this: If you prefer to conductthe inquiry privately, do so. Tell the contents of this presentwriting to any one who is likely to be the right man. If he shallanswer, ‘I am the man; the remark I made was so-and-so, ’ apply thetest— to wit: open the sack, and in it you will find a sealedenvelope containing that remark. If the remark mentioned by thecandidate tallies with it, give him the money, and ask no furtherquestions, for he is certainly the right man.
“But if you shall prefer a public inquiry, thenpublish this present writing in the local paper— with theseinstructions added, to wit: Thirty days from now, let the candidateappear at the town-hall at eight in the evening (Friday), and handhis remark, in a sealed envelope, to the Rev. Mr. Burgess (if hewill be kind enough to act); and let Mr. Burgess there and thendestroy the seals of the sack, open it, and see if the remark iscorrect: if correct, let the money be delivered, with my sinceregratitude, to my benefactor thus identified. ”
Mrs. Richards sat down, gently quivering withexcitement, and was soon lost in thinkings— after this pattern:“What a strange thing it is! . . . And what a fortune for that kindman who set his bread afloat upon the waters! . . . If it had onlybeen my husband that did it! — for we are so poor, so old and poor!. . . ” Then, with a sigh— “But it was not my Edward; no, it wasnot he that gave a stranger twenty dollars. It is a pity too; I seeit now. . . ” Then, with a shudder— “But it is gamblers ’money! the wages of sin; we couldn’t take it; we couldn’t touch it.I don’t like to be near it; it seems a defilement. ” She moved to afarther chair. . . “I wish Edward would come, and take it to thebank; a burglar might come at any moment; it is dreadful to be hereall alone with it. ”
At eleven Mr. Richards arrived, and while his wifewas saying “I am so glad you’ve come! ” he was saying, “I amso tired— tired clear out; it is dreadful to be poor, and have tomake these dismal journeys at my time of life. Always at the grind,grind, grind, on a salary— another man’s slave, and he sitting athome in his slippers, rich and comfortable. ”
“I am so sorry for you, Edward, you know that; butbe comforted; we have our livelihood; we have our good name— ”
“Yes, Mary, and that is everything. Don’t mind mytalk— it’s just a moment’s irritation and doesn’t mean anything.Kiss me— there, it’s all gone now, and I am not complaining anymore. What have you been getting? What’s in the sack? ”
Then his wife told him the great secret. It dazedhim for a moment; then he said:
“It weighs a hundred and sixty pounds? Why, Mary,it’s for-ty thou-sand dollars— think of it— a whole fortune! Notten men in this village are worth that much. Give me the paper.”
He skimmed through it and said:
“Isn’t it an adventure! Why, it’s a romance; it’slike the impossible things one reads about in books, and never seesin life. ” He was well stirred up now; cheerful, even gleeful. Hetapped his old wife on the cheek, and said humorously, “Why, we’rerich, Mary, rich; all we’ve got to do is to bury the money and burnthe papers. If the gambler ever comes to inquire, we’ll merely lookcoldly upon him and say: ‘What is this nonsense you are talking? Wehave never heard of you and your sack of gold before; ’ and then hewould look foolish, and— ”
“And in the meantime, while you are running on withyour jokes, the money is still here, and it is fast getting alongtoward burglar-time. ”
“True. Very well, what shall we do— make the inquiryprivate? No, not that; it would spoil the romance. The publicmethod is better. Think what a noise it will make! And it will makeall the other towns jealous; for no stranger would trust such athing to any town but Hadleyburg, and they know it. It’s a greatcard for us. I must get to the printing-office now, or I shall betoo late. ”
“But stop— stop— don’t leave me here alone with it,Edward! ”
But he was gone. For only a little while, however.Not far from his own house he met the editor— proprietor of thepaper, and gave him the document, and said “Here is a good thingfor you, Cox— put it in. ”
“It may be too late, Mr. Richards, but I’ll see.”
At home again, he and his wife sat down to talk thecharming mystery over; they were in no condition for sleep. Thefirst question was, Who could the citizen have been who gave thestranger the twenty dollars? It seemed a simple one; both answeredit in the same breath—
“Barclay Goodson. ”
“Yes, ” said Richards, “he could have done it, andit would have been like him,