Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-11-26
CHAPTER II.
ssDE MORTUIS NIL NISI BOyJyMn


1t was not until late in the afternoon of
the next day that could bring myself to
meet again the man whom l had always be-
ieved to be my father. During the time
while held my self aloof from him I passed
through many stages Of sorrow, but be-
heve my anger was even greater than my
grief. Twas but 10 years Of age, but I
fancy that my thoughts and ideas were in
solitary life which i had led for many
years at Herstal Abbey no doubt conduced
to making me older than Ireally was. TIL
Il c time came for me to 60 to Oxford saw
Little of any one save my supposed father,
nv tutor and the servants of the house.
But latterly all had changed for the bet
ter. l had been two terms at the univer-
slty. l had made many friends Life was
just opening to me-a now, fresh life, full
of pleasure and excitement. found myself
fairly popular with my fellows was well
supplied with money. l was looked upon
As an only son, and heir to fine property.
III short, my lot seemed to be one in ten
thousand.
AMI that moment Mr.. Lorraine had chosen
to reveal to me the secret of my lowly birth.
To dash me from the pedestal upon which
he hal placed ME. To show me that / had
no claim upon him-that, instead of being
young Mr.. Lorraine, of Herstal Abbey,
was no onel
remember how, shortly before he told
me the tale Of the shipwreck, had been
discoursing in somewhat arrogant, self
satisfied and glib manner as to the duties
incumbent on cid families and landed gen.
try; asserting that the existence Of the
aristocracy was an unmitigated blessing to
the land. In fact, was giving my sup
posed father hash-up Of speech which
had heard at the Union. l thought my
sentiments gave him satisfaction. He
smiled and looked amused. No doubt he
was amused, so amused that the demon Of
sarcasm rose within him, and hurried on
the revelation which he may or may not
have intended should be made. The
temptation to prick the bladder inflated by
my youthful arrogance must have been ir-
resistible to mir. Lorraine. From q child
had noted this cruel trait in his character.
I had noticed it with servants, such &C
quaintances as he had, and with myself.
The way Of listening, Of even leading one
on to talk, and then suddenly, by biting
piece Of sarcasm, crushing the unlucky
speaker. It was from this and kindred
actions that, even while thought MN my
father, did not love the man.
Nor did he love me. Had he loved me
ever so little he would have kept the secret
and spared me my present humiliation. So
in spite of all he had done for me, my anger
rose and burned against Julian Lorraine
Imay have been wrong; but as will be
soon discovered, was full of faults. Per-
haps the very association, more or less,
during twelve years with a man of Mr..
Loraine's stamp must develop faults
There! Let ms write no more to his
detriment. He worked me evil, and he
worked me COOL He is dead. As I raise
my eyes from my paper and glance through
my window can almost see his grave.
In the afternoon went in search Of him.
found him reading in the library. He
nodded rs entered, then returned to his
book and finished the paragraph.
well, Julianl' he said, as signal that
be was at my service.
Il have been thinking over what you tod
me last night, Mr.. Lorraine"
He raisel his dark eyebrows as he heard
me address him in this wise. Till now l had
generally uSed the old-fashioned "sir" ,;
sometimes, not often. father"
II hate changes, Julian" he said. "As
you know, the old landed gentry are rooted
to old customs"
Even at that moment he could not forego
bis sarcasm. My cheek flushed.