TOO PROUD TO BEG.
"The old man may tell the truth," said the Judge. "Mr. Foster, have him
brought in."
Foster stepped to a side door, opened it, looked in and beckoned. He
stood aside and old Jasper walked into the room.
"Judge," said the Marshal, "this is the prisoner."
"Where is the Jedge?" Jasper inquired, looking about.
"This is Judge Elliott," the Marshal answered, motioning.
"Jedge Elliott!"
"Yes, I am Judge Elliott."
He stood looking straight at the Judge. "Then, suh, I can't say that I'm
glad to meet you."
"Nor I to meet you, under such circumstances, Mr. Starbuck. I am indeed
sorry to see so venerable a looking man brought here on a charge so
serious. And I request from you a straightforward statement."
Old Jasper turned toward Foster. "I can't talk while he's in here,
Jedge. He seed me in jail and I can't talk befo' no man that has seed me
there."
"You needn't hesitate to speak within his hearing, Mr. Starbuck. He was
a soldier, too."
"What, all soldiers? Then I have been tuck into camp."
"But not into the camp of your enemies. At a time when your state took
up arms against the Federal government, you stepped forth to fight for
the Union, and it is in consideration of this fact that I grant to you
an examination here in chambers, to save you every possible humiliation.
And now I ask you--"
"Jedge, I didn't come here to beg."
"I understand that. I simply request a straightforward statement."
"If you will let me give it in my own way, Jedge, you shall have it."
"In your own way, Mr. Starbuck. Proceed."
"Well, then, I'll begin at the beginnin'. Jedge, I live away up in the
hills. My grandaddy settled there an' cleared off his field on a
hill-side where the sun struck it a slantin' an' raised his co'n an'
made his licker an' the gover'ment never said a word. One day him an'
his two sons was a workin' in the field an' all of a suddent they heard
a drum and fife over in the road. The boys looked with big eyes an' the
old man clim' up on the fence and shouted, 'whut's the matter here?' and
a man with red, white an' blue ribbons on his arm cried out, 'Old Andy
Jackson needs soldiers to go to New Orleans.' An' my grandaddy he turns
roun' to the youngsters an' says, 'Come on boys.' They went, suh, an'
one of them boys he didn't come back. Wall, the years passed an' my
daddy an' my oldest brother was a workin' in that same field, a raisin'
of his co'n an' a makin' of his licker--an' mind you the gover'ment
never had opened its chops, fur it was good licker--an' all at once jest
like years befo' there came a beatin' of drums an' a blowin' of fifes
over in the road. An' my daddy clim' up on the fence an' says, 'Whut's
the matter now?' An' a man tuck a fife outen his mouth an' shouts,
'Mexico has trod on us an' we need soldiers.' An' my daddy turns, he
does, an' says to my brother, 'Come on Bob.' They went, Jedge, an' Bob
he didn't come back. Am I a makin' it too long?"
"No, Mr. Starbuck, proceed."
"Do it sound like I'm a beggin'?"
"No" said the Judge, "it is the rude epic of my country. Go on."
"I thank you, suh. Well, finally, my time come. I married a game little
woman an' we had two of as fine boys as the world ever seen. I raised my
co'n on that same hill-side an' made my licker an' the government never
said a word. An' when me an' them boys was a workin' up there we could
hear that little woman a singin' down at the house--a singin' the songs
of glory she had hearn the old soldiers sing. Well, one day me an' them
boys--twin boys, Jedge,--was a hoein' the co'n in the field. I ricolleck
it jest as well as if it was yistidy. An' atter all these years I can
hear that song a comin' up from the house. An' then--then come that same
thrillin' noise, the beatin' of drums an' a blowin' of fifes. We clim'
up on the fence, jest like my granddaddy an' my daddy had done, an' I
cried out, 'Whut's the trouble now?' The drums stopped, an' one of the
men raised his flag up high an' shouted, 'The country is a splittin' up
an' the Union needs soldiers.' An' I says, 'Come on, boys.' I can look
back now, Jedge, an' see that little woman a standin' under a tree a
wavin' us a good-bye with an old flag. I can see her yit. Jedge, we went
down into the fiery furnace. We seed the flag droop an' fall, an'
then--then rise in victory. Yes, I seed it. But my boys--my boys that
was like picturs in the book--they was left at Gettysberg. An' when that
po' little woman hearn that they wan't comin' back, she pined away an'
died--an' when I come home a bleedin', there was a grave under the tree
where we had seed her a standin' jest befo' we went down beyant the
hill. I--"
"Mr. Starbuck--"
"Wait a minit, Jedge, I ain't through yit. What did I know how to do
when I got back to work? What had my grandaddy an' my daddy done? I went
to raisin' of my co'n an' a makin' of my licker, an' still the
gover'ment never said a word. But atter a while I hearn it was ag'in the
law, an' I says, 'me an' all my folks have been a sheddin' of our blood
for our country, an' some of them fellers that makes the laws never done
that.' But I stopped sellin' the licker. I made it whenever I wanted to,
somehow jest for a old time's sake, an' I sent it to sick folks--sent
some of it to our ripresentative in Congress, right into the heart of
the gover'ment an' not a word was said."
"Old man--"
"I ain't quite through yit, Jedge. The neighbors knowd that I made
licker when I wanted to an' they never said nuthin', but lately a
scoundrel took it into his head to give me trouble. Fust he wanted to
marry my daughter an' then he threatened that unless I'd give him a
thousand dollars--but, Jedge, I'd seen him in hell fust!"
"You must not use such language, Mr. Starbuck. You are before the law."
"Excuse me, suh, excuse me. Wall, an' they brought me down here, an'
here I am. That's all, Jedge."
The Judge arose. "Old man, you are a patriot, from a race of patriots,
and in my heart, I can hardly--"
There came a rap at the door. Foster opened it and Margaret rushed into
the room.
"Jasper!" she cried, running to him.
He put his arm about her. "Margaret, how did you get away down here?"
"Mr. Starbuck," the Judge began, but with a pleading gesture the old man
cut him off. "Please don't say nothin' mo' while she's in here."
[Illustration: "JEDGE, FOR THE LORD'S SAKE DON'T HANG HIM"]
"I come a ridin' an' a walkin' the best I could," Margaret moaned,
looking about, "an' Jasper, I watered the flowers down there under the
tree befo' I come, because I knowd it would please you. An' if they hang
you, they've got to hang me, too. Jedge, there ain't no better man than
he is, an' for the Lord's sake don't hang him." She sank upon her knees;
but Jasper quickly lifted her to her feet. "There, you must never do
that."
"Madam," said the marshal, "Judge Elliott wouldn't--"
"Jedge Elliott!" she gasped, and Jasper whispered in her ear: "Don't let
him know that his son has married our daughter. He would think we was a
beggin'."
"Mrs. Starbuck," the Judge kindly spoke, "will you please retire until
we have concluded this examination?"
"Yes, suh, but let me tell you about him, Jedge. I was po' an' I didn't
have no home an' I was almost starvin' an' he married me, an'--you do
love me, don't you, Jasper?"
"Yes, now go on as the Jedge tells you. Go on an' it will be all right
an'--"
"You'll come too, won't you?"
"Yes, I'll be there putty soon. That's right, now, go on."
At the door she halted, and before going out, summed up all her
arguments--a pitiful courtesy.
"Mr. Starbuck," said the Judge, "I am told that in resisting arrest you
so badly injured a deputy that he is not able to be here to-day. I am
inclined in every way to favor you, but that, as you must know, is a
very serious charge."
"Jedge, that ain't true. I didn't resist arrest. Let me tell you about
that man Peters. I have had mo' than one cause to kill him in
se'f-defense, but I didn't want to do that. A man that has seed as much
blood as you an' me has, don't want to kill nobody if he kin help it.
Jedge, he is a hound. I had surrendered to the law and was standin' with
my hands up, an' he come a runnin' to kill me with a knife, an' I
smashed his infernal countenance. No, I didn't resist arrest."
Foster stepped forward. "Will your honor please permit me to speak a
word. I was in charge of the expedition and the old man tells the truth.
Deputy Peters did try to kill him."
"Captain," solemnly remarked the Judge, "issue an order for the arrest
of Deputy Peters, and my word for it, Mr. Starbuck, he shall be dealt
with severely. And now, old man, I may be exceeding my authority, but I
have not the heart to send you to prison. Promise me that if I permit
you to go home you will not--"
"Jedge, my granddaddy an' my daddy didn't have to make no sich promises
to the gover'ment they help to save."
The Judge walked up and down the room. "Captain, I haven't the heart to
send him to prison--I cannot. And Mr. Starbuck, if the marshal does not
see you, walk out."
"Judge," the marshal spoke up, turning his back, "my old eyes are so bad
I can't see anything."
Both men stood with their faces turned away. Jasper looked at them. Then
came Margaret's voice, calling, "Jasper, Jasper."
"I'm a comin' Margaret, I'm a comin'," and slowly he walked toward the
door. But at that moment there was a commotion in the corridor, Margaret
was heard to cry out, "Why, where did you all come from," and then Tom,
followed by Lou and Margaret, came hastily into the room. Jasper
hastened to his daughter and whispered:
"Remember who you are."
The Judge was not looking. Tom walked round in front of him.
"Why!" exclaimed the jurist, still seeing no one but Tom, "When did you
get back. And where is your--"
"Got back this minute. I have come to see you about Mr. Starbuck."
"Too late. He is discharged."
"I--I--thank you. He is my wife's father."
"What!" exclaimed the Judge, turning about, and then he saw Lou,
standing with Margaret and the old man. He held out his hand and the
girl came timidly to him. About her he put his one arm; upon the
forehead he kissed her: "The daughter of patriots--my daughter. Mr.
Starbuck, why didn't you tell me?"
"Jedge," the old man replied, "it would have looked like I was a
cringin'. I know how to bleed for my country, but I don't know how to
beg for myse'f."
THE END.
* * * * *
Announcement
This book was written from the drama of "THE STARBUCKS," produced at the
Dearborn Theatre, Chicago, with the following cast:
JASPER STARBUCK, EMMETT CORRIGAN
MARGARET STARBUCK, his wife, LOUISE RIAL
LOU STARBUCK, his daughter, MAMIE RYAN
JIM STARBUCK, his nephew, HARRY BURKHART
LIJE PETERS, THOMAS COLEMAN
TOM ELLIOTT, HARRY STUBBS
JUDGE ELLIOTT, his father, JOHN STEPPLING
MRS. MAYFIELD, his aunt, GRACE REALS
KINTCHIN, WILLIAM L. VISSCHER
BLACK MAMMY, NANETTE FRANCIS
LAZ SPENCER, WILLIAM DILLS
MOSE BLAKE, WILLIAM EVARTS
CAPTAIN JOHNSON, C. M. GIFFIN
FOSTER, deputy marshal GEORGE BOTTS
SAMUEL M. FOREST, STAGE MANAGER
The illustrations for this edition (copyrighted, 1902, by William H.
Lee), are made from photographs of the actual scenes and people of the
play.
* * * * *
THE DEAD CITY
A Tragedy
=By GABRIELLE D'ANNUNZIO=
[Illustration]
RENDERED INTO ENGLISH BY PROF. G. MANTELLINI. ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE
STAGE PRODUCTION OF
---- ELEONORA DUSE ----
MADE EXPRESSLY FOR THIS WORK, WITH COSTUME PORTRAIT OF THE ACTRESS IN
COLORS
Cloth, ornamental cover,
illustrated, $1.25
* * * * *
LAIRD & LEE, PUBLISHERS
CHICAGO, U. S. A.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors were corrected.
The Table of Contents lists the first page of the text to be
page 7. In actuality it begins on page 9. The Table of
Contents was changed to reflect this.
Page 17, "gaged" changed to "gagged". (bound and gagged)
Page 30, "pealing" changed to "peeling". (peeling the turnips)
Page 30, "melodion" changed to "melodeon". (melodeon and sat)
Page 38, "grand father" changed to "grandfather". (grandfather
carried it)
Page 85, "did'nt" changed to "didn't". (But didn't you say)
Page 140, the word "arm" is unclear and is presumed. (arm, and
to-night)
Page 266, "expresion" changed to "expression". (expression of
pain)
Page 267, "hind quarter" changed to "hindquarter". (take a
hindquarter)
Page 271, "breakink" changed to "breaking". (Then, breaking)
List of Cast, "coyrighted" changed to "copyrighted".