The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-04-08
I said, hotly
..Sse hov you have changed life for me-"

..Sse hov you have changed life for ,ne!'
"Ah! yes; greatly, no doubt wonder
what you woul have bcea now!
'rrell me what am now"
$50 fur as know, a young man of l9,
thoroughly we'll elucated, goo1-lookins,
full of church aud state principles Why,
the rector stopp.l me yesterday and assured
me YOU were one of the finest young fellows
he ever knsw; quite credit to tho county"
This banter seemed to stab me-
."rell uo, sir" sail, Sought TO thank
YOU for what you have done for meF
Personally, I hate expressions Of graft
tude; but if it gives you any satisfaction,
thank mo by all means"
mo; I do not thank you. Had you
placed me in som, humble position, suited
to nv birth, and let me make my way in
tho worll, coul have thanked you. But
for years to lcs me b, called your son; why
did YOU do it, sir!"'
II had some reason at the time. almost
forget it,"
mir. Lorraine, I have thought it all
over"
$50 YOU told me, Julian Go on"
"You may laugh at me, but I consider
that have great claim upon you.
He simply raised Ibis eyebrows but did
not deny my assertion.
"You hav. kept me in ignorance for
years. l continued, speaking quickly
"You have brought IN, UP, and let me 80
out in the worll undc: false colors. Now
Just a. enter upon manhood you tell me
who ain, or rather who l am not Why
you did this, you ulona know You had
some reason for it. In return, have q
right to demand something"
.Deman! A right! Never mind. Go
on"
l hal expected an outburst Of rage. His
calm: enc )uraged me.
Eyes, sir; ask that may be allowed tc
finish my course ut Oxford Then, when
have taken my deg"e,, will 80 and earn
my own living as best l con. shall, of
course, HOW cal! myself by some other ra me.
Can you suggest onea
MIR. Lorraine laughed curious laugh. II
like fellows who demand better than those
who beg" be said. "Go Lack TO college by
all means. AS to name is not Julian
Lorraine good enough for you' You ore per-
fectly welcome TO use it."
But it is no. mina."
"Never mini use it. I choose that you
shall use it so long Is you arc dependent on
me. also choose you to be thought my
son. No'-he saw Mo about to speak-"l
will give no reasons; perhaps have none
You may be sure that it will be no hin.
drance to your future, being thought rich
mans son: Besides, hate changes. Now,
don't talk any more. You have demanded
I have acc.ied. Go away
Puzzled and dissatisfied, l left him. I
had fully persuaded myself that | bad 4
right to claim what l had claimed from
him. 1t was also not hard for ME to learn
to think that If it was Mr.. Lo-aiae's wish
that shoull still pass rs his son and bear
his name, it was my duty to do so. Be-
sdes-remcmbar, was but u boy, and SO
need not be ashamed of the truth-with all
nv assumed independence, the thought of
proclaiming my humble and unknown par.
entacc to my friends was gall and worm.
wood to ma. To sink from the position
which held as Mr.. Loraino's son to that of
no one at all was 4 change greater than l
could picture to myself with equauimity.
So objected 10 more; AMI as Mr.. Lorraine
sternly forbade tie subject being reopen
ed, my life, in spite of its clouled future,
went OH in its accustomed groove.
Here, to avoid any misles ling, may say
that oil ever learned about my true parent
age was what Mr.. Lorraine told ME. Who
and what was my ll-fated mother know
no more than l know for what reason my
reputed fathe- allowed me to be brought UP
es his SOL.