West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1882-02-22
The irate father interrupted him

MY 1rlend, ne cried, The must
be made to feel that he is to be ac-
countable for neglect of duty. l
understand that he absents himself
occasionally from the counting
house. Will you do me the favor
to let me know when he does so
again ?"
There was no reasoning with
Gregory Ruffheart, no use in telling
him that kindness would have a
better effect on his son than the re-
polling manner and threatening
tone which he usually adopted to-
wards him. So he went on making
all the household unhappy by his
harsh treatment of the lad.
His wife, a timid woman, yielded
her judgment in all things to Greg
DRY, and when her heart yearned in
secret over her rebellious boy, to
please the man she had vowed to
honor and obey, she ceased to show
to her child the love that lived un-
changed in the breast that had pill
lowed his infant head. So the I'M
happy Kent believed that he had
also forfeited his mothers love.
Madge and Gertrude looked upon
their offending brother as harden
ed and incorrigible youth, while
Lila, the blue-eyed, alone regarded
the one with untold love and conf
dence. In her pure heart she
treasured the hope that her brother
would yet reform, and many an
earnest prayer arose from her lips,
that her fathers prophetic fears,
that his only son would bring dis
credit ON the honored household,
may never be fulfilled. 1t was Lila
who always obtained forgiveness
for Kent, when after some wild ex-
plot he was banished to his room.
She alone faced her fathers anger in
behalf of her loved brother, and
when on more than one occasion,
she was herself repulsed, and told
that it was not her place to inter
fere between father and son, hel
tears and kisses and twining arms
around the stern old mans neck
won him to more conciliatory
mood. On the promise of amend
ment Kent would be received into
favor again, until by some midnight
carousal with his wild companions
his fathers renewed anger would be
charmed into peace once more by
the sisterly pleadings of the loving
young heart.
At last Gregory gave orders thai
any night that Kent was not in hi;
room at eleven o'clock, the doors
were to be locked and he was to be
denied admission after that hour
He also notified the servants that
if any of them disregarded his orders
loss of place would be the result
Gregory, who knew that his son
was beloved Of the servants, deter
mined that they should not encour
age him in continuing his dissi-
pated career by any show of sympa.
thy.
But his orders were disobeyed
Many a night did Lila watch fol
her tempted brother, watch with
loving, anxious eyes while all the
household slept. When she saw
him reeling home after midnight,
sometimes assisted to the door by
one of his convivial companions,
and often left on the broad stone
steps in a half unconcious state
she would arm herself with all the
energy of her loving nature to give
him tender aid in his sad helpless
ness. Then taking her night lamp
in her slippers and loose wrapper,
she would steal softly down through
the gloomy house, and with tremb-
ling, eager hands, unfasten bolt
and bar to the prodigal. Often, too
often, she employed her tender
strength in assisting him to his
room, and then would retire to her
own chamber overcome with exer-
ton, and laying her tear-stained
cheek on the pillow sink YEARLY to
sleep with a prayer on her lips for
her brother.
When after such nights indul-
gence Kent would not be able to
rise, she alone nursed and tended
him, seeking with loving earnest
words to effect his reformation. In