Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-05-21
FORGED APART
By W. CLARK RUSSELL.

By W. CLARK RUSSELL.
 Author of the "Wreck Of tue Grosrenor,n
 "A Sailo,'s S,veetheart," Etc.
 He told the story in an equable voice, and on pausing extracted pinch of snuff from his box; but the culver of his nostrils pro claimed a hard struggle with emotion, and it was easy to see that his application to his snuff box was stratagem to drop his eyes, and an excuse to hold his peace for a moment.
 Mrs. Strangfeld was about to speak; but. with an imperious gesture of the hand, her husband silenced her.
 "This coastguard's tale seems a likely one, sir, and makes the riddle of your sons disap- pearance easy," he said, with his hard eyes fixed upon the doctor. "It is pity there is but one witness"
 But one witness may rescue a man from damning dishonor, though there be no other evidence to prove his aspersers iarsW ex- claimed the doctor, lifting his head with a flashing glance.
 MT. Strangfield met his gaze with faint contemptuous smile.
 "These coastguards," he said, "like other men of their condition, are fond of a glass. and the hope of earning a shilling will make them smart at inventions One may be sure the man did not leave the school house un- rewarded"
 The skin about the doctors eyes frightened and an expression of unspeakable contempt settled down upon his face
 "This is not the first time, Mr. Strangfield, that have experienced your qualifications to render yourself offensive. Aman SO skep- tical should surely possess judgment above all chance of blundering."
 "Dr. Shaw, am a plain man, with little knowledge of fine words. Your tale may be truly believed by you, but it doth not satisfy me. Your son has acted the part of vil- lain, sir, and nothing that does not prove him villain in every step of the vile wrong he has done me and mine will credit. Tell me rather that, having betrayed my child, he has meanly fled to escape my vengeance, and has put any rascal upon lying on his behalf"
 He was white with his passion, and as he grasped the arms of his chair the veins of his hands stood up black with the energy that swelled them.
 In the contempt and dislike with which Dr. Shaw, after slight backward push of his chair, surveyed him, there seemed posi- tive cruelty; for no insolence that Strang- field could be guilty of could in humane mans eyes qualify the moving influence of his deep and passionate emotion.
 "You are pleased, MT. Strangfeld, to call my son a villain. This did you term him once before. But my memory is not keen, and should be glad to hear again your rea- sons for abusing him"
 "Oh, Dr. Shaw, my husband is beside him self this morning." walled Mrs. Strangfeld "Our poor -"
 "Silencep thundered the shipwright. sIt is to me this gentleman speaks. Leave me to answer him. Whatever may be your true purpose in calling upon me this morning, nay own judgment upon 1t will give you, and let the question you have now asked me find you . reason for what shall say: that the father of @ villain who has ruined my child, and brought desofation and shame upon an honorable home, must perforce be too much like his offspring not to have relish for the wound his son has inflicted, and a pleasure in lingering it for the sake of his curiosity. Holdl you are not yet an- swered. Do you think am to be touched by your sneers, man? You would teach all those with whom you have to do to look down upon me, and such as me, as despicable men, holding humble faith that makes your Haunting religion keck; and that your son had ruined and disgraced any one of us, should give you no more concern than the scourging of negro gives the white rufhan who looks on at the whippingl Is that ita Why, sir, be satisfied with your sons work; but you shall not stop me from calling him villain! You would know why? Look at my wife wonder. Is there no answer in her facet Look at this hand. Never did it tremble as now it does. I am aged a score since yesterday, and that is thy sons doing. Nol" he shouted, in strange shaking voice, 'Tn not put my dishonor again into words. Sir, wish you a good morning."
 He rose from his chair and stood upright, with his hand extended toward the door. His wife sat in a crouching attitude, hugging herself. Dr. Shaw did not offer to move. His face was pale, but otherwise his manner was collected. He put his snuff-box in his pocket, and, drawing forth pocket book, he ex- tracted paper, which he held in his hand while he addressed MT. Strangfeld.
 "Sir," he said, in slow, deliberate tone, "throughout my life I have ever striven to act the part of an upright man. resolute in the vindication of things I hold to be just and true, but always ready to acknowledge my error. Through haste and surprise and disappointment which. in imitation of your own admirable candor, shall he at no pains to dissemble, have fallen into a grievous error-that of misjuding youthful folly and calling it sin; that of repelling with rude doubts the pleadings of helpless innocence; that of denouncing my own flesh and blood as a monster of vice when he was not at hand to justify himself. But, sir, the God who rules over us Is the Vindicator of the just, and last night humbled myself before Him with gratitude and remorse. beg you to be seated. came to you with two items of news. One have related, and the other I will now relate, in mercy to you who, by desiring me to leave the house, would be en- tailing upon yourself the endurance of Q grief greater, in spite of nag theological opinions, than could wish you to know"
 MT. Strangfeld continued standing, lean ing heavily upon the back of a chair and looking down with scowl upon the doctor. Mrs. Strangfield, in a half-risen posture, supporting herself with her hand upon the table, stretched eagerly forward, her eyes fixed on the paper in the doctors grasp.
 "Last night" continued the doctor, "after the coastguard left me, I reflected upon his story, and felt persuaded that the riddle of my sons disappearance was solved. But, though there was melancholy satisfaction in detecting the means by which one portion of the mystery had been brought about. the boys honor still remained befouled by the charoes that had heen made aoainst him hu