Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-08-10
NO. 1873.
Tales and Sketehfs.
PATIENT KITTY.
Continued from Yesterday

| was OF course a witness at the inquest,
where the fact of Mr.. Raynor's suicide was
clearly proved. and attributed. doubtless
rightly, to the right source, namely, per-
turbation of mind induced by his sudden
change of fortune acting upon an en-
teebled system.
The day after the funeral | was sent for
by the surviving partners, when the fol-
lowing particulars were communicated to
me. Mr. Jacob Raynor had shot himself
from remorse. 1t was he. and not his
sou. who had robbed his employers. and
poor Fred had known it, and sacrificed
himself for his fathers sake. All this was
stated in letter written by the unhappy
man before he had destroyed himself. II
am the guiltiest wretch alive" it said,
and the most cowardly; and it was to
save me from that fate which is now about
to overtake me. that my Frederic accepted
underserved shame. He knew that l
could never survive exposure, after my
long and and public professions OF good
ness and well doing. They were not
professions In false sense. for believed
IN the utility OF what | advocated, but an
overweening vanity consumed me; |
wished to be looked up to, not only as
the deviser and agent OF good institutions.
from my employers was really dedicated
to this end robbed that l might give
the money away TO deserving objects, and
gain "a name Tor practical Oenevolence.
If YOU think that proof of madness. you
will he charitable. indeed. The money
was not much, though it might have grown
to be so had not the discovery taken place
so early. This pistol has been in my hand
before my son found it there, aud said
"Let me bear the burden, father, and do
live on" That let him do SO was a far
meaner act even than the robbery of my
kind employers, yet UNANIMOUSLY survived
it, | saw him leave his native land in
shame and ignominy; knew that he was
parting forever from the girl he loved;
knew thai was plunging others into un-
merted misery; but what was that to me
who did not spare my own flesh and blood
For four years | have dragged on =
wretched existence, poisoned by the
knowledge OF my own vileness, and made
more wr,tched still by the good opinion
men expressed of me !; till at last you, my
employers, heaped such benefits upon my
unworthy head, that even ! could no
longer bear them. | know now the full
meaning of that phrase, 'as Goals OF fire.
when applied to unmerited good will, and
have found them insupportable. When
you read this shall be dead man. The
f2000 YOU gave given me in such mistak-
en- kindness is uhtouch he'd, and will OF
course return TO you. | have earned
nothing at your hand. but let diving sim
ner appeal to you IN favor OF the innocent
NV poor Fred My poor Fred forgive me.
forgive" The letter had no cOnclsion.
but the bottom OF its page was spashed
aud smeared with tlood. | dropped it Git
had been placed in my hands by Mr.. Hal
land) with gesture OF disgust but not
because OF its red finis. My soul was
filled with loathing against the wretch who
had sacrificed his only son rather than take
the consequences of his own msdeed, and
for the moment poor Frederic's wrongs
outweighed with me those OF Kate herself
What Roman. what Spartan, of them all
had ever performed nobler act of self
denial than this, to give up his good name,
his love and his country to save fathers
character from wel-merted disgrace.
What injuries had this old man wrought
all round. and among them this personal
wrong, that he had caused me to doubt
the honor OF my dearest friend. and to de-
sert him in the hour OF need. And oh,
what misery for all these years had my
sweet. patient Kitty suffered.
Mr.. Halland's grave voice interrupted
these angry thoughts. We have sent for
you. Mr.. Clayton" he said. "to put you in
possession of the contents OF that sad let
ter, because we thought that the revela-
ton was due to you. 1t has been made
known to no one else, and l need not say
that we look TO you, in the interests OF
wronged and innocent man, to preserve
the secret. We do not know how things
may have gone with your poor sister"
Here he paused and looked towards his
brother, who struck in:
"Mr. Clayton could relieve US from some
of our embarrassment in this matter by
telling us frankly how things stand at
home"
Then | told them. not without some bit
terness, how Kity's life had been wrecked
by that blast OF i'll report, though even yet
she did not believe il; how the few years
that had interviewed since Frederic's exile
had been us half lifetime TO her; and
that when she died, it would be this mis-
erable wretch who had cut short her days.
THE man is dead, said Mr.. Halland,
softly
YES, sir; but his deeds live after him."
Your wrath is just" put in the younger
OrOtner; 'otlIl, sOmelnluS mdy yet DC
done in the way Of remedy. We shall
telegraph this day to Frederic Raynor, to
summon him to take his father 5 place
here; it is at once the least and most we
can do for him. Ii we can add, however,
that your sisters heart is still within his
keeping"
'.But suppose that his own feelings are
changed!' suggested Mr.. Halland. THAT
would place the young lady in an emoar-
RAISING position"
ITO be sure, had forgotten that" re-
turned the other with touch OF color he
was known to have been happy in his
choice of wife, and when that is so. men
are apt to believe in the fidelity even OF
their own sex.
Whatever happens will never go be-
yond US three" observed Mr.. Halland,
thong ghtfully. why not wire Are you
Tree p aud prepay the return message
Then we shall know all in few hours"
And this business method of treating
question ot romance was ut once adopted.
For my part, from mistrust in Fred.
h.I nd 30 tha Ia